Patent ID: 6652408
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A motor vehicle differential assembly for transferring rotational torque input by a hypoid pinion gear rotatably driven by a driver member to a pair of substantially axially aligned rotary driven axle shafts that are journalled for rotation, the differential assembly of the type having a hypoid ring gear journalled for rotation concentrically with respect to the axle shafts and meshing with the hypoid pinion gear, and a pair of differential pinion gears rotatable with the ring gear and further meshing with an axle gear coupled to each of the axle shafts, said assembly comprising:the hypoid ring gear having an inner surface and an outer surface and forming a pair of diametrically opposed cavities opening onto the inner surface; a differential pin rotationally journalling the pair of differential pinion gears, the differential pin being secured to the hypoid ring gear and extending diametrically across the hypoid ring gear, the differential pin forming ends received by the cavities formed by the hypoid ring gear, each of the differential pin ends cooperating such that the ends may be installed within the cavities in one rotational orientation of the differential pin and the ends become interlocked with the cavities when the differential pin is rotated in place to a second rotational orientation within the cavities.