A transmission arrangement for a motor vehicle, having a transmission housing, a first pinion shaft, and a second pinion shaft, which is arranged coaxially to the first pinion shaft, and having a first transmission output shaft and a second transmission output shaft. The first pinion shaft is mounted by a first bearing, and the second pinion shaft is mounted by a second bearing, on the transmission housing, and a first pinion meshing with a first crown gear arranged on the first transmission output shaft is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the first pinion shaft, and a second pinion meshing with a second crown gear arranged on the second transmission output shaft is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the second pinion shaft.

A power transmission device has a hub portion of a ring gear is fixed by a weld portion to a flange portion on an outer periphery of a transmission member, an annular groove that is recessed in the inner side of the axial direction is formed in a side face of the hub portion for making axial positions of the annular groove and the cavity part partially coincide with each other, the hub portion is narrowed partway along a part sandwiched between the cavity part and weld portion and the annular groove when viewed in a cross section transecting the annular groove, and a narrowed portion is set to have a thickness that alleviates residual stress produced around the weld portion of the flange portion by the force with which the flange portion and the hub portion pull each other in response to thermal shrinkage of the weld portion.

An improved differential for a vehicle is provided which includes a disconnect assembly engaged between a ring gear and pinion gears and/or a gear nest associated with the pinion gears, wherein the disconnect assembly is able to disconnect torsional loading of torque between the ring gear and the pinon gears of the differential. The disconnect assembly selectively connects and disconnects the ring gear and pinon gears by preferably disconnecting from the gear nest disposed therebetween. Disconnection of the ring gear and pinion gears allows the ring gear, differential housing, bearings, and rest of the gear box to stop spinning while the wheels of the vehicle are spinning. The differential pinion gears are mechanically connected to the gear nest such that torque can be transferred from the differential gear nest to the differential pinion gears and then to the differential side gears. A spline ring is supported inside the differential housing and defines a mechanical connection which locks the ring gear and the gear nest to transfer torque therebetween, wherein the mechanical connection may be disconnected to unlock the ring gear and gear nest and disconnect such torsional loading to permit rotation of the side gears and pinion gears independent of the ring gear.

An improved differential for a vehicle is provided which includes a disconnect assembly engaged between a ring gear and pinion gears and/or a gear nest associated with the pinion gears, wherein the disconnect assembly is able to disconnect torsional loading of torque between the ring gear and the pinon gears of the differential. The disconnect assembly selectively connects and disconnects the ring gear and pinon gears by preferably disconnecting from the gear nest disposed therebetween. Disconnection of the ring gear and pinion gears allows the ring gear, differential housing, bearings, and rest of the gear box to stop spinning while the wheels of the vehicle are spinning. The differential pinion gears are mechanically connected to the gear nest such that torque can be transferred from the differential gear nest to the differential pinion gears and then to the differential side gears. A spline ring is supported inside the differential housing and defines a mechanical connection which locks the ring gear and the gear nest to transfer torque therebetween, wherein the mechanical connection may be disconnected to unlock the ring gear and gear nest and disconnect such torsional loading to permit rotation of the side gears and pinion gears independent of the ring gear.

A differential gear accommodated in a differential case, includes: an axial cylinder having a cylindrical shape fitted onto a shaft; an annular wall having an annular shape protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the axial cylinder; a gear protruding from the annular wall on one side with respect to an axial direction of the shaft; a reinforcing rib protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the annular wall; and a first recess formed by boring the annular wall and opening the other side with respect to the axial direction of the shaft.

A differential gear accommodated in a differential case, includes: an axial cylinder having a cylindrical shape fitted onto a shaft; an annular wall having an annular shape protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the axial cylinder; a gear protruding from the annular wall on one side with respect to an axial direction of the shaft; a reinforcing rib protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the annular wall; and a first recess formed by boring the annular wall and opening the other side with respect to the axial direction of the shaft.

A method for assembling an axle assembly for a vehicle including that a pinion gear is inserted into a differential housing. The pinion gear having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The pinion gear further includes a gear head at the first end, external threads proximate the second end, and external splines located a first distance away from the second end. The method further includes that a flange is slid over the second end of the pinion gear. The flange including internal splines. The method also includes that the internal splines of the flange are engaged with the external splines of the pinion gear and the flange is anchored to prevent the flange and the pinion gear from rotating. The method may further include that ultrasonic sound waves are transmitted through the pinion gear and reflections of the ultrasonic sound waves are detected.

A differential assembly includes a housing defining an oil sump, a differential disposed in the housing, and a thermal-management system. The thermal-management system includes an oil pump in fluid communication with the sump, an oil-to-air heat exchanger external to the housing, and a passive valve assembly. The passive valve assembly has an inlet connected to the pump, a first outlet connected to the heat exchanger, and a second outlet connected to a conduit disposed within the housing. The valve assembly further has a valve movable to a first position in which the inlet and the first outlet are in fluid communication and to a second position in which the inlet and the second outlet are in fluid communication. The valve is configured to be in the first position in response to the oil exceeding a first threshold temperature.

A differential assembly includes a housing defining an oil sump, a differential disposed in the housing, and a thermal-management system. The thermal-management system includes an oil pump in fluid communication with the sump, an oil-to-air heat exchanger external to the housing, and a passive valve assembly. The passive valve assembly has an inlet connected to the pump, a first outlet connected to the heat exchanger, and a second outlet connected to a conduit disposed within the housing. The valve assembly further has a valve movable to a first position in which the inlet and the first outlet are in fluid communication and to a second position in which the inlet and the second outlet are in fluid communication. The valve is configured to be in the first position in response to the oil exceeding a first threshold temperature.

A vehicle differential apparatus including a pair of side gears arranged side by side along an axial line, a set of pinion gears disposed on a radial outside of the side gears so as to engage with the side gears and engaged with each other, and a housing forming a housing space of the pinion gears to rotate integrally with the pinion gears. Each of the side gears includes an inner and outer side gears, the inner and outer side gears include a first and second splines extended along helical gears formed on an outer and inner circumferential surfaces of the inner and outer side gears, respectively, and engaging with each other, and the helical gear of the first spline is formed so as to be crowned along a tooth trace thereof.