U.S. patent application number 11/487655 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for pinion support for a differential assembly.
Invention is credited to Leo Wenstrup, James F. Ziech.
Application Number | 20060254383 11/487655 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34116618 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060254383 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ziech; James F. ; et
al. |
November 16, 2006 |
Pinion support for a differential assembly
Abstract
A differential assembly includes a yoke, attached to a drive
shaft, for driving a pinion head. The differential assembly further
includes inner and outer pinion bearing assemblies, a separable
mounting plate, and a cavity defined by a housing for receiving a
pinion assembly. The outer pinion bearing assembly is integrally
mounted to the housing, while the inner pinion bearing assembly is
secured to the separable mounting plate. The pinion head is
straddle mounted between the inner and outer pinion bearing
assemblies.
Inventors: |
Ziech; James F.; (Kalamazoo,
MI) ; Wenstrup; Leo; (Portage, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RADER, FISHMAN & GRAUER PLLC
39533 WOODWARD AVENUE
SUITE 140
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48304-0610
US
|
Family ID: |
34116618 |
Appl. No.: |
11/487655 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10637393 |
Aug 8, 2003 |
7090609 |
|
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11487655 |
Jul 17, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
74/665F |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 74/19074 20150115;
F16C 19/547 20130101; F16H 2048/426 20130101; F16H 48/08 20130101;
F16H 57/021 20130101; F16C 19/56 20130101; F16C 19/364 20130101;
F16C 2361/61 20130101; F16H 48/40 20130101; F16H 57/037 20130101;
F16H 2048/423 20130101; F16H 48/06 20130101; F16C 35/067 20130101;
F16H 48/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
074/665.00F |
International
Class: |
F16H 37/06 20060101
F16H037/06 |
Claims
1. A differential assembly comprising: a yoke, attached to a drive
shaft, for driving a pinion head; inner and outer pinion bearing
assemblies; a separable mounting plate, the mounting plate being
secured to the inner pinion bearing assembly; a cavity defined by a
housing for receiving a pinion assembly; wherein the outer pinion
bearing assembly is integrally mounted within the housing, wherein
the inner pinion bearing assembly includes an adjusting mechanism;
and wherein the pinion assembly is straddle mounted between the
inner and outer pinion bearing assemblies.
2. A differential assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
mounting plate of the inner pinion bearing assembly is secured to
the housing by at least one bolt.
3. A differential assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner
and outer pinion bearing assemblies each further comprise an inner
race, an outer race and a bearing disposed between the inner and
outer races.
4. A differential assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
adjusting mechanism includes a threaded cup.
5. A differential assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
adjusting mechanism includes at least one shim pack, and wherein
the mounting plate may be shimmed by said at least one shim pack
being disposed under the mounting plate.
6. A differential assembly according to claim 1, wherein a mounting
distance for the pinion head may be established by machining the
housing.
7. A differential assembly comprising: inner and outer pinion
bearing assemblies; a separable mounting plate, the separable
mounting plate being secured to the inner pinion bearing assembly;
a cavity defined by a housing for receiving a pinion assembly;
wherein the outer pinion bearing assembly is integrally mounted
within the housing; wherein the inner pinion bearing assembly
further includes a threaded cup; and wherein the pinion assembly is
straddle mounted between the inner and outer pinion bearing
assemblies.
8. A differential assembly according to claim 7, wherein the
threaded cup may be threaded to a desired position to preload the
inner and outer pinion bearing assemblies.
9. A differential assembly according to claim 7, wherein the inner
pinion bearing assembly further comprises a lock ring and a stake,
wherein the lock ring is secured to the stake to prevent rotation
of the threaded cup.
10. A differential assembly according to claim 7, wherein the
mounting plate of the inner pinion bearing assembly is secured to
the housing by at least one bolt.
11. A differential assembly according to claim 7, wherein the inner
and outer pinion bearing assemblies each further comprise an inner
race, an outer race and a bearing disposed between the inner and
outer races.
12. A differential assembly according to claim 7, wherein the
mounting plate may be shimmed by at least one shim pack disposed
under the mounting plate.
13. A differential assembly according to claim 7, wherein a
mounting distance for the pinion head may be established by
machining the housing.
