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Differential mechanism assembly

a technology of differential mechanism and assembly, which is applied in the direction of transportation and packaging, other domestic objects, and gearing, etc., can solve the problems of difficult material flow in the tangential direction and easy attainment of non-uniform thicknesses in the longitudinal direction, so as to simplify laser welding and reduce manufacturing costs. , the effect of saving additional costs

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-01-15
FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]This differential assembly has lower weight and rotating inertia than a differential assembly of comparable torque capacity. A forming process is applied that allows control of the case wall along the length of the side walls and work hardens the case material, provides adequate formability to produce the component, and provides a sufficiently high elastic modulus to provide good assembly stiffness. The combination of the forming process, work-hardened material properties and component design result in excellent specific stiffness, adequate strength, manufacturability and low manufacturing cost.
[0019]The differential assembly eliminates elongation of the differential pinion shaft hole in the case under repeated loading, eliminates differential pinion shaft fasteners, reduces differential case wall thickness, increases stiffness, and maximizes capacity torque in a smaller package.

Problems solved by technology

Causing material to flow in the tangential direction is difficult.
But the desired, non-uniform thicknesses are easily achieved in the longitudinal direction, where a cross section taken perpendicular to the rotational axis at any point along the length of the part is axisymmetric.

Method used

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case portion 13

[0047]Case portion 13 includes an axial protrusion 80, which contacts an annular rim 82 on case portion 14, when the parts are assembled. The axial protrusion 80 is formed with a series of arcuate recesses 84, spaced angularly about axis 15. Each recess 84 partially surrounds a respective spider pin 28, 30, 32 (as shown in FIG. 6) and is aligned with a spider pin hole portion 86 formed in case portion 14. Each recess 84 and hole portion 86 complete a circular or slotted hole 88, which contains a spider pin 28, 30, 32 when the case is assembled.

[0048]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a differential assembly 62, in which two differential case portions 64, 66 are secured mutually and to a ring gear 67 by a series of bolts, each bolt being fitted into a hole 68 located on a circle of bolt holes formed in a radial flange 70 on case portion 64 and a hole 72 located on a circle of bolt holes formed in a radial flange 74 and aligned with a hole 68 on case portion 66. Fla...

case portion 64

[0050]Case portion 64 includes an annular, axial-extending protrusion 80, which contacts an annular rim 82 on case portion 66, when the parts are assembled, as shown in FIG. 4. The axial protrusion 80 is formed with a series of arcuate recesses 84, spaced angularly about axis 15. Each recess 84 partially surrounds its respective spider pin 28, 30, 32 and is aligned with a spider pin hole portion 86 formed in case portion 66. Each recess 84 and hole portion 86 complete a circular hole 88, which contains a spider pin 28, 30, 32 when the case is assembled as shown in FIG. 4.

[0051]FIG. 5 illustrates the pinions 22-25 supported on a case portion 14, 66 for rotation about the spider pins 28, 30, 32. FIG. 6 shows parallel slots 90 formed at diametrically opposite sides of spider pin 30, and parallel slots 92 formed at diametrically opposite sides of spider pin 32. A clip 94 includes legs 96, 97, each of which engages a slot 90 on spider pin 30, and legs 98, 99, each of which is similar res...

first embodiment

[0055]FIG. 10A shows the first embodiment, the open differential 10 of FIGS. 1-4, whose case portion 13 includes the annular, axial-extending protrusion 80.

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Abstract

A method for manufacturing a differential assembly, comprising producing a first case portion by cold flow forming a first workpiece on a first mandrel, producing a second case portion by cold flow forming a second workpiece on a second mandrel, installing in a cavity formed in the first case portion a spider assembly including radially extending spider pins located at an axial position, pinions supported for rotation on the spider assembly, and a first side gear engaged with the pinions, installing in a cavity formed in the second case portion a second side gear engaged with the pinions, and securing the second case portion to the first case portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates generally to a differential gear mechanism for transmitting rotary power from a power source to the wheels of a vehicle so that the wheels can rotate at mutually differential speeds and to the manufacture of the differential mechanism.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]A differential mechanism transmits rotary power differentially to output shafts from a ring gear driven by an external power source, such as an internal combustion engine or electric motor. The differential ring gear, usually a hypoid bevel gear, is secured to the differential case, which is generally produced of cast nodular or ductile iron for high torque applications. The case is secured to the ring gear and defines a chamber containing bevel pinions driveably connected to the case by pinion shaft or spider, depending on the number of bevel pinions used, a right-side bevel gear and a left-side bevel gear in continuous mes...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B23P15/14
CPCF16H48/08F16H48/40F16H2048/346F16H2048/282F16H2048/382Y10T29/49465F16H48/22F16H48/28F16H2048/085Y10T74/2186Y10T29/49464F16H48/34B23P15/00B21D22/16F16H48/24
Inventor ISKEN, II, DENNIS W.STORY, JAMES M.KRYSZTOF, CHARLESNEAL, ROBERT J.SAVAGE, JASONSZCZEPANSKI, GERALD S.
Owner FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC
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