Inter-axle differential with improved differential gear mounting arrangement
View Patent ↗An improved inter-axle differential is provided that eliminates the need for a differential case to retain the differential gears. A thrust washer and a retaining ring are disposed on each arm of a differential spider to retain a corresponding differential gear. The combination of the thrust washer and the retaining ring reduces the complexity and the weight of conventional inter-axle differential assemblies and enables improved splash lubrication of the differential.
1. An inter-axle differential, comprising:
an input shaft disposed about a first axis;
an output shaft coaxial with said input shaft;
a spider coupled to said input shaft, said spider having a plurality of radially outwardly extending arms;
a plurality of differential gears mounted on said spider, one of said plurality of differential gears disposed about one arm of said plurality of arms;
a thrust washer disposed about said one arm, radially outwardly of said one gear;
a retaining ring disposed in a groove in said one arm radially outwardly of said thrust washer; and
first and second side gears in mesh with said differential gears, said first and second side gears configured to transmit power to first and second axles of a vehicle.
2. The inter-axle differential of claim 1 , wherein said thrust washer includes a radially inner concave spherical surface and a radially outer surface having a recess formed therein.
3. The inter-axle differential of claim 1 , wherein a radially outer surface of said thrust washer defines a recess configured to receive said retaining ring.
4. The inter-axle differential of claim 3 , wherein said thrust washer includes a tab extending into said recess and into a gap formed in said retaining ring.
5. The inter-axle differential of claim 1 , wherein said thrust washer defines a tab that extends into a gap in said retaining ring.
6. The inter-axle differential of claim 1 wherein none of said plurality of differential gears and said first and second side gears are disposed within a differential case.
7. An inter-axle differential, comprising:
an input shaft disposed about a first axis;
an output shaft coaxial with said input shaft;
a spider coupled to said input shaft, said spider having a plurality of radially outwardly extending arms and at least one of said arms having:
a radially inner portion; and,
a radially outer portion;
said inner and outer portions substantially circular in shape and said outer portion defining flats;
a plurality of differential gears mounted on said spider, one of said plurality of differential gears disposed about said inner portion of said one arm;
a thrust washer disposed about said outer portion of said one arm, said thrust washer having a central bore shaped complementary to said outer portion of said arm;
a retaining ring disposed in a groove in said one arm radially outwardly of said thrust washer; and,
first and second side gears in mesh with said differential gears, said first and second side gears configured to transmit power to first and second axles of a vehicle.
8. The inter-axle differential of claim 7 , wherein said thrust washer includes a radially inner concave spherical surface and a radially outer surface having a recess formed therein.
9. The inter-axle differential of claim 7 , wherein a radially outer surface of said thrust washer defines a recess configured to receive said retaining ring.
10. The inter-axle differential of claim 9 , wherein said thrust washer includes a tab extending into said recess and into a gap formed in said retaining ring.
11. The inter-axle differential of claim 7 , wherein said thrust washer defines a tab that extends into a gap in said retaining ring.
12. The inter-axle differential of claim 7 wherein a gap in said retaining ring is aligned with one of said flats in said radially outer portion of said at least one arm.
13. An inter-axle differential, comprising:
an input shaft disposed about a first axis;
an output shaft coaxial with said input shaft;
a spider coupled to said input shaft, said spider having a plurality of radially outwardly extending arms and at least one of said arms having:
a radially inner portion; and,
a radially outer portion;
said inner and outer portions substantially circular in shape and said outer portion defining a flat;
a plurality of differential gears mounted on said spider, one of said plurality of differential gears disposed about said inner portion of said one arm;
a thrust washer disposed about said outer portion of said one arm, said thrust washer having a central bore shaped complementary to said outer portion of said arm;
a retaining ring disposed in a groove in said one arm radially outwardly of said thrust washer; and,
first and second side gears in mesh with said differential gears, said first and second side gears configured to transmit power to first and second axles of a vehicle.
14. The inter-axle differential of claim 13 wherein said thrust washer includes a radially inner concave spherical surface and a radially outer surface having a recess formed therein.
15. The inter-axle differential of claim 13 , wherein a radially outer surface of said thrust washer defines a recess configured to receive said retaining ring.
16. The inter-axle differential of claim 13 , wherein said thrust washer includes a tab extending into said recess and into a gap formed in said retaining ring.
17. The inter-axle differential of claim 13 , wherein said thrust washer defines a tab that extends into a gap in said retaining ring.
18. The inter-axle differential of claim 13 wherein a gap in said retaining ring is aligned with said flat in said radially outer portion of said at least one arm.