Differential having piston housing integrated with differential case

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9709150-B2
Application number	US-201414585672-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Oct 10, 2012
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A differential gear includes a differential casing having a first differential case portion that defines a first output shaft opening and a second differential case portion that defines a second output shaft opening. The first differential case portion can include an annular pocket formed thereon and defined by an outer circumferential wall, an inner circumferential wall and an end wall. A piston can be slidably disposed in the annular pocket and configured to actuate a clutch assembly. A first and a second side gear can be rotatably mounted within the differential casing. The first and second side gears can be co-axially aligned along an axis of rotation of the differential casing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A differential gear mechanism comprising:
a differential casing having a first differential case portion that defines a first output shaft opening and a second differential case portion that defines a second output shaft opening, the first differential case portion including an annular pocket formed thereon and defined by an outer circumferential wall, an inner circumferential wall and an end wall;
a piston slidably disposed in the annular pocket and configured to actuate a clutch assembly;
a first and a second side gear rotatably mounted within the differential casing, the first and second side gears being co-axially aligned along an axis of rotation of the differential casing; and
a reaction block disposed on the first differential case portion and configured to transfer a first side gear separation force onto the first differential case portion.

2. The differential gear mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first differential case further includes an annular lip formed in part by the inner circumferential wall.

3. The differential gear mechanism of claim 2 wherein the reaction block is disposed on the annular lip.

4. The differential gear mechanism of claim 3 wherein the reaction block includes a radial arm and a ledge, wherein the ledge rests against the annular lip of the reaction block and the radial arm opposes the inner circumferential wall of the annular pocket of the first differential case.

5. The differential gear mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first side gear defines an annular channel that nestingly receives the reaction block therein.

6. The differential gear mechanism of claim 1 wherein the reaction block defines a plurality of bores therethrough.

7. The differential gear mechanism of claim 1 wherein the reaction block is conical.

8. The differential gear mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first differential case portion defines a plurality of blind bores that receive planet gear shafts from a planetary gear set.

9. The differential assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a first o-ring disposed between the piston and the outer circumferential wall of the annular pocket; and
a second o-ring disposed between the piston and the inner circumferential wall of the annular pocket.

10. The differential assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a washer disposed between the reaction block and the first side gear.

11. A differential gear mechanism comprising:
a differential casing having a first differential case portion that defines a first output shaft opening and a second differential case portion that defines a second output shaft opening, the first differential case portion including an annular pocket formed thereon;
a piston slidably disposed in the annular pocket and configured to actuate a clutch assembly;
a first and a second side gear rotatably mounted within the differential casing, the first and second side gears being co-axially aligned along an axis of rotation of the differential casing, the first side gear defining a first shaft opening configured to provide a first torque transmitting connection with a first output shaft received within the first output shaft opening, the second side gear defining a second shaft opening configured to provide a second torque transmitting connection with a second output shaft received within the second output shaft opening; and
a reaction block disposed on the first differential case portion and configured to transfer a first side gear separation force onto the first differential case portion.

12. The differential gear mechanism of claim 11 wherein the annular pocket is defined by an outer circumferential wall, an inner circumferential wall and an end wall.

13. The differential gear mechanism of claim 12 wherein the first differential case portion further includes an annular lip formed in part by the inner circumferential wall and wherein the reaction block is disposed on the annular lip.

14. The differential gear mechanism of claim 13 wherein the reaction block includes a radial arm and a ledge, wherein the ledge rests against the annular lip of the reaction block and the radial arm opposes the inner circumferential wall of the annular pocket of the first differential case portion.

15. The differential gear mechanism of claim 11 wherein the first side gear defines an annular channel that nestingly receives the reaction block therein.

16. The differential gear mechanism of claim 11 wherein the first differential case portion defines a plurality of blind bores that receive planet gear shafts from a planetary gear set.

17. The differential assembly of claim 11 further comprising:
a first o-ring disposed between the piston and the outer circumferential wall of the annular pocket; and
a second o-ring disposed between the piston and the inner circumferential wall of the annular pocket.

18. A differential gear mechanism comprising:
a differential casing having a first differential case portion that defines a first output shaft opening and a second differential case portion that defines a second output shaft opening, the first differential case portion including an annular pocket formed thereon, wherein the first differential case portion further defines a plurality of blind bores that receive planet gear shafts from a planetary gear set;
a piston slidably disposed in the annular pocket and configured to actuate a clutch assembly;
a first and a second side gear rotatably mounted within the differential casing, the first and second side gears being co-axially aligned along an axis of rotation of the differential casing, the first side gear defining a first shaft opening configured to provide a first torque transmitting connection with a first output shaft received within the first output shaft opening, the second side gear defining a second shaft opening configured to provide a second torque transmitting connection with a second output shaft received within the second output shaft opening; and
a reaction block disposed on the first differential case portion and configured to transfer a first side gear separation force onto the first differential case portion.

19. The differential gear mechanism of claim 18 wherein the reaction block includes a radial arm and a ledge, wherein the ledge rests against the annular lip of the reaction block and the radial arm opposes the inner circumferential wall of the annular pocket of the first differential case portion.

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Fox Matthew G

Classifications

• F16H48/08

  comprising bevel gears · CPC title

• F16H48/22 Primary

  using friction clutches or brakes · CPC title

• F16H48/27

  using internally-actuatable fluid pressure, e.g. internal pump types · CPC title

• F16H48/32

  using fluid pressure actuators · CPC title

• F16H48/40 Primary

  characterised by features of the rotating cases · CPC title