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US 11,231,099 B2Granted
Axle assembly and differential assembly with spider shaft retention
AssigneeArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
InventorsRobert J. Martin, Brian D. Hayes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A differential assembly that may be provided with an axle assembly. The differential assembly may have a case that may have a first case portion and a second case portion. The first case portion may have a retainer pin hole that may receive a retainer pin that couples a spider shaft to the first case portion. The second case portion may inhibit removal of the retainer pin from the retainer pin hole.
Claims20
A differential assembly comprising:
- a case that is rotatable about an axis and includes:
- a first case portion that has a spider receiving portion having a spider shaft hole, an inner mounting ring that is disposed at an end of the first case portion, a retainer pin hole that extends through the inner mounting ring to the spider shaft hole, and a mounting flange that extends away from the axis and extends from the spider receiving portion;
- and
- a second case portion that is disposed on the spider receiving portion and that has an outer mounting ring that extends around the inner mounting ring such that the inner mounting ring is received inside and is spaced apart from the outer mounting ring;
- a ring gear that is disposed on the mounting flange, wherein the spider shaft hole is axially positioned between the mounting flange and the second case portion;
- a spider that has a secondary spider shaft that is received in the spider shaft hole;
- and
- a retainer pin disposed in the retainer pin hole that couples the secondary spider shaft to the first case portion, wherein the outer mounting ring partially overlaps the retainer pin hole to inhibit removal of the retainer pin from the retainer pin hole.
5 more elements
A differential assembly comprising:
- a case that includes:
- a first case portion that has a retainer pin hole that extends from a spider shaft hole to an inner mounting ring that is disposed at an end of the first case portion, a first weld groove that extends around at least a portion of the retainer pin hole, and an intermediate end surface that extends from the first weld groove;
- and
- a second case portion that has an outer mounting ring that extends around the inner mounting ring such that the inner mounting ring is received inside and is spaced apart from the outer mounting ring and a second weld groove that extends around at least a portion of the retainer pin hole;
- a spider that includes:
- a primary spider shaft that is mounted to the first case portion;
- and
- a secondary spider shaft that is received in the spider shaft hole and that extends from the spider shaft hole to the primary spider shaft;
- a retainer pin disposed in the retainer pin hole that couples the secondary spider shaft to the first case portion, wherein the outer mounting ring has an outer mounting ring end surface that contacts the intermediate end surface and contacts an end of the retainer pin to inhibit removal of the retainer pin from the retainer pin hole;
- and
- a weld that is provided in the first weld groove and the second weld groove that joins the first case portion to the second case portion.
8 more elements
An axle assembly comprising:
- a differential assembly that includes:
- a case that is rotatable about an axis and that includes:
- a first case portion that has a first cavity, a first exterior surface disposed around the first cavity, a spider shaft hole that extends from the first exterior surface to the first cavity, an inner mounting ring, and a retainer pin hole that extends from the inner mounting ring to the spider shaft hole, wherein the inner mounting ring has an outer surface that faces away from the axis and that intersects the retainer pin hole;
- and
- a second case portion that is mounted to the first case portion, the second case portion including an outer mounting ring that extends around the inner mounting ring such that the inner mounting ring is received inside and is spaced apart from the outer mounting ring and is partially received in the retainer pin hole;
- a spider that includes:
- a primary spider shaft that is mounted to the first case portion and does not engage the second case portion;
- and
- a secondary spider shaft that is received in the spider shaft hole and that extends between the spider shaft hole and the primary spider shaft, wherein the secondary spider shaft does not engage the second case portion;
- and
- a retainer pin that couples the secondary spider shaft to the first case portion, wherein the outer mounting ring inhibits axial movement of the retainer pin.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.