How does an open differential works?

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    A differential is a gearbox that is used in four-wheelers and above. It alters the incoming power flow from the engine and distributes evenly to the drive wheels. Drive wheels are the type of wheels that gets the power from the engine and drive the vehicle. Most of the four-wheel vehicles use rear wheel drives system, where the engine sits in the front of the vehicle and transmits the power (rotational energy) to the back wheels (Drive wheels) via a shaft. Both the rear wheels receive the engine power simultaneously. But connecting the engine directly to the wheels via a shaft might not be a good idea, because when a four-wheel vehicle is taking a left or right turn, one wheel has to cover a larger distance than the other wheel at the same time, so one wheel must be rotating in higher speed than the other. So to drive each wheel at a different speed differential is used.



     There are mainly two types of differential used, namely normal differential and the limited-slip differential. In this topic, we can see about the construction and operation of the normal differential.

CONSTRUCTION

   A normal differential consists of several gears namely pinion gear, ring gear, side gear, and spider gear. Here the spider gear is considered as the heart of the differential. As shown in the image below, the engine power is transferred to the ring gear via the pinion gear and the propeller shaft. Therefore the ring gear rotates with the pinion gear. At next, the spider gear is connected to the ring gear which also rotates along with the ring gear. The spider gear also has some important property; that it can rotate with the ring gear and also rotate on its own axis. This property enables each drive wheel to rotate at different speeds. Thus the two drive wheels connected with the side gear are connected to the spider gear. Now by considering different instances, let us understand the property of the differential.

Construction of Open Differential


Case 1:- (Vehicle is moving straight)

    In this case, the four-wheel vehicle is moving in a straight way through which both the rear wheels in the vehicle move at the same speed. So the output rotational energy produced by the engine is transferred to the pinion gear and then it gets transferred to the ring gear and then flows to the spider gear from which the power is collected by the side gears and fed to the drive wheels. Here the spider gear does not make any rotation on its own axis, because both the side gears are rotating at the same speed. So there will not be any force to rotate the spider gear on its own axis.

Spider gear makes no rotation


Case 2:- (Vehicle is making a left turn)

    In this case, the vehicle is moving towards the left side. So the right wheel of the vehicle must rotate at a higher speed than the left wheel to cover the same distance as the left wheel at the stipulated time. So to rotate each wheel at a different speed, the spider gear must rotate on its own axis. So at first, the engine power is given to the ring gear through the pinion gear. Then the power is transferred to the spider gear by which it starts to rotate along with the ring gear. Now as the right wheel is rotating at a faster rate, the spider gear will rotate in one direction thereby giving the maximum peripheral velocity to the right wheel than the left wheel. The maximum peripheral velocity is given to the right wheel by the combined force of, rotation and revolution of the spider gear at the right side. In case of two spider gears, both will rotate in opposite directions thereby giving the output to the right wheel. Now both the wheel will cover the specified distance at the specified time.

Spider gear makes rotation in one direction



Case 3:- (Vehicle is making a right turn)

   In this case, the vehicle is moving towards the right side. So the left wheel of the vehicle must rotate at a higher speed than the right wheel at a given time. So as explained in the above process everything happens as the same thing, except in the spider gear. Here, as the left wheel is rotating at a faster rate, the spider gears will rotate in opposite direction, thereby giving maximum peripheral velocity to the left wheel. Now the left wheel will rotate at a higher speed than the right wheel and both cover the same distance at a given time.


Spider gear makes rotation in the opposite direction


    So by using this normal differential method we can control the speed of the wheels independently and can maintain a smooth operation over the wheels. But there is a disadvantage in this type of differential system. When one of the wheels encounters a slippery surface most of the engine power is transferred to the slippery wheel, as the slippery wheel rotates at a very higher speed than the other wheel. So the vehicle cannot move well. Thus to avoid the disadvantage of the normal slip differential, limited-slip differential is introduced. Let’s see the construction and operation of the limited-slip differential in my next post.

https://sciencetopic03.blogspot.com/2021/12/how-clutch-type-pre-load-spring-based.html

 

 

 

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