Differential and drive pinion assembly

Details Differential and drive pinion assembly Differential and drive pinion assembly

2000-03-20

2001-03-13

Wright, Dirk (Department: 3681)

Planetary gear transmission systems or components

Differential planetary gearing

Bevel gear differential

Reexamination Certificate

active

06200241

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to an improved mount for the drive pinion utilized to drive a differential, wherein an inner end of the drive pinion is supported in a tapered roller radial bearing.
Differentials are utilized in the drive lines of many modem vehicles. Typically, a differential takes a rotating input and drives two shafts which extend in opposed directions. An outer gear is attached to a differential case, and engages a drive pinion. A drive input is applied through the drive pinion to drive the differential case. The differential case drives two side gears which are fixed to the two shafts.
Drive pinions transmit high torque, and must be adequately supported for proper operation of the overall pinion and differential. In the prior art, the drive pinions have typically been supported by one of two methods. In a first method, two tapered roller bearings are placed on an outer drive pinion shaft outwardly of the drive pinion teeth. The two tapered roller bearings typically face in opposed directions, and together provide a mount for the drive pinion which resists movement. Tapered roller bearings typically have inner and outer races each abutting one of a housing and a rotating member, and prevent movement between the housing and rotating tapered bearing surfaces.
In a second method of mounting the drive pinion, in addition to the two outer tapered bearings, a cylindrical bearing is utilized at the inner end of the drive pinion inwardly of the drive pinion teeth. In the first arrangement, the drive pinion is not supported at its inner end as securely as would be desired. Moreover, the use of two tapered bearings at the outer end requires more space than is desirable. In addition, in the second embodiment, one additional being is required to support the drive pinion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the disclosed embodiment of this invention, a drive pinion is associated with a differential. The drive pinion is supported at its outer end in a tapered roller bearing. A second tapered roller bearing is positioned on the inner shaft of the drive pinion. The inner bearing has an inner race which abuts an enlarged neck on the drive pinion shaft. An outer race of the bearing is supported in a housing which surrounds the drive pinion.
Preferably, the housing which receives the outer race of the inner tapered bearing is secured directly radially outwardly of a bearing which supports one of the ends of the differential case. Thus, the necessary package size inwardly of the drive pinion is not increased even though the inner tapered roller bearing is used.
Moreover, since only a single tapered bearing is necessary outwardly of the drive pinion teeth, less space is required outwardly of the teeth than is required in the prior art. The use of the tapered bearing at the inner end provides a more secure mount for the pinion gear.
The above and other features and benefits of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawing, of which the following is a brief description.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1106149 (1914-08-01), Loomis
patent: 1241893 (1917-10-01), Alden
patent: 58-207544 (1983-12-01), None

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