IsoTorque® Differential

IsoTorque® – The Fully Mechanical, High Traction, Proven Superior Differential

IsoTorque® is a fully mechanical, high traction differential that provides an order of magnitude in better performance than existing technologies for automotive and commercial vehicle use. IsoTorque balances (Iso) the Torque to each wheel according to the amount of available traction under each wheel. 

Its patented gear design provides a high torque bias without interfering with differentiation. Because it is fully mechanical, it responds instantly to different driving scenarios, providing on-demand traction where it is needed most.  It does this without the need for expensive programming, electronics, motors or plate clutches that may malfunction or wear out. IsoTorque is designed to perform for the life of the vehicle. It’s the one item that can offer the greatest improvement in performance for money invested.

While IsoTorque makes use of all available traction, it will also add to the performance, handling and safety of any vehicle in which it is employed. It has demonstrated consistent reduction in lap times of about one second per lap, and has been validated by multiple race teams and OEMs.

IsoTorque is perfectly compatible with ABS, TCS, and SCS. They work synergistically together to provide the ultimate safety and control system.

IsoTorque’s Unparalleled Performance

IsoTorque achieves unparalleled performance using a series of gears linking the two output shafts to the differential carrier. The side gears, one of which is splined on each axle shaft, have a high helix angle tooth design relative to their axis of rotation. The balance gears are a cluster gear, with helix teeth in the center and spur teeth at either end.  The balance gears are placed in a cross axis orientation to the side gears, and have a shallow helix angle tooth relative to their axis of rotation, while the spur teeth link each pair of balance gears. These balance gears have a pin through their middle that links them to the differential carrier while allowing them to rotate.

Innovative Functionality

• Differentiation occurs when terrain dictates that the two axle shafts rotate at different speeds (uneven terrain, cornering, etc.)
• Terrain places force on the output shafts to create a speed delta (difference) between the output shafts and the differential carrier (differentiation path)
• This causes side gears to apply rotational force on the balance gears
• High helix angle of side gear – in relation to its rotational orientation – places the majority of force into the axis of rotation of the balance gears
• Allows side gears to easily rotate the balance gears, providing differentiation with minimal effort

IsoTorque In Operation

• Power path starts at the pinion, travels to differential through ring gear, to balance gears, and finally to side gears that drive the axle shafts
• Because of low helix angle on balance gears and cross axis orientation to side gears, balance gears prevent wheel spin-up from being generated in axis of rotation of the side gears
• Result: differential rotates as a single unit, providing equal rotational speed to both output shafts, even with variations in traction on either axle shaft

IsoTorque’s unique gear design allows for both differentiation and biasing of torque to occur simultaneously and seamlessly.

Art:(PU Split Coefficient Performance Curve and Differentiation vs. TBR graphics with other captions from brochure.)

Maximum Traction, Perfect Differentiation

The IsoTorque differential simultaneously provides each powered wheel with the RPM difference needed to compensate for turning radius or terrain variation, and distributes the torque required for traction differences under each wheel. And it does this under all road surface conditions. IsoTorque delivers maximum traction and perfect differentiation. IsoTorque will react instantly, simultaneously compensating for all conditions automatically, with no need for electronics or clutches.

IsoTorque In Action and Production

Today’s IsoTorque technology retains the essence of the world-renowned Torsen ® differential, invented by Vernon Gleasman in 1958, and used in the legendary Audi Quattro and U.S. Military Hummer.  Today, we’ve made major improvements to the original Torsen design, making it less expensive to manufacture and stronger, and delivering even greater performance.

In fact, in 2004, Torvec obtained U.S. patents on the IsoTorque differential in 2004 and 2009, for significantly improved function, strength, wear, performance and manufacturability.

Used by numerous race teams for multiple years, IsoTorque has proven its strength and performance edge from SCCA to Grand Am by improving lap times by a minimum of one second, as well as increasing vehicle control.

IsoTorque is completely scalable from the smallest passenger car to the largest over-the-road truck, and can be used in front wheel drive (FWD) rear wheel drive (RWD) or all wheel drive (AWD) applications. It is completely compatible with all ABS, traction and stability control programs.