and the spiel->
Power is transferred to the wheels through intermeshing teeth in such a way that one wheel cannot be powered ahead of the other. When entering a turn, where the outside wheel needs to travel faster than the inside wheel, the teeth driving the outside wheel disengage. The LOCK-RIGHT Locker is quieter than competing locking differentials, but nonetheless, as the vehicle continues through the turn, the teeth repeatedly engage and disengage producing a ratcheting sound.
The figure on the bottom of the diagram (See Detail) demonstrates the operation of the LOCK-RIGHT Locker. When powering straight ahead, the cross-shaft engages the saddles in the drivers at an angle such that, in addition to rotating the drivers, forces the teeth of the drivers into engagement with the teeth of the respective couplers. The harder the driving torque, the stronger the tooth engagement. When entering a turn, the driver on the outside of the turn advances ahead of the cross shaft so there is no torque or outward force imposed on this driver. The opposing driver remains fully engaged delivering engine power. After about 1° of rotation, the pins in the driver bottom out in the holes of the opposing driver, so it is now restrained from further rotation. Because the coupler is splined to the axle, it continues to rotate ahead of the driver. The positive angle on the coupler and driver teeth then enables the driver to disengage from the coupler with 1/2° of additional rotation. As the vehicle continues through the turn, the driver repeatedly engages and disengages from the coupler, making the aforementioned ratcheting sound. The springs between the two drivers ensure that the driver will reengage with the coupler when the vehicle exits the turn. The cross-shaft contacting the saddles provides the final engagement force, not the springs. In summary, the LOCK-RIGHT Locker offers full wheel differentiation combined with maximum traction.
