tasauspyörästöstä

Tasauspyörästö, often translated as differential gear or simply differential, is a vital component in most wheeled vehicles. Its primary function is to allow the drive wheels on the same axle to rotate at different speeds. This is crucial when a vehicle turns. During a turn, the outer wheel must travel a longer distance than the inner wheel in the same amount of time, meaning it needs to rotate faster. Without a differential, this speed difference would cause significant stress on the drivetrain, leading to tire wear, poor handling, and potential damage to the axle and transmission.

The basic design of a differential involves a set of gears housed within a casing. A central pinion gear connects to the driveshaft and drives a ring gear. The ring gear is attached to a carrier, which in turn holds a set of smaller gears called spider gears. These spider gears are mounted on a shaft within the carrier and mesh with two side gears. Each side gear is connected to one of the drive wheels. When the vehicle travels in a straight line, both wheels rotate at the same speed, and the spider gears rotate with the carrier. However, when a turn is initiated, the resistance from the inner wheel causes the spider gears to pivot, allowing the outer wheel to spin faster.

There are various types of differentials, including open differentials, limited-slip differentials (LSDs), and locking differentials. Open differentials are the simplest and most common, but they have a drawback: if one wheel loses traction, most of the torque will be sent to that slipping wheel, and the vehicle may not move. Limited-slip differentials offer improved traction by partially locking the wheels together, directing more torque to the wheel with better grip. Locking differentials provide a full lock, ensuring both wheels receive equal torque, which is beneficial for off-road situations but detrimental for on-road turning.