Differential Link Shaft with Bend Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing differential assemblies for vehicles face challenges in efficiently transmitting torque between components while allowing them to rotate at different velocities, often requiring complex configurations and components like spiders that are costly and prone to wear.
Innovation Solution
A differential assembly design featuring a case with first and second gears, and link shafts with non-linear configurations that include bend portions to support pinion gears, which facilitates torque transfer and allows for differential rotation without the need for a traditional spider, potentially reducing manufacturing costs and improving durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional spider components are used to support pinion gears, then the differential assembly can transmit torque and allow differential rotation, but the assembly becomes more complex and costly with increased wear susceptibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional spider component from the differential assembly. Instead of using spiders to support pinion gears, the invention directly positions pinion gears on link shafts that connect the left and right gears, eliminating the spider component entirely and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining torque transmission functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The link shaft in this invention serves multiple functions: it connects the left and right gears, supports the pinion gears, and enables differential rotation. By making the link shaft multi-functional, the design eliminates the need for separate spider components, thereby reducing part count and assembly complexity while improving reliability
2Power
If complex configurations with multiple components are used, then torque transmission can be achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into fewer components. The link shaft integrates the functions of connecting gears and supporting pinion gears, eliminating the need for separate spider components. This merging reduces part count, simplifies manufacturing, and lowers overall assembly cost while maintaining effective torque transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A differential assembly having at least one link shaft that may be disposed in a case between a first gear and a second gear. The link shaft may have a bend portion that may not be coaxially disposed with first and second end portions of the link shaft. A pinion gear may engage the first and second gears may be rotatably disposed on the link shaft.