Cross-shaft for three pinion differential

A differential gear mechanism comprising:

• a differential case defining first, second and third holes and corresponding first, second and third counterbores formed therearound, the differential case rotating around an axis of rotation;
• a first and a second side gear rotatably mounted within the differential case, the first and second side gears being co-axially aligned along the axis of rotation;
• a first, second and third pinion gear mounted between the first and second side gears, each of the first, second and third pinion gears being rotatably mounted on a respective cross-shaft, each cross-shaft having a cylindrical pin body that extends between first and second ends, the first, second and third pinion gears intermeshing with the first and second side gears to form a torque transfer arrangement configured for transferring torque between the pinion gears and the first and second side gears to rotate the first and second side gears about the axis of rotation, the torque transfer arrangement also being configured for allowing the first and second side gears to rotate at different rotational speeds with respect to one another about the axis of rotation;
• a center block having a cylindrical block body that defines a first, second and third slot thereon, the center block disposed between the first and second side gears;
• and
• wherein each first end of a respective cross-shaft is received by a corresponding counterbore of the differential case, the counterbores acting as a load transfer surface therefor, and each second end is received by a corresponding slot of the center block.

A differential gear mechanism comprising:

• a differential case defining first, second and third holes disposed radially outward of corresponding first, second and third counterbores, the differential case rotating around an axis of rotation;
• a first and a second side gear rotatably mounted within the differential case, the first and second side gears being co-axially aligned along the axis of rotation;
• a first, second and third pinion gear mounted between the first and second side gears, each of the first, second and third pinion gears being rotatably mounted on a respective cross-shaft, each cross-shaft having a cylindrical pin body that extends between first and second ends, the first, second and third pinion gears intermeshing with the first and second side gears to form a torque transfer arrangement configured for transferring torque between the pinion gears and the first and second side gears to rotate the first and second side gears about the axis of rotation;
• a center block having a cylindrical block body that defines first, second and third axially extending slots thereon, each of the first, second, and third axially extending slots defined by a pair of opposed walls;
• and
• wherein each first end of a respective cross-shaft is received by a corresponding counterbore of the differential case, the counterbores acting as a load transfer surface therefor, and each second end is received by a corresponding axially extending slot of the center block in a non-rotatably, keyed relationship.