iii. AUTOMATIC LOCKERS:
Transmit
power to each wheel through a pair of dog clutches. Differential action, such
as when cornering is provided by
automatically disengaging the appropriate clutch when one wheel rotates
faster than the other. This results in differential action which occurs in
ratcheting stages rather than being smooth and progressive. Power received by
the differential is automatically directed to the wheel with greater traction.
Therefore, if one wheel is lifted off the ground, the other wheel will receive
the total power applied to the differential to maintain vehicle mobility.
Traction is
far superior to conventional and limited slip differentials. While automatic
locking differential provide excellent performance off road, vehicle handling,
particularly on highway, is sacrificed. Unlocking during cornering can be
sudden, resulting in a rapid change of direction, particularly in short wheel
based vehicles. During sharp cornering an audible ratcheting sound usually
occurs as differential action takes place and a loud banging noise may be heard
when the unit locks up again.