Locking differential
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A locking differential comprisinga differential carrier housing a pair of bevel ears and at least one pinion gear which meshes with said pair of bevel gears,a locking means positioned within said differential carrier between said differential carrier and one of said bevel gears and keyed or splined to the carrier,said locking means including locking teeth or spline means,said one of said bevel gears being formed with co-operating teeth or spline means,cylinder means formed in said differential carrier and housing an actuator position to cause movement of said locking means relative to said carrier, whereby said locking teeth or spline means on said locking means engage said teeth or spline means on said one bevel gear to prevent rotation of said one bevel gear relative to said carrier to thereby lock said differential,said locking means and said cylinder means being positioned adjacent said one of said bevel gears, anda shaped cover plate forming part of said differential carrier and structured and arranged to support said one of said bevel gears,said cover plate comprising a cavity formed therein and in which said locking means is located,wherein said locking means is positioned on only one side of said pinion gear,said actuator and cylinder means are positioned on only one side of said pinion gear, andsaid locking means, actuator and cylinder means are all positioned on the same side of said pinion gear.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A locking differential comprising a differential carrier1 housing a pair of bevel gears 2, 3 and at least one pinion gear 4 which meshes with the pair of bevel gears, a locking ring 6 positioned within the differential carrier1 between the carrier and one of the bevel gears and splined to the carrier 1 at 7 and 8, locking teeth 9 on the locking ring 6 and corresponding locking teeth 10 on the bevel gear 3, an annular cylinder 12 formed in the carrier 1 and receiving a piston 11 and seal 11 a, the piston 11 being integral with the locking ring whereby the charging of the cylinder 12 with compressed air causes the locking ring 6 to move into its locking position with the teeth 9 engaging the teeth 10 against the action of springs 13 to lock the differential. The locking ring is located within a shaped cover plate C which closes the differential carrier 1 and provides bearing support for the bevel gear 3.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A locking differential comprising
a differential carrier housing a pair of bevel ears and at least one pinion gear which meshes with said pair of bevel gears, a locking means positioned within said differential carrier between said differential carrier and one of said bevel gears and keyed or splined to the carrier, said locking means including locking teeth or spline means, said one of said bevel gears being formed with co-operating teeth or spline means, cylinder means formed in said differential carrier and housing an actuator position to cause movement of said locking means relative to said carrier, whereby said locking teeth or spline means on said locking means engage said teeth or spline means on said one bevel gear to prevent rotation of said one bevel gear relative to said carrier to thereby lock said differential, said locking means and said cylinder means being positioned adjacent said one of said bevel gears, and a shaped cover plate forming part of said differential carrier and structured and arranged to support said one of said bevel gears, said cover plate comprising a cavity formed therein and in which said locking means is located, wherein said locking means is positioned on only one side of said pinion gear, said actuator and cylinder means are positioned on only one side of said pinion gear, and said locking means, actuator and cylinder means are all positioned on the same side of said pinion gear.
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17. A kit for convening a differential to a locking differential, said kit including
a differential carrier structured and arranged to support a pair of bevel gears and at least one pinion gear therein, a locking means structured and arranged to be keyed or splined to said differential carrier so as to be capable of axial movement relative to said carrier between said carrier and one of said bevel gears, said locking means including locking tooth or spline means, a replacement bevel gear formed with tooth or spline means which are structured and arranged to co-operate with said tooth or spline means associated with said locking means to prevent rotation of said one bevel gear relative to said carrier, said carrier being formed with cylinder means structured and arranged to house an actuator for causing axial movement of said locking means relative to said carrier in use, said locking means and said cylinder means being positioned adjacent said one of said bevel gears, and a shaped cover plate forming part of said differential carrier and structured and arranged to support said one of said bevel gears and comprising a cavity in which said locking means is arranged to be located, wherein said locking means is structured and arranged to be positioned on only one side of the pinion gear, said actuator and cylinder means are structured and arranged to be positioned on only one side of pinion gear, and said locking means, actuator and cylinder means are all structured and arranged to be positioned on the same side of the pinion gear.
Specification