Patent Publication Number: US-6210299-B1

Title: Tubular beam motor vehicle differential axle assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a new and novel tubular beam motor vehicle differential axle assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new and novel tubular beam motor vehicle differential axle assembly having a single structure which acts as both the load carrying structure, as well as the torque transmitting structure. 
     In known prior art motor vehicle differential axle assemblies, a separate load carrying structure and torque transmitting structure are provided. For example, many known prior art motor vehicle differential axle assemblies include a load carrying structure having tubes and a torque transmitting structure having a carrier connected with axle shafts installed inside of a differential housing. 
     It would be desirable to provide a motor vehicle differential axle assembly having a single structure which acts as both the load carrying structure, as well as the torque transmitting structure, to reduce the number of parts needed for, and thus the cost of, a functional motor vehicle differential axle assembly. 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is, therefore, directed to a tubular beam motor vehicle differential axle assembly having two (2) tubular shafts, each of the tubular shafts having gear teeth formed on one end thereof, or alternatively having a gear mechanically connected to the end of the tubular shaft by, for example, a chemical bonding material, a weld, an interference fit and/or one or more mechanical fastener(s), and the other end of each of the tubular shafts having a flange to which a motor vehicle wheel is mounted. A tubular differential case partially houses the two (2) tubular shafts, a set of pinion mate gears and a pinion mate gear shaft. A ring gear is positioned outboard of the tubular differential case which receives rotational power from an input shaft. A differential carrier houses the tubular differential case, as well as the ends of the tubular shafts having the gear teeth, the pinion mate gears and the pinion mate gear shaft and the differential carrier also houses bearings, spacers, seals and fasteners, which are preferably of conventional design, for the tubular beam motor vehicle differential axle assembly. 
     Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in cross-section and partially in plan view, of a tubular beam motor vehicle differential axle assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing which, in conjunction with this detailed description, illustrates and describes a preferred embodiment of a tubular beam motor vehicle differential axle assembly, generally identified by reference number  10 , in accordance with the present invention. Referring now to the drawing, attention is directed to FIG. 1, which illustrates a side elevational view, partially in cross-section and partially in plan view, of tubular beam motor vehicle differential axle assembly  10  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Tubular beam motor vehicle differential axle assembly  10  generally includes first tubular shaft  12  and second tubular shaft  14 , each of first tubular shaft  12  and second tubular shaft  14  having gear teeth  16  and  18 , respectively, on one end thereof. Gear teeth  16  and  18  may be formed integrally on one end of first tubular shaft  12  and second tubular shaft  14 , respectively, or alternatively, two (2) gears having gear teeth  16  and gear teeth  18 , respectively, formed therein can be mechanically connected to the one end of first tubular shaft  12  and second tubular shaft  14 , respectively, by, for example, a chemical bonding material, a weld, an interference fit and/or one or more mechanical fastener(s). The other end of first tubular shaft  12  and second tubular shaft  14  have flanges  20  and  22 , respectively, to which motor vehicle wheels (not shown) are mounted. 
     Tubular differential case  24  partially houses the ends of first tubular shaft  12  and second tubular shaft  14  having gear teeth  16  and  18 , respectively, as well as a set of pinion mate gears  26  and pinion mate gear shaft  28 . Ring gear  30  is positioned outboard of tubular differential case  24  and receives rotational power from input shaft  32 . Differential carrier  34  houses tubular differential case  24 , as well as the ends of first tubular shaft  12  and second tubular shaft  14  having gear teeth  16  and  18 , respectively, pinion mate gears  26  and pinion mate gear shaft  28 . 
     A fastening arrangement including bolt  21  and nut  23  is provided to connect the gear having gear teeth  16  and the gear having gear teeth  18  to provide for mechanical fastening of first tubular shaft  12  and second tubular shaft  14  axially to differential carrier. The fastening arrangement including bolt  21  and nut  23  also provides for proper adjustment for backlash between the gear having gear teeth  16  and the gear having gear teeth  18 . Differential carrier  34  also houses bearings, spacers, seals and fasteners, which are preferably of conventional design, for tubular beam motor vehicle differential assembly  10 . 
     Although the present invention has been described above in detail, the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Accordingly, the scope and content of the present invention are to be defined only by the terms of the appended claims.