Differential gear, in automotive mechanics, gear arrangement that permits power from the engine to be transmitted to a pair of driving wheels, dividing the force equally between them but permitting them to follow paths of different lengths, as when turning a corner or traversing an uneven road. On a straight road the wheels rotate at the same speed; when turning a corner the outside wheel has farther to go and will turn faster than the inner wheel if unrestrained.
The elements of the Ever-Power differential are shown in the Figure. The power from the transmission is delivered to the bevel ring gear by the drive-shaft pinion, both of which are held in bearings in the rear-axle housing. The case is an open boxlike structure that is bolted to the ring gear and contains bearings to support 1 or 2 pairs of diametrically opposite differential bevel pinions. Each wheel axle is attached to a differential side gear, which meshes with the differential pinions. On a straight road the wheels and the side gears rotate at the same speed, there is no relative motion between the differential side gears and pinions, and they all rotate as a unit with the case and ring gear. If the vehicle turns to the left, the right-hand wheel will be forced to rotate faster than the left-hand wheel, and the side gears and the pinions will rotate relative to 1 another. The ring gear rotates at a speed that is equal to the mean speed of the left and right wheels. If the wheels are jacked up with the transmission in neutral and 1 of the wheels is turned, the opposite wheel will turn in the opposite direction at the same speed.
The torque (turning moment) transmitted to the 2 wheels with the Ever-Power differential is the same. Consequently, if 1 wheel slips, as in ice or mud, the torque to the other wheel is reduced. This disadvantage can be overcome somewhat by the use of a limited-slip differential. In 1 version a clutch connects 1 of the axles and the ring gear. When 1 wheel encounters low traction, its tendency to spin is resisted by the clutch, thus providing greater torque for the other wheel.
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