| Randy's Ring & Pinion Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20100113208 | LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL WITH SHEAR PIN/SPRING ASSEMBLY - A clutch assembly for a locking differential includes driving clutch members engaged with driven clutch members in a preloaded configuration to provide a minimum amount of preload there between during low torque conditions. The driving clutch members are biased relative to each other with shear pin/spring assemblies located within bores of the driving clutch members. During assembly of the clutch assembly, the shear pin/spring assemblies may be positively locked down within the bores with a removable tool. In one embodiment, the removable tool is inserted into a small opening extending through the driving clutch member and the tool engages an annular groove on a shear pin of the shear pin/spring assembly. Further, the clutch assembly may include driving clutch members having drainage openings that may help prevent hydraulic lock during operation of the locking differential. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100093481 | LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL HAVING IMPROVED CLUTCH TEETH - A hold-out ring type locking differential for an automobile or other type of motorized vehicle includes a differential case housing a number of components, such as a center driver positioned between holdout rings, clutch members, springs, spring retainers, side gears, and thrust washers. The center driver includes a center cam that engages inner teeth of the clutch members, which in turn include a tooth shape or profile for reducing stress and wear while increasing an operational life of the clutch member. The inner clutch teeth each have a top portion coupled to a base portion at an intersection point. The top portion extends from the intersection point to a free edge surface while the base portion extending from the intersection point continually into a root radius region. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20090197732 | LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL HAVING A SPLIT-CENTER DRIVER - A locking differential includes a housing with an interior chamber in which a two-piece split-center driver is located. The split-center driver is positioned on opposite sides of a cross-pin assembly. A pair of axially spaced output shafts extend from the interior chamber and are coupled to a pair of side gears. The split-center driver gear and a centered cam member are arranged co-axially about the adjacent ends of the output shafts, and annular clutch members are operable to disconnect an overrunning output shaft | 08-06-2009 |
| 20080242469 | LOCKABLE DIFFERENTIALS - The present invention provides user-selectable locking differential having a carrier coupled to a ring gear. The carrier includes a differential case that supports side bevel gears, which mesh with bevel pinion gears. The differential gear train is lockable by moving a locking ring into engagement with one of the bevel gears. In one embodiment, an expandable membrane seated in an annular groove of the differential case operates to urge the locking ring into engagement with the bevel gear. In another embodiment, a cup having a low-friction surface is placed in the annular groove of the case and a piston moves relative to the cup to urge the locking ring into engagement with the bevel gear. In addition, the locking ring, bevel gear, and the differential case each have engagement features that advantageously reduce the amount of friction between these respective components. | 10-02-2008 |
