EPICYCLOIDAL TRAIN SELF-LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL

Abstract

The invention relates to a differential according to the main patent. The first, second or third rod respectively is replaced by a cam 101 with a substantially triangular cross-section, one apex 104 of which is engaged in the bottom of the groove 105 and the opposite base 102 of which is engaged in a recess 103 formed in the member 100 which carried the rod.

Description

The present invention relates to a variant of the cooperating rod and groove arrangement of the main patent. This patent relates to a self-locking differential with an epicloidal gear train, comprising one input member and two output members, characterized by the fact that it includes locking cores to lock two of the three input and output members together by axial displacement of the input member, and thrust means to cause said axial displacement of the input member when one of the output torques decreases. More particularly, the thrust means in this main patent may include at least a first radial rod engaged in a first radial groove with a V-shaped cross-section, the rod being fixedly mounted in one of the elements consisting of the differential housing and the input member, and the groove formed in the other of these elements, the input torque being applied to the input member via the support force exerted by the first rod on one of the flanks of the first groove. This patent also provides for locking means to prevent axial movement of the input member when a sufficient resisting torque is applied to at least one of the output members, these locking means being able to include at least a second radial rod engaged in a second radial groove with a t-shaped cross-section, the rod being rotationally fixed to one of the elements consisting of the output shaft corresponding to one of the output members and to that output member itself, and the groove being drilled into the other of these elements, the corresponding resisting torque being applied to the output member by means of the support force exerted by the second rod on one of the flanks of the second groove. This patent also provides that the input member may include the crown of the epicyclic gear train and that the second output member may include the planet carrier of the epicyclic gear train, at least a third rod being mounted rotationally fixed to the planet carrier, and engaged in a third radial groove with a V-shaped cross-section formed by a member fixed to the output shaft corresponding to the planet carrier, the resisting torque being transmitted from said output shaft to the planet carrier via the third rod. According to the invention, the said first and / or second and / or third rod is replaced by a rod with a substantially triangular cross-section, one apex of which is engaged at the bottom of the groove and the opposite base of which is engaged in a recess formed in the organ which carried the rod. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the member in which the groove is formed, and the member in which the joint is formed, have stops to limit their relative angular sliding. We will now describe, by way of non-limiting example, a particular embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which -Figures 1 and 2 represent two rotating organs in two different positions, depending on the relative value of the torque applied by the driving organ and the resisting torque exerted on the driven organ. The main patent provided in a number of cases for an organ attached to a rod engaged in a rib formed in another organ, one of these organs being motorized and the other being driven, the reaction of the rod on the sides of the rib causing an axial force used to ensure the operation of the device. According to the invention, the rod which was integral with an organ 100 is replaced by a camp 10 of substantially triangular shape, in this particular case isosceles, whose base 10 is engaged in a recess 103 of the organ ICO, and whose apex 104 opposite the base 102 is engaged at the bottom of the groove 105 of the opposite organ 106. If we assume that the driving member is member 100 and that it rotates in the direction indicated by arrow Fl, the assembly will adopt the configuration of figure z in which cam 101 has tilted, insofar as the resisting torque applied to member 106 is sufficient. Two cooperating stops 107 and 108 can be provided on the components 100 and 106 respectively to limit the relative slippage of these components. In this position, parts 100 and 106 are separated. If, on the other hand, this spacing is opposed, an axial force is recovered in the direction of the F2 plate as shown in figure 1. It is therefore understood that such an arrangement can replace any of the rod and groove arrangements of the main patent. Various variants and modifications can of course be made to the preceding aescriptior without departing from the framework or spirit of the invention.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Differential according to any one of claims 2, 5 and 7 of the main patent, characterized in that said first, second or third rod respectively. is replaced by a cam (101) of substantially triangular cross section, one apex (104) of which is engaged in the bottom of the groove (105j) and the opposite base (102) of which is engaged in a recess (103) formed in the member (100) which rotated the rod.

2. Differential according to claim 1, characterized in that the member ('06) in which the groove is formed and the member in which the indentation is formed have stops (107,108) to limit their relative angular slippage.