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US 6,699,154 B2Granted
Differential gear assembly
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsBrian Christian Orr, Richard Michael Krzesicki, John Edward Rutt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A differential gear assembly including a differential housing, a pair of side gears substantially axially aligned and spaced apart from each other supported by the differential housing and engaging an axle half-shaft, and a plurality of pinion gears substantially axially aligned and spaced apart from each other. The pinion gears engage the side gears and include an outwardly facing first side and an inwardly facing second side. A ring gear is mounted externally to the differential housing and includes features which engage the first sides of the pinion gears to support the pinion gears within the differential gear assembly while allowing rotational movement of the pinion gears.
Claims14
A differential gear assembly comprising:
- a differential housing;
- a pair of side gears substantially axially aligned and spaced apart from each other, each of said side gears being supported by said differential housing for relative rotation therebetween and being adapted to engage an axle shaft;
- a plurality of pinion gears substantially axially aligned and spaced apart from each other, said pinion gears engaging said side gears and including an outwardly facing first side and an inwardly facing second side;
- a ring gear mounted generally externally to said differential housing, engaged with said first sides of said pinion gears to support said pinion gears within said differential gear assembly while allowing rotational movement of said pinion gears;
- and
- a first support ring adapted to engage said second sides of said pinion gears to at least aid in retaining said pinion gears in engagement with said ring gear, said first support ring including a plurality of holes formed therein and each of said pinion gears including a recess formed within said second side, each one of said plurality of holes being aligned with one of said recesses of one of said pinion gears, said differential gear assembly further including a plurality of pins inserted within said holes and extending into said recesses to rotatably secure said pinion gears to said first support ring;
- portions formed on said ring gear engaging portions formed on said pinion gears such that said pinion gear is rotatable relative to said ring gear.
4 more elements
A differential gear assembly comprising:
- a differential housing;
- a pair of side gears substantially axially aligned and spaced apart from each other, each of said side gears supported by said differential housing and adapted to engage an axle shaft;
- a plurality of hardened steel pinion gears substantially axially aligned and spaced apart from each other, each of said pinion gears being adapted to engage said side gears and including an outwardly facing first side having a projection extending therefrom and an inwardly facing second side having a depression formed therein;
- a hardened steel ring gear mounted externally to said differential housing and having a plurality of depressions spaced radially thereabout, each depression engaging one of said projections to support said pinion gears within said differential gear assembly while allowing rotational movement of said pinion gears;
- a support ring having a plurality of holes formed therein, each of said plurality of holes being aligned with said depression of one of said pinion gears;
- and
- a plurality of dowels inserted within said holes and extending into said depressions to rotatably secure said pinion gears to said support ring.
4 more elements
A differential gear assembly comprising:
- a differential housing;
- a pair of side gears substantially axially aligned and spaced apart from each other, each of said side gears supported by said differential housing and adapted to engage an axle shaft;
- a plurality of hardened steel pinion gears substantially axially aligned and spaced apart from each other, each of said pinion gears being adapted to engage said side gears and including an outwardly facing first side having a projection extending therefrom and an inwardly facing second side having a depression formed therein;
- a hardened steel ring gear mounted externally to said differential housing and having a plurality of depressions spaced radially thereabout, each depression engaging one of said projections to support said pinion gears within said differential gear assembly while allowing rotational movement of said pinion gears;
- a first support ring having a plurality of holes formed therein, each of said plurality of holes being aligned with said depression of one of said pinion gears;
- a plurality of dowels inserted within said holes and extending into said depressions to rotatably secure said pinion gears to said first support ring;
- and
- a second support ring adapted to fit within said first support ring to secure said dowels within said holes.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.