| 摘要 |
A differential drive unit receives a rotational input and provides two rotational outputs therefrom. A rotatable housing has fixedly attached therein a drive member, which includes a drive plate transverse angled slots extending from one side thereof to the other. A plurality of movable drive balls are provided in the slots. Disposed within the housing on either side of the drive plate are driven members having semi-spherical drive member-receivers formed therein. Upon rotation of the housing and its drive plate, the drive balls are thrown outwardly in the angled slots and come into contact with available drive ball receivers adjacent thereto. Such contact transfers the rotational drive force from the drive plate to the driven members. Driven members are in turn connected to respective driven shafts with wheels thereon. One wheel can on occasion be caused to be turned faster than the other, such as during a turn. Such occurrence causes its corresponding driven member to move relative to the drive plate. The drive ball associated with that driven member is hence forced out of its drive ball receiver to eventually relocate in another "downstream" drive ball receiver on that same driven member, thereby again locking that driven member to the drive plate for rotation therewith. Upon reverse rotation of the drive plate, the drive balls are directed through the angled slots to engage with a drive ball receiver on the opposite driven member.
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