Ball differential

A ball differential is a type of differential typically used on radio-controlled cars. It differs from a geared differential by using several small ball bearings rotating between two plates, instead of bevel gears.

History

The first ball differential was patented in the early 20th century by an American engineer, for use in a lawn mower. In 1982 Cecil Schumacher, a British motorsport engineer, designed a ball differential for radio-controlled model cars. This was believed to be a new invention at the time, and the original American design was not found until Cecil Schumacher tried to patent the design. However radio-controlled cars were still a new application for the ball differential and Cecil Schumacher is regarded by many as the modern day inventor of the concept. Such was the popularity of the ball differential, originally applied in 1/12th on-road cars that Cecil Schumacher formed a company, Schumacher Racing Products. [cite web |url=http://www.racing-cars.com/main.asp?sitepages=companyinfo |title=Schumacher Company Information |accessdate=2007-08-19 |format= |work=]

To this date ball differentials remain very popular in the radio-controlled car market. They are used on almost every 1/12th on-road, scale touring car and electric off-road produced by many manufacturers. In these classes they are regarded as the industry standard. Schumacher Racing Products even use ball differentials on their nitro truck range, these however use strong materials and larger and harder ball bearings.

The Basic Principles

Radio-controlled car manufactures use the same basic design Schumacher created in the 1980’s. The main part of the differential is a drive gear (or pulley in a belt transmission) with multiple holes cut through it, following its outside diameter. These holes are slightly larger then the width of the ball bearings,so that the balls, commonly around 2 mm diameter in a model car, sit inside the holes of the gear/pulley.

On either side of the gear are the thrust washers. The thrust washers are pushed against the ball bearings inside of the gear by Belleville washers. On one side of the gear is an adjusting collar, which allows for adjustments in the amount of slip allowed by the differential [cite web |url=http://www.rctek.com/general/differential_ball_description.html |title=Model Car Differentials - The Ball Differential |accessdate=2007-08-19 |format= |work=] . A thrust bearing (or thrust race), on the opposite side of the gear, is used to stop the differential from loosening the retaining screw holding the output cups, used to attach the differential to the axle, onto the differential.

As the screw is tightened it pushes the Bellivelle and thrust washers onto the gear/pulley. This creates contact between the washers and ball bearings inside of the gear/pulley. The friction created by the contact between the washers and ball bearings is, aided by grease (commonly silicone grease), designed so that as one washer moves, the ball bearings rotate.

As the washer on the opposite side of the gear rotates, the rotation of the balls causes the other washer to rotate in the opposite direction, because any rotating ball will have opposite sides moving in opposite directions .

Differential movement is achieved through the process of the thrust washers rotating with the ball bearings. The retaining screw is designed so the differential can be easily adjusted by tightening or loosening the screw, consequently changing force. This makes the differential more adjustable then geared differentials.

References

External links

* [http://www.racing-cars.com Schumacher Racing Products] , inventors of the ball differential
* [http://www.offroad-cult.org/Special/Kugeldifferential/Diff.htm The Ball Differential] , detailed information, (German language) CGI-graphics and animation that show the ball differential's inner workings
* [http://www.rctek.com/general/differential_ball_description.html] , a similar exploded diagram and general information on other types of differentials