Driveline component having differential assembly with differential gearset configured to limit inboard thrust of side gears

1. A driveline component comprising:

a differential case that is rotatable about a first rotary axis;

a first pinion gear disposed within the differential case, the first pinion gear being coupled to the differential case for common rotation about the first rotary axis with the differential case and for rotation relative to the differential case about a first pinion axis that is transverse to the first rotary axis, the first pinion gear including a plurality of first pinion teeth;

a first spacer disposed in an annular manner about the first pinon axis and being coupled to the first pinion gear for rotation therewith about the first rotary axis, the first spacer including an outer cylindrical surface;

a first side gear received in the differential case and rotatable about the first rotary axis relative to the differential case, the first side gear including a plurality of first side gear teeth and a first inboard surface, the first side gear teeth being meshingly engaged with the first pinion teeth, the first inboard surface being configured to contact the outer cylindrical surface of the first spacer to limit axial movement of the first side gear relative to the first pinion gear in a first direction along the first rotary axis toward the first pinion gear; and

a second side gear received in the differential case and rotatable about the first rotary axis relative to the differential case and the first side gear, the second side gear including a plurality of second side gear teeth and a second inboard surface, the second side gear teeth being meshingly engaged with the first pinion teeth, the second inboard surface being configured to contact the outer cylindrical surface of the first spacer to limit axial movement of the second side gear relative to the first pinion gear in a second direction along the first rotary axis toward the first pinion gear.

2. The driveline component of claim 1 , wherein the first inboard surface is axially between the outer cylindrical surface and an inboard-most part of the first side gear teeth, and wherein the second inboard surface is axially between the outer cylindrical surface and an inboard-most part of the second side gear teeth.

3. The driveline component of claim 1 , wherein the first spacer is fixedly coupled to the first pinion gear.

4. The driveline component of claim 3 , wherein the first spacer is unitarily and integrally formed with the first pinion gear.

5. The driveline component of claim 1 , wherein the first pinion gear includes a recess and the first spacer is received in the recess.

6. The driveline component of claim 5 , wherein the first spacer is press-fit into the recess.

7. The driveline component of claim 1 , further comprising a second pinion gear and a second spacer, the second pinion gear being received in the differential case, the second pinion gear being coupled to the differential case for rotation with the differential case about the first rotary axis and for rotation relative to the differential case about a second pinion axis that is transverse to the first rotary axis, the second pinion gear including a plurality of second pinion teeth meshingly engaged with the first and second side gear teeth, the second spacer being disposed about the second pinion axis, wherein contact between the second spacer and the first inboard surface is configured to limit axial movement of the first side gear relative to the second pinion gear in the first direction along the first rotary axis toward the second pinion gear, and wherein contact between the second spacer and the second inboard surface is configured to limit axial movement of the second side gear relative to the second pinion gear in the second direction along the first rotary axis toward the second pinion gear.

8. The driveline component of claim 7 , wherein the first and second pinion axes are coincident.

9. The driveline component of claim 8 , wherein the first and second pinion gears are rotatably mounted on a cross-pin that is non-rotatably mounted to the differential case.

10. The driveline component of claim 1 , wherein contact between the first spacer and the first and second inboard surfaces prevents the first pinion teeth from contacting the first and second side gear teeth in a zero backlash condition.

11. The driveline component of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first output shaft rotatably coupled to the first side gear and adapted to be drivingly coupled to a first vehicle wheel;

a second output shaft rotatably coupled to the second side gear;

a third output shaft disposed about the first rotary axis and adapted to be drivingly coupled to a second vehicle wheel;

a clutch operable in a first mode, in which the clutch couples the second and third output shafts for common rotation about the first rotary axis, and a second mode in which the clutch rotationally decouples the second output shaft from the third output shaft.

12. The driveline component of claim 1 , wherein the first spacer is integrally and unitarily formed with the first pinion gear.

