The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 29, 1997
Filed:
May. 16, 1994
John T Graft, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Richard E Cleveland, Garrett, IN (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
The invention is directed to an axle differential bearing preloading apparatus and method of assembling an axle differential. The apparatus provides a substantially uniform differential bearing preload regardless of wear of the drive gears or bearing assemblies. The assembly of the differential case into the differential carrier is simplified, and subsequent adjustment of bearing preload is not necessary over the useful life of the axle. The vehicle axle differential includes a differential case mounted by axially spaced bearing assemblies. The bearing assemblies are mounted within bearing seats formed in the carrier housing, with one of the bearing seats also housing a load deflection member acting on the bearing assembly. The load deflection member maintains a substantially constant predetermined bearing preload upon wear of the drive gears or bearing assemblies. The method of assembling the differential allows backlash and bearing preload to be set easily, while avoiding the requirement to spread the carrier housing in some cases.