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US 6,884,196 B1Granted
Inter-axle differential with improved differential gear mounting arrangement
AssigneeDana Corporation
InventorJames F. Ziech
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved inter-axle differential is provided that eliminates the need for a differential case to retain the differential gears. A thrust washer and a retaining ring are disposed on each arm of a differential spider to retain a corresponding differential gear. The combination of the thrust washer and the retaining ring reduces the complexity and the weight of conventional inter-axle differential assemblies and enables improved splash lubrication of the differential.
Claims18
An inter-axle differential, comprising:
- an input shaft disposed about a first axis;
- an output shaft coaxial with said input shaft;
- a spider coupled to said input shaft, said spider having a plurality of radially outwardly extending arms;
- a plurality of differential gears mounted on said spider, one of said plurality of differential gears disposed about one arm of said plurality of arms;
- a thrust washer disposed about said one arm, radially outwardly of said one gear;
- a retaining ring disposed in a groove in said one arm radially outwardly of said thrust washer;
- and
- first and second side gears in mesh with said differential gears, said first and second side gears configured to transmit power to first and second axles of a vehicle.
5 more elements
An inter-axle differential, comprising:
- an input shaft disposed about a first axis;
- an output shaft coaxial with said input shaft;
- a spider coupled to said input shaft, said spider having a plurality of radially outwardly extending arms and at least one of said arms having:
- a radially inner portion;
- and,
- a radially outer portion;
- said inner and outer portions substantially circular in shape and said outer portion defining flats;
- a plurality of differential gears mounted on said spider, one of said plurality of differential gears disposed about said inner portion of said one arm;
- a thrust washer disposed about said outer portion of said one arm, said thrust washer having a central bore shaped complementary to said outer portion of said arm;
- a retaining ring disposed in a groove in said one arm radially outwardly of said thrust washer;
- and,
- first and second side gears in mesh with said differential gears, said first and second side gears configured to transmit power to first and second axles of a vehicle.
9 more elements
An inter-axle differential, comprising:
- an input shaft disposed about a first axis;
- an output shaft coaxial with said input shaft;
- a spider coupled to said input shaft, said spider having a plurality of radially outwardly extending arms and at least one of said arms having:
- a radially inner portion;
- and,
- a radially outer portion;
- said inner and outer portions substantially circular in shape and said outer portion defining a flat;
- a plurality of differential gears mounted on said spider, one of said plurality of differential gears disposed about said inner portion of said one arm;
- a thrust washer disposed about said outer portion of said one arm, said thrust washer having a central bore shaped complementary to said outer portion of said arm;
- a retaining ring disposed in a groove in said one arm radially outwardly of said thrust washer;
- and,
- first and second side gears in mesh with said differential gears, said first and second side gears configured to transmit power to first and second axles of a vehicle.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.