Differential drive mechanism

Claim 2

In a differential driving mechanism, a rotatable drive casing, a pair of driven hub members coaxially mounted in end to end relation in the drive casing for independent rotation, one of the drive casing on the one hand and the hub members on the other hand having ramps and the other being smooth, a pair of sets or rollers freely mounted between the drive casing and each of said driven hub members for circumferential movement between a released position and a driven position between the ramps and the other of the casing and the driven hub members in either direction by a wedging action of the rollers therebetween, a pair of annular cages for the rollers freely mounted concentrically in opposed relation on the driven hub members for adjustable rotation relative thereto, and a pair of frictional drag means including frictional actuators positioned between the ends of the hub members and the end of the cages and also including frictional dampers positioned between the ends of the casing and the ends of the cages.

Claim 3

The differential drive means of claim 1 wherein the cages include radial flanges frictionally engaging the frictional actuators and the frictional dampers.

Claim 4

The differential drive means of claim 2 wherein the frictional dampers comprise annular bosses on the inside faces of the ends of the casing and frictionally engaging the radial flanges of the cages.

Claim 5

The differential drive mechanism of claim 2 wherein the frictional actuators include frictional members carried by the hub members and pressed against the radial flanges of the cages.

Claim 6

The differential drive mechanism of claim 4 wherein the frictional members are plugs slidable in longitudinal bores in the hubs and including springs mounted in the bore urging the plugs against the radial flanges of the cages.

Claim 7

The differential drive mechanism of claim 5 wherein the ends of the casing are provided with annular bosses engaging the radial flanges of the cages.

Claim 8

The differential drive mechanism of claim 6 wherein the cages are cup-shaped and the radial flanges are the bottoms of the cups.

Claim 9

In a differential driving mechanism, a rotatable drive casing having driving ramps, a pair of driven hub members coaxially mounted in end to end relation in the drive casing for independent rotation, a plurality of crowned rollers freely mounted between the drive casing and each of the driven hub members for circumferential movements between released positions and driven positions between the ramps of the casing and the driven hub members in either direction by a wedging action of the rollers therebetween, a pair of annular cages for the rollers freely mounted on the driven hub members for adjustable rotation relative thereto, frictional actuating means coupling the cages and the driven hub members, and frictional damping means coupling the cages and the casing.

Claim 10

In a differential driving mechanism, a rotatable drive casing having driving ramps, a pair of driven hub members coaxially mounted in end to end relation in the drive casing for independent rotation, a plurality of crowned rollers freely mounted between the drive casing and each of the driven hub members for circumferential movements between released positions and driven positions between the ramps of the casing and the driven hub members in either direction by a wedging action of the rollers therebetween, a pair of annular cages for the rollers freely mounted on the driven hub members for adjustable rotation relative thereto, frictional actuating means coupling the cages and the driven hub members, and frictional damping means coupling the cages and the casing.

Claim 11

A differential driving mechanism cOmprising a rotatable drive casing having a cylindrical sleeve portion provided with longitudinal grooves of uniform transverse cross section forming ramps and also having end portions having bosses, a pair of driven hub members coaxially mounted in end to end relation in the drive casing for independent rotation, a pair of sets of rollers freely mounted between the drive casing and the driven hub members for circumferential movement between a released position and a driven position between the ramps and the hub members in either direction by a wedging action of the rollers therebetween, a pair of cupped annular cages for the rollers freely mounted concentrically in opposed relation on the hub members for adjustable rotation and longitudinal movement relative thereto, the bottoms of the cupped annular cages extending between the ends of the hub members and the bosses, and a plurality of sets of frictional actuating members under compression between the bottoms of the cages and the hub members and urging the bottoms of the cages against the bosses.

Claim 12

A differential driving mechanism cOmprising a rotatable drive casing having a cylindrical sleeve portion provided with longitudinal grooves of uniform transverse cross section forming ramps and also having end portions having bosses, a pair of driven hub members coaxially mounted in end to end relation in the drive casing for independent rotation, a pair of sets of rollers freely mounted between the drive casing and the driven hub members for circumferential movement between a released position and a driven position between the ramps and the hub members in either direction by a wedging action of the rollers therebetween, a pair of cupped annular cages for the rollers freely mounted concentrically in opposed relation on the hub members for adjustable rotation and longitudinal movement relative thereto, the bottoms of the cupped annular cages extending between the ends of the hub members and the bosses, and a plurality of sets of frictional actuating members under compression between the bottoms of the cages and the hub members and urging the bottoms of the cages against the bosses.

Claim 13

In a differential driving mechanism, a rotatable drive casing, a pair of driven hub members coaxially mounted in end to end relation in the drive casing for independent rotation and having end bores, one of the hub members and the drive casing having ramps and the other being smooth, a pair of sets of rollers freely mounted between the drive casing and each of said driven hub members for circumferential movement between a released position and a driven position against the ramps by a wedging action of the rollers thereagainst, a pair of cupped annular cages for the rollers freely mounted concentrically in opposed relation on the driven members for adjustable rotation relative thereto and having internal end flanges overhanging the bores, the drive casing includes annular boss portions engaging the flanges of the cages to damp movements of the cages, a plurality of cylindrical plugs of friction material slidable in the bores, and means for pressing the plugs against the end flanges of the cages.

Claim 14

In a differential driving mechanism, a rotatable drive casing, a pair of driven hub members coaxially mounted in end to end relation in the drive casing for independent rotation and having end bores, one of the hub members and the drive casing having ramps and the other being smooth, a pair of sets of rollers freely mounted between the drive casing and each of said driven hub members for circumferential movement between a released position and a driven position against the ramps by a wedging action of the rollers thereagainst, a pair of cupped annular cages for the rollers freely mounted concentrically in opposed relation on the driven members for adjustable rotation relative thereto and having internal end flanges overhanging the bores, the drive casing includes annular boss portions engaging the flanges of the cages to damp movements of the cages, a plurality of cylindrical plugs of friction material slidable in the bores, and means for pressing the plugs against the end flanges of the cages.

Claim 15

In a differential driving mechanism, a rotatable drive casing, a pair of driven hub members coaxially mounted in end to end relation in the drive casing for independent rotation and having end bores, one of the hub members and the drive casing having ramps and the other being smooth, a pair of sets of rollers freely mounted between the drive casing and each of said driven hub members for circumferential movement between a released position and a driven position against the ramps by a wedging action of the rollers thereagainst, a pair of cupped annular cages for the rollers freely mounted concentrically in opposed relation on the driven members for adjustable rotation relative thereto and having internal end flanges overhanging the bores, a plurality of cylindrical plugs of friction material slidable in the bores, means for pressing the plugs against the end flanges of the cages, and damping means coupling the cages to the drive casing.

Claim 16

In a differential driving mechanism, a rotatable drive casing, a pair of driven hub members coaxially mounted in end to end relation in the drive casing for independent rotation and having end bores, one of the hub members and the drive casing having ramps and the other being smooth, a pair of sets of rollers freely mounted between the drive casing and each of said driven hub members for circumferential movement between a released position and a driven position against the ramps by a wedging action of the rollers thereagainst, a pair of cupped annular cages for the rollers freely mounted concentrically in opposed relation on the driven members for adjustable rotation relative thereto and having internal end flanges overhanging the bores, a plurality of cylindrical plugs of friction material slidable in the bores, means for pressing the plugs against the end flanges of the cages, and damping means coupling the cages to the drive casing.

Claim 17

The differential drive mechanism of claim 11 wherein the rollers are crowned.