How does the differential work?

The main function of the transmission is the transfer of rotation from the motor to the drive wheels and adjustment of the gear ratio. The standard transmission includes a gearbox, a gearbox, and a cardan transmission.

When moving in a straight line, such a system is enough - the rotation of the wheels is carried out in one speed range. But when performing styles, the wheels move along different radii, passing different distances. Accordingly, some of them may slip. Also, this effect increases the load on transmission components, increases the risk of damage to drive elements.

To prevent this from happening, a differential unit is added to the transmission system. In simple terms, how does it work?differential, then it slows down the inner wheels and accelerates the outer ones. Thus, slipping and other negative consequences of this effect are excluded.

The main types of differential assemblies

Differentials are classified into 2 types, based on the place of installation:

• interwheel;
• interaxial

The first type is used on vehicles with one driving axle. On cars with rear-wheel drive, the differential is mounted on the gearbox. On vehicles with front-wheel drive, the differential is connected directly to the gearbox.

Only four-wheel drive vehicles are equipped with an inter-axle differential. It provides optimal distribution of rotation between the axles when moving on a road with an uneven surface. On all-wheel drive cars, a combination of different differential units is usually used.

Features of the functioning of the node

Differentials are made on the basis of a planetary gearbox. They consist of a gear of leading and driven types, satellites and a case.

Driven gears come with the same or different number of teeth. The first are called symmetrical, due to the proportional distribution of rotation between the shafts. The second (asymmetric) perform distribution according to the specified value.

Symmetrical gears are installed on inter-wheel differentials, asymmetric - on inter-axle ones.

The principle of operation of the differential:

1. On a straight trajectory, all wheels receive identical resistance from the road. The rotation from the gearbox is fed to the main gear wheel. The body of the differential assembly rotates parallel to it. The satellites transmit the torque to the gears of the driven type in an identical ratio, remaining stationary in relation to their own axes.
2. During turning, the inner wheels are subjected to more resistance. Due to this, the driven gear slows down, and the satellites begin to rotate on their axes. The movement of the satellites contributes to the increase in the speed of rotation of the outer wheel.

Thanks to the differential, the total torque does not change, but is evenly distributed between the wheels.

Differential lock

The differential has a significant drawback. If the resistance on any wheel disappears, a sharp jump in angular velocity occurs. As a result of the rotation, only this wheel is fed. Because of this, the second wheel stops. As a result - the car is immobilized.

To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to slow down the slipping wheel. This is what blocking is used for.

How does the differential lock work? Full involves a rigid connection of the differential case and one of the half-axles. The differential simply cannot spin faster than the reduction gear. Due to this, redistribution of rotation is excluded.

In partially locked systems, the forces that can be transferred between nodes are limited.

Blocking management

Locking is actively used on inter-axle and inter-wheel differentials. It can be activated in automatic or manual mode.

Manual differential lock - how does it work? It is used only as necessary. The driver independently chooses when to turn on the drive, as a result of which the elements of the differential unit are rigidly connected to each other.

Locking drives are classified into electromechanical and mechanized, as well as pneumatic and hydraulic.

Manual control involves following certain rules, knowing how the interaxial differential lock works. If you forget to disengage the differential lock and continue driving with good traction of both wheels on the road surface, there is a risk of damage to the transmission.

Automatic differentials

Systems of this type are called self-locking. They differ in that here the blocking is carried out without the direct participation of the driver.

How does the differential work? The easiest solution involves the availability of a disk package. Some disks are rigidly connected to the differential housing, others - to the axle. Also, they are tightly pressed together.

In normal mode, the disc pack rotates together with the differential. As the angular velocity increases, some of the disks begin to rotate faster. But due to friction, the increase in angular velocity slows down.

The principle of operation of the electronic interaxle differential lock is similar. Only here, instead of disks, ABS is used. If the angular speed increases on one of the wheels, the braking system automatically slows it down.