LAMP-INDICATOR 1V0451 - Caterpillar

Illustration 1 g01263336
(1) Bevel pinion (2) Bevel gear (3) Differential case (4) Pinion gear (5) Side gear (6) SpiderA differential divides the power that is sent to the wheels or a differential causes a balance of the power that is sent to the wheels. A differential allows one wheel to turn at a slower rate than the other wheel on an axle. For example, this occurs during a turn. During a turn, the differential allows the inside wheel to rotate at a slower rate in relation to the outside wheel. The differential still sends the same amount of torque to each wheel.Straight Forward or straight Reverse Operation
When the machine moves in a straight direction with the same amount of traction under each drive wheel, the same amount of torque on each axle holds the pinions so they do not turn on the spider.Bevel pinion (1) turns bevel gear (2). Bevel gear (2) turns differential case (3). Differential case (3) turns spider (6). Spider (6) turns side gears (5) through pinion gears (4). Pinion gears (4) do not turn on the shaft. Side gears (5) turn the axle shafts and the final drive sun gears. The same amount of torque is sent through the final drives to each wheel.This gives the same effect as if both drive wheels were on one axle shaft.Operation during a Forward Turn or Operation during a Reverse Turn
When the machine is turning, the inside wheel is more resistant than the outside wheel to the turn. This resistance causes different torques on the opposite sides of the differential. The outside wheel turns more easily than the inside wheel. The outside wheel starts to turn faster than the inside wheel.Bevel pinion (1) turns bevel gear (2). Bevel gear (2) turns differential case (3). Differential case (3) turns spider (6). Spider (6) turns side gears (5) through pinion gears (4). Since it takes more force to turn one side gear than it does the other, pinion gears (4) turn around spider (6). As the pinion gears turn, they move around the side gears. This allows the outside wheel to turn faster than the inside wheel.The same amount of torque is sent through the final drives to both the inside and outside wheels. This torque is only equal to the amount needed to turn the outside wheel.Loss of Traction (Wheel Slippage)
When one wheel has more traction than the other, the operation of the differential is the same as in a turn. The same amount of torque is sent to both wheels. This torque is only equal to the amount needed to turn the wheel with the least resistance.