Patent · US Expired

Bevel gear differential with conical spherical gear seats

US4733578A · kind A · utility

44Cited by
8References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 31, 1986
Grant dateMar 29, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 31, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16H2048/423
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A tandem axle assembly includes an interaxle differential mechanism coupled to divide power between two separate axle differential assemblies. Each axle differential assembly includes a pair of pinion gears having spherical gear seats and a pair of side gears having conical gear seats. Each axle differential assembly is rotatably supported within a housing by a pair of tapered roller bearings. The outer race of each bearing is located within an end of a differential case, while the inner race is positioned on a reduced diameter hub of a bearing retainer threaded into an opening in the housing. The opening in the housing is sized such that the bearing retainer having the inner race and an associated roller cage assembly thereon can be inserted therethrough during the assembly process. Also, the interaxle differential includes a separate lubricant sump for providing lubrication to the interaxle differential upon initial start-up conditions. One of the interaxle differential side gears is disk-shaped, and includes internally formed side gear teeth in a planar rear face, internally formed clutch teeth in a planar front face, and external teeth around the radial periphery.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.