Limited Slip Differential

MAE442
Dr. Klang
David Starnes Technical Specialist
Matt Barbeau Design Specialist
William Morrison Team Management
Specialist
Outline
Introduction
History
Types of Differentials
-Conventional/Open Differential
-Clutch Type Limited Slip Differential
-Viscous Type Limited Slip Differential
-Double Reduction Differential
-Automatic and Manual Locking
Dissassembled Differential Pictures
Introduction:
Limited Slip Differentials (LSD)
can be found on most modern
cars and trucks.
Helps prevent the wind up
phenomenon.
Varying types of differentials
depending on the application.
History
Early use of the differential
was to track the phase of the
moon.
1st century BC- The Antikythera
mechanism contains a planer
differential. This device was
found in a shipwreck just
outside of the city of Crete.
1827- Watchmaker Onsiphore
Pecqueur patented the modern
automobile differential.
History cont.
1832 - Richard Roberts of
England patents gear of
compensation for road
locomotives.
1876 - James Starley invents the
chain driven differential for
bicycles.
1897 David Shearer uses the
first automotive differential on
an Australian steam car.
History cont
1950-1960 Many manufactures
began to apply brand names to their
limited slip differential units. The
most famous was Chevrolets
Positraction.
1997- The first active differential
was used in a production car; it was
found in the Honda Prelude SH and
was called the Active Torque
System.
2005 A fully integrated active
differential is used on the MR Farri
F430. A similar system is
also used on the Acura RL.
Conventional/Open
Differential:
Consists of two
side gears inside
of the
differential
case.
Found standard
on most cars and
SUVs
All of the gears
found inside of
the differential
case are directly
connected to a
Conventional/Open
Differential cont
Advantages
Great on paved
roads
Predictable
power
distribution on
dry surfaces
Easy to drive and
handle
Simplicity of
design
Lower
Conventional/Open
Differential cont
Disadvantages
Poor off-road handling
Unpredictable power
distribution on lower
friction surfaces, such as
sand or mud
Does not work if one of the
wheels in the set is
suspended in the air.
Clutch Type LSD
Clutch Type LSD cont.
In this clutch type, there is a built in
clutch preload
The amount of preload determines
how much tractive force will be
transferred to the opposite tire
during low speed operation.
As load the applied increases, the
separation forces between the
spider gears and the side gears
increase the clutch loading.
Therefore, the amount of preload is a
critical design factor in low speed
operation.
Viscous Type Limited Slip
Advantages
Smooth torque
transfer
Limited wind up at
low speed
More proportional
response due to slip
Easy to drive
Viscous Type Limited Slip
cont.
Disadvantages
Fluid can break
down with time
Less efficient than
a conventional
differential
Higher associated
maintenance
Double Reduction
Differentials
Advantages
Great for
industrial
purposes
High output torque
Relatively non-
complex
Double Reduction
Differentials cont
Disadvantages
Lower mechanical efficiency

Not good for lightweight

vehicles

Not the most adaptive design

Automatic and Manual
Locking
Advantages Disadvantages
Good for off road Either on or off, no
purposes in between
Can be turned on The manual locking
and off according differential may
to driver only be turned on
preference when the car is at
Can save a driver rest
the expense of Not good for
always using four- unpredictable road
wheel drive conditions
Higher efficiency
compared to a
viscous
differential
Pictures of Differential
Disassembly
Taken from a 1995 Dodge
Stealth VR4.

Car was used for drag racing

with heavy loads on the
differential.

No damage to differential,
showing ruggedness of design
Reference Web Sites
http://media.popularmechanics.com
/images/vcoupling-sm.jpg
www.autozine.org/technical_school
/traction/tech_pic_traction_diff_lo
ck.jpg
http://www.4wdonline.com/A/PiCs3
7/diff.jpg
http://chevy.tocmp.com/1942_47sho
p/files/4247csm422c.jpg
http://www.autozine.org/technical
_school/traction/tech_pic_traction