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US 7,479,086 B2Granted
Structure of differential housing
AssigneeMetaldyne Company LLC
InventorsRobert Veldman, Zhipeng Han
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a differential housing having guide slots formed therein. The guide slots permit movement of pinion shaft axially therethrough. A plurality of apertures are provided in the housing for properly positioning a pinion shaft within the housing. The apertures further provide fluid communication between the exterior and the interior of the housing to aid in adequately lubricating the components within the differential housing.
Claims20
A differential housing comprising:
- a body having an opening at one end;
- a guide slot extending a predetermined distance longitudinally into said body from said opening, said guide slot capable of moving a pinion shaft axially therethrough;
- and
- at least one aperture in said body capable of providing fluid communication between an exterior of said body and an interior of said body, wherein said at least one aperture is sized to secure the pinion shaft from retracting through the guide slot.
1 more element
A differential housing comprising:
- a body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said body having an opening at one end;
- a plurality of guide slots extending from said opening longitudinally along said interior surface, each guide slot sized for moving an arm of a pinion shaft axially therethrough;
- and
- at least one aperture in communication with at least one of said guide slots, said aperture extending through said interior surface and said exterior surface, wherein said at least one aperture prevents the pinion shaft from retracting axially through the guide slots.
1 more element
A method for assembling a differential housing assembly comprising:
- providing a differential housing having a wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, said wall defining an interior cavity therein,
- forming a plurality of guide slots extending along said interior surface into said interior cavity,
- forming a plurality of apertures connected to said guide slots;
- and
- axially moving a spider pinion shaft into said differential housing, said spider pinion shaft having a plurality of arms and pinion gears attached to said arms, wherein each of said arms slides through said slots and into said apertures.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.