Patent ID: 7976423
Filing Date: 2011-07-12
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A differential assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a differential casing defining a cavity; a first side gear received in the differential cavity; a second side gear received in the differential cavity; a plurality of first pinion gears meshingly engaged with the first side gear; a plurality of second pinion gears meshingly engaged with the second side gear, each second pinion gear also being meshingly engaged with a corresponding one of the first pinion gears; a first thrust block received between the differential casing and the first side gear on a side of the differential casing opposite the second side gear, the first thrust block having circumferentially spaced apart recesses; and a spring biasing the first thrust block into engagement with the first side gear; wherein the first side gear is disposed between the spring and the second side gear such that the spring biases the first side gear toward the second side gear; and wherein at least one of the first pinion gears is received in an associated one of the recesses in the first thrust block to thereby inhibit rotation of the first thrust block relative to the differential casing.