Patent ID: 6896637

Claim:
A differential drive having a drivable differential carrier ( 11 ) which is rotatably supported in a drive housing, the drive comprising: two rotatably supported axle shaft gears ( 28 , 29 ) whose axes extend co-axially relative to a longitudinal carrier axis; a plurality of differential gears ( 31 ) whose axes extend radially relative to the longitudinal carrier axis and which are arranged and held so as to rotate with said differential carrier ( 11 ), and wherein the axle shaft gears ( 28 , 29 ) engage the differential gears ( 31 ); constant velocity joints ( 22 , 23 ) which are positioned inside the differential carrier ( 11 ) and whose outer joint parts ( 26 , 27 ) are connected to the axle shaft gears ( 28 , 29 ) in a rotationally fast way; and a spider member ( 30 ) between the axle shaft gears ( 28 , 29 ) in the differential carrier ( 11 ), which comprises a hub ( 32 ) whose axis extends co-axially relative to the carrier axis and at least three bearing journals ( 33 ) which project radially from the hub ( 32 ) and rotatably support the differential gears ( 31 ) wherein the differential carrier ( 11 ) comprises a unitary cup-shaped housing defining a cylindrical inner face ( 35 ), the inner face ( 35 ) having wide longitudinal grooves ( 45 ) which partially receive the differential gears ( 31 ), wherein outer ends of the bearing journals ( 33 ) engage, from the inside, second longitudinal grooves ( 34 ) in the differential carrier ( 11 ) and wherein the differential carrier ( 11 ) comprises deepened grooves ( 40 ) in the cylindrical inner face ( 35 ) within the wide longitudinal grooves ( 45 ) which pass through at least one flange ( 15 ) at the differential carrier ( 11 ) and from which there start the second longitudinal grooves ( 34 ) for receiving the bearing journals ( 33 ).