Powertrax No-Slip Traction System User Manual User Manual
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“Saddle springs” inserted in the driver saddles press upon the pinion shaft and give the
drivers an outward pressure onto the couplers. “Active Spacers” snug the pinion shaft
and communicate its position to the “synchro ring” mechanisms assembled within the
couplers. The active spacers fit within the drivers and onto the couplers providing on-axis
positioning.
The saddle springs act to keep the driver saddles centered on the pinion shaft and
provide damping as power is applied through the pinion shaft onto the drivers.
As the differential case rotates, the pinion shaft advances with it, compressing the saddle
springs until the pinion shaft contacts the driver saddles at a positive power transfer an-
gle. Power is then directed from the drivers to the couplers through positive engagement
tooth profiles on the driver and coupler faces that mesh to transfer full power to the drive
wheels. When the vehicle is driven straight, all the power is delivered to both wheels
through both sets of drivers and couplers.
In a turn, the outside wheel in effect “accelerates” ahead of the inside wheel to compen-
sate for the difference in the turning radius distance of the inner versus the outer wheels.
As the outer wheel rotates faster, because it must travel farther than the inner wheel, it
advances the coupler from the driver and relaxes the power distributed to the outside
wheel. As the coupler continues to advance, it ramps the driver to disengage from the
coupler. The synchro ring continues to turn with the coupler until it is stopped by the ac-
tive spacer “paddle”. The synchro ring is then positioned to prevent re-engagement of the
driver and coupler until the turn is complete. The outside wheel in the turn continues to
rotate freely with power being delivered to the inside wheel. When turning concludes,
the synchro mechanism is reset and power is reapplied to both driving wheels. Full wheel
differentiation is thereby provided automatically and identically for right and left turns.
Operation is precise, smooth and quiet.