# US 11,306,805 B2 · Contoured differential gear washer with defined fluid flow path > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,805 B2 - Document ID: US11306805B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/667,992 - Filed: 2019-10-30 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-18 - Assignees: GKN Automotive AG - Applicants: GKN Automotive Limited - Inventors: David E. Gall; Kevin J. Kaplan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306805B2 ## CPC - F16B 43/02: with special provisions for engaging surfaces which are not perpendicular to a bolt axis or do not surround the bolt - F16H 48/38: Constructional details (the outer casing comprising the differential and supporting input and output shafts F16H57/037) - B60K 17/16: of differential gearing - B60K 17/165: {provided between independent half axles (B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence)} - B60K 17/346: the transfer gear being a differential gear - F16B 21/20: for bolts or shafts without holes, grooves, or notches for locking members {(by rings resilient in their plane F16B21/18)} - F16B 43/00: Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts (circlips F16B21/18; {for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24}) - F16H 48/08: comprising bevel gears - F16H 57/0471: {Bearing} - F16H 57/0483: {Axle or inter-axle differentials} - F16H 2048/087: {characterised by the pinion gears, e.g. their type or arrangement} - F16H 2048/387: {Shields or washers} - F16H 2057/085: {Bearings for orbital gears} - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - F16H: GEARING - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The differential of claim 1 wherein the innermost portion includes one or more segments that each have an inner surface that defines part of the innermost portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The differential of claim 2 wherein the outward portion is defined by one or more voids, each void being defined between two segments. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The differential of claim 1 wherein a peripheral length of the first end is greater than a peripheral length of the second end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The differential of claim 1 wherein a gap exists between part of the sidewall and an outer surface of the pinion gear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The differential of claim 3 wherein the one or more voids comprise between 10% and 90% of the circumference of a circle bounded by the innermost portion, or wherein the innermost portion comprises between 10% and 90% of the circumference of a circle bounded by the innermost portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The differential of claim 1 wherein the rim is defined by circumferentially spaced and radially inwardly extending tabs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The differential of claim 7 wherein at least one of the tabs is bent axially and a free end of said at least one tab is axially overlapped by the sidewall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The differential of claim 1 wherein the pinion gear is a first pinion gear and the pinion gear washer is a first pinion gear washer, and wherein the differential also comprises a second pinion gear that is mounted on the pinion shaft and engaged with both the first side gear and the second side gear, and a second pinion gear washer provided between the housing and the second pinion gear, the second pinion gear washer being constructed the same as the first pinion gear washer. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The differential of claim 10 wherein the innermost portion includes one or more segments that each have an inner surface that defines part of the innermost portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The differential of claim 11 wherein the outward portion is defined by one or more voids, each void being defined between two segments. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The differential of claim 10 wherein the pinion gear includes a beveled portion adjacent to the opening, and wherein the washer also comprises a rim received adjacent to the beveled portion, and wherein the sidewall extends from a first end at an 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The differential of claim 10 wherein the pinion gear is a first pinion gear and the pinion gear washer is a first pinion gear washer, and wherein the differential also comprises a second pinion gear having an opening in which the pinion shaft is received and an outer surface, and wherein the second pinion gear is engaged with both the first side gear and the second side gear, and wherein the differential also comprises a second pinion gear washer provided between the housing and the second pinion gear, the second pinion gear washer being constructed the same as the first pinion gear washer and the second pinion gear washer has a sidewall that at least partially overlaps at least part of the outer surface of the second pinion gear and wherein a gap is provided between the sidewall of the second pinion gear washer and the outer surface of the second pinion gear to permit fluid flow between the second pinion gear washer and the second pinion gear. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The differential of claim 10 wherein the innermost portion comprises between 10% and 90% of the circumference of a circle bounded by the innermost portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The differential of claim 10 wherein the outward portion includes a surface that is at least 0.5 mm radially outwardly spaced from the innermost portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The differential of claim 12 wherein each void is at least 1 mm in circumferential dimension at an imaginary circle bounded by the innermost portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) The differential of claim 5 wherein the pinion gear has a central axis and the outer surface of the pinion gear is sloped in the axial direction, and the sidewall is curved along its axial length. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The differential of claim 10 wherein the pinion gear has a central axis and the outer surface of the pinion gear is sloped in the axial direction, and the sidewall is curved along its axial length.