Dana Corporation

John L Hickey

Wesley M Dick

Gerald A Wuest

Anti-gear hopping device for a power transmission mechanism for an automotive vehicle. The power transmission mechanism may be a torque transfer case of a four wheel drive system. The anti-gear hopping device prevents undesired shifting between high range speed and low range speed modes of operation. The anti-gear hopping device comprises: (A) a fluid pressure mechanism for controlling the movements of a shift member; (B) a valve mechanism for actuating the fluid pressure mechanism; and (C) a valve actuator. The fluid pressure mechanism may include either a diaphragm or a piston which divides a chamber into two cavities which may be at different pressures. An output member linked to the diaphragm or piston controls shifting. The valve means is preferably a four way valve which includes first and second inlet ports in respective communication with the cavities of the fluid pressure actuator, and first and second outlet ports which are in respective communication with a source of fluid under higher pressure, say the atmosphere, and a source of fluid under lower pressure, said a vacuum source. The valve mechanism in a first state places a first outlet port and first cavity in communication therewith in communication with one of said fluid pressure sources, and simultaneously places the second inlet port and cavity in communication therewith in communication with the other source of fluid. In the second state, the respective communications are reversed so that the first inlet port is in communication with the second outlet port, and the second inlet port is in communication with the first inlet port. The valve mechanism further has a third state in which the first and second inlet ports are both closed, so that pressures previously established in the cavities are maintained. This prevents undesired shifting. Finally, the valve actuator means may comprise a three position switch which makes it possible to selectively place the valve mechanism in a desired one of the three states.

Anti-gear-hopping device

An improved structure for retaining a differential cross shaft in a differential axle assembly is disclosed. The differential axle assembly includes a casing adapted to be rotated about an axis. A cross shaft is disposed within the casing perpendicular to the axis of rotation. A first elongate channel having a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion is formed through the casing. A second elongate channel is formed in the cross shaft having a diameter greater than the smaller diameter portion of the casing channel. The cross shaft channel is adapted to be aligned with the casing channel. A lock pin is inserted through the larger diameter portion of the casing channel and the cross shaft channel into abutting relationship with a shoulder formed at the junction of the larger and smaller diameter portions. A boss is provided to extend into the larger diameter portion of the casing channel to retain the lock pin therein.

Differential cross shaft retaining means

An automotive differential has a differential case or rotor (20) rotatably mounted in a differential carrier (10) by a pair of spaced anti-friction bearings (30). The axial position of each of the anti-friction bearings is adjustable by virtue of a semi-cylindrical bearing retainer cap (40) which has an outer end face (40a) engaging an internally projecting shoulder (10c) in the stationary differential carrier and is provided with axially elongated slots (40c) for reception of mounting bolts (41) which engage threaded holes provided in the carrier adjacent a semi-cylindrical bore (10a) therein which functions as the other half of the bearing housing and which is machined with the bearing retainer in assembled position, thus permitting precise axial location of the bearing to permit axial positioning of the differential rotor relative to the carrier by a few shims (50) or an adjusting washer (60) to eliminate end play therebetween.

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Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

John L Hickey