PLATE 3474251 - Caterpillar

Operation
Clutch Action
When a wheel is made to turn faster than the speed of the bevel gear, the "clutch action" (the stopping of power to drive axle) of the NoSPIN differential will let this axle turn faster than the speed of the bevel gear.If spider (17) turns, spider key (19) locates center cam (15) and the spider and the center cam turn at the speed of the bevel gear. The center cam turns holdout ring (8) and cam (21) at the speed of the bevel gear. The spider turns driven clutch (16) at the speed of the bevel gear. The driven clutch turns the side gear, axle and wheel at the speed of the bevel gear.When the wheel is made to turn faster than the speed of the bevel gear, the teeth of center cam (15) work like ramps and the teeth of cam (21) move up the teeth of the center cam. This action causes driven clutch (6) to become disengaged (not engaged) with the spider. The driven clutch pulls holdout ring (8) out of the grooves in the center cam. The friction between the holdout ring and driven clutch turns the holdout ring until notch (20) in the holdout ring engages with spider key (19). The holdout ring is now turned by the spider key at the speed of the bevel gear. The teeth of the holdout ring are now in a position so they can not engage the notches in the center cam. The driven clutch and cam move around the holdout ring at a speed faster than the speed of the bevel gear. The holdout ring keeps the driven clutch and cam from being engaged (engagement) with the center cam and spider. The driven clutch, cam, axle shaft and wheel now turn freely.The opposite side clutch cam and holdout ring are held engaged to the center cam and spider by spring (7) as long as the driven wheel turns slower.When the speed of the wheel that is not engaged becomes slower and near the speed of the bevel gear, the resistance of the ground to the wheel causes the torque on this wheel to be in a small reverse direction. This causes the driven clutch and cam to turn in a direction opposite the direction of the bevel gear. The friction between the holdout ring and the driven clutch causes the holdout ring to move in a direction opposite the direction of the bevel gear. Notch (20) in the holdout ring moves away from spider key (19). When the teeth of the holdout ring are in a position to engage the notches in center cam (15), the force of the spring causes the driven clutch and cam to move inside. The driven clutch pushes the holdout ring. The holdout ring now engages the center cam and is turned at the speed of the bevel gear. The teeth of cam (21) now engage the center cam and the teeth of the drive clutch engage the spider.