Patent ID: 7374507

Claim:
A differential assembly comprising: a housing defining a space containing a volume of hydraulic fluid, the housing including interior surfaces; a gear that rotates in the housing including gear surfaces that pass through the fluid as the gear rotates and on which the fluid is carried to the interior surface of the housing; a bearing located in the housing; a fluid path connecting the interior surfaces and the bearing, including a passage formed in the housing, directed toward the bearing including a radial inner end from which fluid is directed toward the bearing, and a radial outer end, and a channel formed in the housing and communicating with the radial outer end of the passage; a first rib located on the inner surface of the housing extending laterally toward the channel, the first rib being inclined downward away from said interior surfaces and toward the channel and including a free edge spaced from the interior surface of the housing and extending laterally toward the channel; a second rib located on the inner surface of the housing, spaced vertically from the first rib, and extending laterally toward the bearing; and a shield plate secured to the housing, contacting the first rib, and including a flange located adjacent the free edge and extending laterally along the first rib toward the channel, the flange located such that hydraulic fluid flowing from the first rib flows onto the flange and toward the channel.