Locking differential having preload spring wear pads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9453569-B2
Application number	US-201414575537-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Nov 28, 2012
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

A locking differential for a vehicle includes a rotatable housing and a differential mechanism supported in the housing. The differential mechanism includes a pair of clutch members wherein each of the clutch members presents an inwardly directed face. Each face includes a groove disposed in spacing relationship with respect to the other. A cross pin is received in each groove and is operatively connected for rotation with the housing. At least one biasing member is disposed between the clutch members and at least one wear pad is disposed at an end of the at least one biasing member to preload the at least one biasing member and to allow the at least one biasing member to be acted upon by only a single one of the clutch members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A differential for a vehicle comprising:
a differential housing that is rotatable about an axis of rotation;
clutch members positioned along the axis of rotation within the differential housing;
side gears adapted for rotation with corresponding axle half shafts relative to the differential housing about the axis of rotation;
a cross pin carried with the differential housing as the differential housing rotates about the axis of rotation;
clutch mechanisms each including clutch packs for transferring torque between the clutch members and the side gears when actuated;
the clutch members being axially moveable along the axis of rotation to actuate the clutch mechanisms, the clutch members presenting inwardly directed faces between which the cross pin is disposed, the inwardly directed faces defining opposing grooves in which the cross pin is received;
a pre-load spring positioned entirely within a cavity defined by one of the clutch members; and
a wear pad positioned at one end of the pre-load spring, wherein pre-load from the pre-load spring is transferred through wear pad.

2. The differential of claim 1 , wherein the pre-load spring functions to pre-load the clutch packs.

3. The differential of claim 2 , wherein the wear pad traverses an interface gap between inboard sides of the clutch members.

4. The differential of claim 3 , wherein the wear pad is biased against the inboard side of the other of the clutch members.

5. The differential of claim 1 , wherein pre-load spring biases the clutch member against the cross pin.

6. The differential of claim 1 , wherein the wear pad includes an enlarged head and a post, and wherein the post fits inside one end of the pre-load spring and the head extends at least partially out of the cavity.

7. A locking differential for a vehicle comprising:
a rotatable housing and a differential mechanism supported in said housing, said differential mechanism including a pair of clutch members disposed in spaced axial relationship with respect to one another and operatively supported for rotation with said housing;
a pair of side gears operatively adapted for rotation with a corresponding pair of axle half shafts, and a pair of clutch mechanisms operatively disposed between each corresponding pair of said clutch members and said side gears;
said clutch members being axially moveable within said housing to engage a respective one of said clutch mechanisms to couple the axle half shafts together;
each of said clutch members presenting an inwardly directed face, each said face including a groove disposed in facing relationship with respect to the other, and a cross pin received in each said groove and operatively connected for rotation with said housing; and
at least one biasing member disposed between said clutch members and at least one wear pad disposed at an end of said at least one biasing member to preload said at least one biasing member and to allow said at least one biasing member to be acted upon by only a single one of said clutch members.

8. A locking differential as set forth in claim 7 wherein said at least one wear pad is substantially cylindrical in shape.

9. A locking differential as set forth in claim 7 wherein said at least one wear pad has an enlarged head and a shaft extending axially from said head.

10. A locking differential as set forth in claim 9 wherein said at least one biasing member is a compression spring.

11. A locking differential as set forth in claim 10 wherein said clutch members include at least one cavity extending axially therein to receive said at least one biasing member.

12. A locking differential as set forth in claim 11 wherein said at least one wear pad is disposed between one end of said at least one biasing member and one of said clutch members.

13. A locking differential as set forth in claim 12 wherein said head is disposed at one end of said at least one biasing member and said shaft extends into a bore of said at least one biasing member.

14. A locking differential as set forth in claim 11 wherein said at least one cavity extends into an axial inner surface of one of said clutch members.

15. A locking differential as set forth in claim 11 wherein said at least one cavity extends into an axial outer surface of one of said clutch members.

16. A locking differential as set forth in claim 7 wherein said at least one wear pad is made of a metallic material.

17. A locking differential as set forth in claim 7 wherein said at least one biasing member is made of a metallic material.

18. A locking differential for a vehicle comprising:
a rotatable housing and a differential mechanism supported in said housing, said differential mechanism including a pair of clutch members disposed in spaced axial relationship with respect to one another and operatively supported for rotation with said housing;
a pair of side gears operatively adapted for rotation with a corresponding pair of axle half shafts, and a pair of clutch mechanisms operatively disposed between each corresponding pair of said clutch members and said side gears;
said clutch members being axially moveable within said housing to engage a respective one of said clutch mechanisms to couple the axle half shafts together;
each of said clutch members presenting an inwardly directed face, each said face including a groove disposed in facing relationship with respect to the other, and a cross pin received in each said groove and operatively connected for rotation with said housing; and
one of said clutch members having a plurality of cavities extending axially inward, a plurality of compression springs disposed in said cavities, and a plurality of wear pads disposed between one end of said compression springs and one of said clutch members to preload said compression springs.

19. A locking differential as set forth in claim 18 wherein each of said wear pads is substantially cylindrical in shape.

20. A locking differential as set forth in claim 18 wherein each of said wear pads has an enlarged head and a shaft extending axially from said head.

21. A locking differential as set forth in claim 20 wherein said compression springs have a plurality of coils forming a bore therein.

22. A locking differential as set forth in claim 21 wherein said wear pads are disposed between one end of said compression springs and one of said clutch members.

23. A locking differential as set forth in claim 22 wherein said head is disposed at one end of said coils and said shaft extends into said bore.

24. A locking differential as set forth in claim 20 wherein said cavities extend into an axial inner surface of one of said clutch members.

25. A locking differential as set forth in claim 20 wherein said cavities extend into an axial outer surface of one of said clutch members.

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Cochren Steven J
• Creager Christopher W

Classifications

• F16H2048/207

  using torque sensors · CPC title

• F16H48/22 Primary

  using friction clutches or brakes · CPC title

• F16H48/145

  with friction clutching members · CPC title

• F16H48/08

  comprising bevel gears · CPC title