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:
Sep. 14, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1998
James P Downs, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Edward J Eshelman, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
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 pair of opposed circular edge portions of the differential case interconnected by a pair of opposed elongated edge portions of the differential case. The pair of opposed elongated edge portions have a dimension therebetween slightly larger than an outside diameter of a pair of side gears so as to allow angulated entry of the side gears into the chamber and subsequent alignment relative to a longitudinal axis. The pair of opposed circular edge portions include a radius slightly larger than a radius of a pair of pinion gears to allow entry of the pinion gears into the chamber and subsequent alignment relative to another longitudinal axis. As such, the assembly window permits easy assembly of the gear components into the differential case while improving the structural and functional characteristics thereof.