Differential with lubrication ports

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12044304-B2
Application number	US-202217934464-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2022
Priority date	Apr 27, 2021
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

Systems for a differential are provided. The differential includes two sets of pinion gears with an asymmetric split tooth profile. A case of the differential includes a plurality of lubrication ports which open adjacent to untoothed sections of one set of pinion gears and in a drive mode and an outboard axial load is exerted on the corresponding set of pinion gears.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A differential comprising:
a first pinion gear including a first untoothed section positioned between a first wider toothed section and a first narrower toothed section;
a first side gear meshing with the first wider toothed section;
a second pinion gear including a second untoothed section positioned between a second wider toothed section and a second narrower toothed section;
a second side gear meshing with the second wider toothed section; and
a case at least partially enclosing the first and second pinion gears and including a plurality of lubrication ports;
wherein a first lubrication port included in the plurality of lubrication ports opens radially adjacent to the first untoothed section of the first pinion gear.

2. The differential of claim 1 , wherein, during a drive state, a thrust load on the second side gear is in an inboard direction.

3. The differential of claim 2 , wherein, during the drive state, a thrust load on the second pinion gear is in an outboard direction.

4. The differential of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lubrication ports include a second lubrication port and wherein the first and second lubrication ports are positioned on opposing sides of the case.

5. The differential of claim 4 , wherein the second lubrication port opens radially adjacent to a third pinion gear.

6. The differential of claim 1 , wherein the case forms a continuous structure.

7. The differential of claim 1 , wherein the differential is configured to couple to a transmission.

8. The differential of claim 1 , wherein lubricant in the case is not pressurized via a pump.

9. The differential of claim 1 , wherein the case is constructed out of a surface hardened material.

10. The differential of claim 9 , wherein the surface hardened material is carburized steel.

11. The differential of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the first lubrication port is greater than a diameter of the first untoothed section.

12. The differential of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lubrication ports are radially aligned.

13. The differential of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pinion gears each include a plurality of teeth with a top land chamfer.

14. A limited slip differential comprising:
a first pinion gear with asymmetrically arranged toothed and untoothed sections;
a second pinion gear with asymmetrically arranged toothed and untoothed sections, wherein a portion of the toothed sections in the first and second pinion gears mesh with each other;
a first side gear meshing with a portion of the toothed sections in the first pinion gear;
a second side gear meshing with a portion of the toothed section in the second pinion gear; and
a case at least partially enclosing the first and second pinion gears and including a plurality of lubrication ports that each open radially adjacent to the untoothed sections of the first pinion gear;
wherein, during a drive state, an axial load on the second side gear is in an inboard direction and axial loads on the second pinion gear is in a direction extending outboard away from a narrowed toothed section.

15. The limited slip differential of claim 14 , wherein the case forms a monolithic structure.

16. The limited slip differential of claim 14 , wherein the first and second side gears include splines profiled to attach to axle shafts.

17. The limited slip differential of claim 14 , wherein:
during a first state, lubricant flow through the plurality of lubrication ports is gravity driven; and
during a second state, lubricant flow through the plurality of lubrication ports is centrifugally driven.

18. The limited slip differential of claim 14 , wherein the first and second pinion gears each include a plurality of chamfered teeth.

Assignees

• Dana Heavy Vehicle Sys Group

Inventors

• Knapke Brian V
• Wright Ned W

Classifications

• F16H57/0424

  Lubricant guiding means in the wall of or integrated with the casing, e.g. grooves, channels, holes · CPC title

• F16H57/037

  Gearboxes for accommodating differential gearings (rotating cases for differential gearings F16H48/40) · CPC title

• F16H48/10

  with orbital spur gears · CPC title

• F16H57/0483 Primary

  Axle or inter-axle differentials · CPC title

• F16H57/0456

  Lubrication by injection; Injection nozzles or tubes therefor (oil mist or spray lubrication F16H57/0458) · CPC title