Systems for differential assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12066096-B2
Application number	US-202217823453-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2022
Priority date	Aug 30, 2022
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

Systems are provided for a differential carrier assembly for a vehicle. In one example, a system includes a planet carrier coupled to a differential carrier and a planet carrier comprising a plurality of planet shafts including a cutout interfacing with a pilot interface of the differential carrier.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a planet carrier coupled to a differential carrier, wherein the planet carrier comprises a plurality of planet shafts including a cutout comprising a radial surface and an axial surface in face-sharing contact with a pilot interface of the differential carrier.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the axial surface is normal to the radial surface.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pilot interface is a protrusion extending from the differential housing.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pilot interface is circular.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cutout faces a central axis of the differential carrier.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cutout is spaced away from a portion of a planet shaft of the planet shafts interfacing with a planet gear.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of planet shafts is stationary.

8. A differential carrier assembly, comprising:
a planet carrier comprising an opening surrounded by a surface;
a differential carrier extending through the opening and in face-sharing contact with the surface; and
a plurality of planet shafts extending from an interior of the planet carrier to the differential carrier, wherein each of the plurality of planet shafts comprises a cutout having a radial surface and an axial surface in face-sharing contact with the differential carrier.

9. The differential carrier assembly of claim 8 , wherein the differential carrier comprises a pilot interface that protrudes from a body of the differential carrier and presses against the cutout.

10. The differential carrier assembly of claim 8 , wherein the differential carrier is configured to block rotation of the plurality of planet shafts.

11. The differential carrier assembly of claim 8 , wherein the cutout comprises a radial surface and an axial surface in face-sharing contact with a pilot interface of the differential carrier, and wherein the axial surface is normal to the radial surface and faces a radially inward direction.

12. The differential carrier assembly of claim 8 , wherein the cutout comprises a half-oval shape with a height less than a diameter of each of the plurality of planet shafts.

13. The differential carrier assembly of claim 8 , wherein the differential carrier is physically coupled to the planet carrier via a plurality of bolts, wherein the plurality of bolts is adjacent to a portion of the plurality of planet shafts away from the cutout.

14. An assembly, comprising:
a gear set comprising a plurality of planet gears arranged on a plurality of planet shafts;
a differential carrier physically coupled to a planet carrier via a plurality of bolts, wherein a pilot interface of the differential carrier is pressed against and in face-sharing contact with a radial surface and an axial surface of a cutout of each of the plurality of planet shafts.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the assembly is free of a snap ring.

16. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the cutout is step cut into an extreme end of each of the plurality of planet shafts.

17. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the cutout is spaced away from the plurality of planet gears.

18. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of planet shafts is stationary due to only a force applied by the pilot interface.

Assignees

• Dana Automotive Systems Group

Inventors

• Powell Benjamin
• Nelms Ryan D

Classifications

• F16H57/023

  Mounting or installation of gears or shafts in the gearboxes, e.g. methods or means for assembly · CPC title

• F16H57/037

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

• F16H2057/085

  Bearings for orbital gears · CPC title

• F16H2048/085

  characterised by shafts or gear carriers for orbital gears · CPC title

• F16H37/082

  and additional planetary reduction gears · CPC title