Patent ID: 6705965
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: F16C,F16H

Abstract:
A carrier assembly for a drive axle comprising:a pinion gear operably coupled to an input shaft for rotation relative to a carrier housing about a pinion gear axis of rotation wherein said pinion gear includes a plurality of pinion gear teeth and is supported on a pinion shaft having an exterior end supported for rotation relative to said carrier housing with a first bearing assembly and an interior end supported for rotation relative to said carrier housing with a second bearing assembly; a pinion cage having a first cage portion and a second cage portion attachable to said first cage portion wherein said first bearing assembly is installed between said first cage portion and said exterior end of said pinion shaft and said second bearing assembly is installed between said second cage portion and said interior end of said pinion shaft; a ring gear driven by said pinion gear for rotation about a ring gear axis of rotation transverse to said pinion gear axis of rotation, said ring gear having a back side and an opposing front side having a plurality of ring gear teeth in meshing engagement with said pinion gear teeth; and a differential assembly including a first differential case half, a second differential case half attachable to said first differential case half at an interface to define a case split line, and a differential gear assembly supported by said first and second case halves and operably coupled to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheels wherein said case split line is positioned on said back side of said ring gear.