13. A driveline component comprising:

a differential case that is rotatable about a first rotary axis;

a first pinion gear disposed within the differential case and coupled to the differential case for common rotation about the first rotary axis with the differential case and for rotation relative to the differential case about a first pinion axis that is transverse to the first rotary axis, the first pinion gear including a plurality of first pinion teeth;

a first side gear received in the differential case and rotatable about the first rotary axis relative to the differential case, the first side gear including a plurality of first side gear teeth that are meshed with the first pinion teeth;

a second side gear received in the differential case and rotatable about the first rotary axis relative to the differential case and the first side gear, the second side gear including a plurality of second side gear teeth that are meshed with the first pinion teeth; and

means for limiting inboard thrust of the first and second side gears in respective directions along the first rotary axis toward the first pinion gear, the inboard thrust limiting means being configured to ensure that a non-zero amount of backlash is present between the first pinion gear and each of the first and second side gears when the first and second side gears are positioned closest to one another;

wherein the inboard thrust limiting means comprises a spacer that is fixedly coupled to the first pinion gear.

14. The driveline component of claim 13 , wherein the spacer is unitarily and integrally formed with the first pinion gear.

15. The driveline component of claim 13 , further comprising:

a first output shaft rotatably coupled to the first side gear and adapted to be drivingly coupled to a first vehicle wheel;

a second output shaft rotatably coupled to the second side gear;

a third output shaft disposed about the first rotary axis and adapted to be drivingly coupled to a second vehicle wheel;

a clutch operable in a first mode, in which the clutch couples the second and third output shafts for common rotation about the first rotary axis, and a second mode in which the clutch rotationally decouples the second output shaft from the third output shaft.

16. A driveline component comprising:

a differential case that is rotatable about a first rotary axis;

a first pinion gear disposed within the differential case and coupled to the differential case for common rotation about the first rotary axis with the differential case and for rotation relative to the differential case about a first pinion axis that is transverse to the first rotary axis, the first pinion gear including a plurality of first pinion teeth;

a first side gear received in the differential case and rotatable about the first rotary axis relative to the differential case, the first side gear including a plurality of first side gear teeth that are meshed with the first pinion teeth;

a second side gear received in the differential case and rotatable about the first rotary axis relative to the differential case and the first side gear, the second side gear including a plurality of second side gear teeth that are meshed with the first pinion teeth; and

means for limiting inboard thrust of the first and second side gears in respective directions along the first rotary axis toward the first pinion gear, the inboard thrust limiting means being configured to ensure that a non-zero amount of backlash is present between the first pinion gear and each of the first and second side gears when the first and second side gears are positioned closest to one another;

wherein the inboard thrust limiting means comprises a first spacer, wherein the first pinion gear includes a recess and wherein the first spacer is received in the recess.

17. The driveline component of claim 16 , wherein the first spacer is press-fit into the recess.

18. The driveline component of claim 16 , further comprising a second pinion gear that is disposed within the differential case, and the second pinion gear being coupled to the differential case for rotation with the differential case about the first rotary axis and for rotation relative to the differential case about a second pinion axis that is transverse to the first rotary axis, the second pinion gear including a plurality of second pinion teeth that are meshingly engaged with the first and second side gear teeth, wherein the inboard thrust limiting means further comprises a second spacer, the second spacer being disposed about the second pinion axis.

19. The driveline component of claim 18 , wherein the first and second pinion axes are coincident.

20. The driveline component of claim 19 , wherein the first and second pinion gears are rotatably mounted on a cross-pin that is non-rotatably mounted to the differential case.

21. The driveline component of claim 20 , further comprising:

a first output shaft rotatably coupled to the first side gear and adapted to be drivingly coupled to a first vehicle wheel;

a second output shaft rotatably coupled to the second side gear;

a third output shaft disposed about the first rotary axis and adapted to be drivingly coupled to a second vehicle wheel;

a clutch operable in a first mode, in which the clutch couples the second and third output shafts for common rotation about the first rotary axis, and a second mode in which the clutch rotationally decouples the second output shaft from the third output shaft.