14. A differential assembly comprising: a carrier housing having a
first opening and a second opening; an outer pinion bearing
assembly integrally mounted within said carrier housing at said
first opening; an inner pinion bearing assembly positioned at said
second opening; a pinion assembly mounted between said outer pinion
bearing and said inner pinion bearing; wherein said inner pinion
bearing is fixed to a removable support plate at said second
opening of said carrier housing; and wherein said pinion assembly
is installed through said second opening.
15. A differential assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein the
removable mounting plate of the inner pinion bearing assembly is
fixed to said housing by at least one bolt.
16. A differential assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein the
inner and outer pinion bearing assemblies each further include an
inner race, an outer race and a bearing disposed between the inner
and outer races.
17. A differential assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein the
removable support plate may be shimmed by at least one shim pack
disposed under the removable support plate.
18. A differential assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein a
mounting distance for the pinion head may be established by
machining the carrier at the first opening.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application that claims
priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/637,393 filed on
Aug. 8, 2003, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to an improved pinion support
for a differential assembly and in particular to a pinion support
for a straddle mount single drive axle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Differentials are utilized in the drive lines of many modem
vehicles. Typically, a differential takes a rotating input and
drives two shafts which extend in opposed directions. The
differential allows the two shafts to rotate at varying speeds
relative to each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to a differential assembly
comprising a yoke, attached to a drive shaft, for driving a pinion
head. The differential assembly further includes inner and outer
pinion bearing assemblies, a separable mounting plate, and a cavity
defined by a housing for receiving a pinion assembly. The outer
pinion bearing assembly is integrally mounted to the housing, while
the inner pinion bearing assembly is secured to the mounting plate.
The pinion head is straddle mounted between the inner and outer
pinion bearing assemblies.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present invention will now be described, by way of
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a differential assembly
assembled within a vehicle in accordance with the present
invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a differential assembly
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a differential assembly
according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] Referring to FIG. 1, a differential assembly 10 is shown
assembled within a vehicle 11. Focusing on FIG. 2, the differential
assembly 10 is illustrated in accordance with the present
invention. The differential assembly 10 comprises a yoke 12
attached to a drive shaft 13, for driving a pinion head 14. The
differential assembly 10 further includes a pinion assembly 15.
Pinion assembly 15 includes gear teeth 14a, inner and outer pinion
bearing assemblies 16, 18 and drive shaft 13. Pinion assembly 15 is
received within a cavity 21 defined by a housing 22; housing 22 is
fixed against rotation. Inner pinion bearing assembly 16 of pinion
assembly 15 is secured to a separable mounting plate 20. Mounting
plate 20 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 to include an aperture
A.
[0010] Pinion head 14 is straddle mounted between inner and outer
pinion bearing assemblies 16, 18 to achieve optimum support. Pinion
head 14 is directly mounted to drive shaft 13 and supported on
either side by the two axially spaced pinion bearing assemblies 16,
18. Inner pinion bearing assembly 16 supports the portion of the
drive shaft 13 which is located within housing 22. Outer pinion
bearing assembly 18 supports the portion of the drive shaft 13 with
which the vehicle drive shaft is normally associated. Straddle
mounting pinion head 14 between inner and outer pinion bearing
assemblies 16, 18 decreases the number of bearing assemblies found
in conventional differential assemblies by allowing pinion head 14
to be optimally supported. Furthermore, lubrication to the inner
and outer pinion bearing assemblies 16, 18 is provided without the
need for extra oil channels, thus reducing the complexity of the
differential assembly 10.
[0011] Inner and outer pinion bearing assemblies 16, 18 each
further comprise an inner race 24, 26, an outer race 28, 30 and a
bearing 32, 34, respectively. The bearings 32, 34 are disposed
between inner races 24, 26 and outer races 28, 30. Inner race 24 of
inner pinion bearing assembly 16 abuts a face 36 of gear teeth 14a
of pinion head 14. Inner race 26 of outer pinion bearing assembly
18 abuts a face 38 of gear teeth 14a of pinion head 14. Outer race
28 of inner pinion bearing assembly 16 is mounted on the separable
mounting plate 20, while outer race 30 of outer pinion bearing
assembly 18 is integrally mounted to housing 22.
