Differential with sprocket

A simple idea really, on the one side of the differential frame - gear teeth. On the other side - chain sprocket teeth. Chain is a little more forgiving of shaft flexing than gears.

Anyways. Kudos to VEX for coming out with the differential kit.

EJ

That is a good idea, unfortunately it may be quite a while before we get the opportunity to modify the differential-frame mold. Good thought!

JV

JV,

While you are at it, think up a way to create a variable (or constant?) resistance brake for the gear in the differential that rotates to let the gears attached to the axles do their slipping.

Perhaps something that we tighten with a screw?
Perhaps a fan that has to move a small pocket of viscous fluid?
Perhaps a small electrical generator (a modification of one of the Vex motors) hooked up to a dummy load?

Something to convert the differential into a poor-man’s limited-slip differential…

Blake

I didn’t have any pockets of viscous fluid handy, but I did find a screw!
https://vexforum.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=671&c=4

Playing around this morning, I think this works pretty good.
What do you think?

Regards,
John

Thanks John,

That picture is worth a thousand words. That looks like a decent way to get the job done.

Now… I’m still scratching my head about how to now vary the resistance on-the-fly while the differential is in use.

Blake