Differential case fastener

A differential assembly comprising a first casing member, a second casing member adapted to be disposed contiguous to said first casing member, said first and second casing members being rotatable about an axis of rotation, said first and second casing members defining a chamber located therebetween, a pair of side gears disposed in said chamber and each of which is connectable to an output shaft, a pinion shaft located in said chamber, a pair of pinion gears supported on said pinion shaft and each of which meshes with said pair of side gears, said first casing member having first opening means thereon including a first opening which is substantially radially disposed relative to said axis of rotation, said second casing member having second opening means thereon including a second opening which is substantially radially disposed relative to said axis of rotation, said second opening means being disposed in a juxtaposed relation to said first opening means with said first radial opening in said first opening means being aligned in a radial direction with said second radial opening in said second opening means, and radially extending fastening means extending through said aligned first and second openings in said first and second casing members to secure said first casing member to said second casing member, and wherein said fastener means comprises said pinion shaft, said first opening means further includes a third opening disposed in said first casing member diametrically opposite said first opening and extending in a substantially radial direction, said first and third openings being aligned, and said second opening means further including a fourth opening disposed in said second casing member diametrically opposite said second opening and extending in a substantially radial direction, said second and fourth openings being aligned, said pinion shaft being received in said first, second, third and fourth openings.

A differential assembly comprising a first casing member, a second casing member adapted to be disposed contiguous to said first casing member, said first and second casing members being rotatable about an axis of rotation, said first and second casing members defining a chamber located therebetween, a pair of side gears disposed in said chamber and each of which is connectable to an output shaft, a pinion shaft located in said chamber, a pair of pinion gears supported on said pinion shaft, each of which meshes with said pair of side gears, said first casing member having first opening means therein including a first opening and a third opening, both of which are substantially radially disposed relative to said axis of rotation, said second casing member having second opening means therein including a second opening and a fourth opening, both of which are substantially radially disposed relative to said axis of rotation, said second opening means being disposed in a juxtaposed relation to said first opening means with said first radial opening in said first opening means being aligned in a radial direction with said second radial opening in said second opening means and said third radial opening in said first opening means being aligned in a radial direction with said fourth radial opening in said second opening means and radially extending fastening means extending through said aligned first and second and third and fourth openings in said first and second casing members to secure said first casing member to said second casing member, said radially extending fastening means including a plurality of fasteners, one of which is receivable in each of said aligned pairs of first and second and third and fourth openings, each of said plurality of fasteners extending in a substantially radial direction through said pairs of aligned openings and securely fastened within said pinion shaft to prevent relative movement of said first and second casing members in a direction substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.

A differential assembly comprising a first casing member, a second casing member adapted to be disposed contiguous to said first casing member, said first and second casing members being rotatable about an axis of rotation, said first and second casing members defining a chamber located therebetween, a pair of side gears disposed in said chamber and each of which is connectable to an output shaft, pinion shaft means located in said chamber, a pair of pinion gears supported on said pinion shaft means and meshing with said pair of side gears, said first casing member having first opening means thereon including a first opening which is substantially radially disposed relative to said axis of rotation, said second casing member having second opening means thereon including a second opening which is substantially radially disposed relative to said axis of rotation, said second opening means being disposed in a juxtaposed relation to said first opening means with said first radial opening in said first opening means being aligned in a radial direction with said second radial opening in said second opening means, and said pinion shaft means extending through said aligned first and second openings in said first and second casing members to secure said first casing member to said second casing member and prevent relative movement of said first and second casing members in a direction substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.