[0012] By mounting outer race 30 of outer pinion bearing assembly
18 directly to housing 22, outer pinion bearing assembly 18
provides a more rigid structure for supporting pinion head 14 than
conventional differential assemblies. In addition, the pinion head
14 mounting distance can be readily machined to tolerance through
machining housing 22 where outer race 30 abuts housing 22.
Accordingly, outer pinion bearing assembly 18 can be assembled into
differential assembly 10 without the use of shims or a shim pack,
resulting in weight savings and cost reduction over conventional
differential assemblies.
[0013] Moreover, attaching outer pinion bearing assembly 18
directly to housing 22 eliminates the need for a pinion bearing
cage, or external adjuster, as found in conventional differential
assemblies. Typically, bearing cages create an additional path for
oil to leak out of the housing 22. Therefore, by removing the need
for a bearing cage, an additional path for oil to leak through does
not exists.
[0014] Furthermore, removal of the bearing cage reduces the yoke
standout dimension H. The reduced yoke standout dimension H
decreases the amount of space required for differential assembly 10
within vehicle 11. Additionally, the reduced yoke standout
dimension H provides a significant advantage for short wheelbase
vehicles drive line angles (not shown) and for tandem axle inter
axle dive line angles (not shown).
[0015] By way of example, and without limitation, FIGS. 2 and 3
illustrate outer pinion bearing assembly 18 as being larger than
inner pinion bearing assembly 16. Generally, outer pinion bearing
assemblies substantially bear the load of the pinion head within
differential assemblies. Consequently, outer pinion bearing
assemblies are normally larger than inner pinion bearing
assemblies. However, it can be appreciated that inner and outer
pinion bearing assemblies 16, 18 may be of substantially the same
dimensions. Additionally, bearings 32, 34 may be symmetrically
shaped, as shown in FIG. 1, or bearings 32, 34 may be tapered at
one end.
[0016] Inner pinion bearing assembly 16 is mounted on a separable
mounting plate 20. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate embodiments in which
mounting plate 20 may be attached and removed from housing 22
through a series of bolts 42. It can be appreciated that the
present invention can be practiced with any number of bolts to
secure separable mounting plate 20 to housing 22. FIG. 2 depicts
one method to set pinion assembly 15 bearing preload for inner and
outer pinion bearing assemblies 16 and 18. However, the present
invention is not limited to the use of bolts for securing separable
mounting plate 20 to housing 22. For example, mounting plate 20 may
be secured to housing 22 through an adhesive, or by a snap-fit
design. To set inner and outer pinion bearing assemblies 16 and 18
preload, a shim pack 43 may be placed under the mounting plate 20
of the inner pinion bearing assembly 16.
[0017] The pinion assembly 15 may be received into cavity 21 from
rear portion 40 of housing 22. Currently, pinion assemblies are
received into cavity 21 of housing 22 through an opening defined by
dimension D. Therefore, dimension D must be broad enough to
accommodate the widest portion of pinion assembly 15. However, with
pinion assembly 15 being assembled through rear portion 40 of
housing 22, dimension D may be decreased. The result is a more
compact housing 22. Moreover, the structural integrity of housing
22 is improved due to the reduced size of opening D. Additionally,
the need for separable covers or bearing carriers is eliminated
along with the associated added cost and potential for oil
leakage.
[0018] FIG. 3 depicts an alternate embodiment of the present
invention. Differential assembly 10' substantially incorporates the
features of differential assembly 10 of FIG. 1. However, outer race
28 of inner pinion bearing assembly 16 has a threaded cup 44. Outer
race 28 of inner pinion bearing assembly 16 may be threaded to a
desired position to preload inner and outer pinion bearing
assemblies 16 and 18. Consequently, threaded cup 44 removes the
need for a shim pack 43 to preload inner and outer pinion bearing
assemblies 16 and 18.
[0019] Furthermore, inner pinion bearing assembly 16 may include a
lock ring 46 and a stake 48. The lock ring may be riveted to
threaded cup 44 and attached to the stake to prevent the threaded
cup 44 from rotating once the preload has been set. It should be
noted however that the present invention is not limited to a lock
ring and stake to prevent the threaded cup from rotating. By way of
example, and without limitation, the threaded cup 44 may be coated
with an adhesive to prevent rotation once the preload has been
established.
[0020] While the invention has been specifically described in
connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be
understood that this is by way of illustration and not of
limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be
construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.
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