Any Bright Ideas?

[DirtRacer]

Just wondering if anyone has got any ideas, however big or small but you reckon could make a difference?...

I was going back in my head (college days) today whilst i was driving and was thinking about Differentials.. Its amazing how the whole thing evolved from a simple gear system to using balls, they were known as limited slip diff when they first came out and were mainly used at the front.

My main concern with ball diffs was the wear and constant checking of how smooth your diff was running after doing a meeting. Once your diff was starting to run all rough 8/10 you know its because your diff rings are worn and need replacing..

Now going back to what i said about my college days when i used to study engineering, we once covered a topic about Bearings and the wide variety there are. Ballbearings is the norm for rc cars... The thing about ballbearings is that they are prone to wear and are not as robust or smooth and reliable when compared to rollerbearings. And so with the diff in mind as well as rollers, i was thinking why cant anyone try using rollers (say four pieces?) in diffs?.

The reason why those diff rings wear out in ball diffs is mainly because theres a lot of force put on them and with just point contact between balls and plates makes those balls prone to digging in... Now with rollers there is line contact which is substancially more and so i was thinking diffs would run smoother and more realiable over a longer period of time?...Any ideas?

[Cooper]

well
imagine cilinder and not a ball
what will happen
the material more in the center of the diff will have to 'turn' a shorter radius than the material on the outside of the cilinder, so creating friction and more wear.

not easy to explain in words but I thing you've got the point


btw, my EVOIII gears are almost finished
I hope my LHS has the last parts I need fort the testing (bearings balls and second set of everything for the rear of the car)

[DirtRacer]

Yeah i thought about that but a 1/10th diff isnt so big and so the rollers in mind wont be all that long and so the theory will be irrelivant. And to further lower that factor is why i stated only 4 rollers?

[Cooper]

I think that if you do that you will have to much load on the discs, ->> deformation--> bad diff action

[pro4nut]

What about conical bearings, solves both problems?

[Cooper]

yes, good thinking
but do you want to pay it ?
I think It'll become an expensive diff ...

[DirtRacer]

actually hows about making them both into the shape of those bevel gear diffs without the gears ofcourse?.. You guys know what i mean?

Basically think of gear diffs, think about the shapes their formed but the surfaces are flat?. This should be interesting? ;D

Titanium Bevels and outdrives with blades on the driveshafts?...Could prove expensive but i like the thought of smooth diffs for a great length of time.. Say 3 seasons?.. ;D ;D