American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

Paul H Petruska

Benjamin J Walker

Shad J Falls

John P Pritchard

Paul J Lloyd

Howard J Bruno

A differential case is provided including at least one assembly window formed therein for providing access to a chamber interior of the differential case. The assembly window in the differential case is defined by a semi-elliptical segment having ends interconnected by a pair of elongated edge portions of the differential case. The pair of elongated edge portions are interconnected by an arcuate segment. The assembly window has a dimension slightly larger than an outside diameter of a side gear so as to allow angulated entry of the side gears into the chamber and subsequent alignment relative to a longitudinal axis. The assembly window is further shaped to allow entry of the pinion gears into the chamber and subsequent alignment relative to another longitudinal axis.

Differential assembly with semi-elliptical assembly window

A power transmission device includes a housing, a differential assembly having a case and a bearing assembly rotatably supporting the case within the housing. A preload is applied to the bearing assembly along a load path. A shim is positioned in the load path with the bearing assembly. The shim is constructed at least in part from a material having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion such that the shim is operable to compensate for different rates of thermal expansion in the components within the load path to maintain a desired bearing preload or a range of operating temperatures.

Power transmission device with thermally compensating bearing preload mechanism

An axle assembly includes an axle housing having a main body and defining an internal cavity. The axle housing includes a first and second opening defined in the main body and adapted to support a first and second differential bearing respectively. A differential assembly is supported in the axle housing with the first and second differential bearings. The main body defines an inner mounting surface, an outer face and an inner circumferential surface extending between the inner mounting surface and the outer face. The inner circumferential surface defines a third opening. The main body defines a relief formed through the inner mounting surface and extending through a portion of the inner circumferential surface. The relief defines a fluid communication path for delivering fluid to a pinion bearing assembly arranged in the third opening.

Pinion unit in axle assembly

Thermally compensating bearing preload arrangement in axle assembly

An axle assembly includes a carrier housing having a deflector, a differential assembly, and an input shaft. The carrier housing has a main body and a pinion nose extending from the main body. The pinion shaft and the differential assembly are each rotatably supported by the carrier housing in driving engagement with one another. The pinion shaft extends through an aperture in the pinion nose. The deflector extends across at least a portion of an outer surface of the pinion nose to redirect contaminants from entering the carrier housing.

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Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

Paul H Petruska