Patent ID: 7976422
Filing Date: 2011-07-12
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A differential assembly, comprising: a differential housing defining an internal chamber, an aperture communicating with said chamber and a housing bore communicating with said aperture; a gearset disposed within said chamber and including a pair of side gears meshed with at least one pinion gear that is rotatably mounted on a cross pin, an end portion of said cross pin is disposed within said aperture and has a cross pin bore that is alignable with said housing bore; and a cross pin retainer disposed in said housing bore and axially moveable relative to said cross pin bore between first and second axial positions in response to rotation of said cross pin retainer relative to said housing, said cross pin retainer having an abutment portion engageable with a first wall portion of said housing when said cross pin retainer is located in a first rotated position to inhibit movement of said cross pin retainer from its first axial position to its second axial position, said abutment portion is further engageable with a second wall portion of said housing when said cross pin retainer is located in a second rotated position to permit movement of said cross pin retainer from its first axial position to its second axial position.