Gkn Automotive Gmbh

Gkn Driveline North America, Inc.

David E Gall

Kevin J Kaplan

Eric James LaMothe

Crittenden A Bittick

Kevin P Horak

Rick Ohsiek

Mark A Heinze

Edward K Kwon

John Eckart

A vehicle differential includes a housing, an input gear mounted to the housing so that the housing and input gear rotate together, a pinion shaft mounted in the housing, first and second pinion gears mounted on the pinion shaft, first and second side gears within the housing and engaged with the pinion gears, and a second gear mounted to the housing so that the second gear and the housing rotate together. Part of the second gear overlaps at least part of the pinion shaft and limits movement of the pinion shaft relative to the housing.

Differential with auxiliary gear

A differential with a washer for a gear in a differential housing includes an outer edge at a maximum radial distance from an axis, and an inner edge defining an opening, the inner edge defined in part by an innermost portion at a minimum radial distance from the axis and the inner edge having an outward portion spaced radially outwardly from the innermost portion. The washer also includes an axially and radially inclined sidewall extending at least part of the way between the outer edge and the innermost portion.

Contoured differential gear washer with defined fluid flow path

In at least one implementation, a method of assembling gears into a housing of an automotive differential includes, selecting a thickness dimension of first and second pinion gear washers, and first and second side gear washers, locating a pair of pinion gears, a pinion shaft and a pair of side gears at least partially within an interior of the housing with the pinion gear washers between the housing and separate ones of the pinion gears, and the side gear washers between the housing and separate ones of the side gears. The thickness of the side gear washers may be a function of target side gear apex positions and relative to a pinion gear apex axis. The thickness of the pinion gear washers may be a function of target pinion gear apex positions residing along a pinion gear apex axis and relative to a side gear apex axis.

Automotive differential and method of assembling same

In at least some implementations, a differential for a vehicle includes a pinion gear, a pair of side gears and a housing. The side gears are meshed with the pinion gear and the housing defines a cavity in which the pinion gear and side gears are received. The housing also has an opening with an inner end leading to the cavity and an outer end spaced from the inner end. The opening is adapted to receive a shaft therethrough for coupling of the shaft to one of the side gears and the opening is defined at least in part by a journal surface. The journal surface is concave with respect to the shaft and provides a converging portion from the inner end to a central portion between the inner end and outer end and a diverging portion from the central portion to the outer end.

Crowned profile driveshaft journal

A housing of a vehicle differential, such as an automotive driveline differential, supports one or more gearsets in assembly. A wall of the housing has one or more windows that provide access to the gearset(s). One or more protuberances are situated at an exterior surface of the wall and near the window(s). The protuberance(s) provide a thickened portion in the wall to strengthen and reinforce the wall against stresses experienced during use of the vehicle differential.

Vehicle differential housing with protuberances

A differential flange assembly is disclosed herein that includes a flange member and a washer member. The flange member is defined by an engagement face and having an aperture therethrough. At least one slot is formed on the engagement face so as to extend radially outward from the aperture. The washer member has at least one tab extending from a peripheral edge of the washer member and at least one opening. The tab is configured to be seated within the slot to mate the washer member to the engagement face of the flange member. The interaction of the slot of the flange member and the tab of the washer member prevent rotation of the washer member with respect to the flange member.

Growing community of inventors

Clarkston, MI, United States of America

David E Gall