GLASS 5V8468 - Caterpillar

Illustration 1 g03773747
Differential
(1) Bevel pinion shaft
(2) Gear
(3) Oil supply tube
(4) Chamber
(5) Piston
(6) Pressure plate
(7) Rotating plate
(8) Friction disc
(9) Hub assembly
(10) Axle shaft
(11) Side gear
(12) Differential case
(13) Spider
(14) Pinion gear
(15) Axle shaft
(16) Side gear
(17) Bevel gear
(18) Differential carrierA differential is an arrangement of gears which enables one shaft to drive two shafts with equal torque. The differential also allows the two shafts to rotate at different speeds.The differential in an axle enables drive to be maintained to both wheels through separate axle shafts when the machine is turning. The inside wheel of a turn will travel a shorter distance than the outside wheel. Turning causes the inside wheel to slow down while the outside wheel speeds up.In adverse ground conditions, one or more of the wheels may lose traction. The action of the differential will result in a loss of drive. The differential allows the torque to be transmitted along the path of least resistance. The slipping wheel will receive the torque.The differential in each axle can be locked in adverse conditions. Locking the differential provides direct drive to all the wheels at the same speed regardless of the resistance due to traction.A differential divides the power that is sent to the machine wheels. During a turn, the inside wheel turns at a slower rate than the outside wheel. The differential still sends the same amount of torque to each wheel. Each differential has a differential lock. The main component of the differential lock is the clutch pack. When the differential lock switches are engaged, the clutch pack connects one axle shaft to the differential case. Both axle shafts are connected to form a solid axle with no differential effect.The inside components of the differential receive lubrication from the oil that is inside the axle housing.Bevel pinion shaft (1) is in constant mesh with bevel gear (17). The bevel pinion shaft and the bevel gear provide a gear reduction and a change in the direction of drive by 90°.Differential case (12) is attached to bevel gear (17). The differential case holds spiders (13). Four pinion gears (14) are free to rotate around the spiders. Side gears (11) and (16) are mounted in the differential case. The side gears are meshed with the pinion gears. Axle shafts (10) and (15) are splined into the side gears.When the bevel gear (17) is turned by bevel pinion shaft (1), differential case (12) is also turned. If the resistance between each of the road wheels is equal, pinion gears (14) will not rotate around spiders (13). The pinion gears will turn with the spiders. The pinion gears will turn the side gears with equal speed and equal torque.When the machine is turning, the wheel that is on the inside the turn will travel a shorter distance than the outside wheel. This situation causes the wheel on the inside the turn to slow down while the wheel on the outside of the turn speeds up.The axle shaft on the inside the turn and the side