Differential for Motorcycle Trike

Abstract

A tilting suspension system is adapted for use with a vehicle having three wheels and a frame. The system has two sets of control arms, each set of control arms being pivotally connected to one side of the frame. An upright is pivotally connected to each set of control arms, each upright having a rotatable hub for allowing one of the wheels to be mounted thereto. Two rocker arms are pivotally connected to the frame, and a control link is pivotally connected to each of the rocker arms, such that pivoting of one rocker arm causes corresponding pivoting of the other rocker arm. A link member operably connects each rocker arm to a corresponding upright, such that pivoting of each rocker arm causes corresponding movement of the uprights. An actuator is configured to selectively pivot the rocker arms, such that actuation of the actuator pivots the rocker arms, thereby causing the frame to rotate about a generally longitudinal roll center and causing each upright to rotate about a generally longitudinal axis.

1 . A differential, comprising:
 a housing;   a first insert releasably coupled to the housing, the first insert having a concave internal surface;   a pair of opposing pinion gears disposed within the housing, at least one of the pinion gears having an external convex surface configured to mate with the internal concave surface of the first insert; and   a pair of opposing bevel gears disposed within the housing and matingly coupled to the pair of opposing pinion gears, each bevel gear having internal splines for transmitting torque to a corresponding drive axle.   
     
     
         2 . The differential according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second insert releasably coupled to the housing, the second insert being located opposite the first insert and having a concave internal surface configured to mate with a convex external surface of the other pinion gear.   
     
     
         3 . The differential according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cap member for enclosing the housing, the cap member being configured such that the cap member may be interchanged with cap members of different sizes, whereby the housing may be utilized with both belt-drive transmissions and direct-drive transmissions.   
     
     
         4 . The differential according to  claim 1 , wherein the pinion gears are interchangeable with pinion gears of different sizes and the bevel gears are interchangeable with bevel gears of different sizes.