Extended differential output gear
An extended differential output gear including a gear body portion and a tubular portion. The gear body portion includes an outer gear portion and an inner spline portion at least partially overlapping the outer gear portion in a radial direction. The tubular portion extends axially from the inner spline portion. The tubular portion may include a speed sensor target. The tubular portion may include a thicker portion adjacent to the inner spline portion, and a thinner portion adjacent to the thicker portion. The tubular portion may include a stepped tube pressed onto the thinner portion, and the stepped tube may include a speed sensor target. A differential assembly including the extended differential output gear and an axle assembly including the differential assembly are also disclosed.
1 . An extended differential output gear, comprising:
a gear body portion comprising:
an outer gear portion; and
an inner spline portion at least partially overlapping the outer gear portion in a radial direction; and
a tubular portion extending axially from the inner spline portion and comprising a speed sensor target.
2 . The extended differential output gear of claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion comprises:
a thicker portion adjacent to the inner spline portion; and
a thinner portion adjacent to the thicker portion.
3 . The extended differential output gear of claim 2 , wherein:
the tubular portion comprises a stepped tube pressed onto the thinner portion; and
the stepped tube comprises the speed sensor target.
4 . The extended differential output gear of claim 1 , wherein the gear body portion comprises a pair of annular surfaces arranged at axially opposite ends of the gear body portion.
5 . The extended differential output gear of claim 4 , wherein:
the gear body portion comprises a first axial length measured between the pair of annular surfaces; and
the outer gear portion comprises a second axial length, less than the first axial length.
6 . The extended differential output gear of claim 1 , wherein the gear body portion further comprises a first bore axially adjacent to the inner spline portion.
7 . The extended differential output gear of claim 6 , wherein the gear body portion further comprises a second bore axially adjacent to the first bore.
8 . The extended differential output gear of claim 6 , further comprising a plug press-fitted into the first bore.
9 . A differential assembly, comprising:
a housing;
a first extended differential output gear of claim 1 , disposed in the housing; and
a second extended differential output gear of claim 1 , disposed in the housing and coaxial with the first extended differential output gear.
10 . The differential assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first plurality of pinion gears disposed radially outside of and in meshing engagement with the first extended differential output gear output outer gear portion; and
a second plurality of pinion gears disposed radially outside of and in meshing engagement with the second extended differential output gear output outer gear portion and the first plurality of pinion gears.
11 . The differential assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the housing comprises a first tubular portion having a first distal end; and
the tubular portion of the first extended differential output gear extends inside of the first tubular portion beyond the first distal end.
12 . The differential assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the first extended differential output gear tubular portion comprises a thicker portion adjacent to the inner spline portion arranged to radially position the first extended differential output gear in the housing.
13 . The differential assembly of claim 12 , wherein:
the first extended differential output gear tubular portion comprises a thinner portion adjacent to the thicker portion arranged as a sealing surface.
14 . An axle assembly, comprising:
an axle housing; and
the differential assembly of claim 9 disposed in the axle housing.
15 . The axle assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first extended differential output gear tubular portion is sealed to the axle housing.
16 . The axle assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a speed sensor disposed in the axle housing, wherein the speed sensor target is aligned with the speed sensor.
17 . An extended differential output gear, comprising:
a gear body portion comprising:
an outer gear portion; and
an inner spline portion at least partially overlapping the outer gear portion in a radial direction; and
a tubular portion extending axially from the inner spline portion, the tubular portion comprising:
a thicker portion adjacent to the inner spline portion;
a thinner portion adjacent to the thicker portion; and
a stepped tube pressed onto the thinner portion, the stepped tube comprising a speed sensor target.
18 . An axle assembly, comprising:
an axle housing;
a differential assembly disposed in the axle housing, the differential assembly comprising:
a housing;
a first extended differential output gear disposed in the housing and comprising a speed sensor target; and
a second extended differential output gear disposed in the housing and coaxial with the first extended differential output gear, each of the first extended differential output gear and the second extended differential output gear comprising:
a gear body portion comprising:
an outer gear portion; and
an inner spline portion at least partially overlapping the outer gear portion in a radial direction; and
a tubular portion extending axially from the inner spline portion; and
a speed sensor disposed in the axle housing and aligned with the speed sensor target.