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US 11,306,805 B2Granted
Contoured differential gear washer with defined fluid flow path
AssigneeGKN Automotive AG
InventorsDavid E. Gall, Kevin J. Kaplan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A differential with a washer for a gear in a differential housing includes an outer edge at a maximum radial distance from an axis, and an inner edge defining an opening, the inner edge defined in part by an innermost portion at a minimum radial distance from the axis and the inner edge having an outward portion spaced radially outwardly from the innermost portion. The washer also includes an axially and radially inclined sidewall extending at least part of the way between the outer edge and the innermost portion.
Claims19
A vehicle differential, comprising:
- a housing having an interior wall;
- a pinion shaft mounted in the housing;
- a pinion gear mounted on the pinion shaft;
- a first side gear within the housing and engaged with the pinion gear;
- a second side gear within the housing and engaged with the pinion gear,
- a pinion gear washer received between the interior wall and the pinion gear, the washer having an outer edge at a maximum radial distance from an axis of the washer, an inner edge defining an opening through which the pinion shaft is received, the inner edge defined in part by an innermost portion at a minimum radial distance from the axis and the inner edge having an outward portion spaced radially outwardly from the innermost portion, and an axially and radially inclined sidewall extending at least part of the way between the outer edge and the innermost portion, wherein the pinion gear includes a beveled portion that leads to a central opening through which the pinion shaft is received, and wherein the washer also comprises a rim received adjacent to the beveled portion, and wherein the sidewall extends from a first end at the outer edge to a second sidewall end that is axially spaced from the outer edge and the rim extends from the second sidewall end to the inner edge, and the rim is axially inclined so that the inner edge is axially between the first and second ends of the sidewall.
3 more elements
A differential, comprising:
- a housing;
- a pinion shaft mounted in the housing;
- a pinion gear having an opening in which the pinion shaft is received, and the pinion gear having an outer surface;
- a first side gear within the housing and engaged with the pinion gear;
- a second side gear within the housing and engaged with the pinion gear,
- a pinion gear washer having a contoured sidewall with a first end and a second end, the first end having a first peripheral length relative to an axis of the washer, and the second end being axially offset from the first end and having a second peripheral length relative to the axis that is less than the first peripheral length, the washer having an inner edge defining an opening that is not circular, the inner edge defined in part by an innermost portion at a minimum radial distance from the axis and the inner edge having an outward portion spaced radially outwardly from the innermost portion, the innermost portion being located radially inwardly of the sidewall and axially between the first end and second end of the sidewall, wherein the washer is received between the housing and the pinion gear with at least part of the sidewall overlapping at least part of the outer surface and wherein a gap is provided between the sidewall and the outer surface to permit fluid flow between the sidewall and the outer surface, and wherein the sidewall has a uniform thickness without any voids in the sidewall.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.