A differential gear train

General solution for differential gears

Gear 3 is fixed to the carrier of the
planetary drive. Considering gears
5 and 6,

Relative to the carrier,

Gears 2 and 3 rotate relative to
the frame. Therefore

Solution
1 1
5 3 6
1 1
6 3 5
1 1 1 1
5 5 5 3 6 6 6 3
1 1 1 1
5 5 6 6 6 3 5 3

N
N
N N N N
N N N N
e e
e e
e e e e
e e e e

= +
+ = + +

1 1
1
5 5 6 6
3
5 6
N + N
=
N +N
Solution
1 1
1
5 5 6 6
3
5 6
N + N
=
N +N
This defines the relation between the ring gear speed and
the wheel speeds. The ring gear speed is in turn related to
the driveshaft speed which comes from the engine.
Normally

5 6
1 1
1
5 5 5 6
3
5
1 1
1
5 6
3
N =N
N + N
=
2N
+
=
2
Ring gear speed is the
mean of the two wheel
speeds
Solution

1 1
1 1 1 1 5 6
3 5 6 3
+
= = - + 2
2
For straight line
motion both wheels
must have the same
speed
. .
2
i e

1 1
5 6
1 1 1
6 6 3
1 1
6 3
1 1 1
5 6 3
=
= - + 2
= 2
= =
For straight line motion ring gear must rotate at the same
speed as the wheels
Solution
( )
( )
1 1
4 3 6
1 1
6 3 4
1 1 1 1
4 4 4 3 6 6 6 3
1
1 1
4 4 6 4 3 6 6
1
1
6 4 3 6 6 1
4
4
N
N
N N N N
N N N N
N N N
N
e e
e e
e e e e
e e e
e e
e

= +
= +
+
=
3
6 4
3
6 4
N
N
e
e
=
1 1 3
4 3 4
e e e = +
Solution
( )
1
1
6 4 3 6 6 1
4
4
1
1
4 3
4
4
1 1
4 3
N N N
N
N
N
e e
e
e
e
e e
+
=
=
=
1 1 1
5 6 3
= =
For straight line
motion
For straight line motion all gears must rotate at the same
absolute speed.
Hence for straight line motion the differential moves like
a rigid shaft
Sample Problem involving differential gear train
The differential for a rear wheel-driven vehicle
is shown schematically. If the drive shaft turns
at 900 rpm, what is the speed of the vehicle if
neither wheel slips and the outside diameter of
the wheels is 24 in?
Solution to sample Problem involving differential gear train
The differential for a rear wheel-driven vehicle is shown schematically. If
the drive shaft turns at 900 rpm, what is the speed of the vehicle if neither
wheel slips and the outside diameter of the wheels is 24 in?
1
2
1 1
2
3 2
3
1 1 1
3 5 6
900
28
900 273.91
92
For straight line motion
273.91 rpm
rpm
N
(ignoring sign)
N
e
e e
e e e
=
= = =
=
= = =
1 1 1
3 5 6
=
Sample Problem involving differential gear train
Assume that the vehicle is stopped so that the right wheel
sits on a small icy patch and can spin freely while the left
wheel does not spin. Determine the angular velocity of the
right wheel if the angular speed of the drive shaft is 500
rpm.
Solution to sample Problem involving differential gear train
Assume that the vehicle is stopped so that the right wheel sits on a small icy patch
and can spin freely while the left wheel does not spin. Determine the angular
velocity of the right wheel if the angular speed of the drive shaft is 500 rpm.
1
2
1 1
2
3 2
3
1
5
1 1
1 1 1 6 6
3 6 3
1
3
500
28
500 152.74
92
0
For general motion
0
2 2 152.74
2 2
304.35
rpm
N
(ignoring sign)
N
rpm
e
e e
e
e e
e e e
e
=
= = =
=
+
= = = =
=
1 1
1 5 6
3
+
=
2

Sample Problem involving differential gear train
Assume that the vehicle is traveling at 35 mph and turns
around a curve with a radius of 50 ft from the centerline of
the vehicle. The center-to-center distance between the
treads of the right and left wheels is 60 in. Compute the
rotational speed of each rear wheel, the rotational speed of
the ring gear, and the rotational speed of the drive shaft.
Solution to sample Problem involving differential gear train
154
Speed of center of vehicle=35 35 5280 / 3600 51.33
3
Assuming a left turn,
1
Radius of circle traversed by left wheel = 50 60 /12 47.5
2
Radius of circle traversed
mile mile ft s ft ft
hr hr mile hr s s
in
in ft
ft
= = =
| |
=
|
\ .
1
by right wheel = 50 60 /12 52.5
2
For no slip for both wheels
154 47.5
Linear velocity of left wheel = 48.77
3 50
154 52.5
Linear velocity of right wheel = 53.9
3 50
wheel radius = 1
in
in ft
ft
ft ft
s s
ft ft
s s
f
| |
+ =
|
\ .
=
=
1 1
5 6
1
3
1 1 1 3
2 3 2
2
48.77 / , 53.9 / ,
48.77 53.9
For general motion 51.335 /
2
168.67 / 10120 1610.65
t rad s rad s
rad s
N
(ignoring sign) rad s rad/min = rpm
N
e e
e
e e e
= =
+
= =
= = = =
1 1
1 5 6
3
+
=
2
Assume that the vehicle is traveling at 35 mph and turns around a curve with a radius of 50
ft from the centerline of the vehicle. The center-to-center distance between the treads of
the right and left wheels is 60 in. Compute the rotational speed of each rear wheel, the
rotational speed of the ring gear, and the rotational speed of the drive shaft.