Differential - this is what the mechanism and how it works?

Differential is one of the most important design elements of the transmission. This device is intended for distribution and transmission of torque between two consumers. Also, the differential of the bridge ensures their rotation with different angular velocity. In today's article, we'll look at the structure of this mechanism and learn the principle of its operation.

Where is it located?

As we have already said, the differential is part of the transmission of the car. However, in different machines it is located in different ways. So, in the rear-wheel drive cars, it is located in the crankcase of the rear axle, in front- wheel drive vehicles - in the transmission itself. For machines with all-wheel drive, this mechanism is located in the "dispenser" (the driving axle drive) or in the axle crankcase (drive wheel mechanism).

The differential that is used to drive the wheels on the drive axle is called inter-wheel. As a rule, such devices are installed on all-wheel drive cars. Differential UAZ is also considered inter-wheeled.

Modes of operation

In the work of this mechanism, there are 3 main operating modes:

• Straightforward motion.
• Movement on a slippery road.
• The movement of the vehicle in a corner.

In the first case, the wheels meet an equal road resistance. Force (torque) is then transmitted from the main gear to the differential housing. Together with it, the satellites also move. The latter transmit the force to the wheels of the driving bridge in equal proportions. Since the satellites on the axis do not rotate, the semi-axial gears that circulate the first mechanism move at the same speed. This value corresponds to the speed of the gears in the main gear.

When the vehicle is moving along a slippery road, one of the wheels may slip, and at the same time the second can provide a normal grip on the blade. To ensure that the machine does not slip on level ground, the differential activates the wheel that rotates at the minimum frequency. The second wheel remains untouched. The stabbing tire does not provide a normal grip on the road, so its torque is close to zero. At the same time, do not forget that the differential is a symmetrical part and it is not a fact that the device will move both wheels with normal speed. Often it happens that this mechanism perceives the forces from the spinning wheel and reduces the transfer of effort to the second. Thus, the car becomes immovable and can be activated only by a winch or a tug.

In the third case, the differential is a mechanism that slows the movement of the car's half-axis gear and causes the satellites to rotate about the axis, which in turn increases their speed. And it happens because in the turn the inner wheel has more resistance than the outer wheel, and additional load falls on it. Therefore, the differential of the car distributes the same force on both wheels. Accordingly, the torque will be equal in both cases.