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US 2007/0191171 A1Published application
Differential with die formed housing
OwnerDavid Pascoe, David Dorigo +2inventors
InventorsDavid Pascoe, David Dorigo, Cheng Mu, Jianwen Li
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A differential comprises a die formed housing having a spherical inner volume. A subassembly is disposed in the spherical inner volume of the housing. A die formed cover is fixedly attached to the die formed housing for enclosing the subassembly with the housing. A ring gear is connected to the housing for transmitting torque from a prime mover through the differential. The differential is both light and strong and reasonably inexpensive to manufacture.
Claims22
A differential (40) comprising:
- a die formed differential housing (44) having a spherical inner volume (110);
- a subassembly (200) disposed in the spherical inner volume (110), the subassembly (200) including at least one pinion shaft (56), at least one pair of bevel pinions (60) disposed on the at least one pinion shaft (56) and at least one pair of bevel gears (64) linked with the at least one pair of bevel pinions (60);
- a die formed housing cover (68) attached to the die formed differential housing (44) for enclosing the subassembly (200) within the differential housing (44);
- and
- a ring gear (48) connected to the differential housing (44) for transmitting torque from a prime mover.
2 more elements
A method of manufacturing a differential (40) comprising the steps of:
- die forming a differential housing (44) from a blank (100), the differential housing (44) including a spherical inner volume (110) and a hub portion (124) having a bore (120);
- die forming a housing cover (68) from a blank, the housing cover (68) including a hub portion (168) having a bore (161);
- assembling a sub-assembly (200) of at least one pinion shaft (56), at least two bevel pinions (60) and at least two complementary bevel gears (64);
- inserting the sub-assembly (200) into the spherical inner volume (110) of the differential housing (44) such that the bore (136) of the housing (44) aligns with an inner splined aperture on one bevel gear (64) to receive a splined portion of an axle;
- fitting the housing cover (68) to the differential housing (44) to enclose the sub-assembly (200) such that the bore (192) of the housing cover (68) aligns with an inner splined aperture on another bevel gear (64) to receive a splined portion of another axle;
- attaching the housing cover (68) to the differential housing (44);
- and
- connecting a ring gear (48) to the differential housing (44).
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.