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. 25, 2000
Filed:
May. 13, 1999
Garrett W Gage, Goodrich, MI (US);
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A one-piece differential casing for a parallel-axis differential assembly is provided. The integral casing includes a drum segment defining an internal chamber and a flange segment extending radially from the outer periphery of the drum segment. The casing further includes a window aperture extending through the drum segment that communicates with the chamber, a pair of sockets formed in the axle openings to rotatably support the side gears therein, and paired sets of gear pockets. A set of first pinion pockets are formed as elongated bores which communicate with the internal chamber and have an opening through one end wall of the drum segment. In addition, a set of second pinion pockets are formed as elongated bores which communicate with the internal chamber and have an opening through the opposite end wall of the drum segment. The first and second pinion pockets are arranged in paired sets and each has an axis which is parallel to the axis of the axle openings. After pinions are installed through the openings in the ends of the first and second pinion pockets, plugs are mounted in the openings to enclose the pockets, thereby retaining the pinion in the integral casing.