A differential case is comprised of: an outer peripheral wall cylindrical about a first axis; a first side wall being perpendicular to the first axis and having a flange; a second side wall having an outer side surface perpendicular to the first axis and being opposed to the first side wall; and an opening opened on the outer peripheral wall so as to allow side gears to be brought in the opening, the opening being so shaped that outlines of pinion gears do not touch a periphery of an oval as an outline of the opening in a case where an axis of the pinion gears is aligned with the center of the oval.

A differential gear assembly, a gear shaft for a differential gear assembly, and a method of assembly. The differential gear assembly includes a casing, a first gear shaft, a first differential side gear, and at least one fastening member. The fastening member may be visible from outside the casing.

The invention relates to an assembly for a differential unit of a vehicle, the assembly comprising: a first housing portion (20a) designed to be assembled with a second housing portion for forming a differential carrier housing; a first and a second supporting devices (30, 301, 302), each comprising a main portion (33) having substantially the shape of a ring and a base portion (31) attached to the first housing portion (20a) so that the main portions (33) of the first and second supporting devices (30) are substantially coaxial along a longitudinal direction (X), the first and second supporting devices being configured to support, in use, a system comprising a crown wheel (22) and a differential housing (24) containing a differential, the system having two end portions each including a bearing which has an inner ring (51) mounted on the differential housing (24), an outer ring configured to be mounted in the main portion (33) of one of the supporting devices (30), and rolling elements. The first housing portion (20a), the first supporting device (301) and the second supporting device (302) are made as a single piece. Moreover, the main portion (33) of at least one supporting device (30) comprises a notch (40) for inserting at least part of a corresponding end portion of the system (100), the notch (40) opening: in a radial direction (Y), which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (X); and in the longitudinal direction (X), towards the opposite supporting device (30).

It is an object to provide an axle driving device that can change a deceleration ratio while obtaining a high deceleration ratio, and reduces noise during operation to have high ease of assembly and coolability. A carrier of a planet gear mechanism includes a first plate-like member, a second plate-like member, and a third plate-like member, and the third plate-like member includes the plate-like portion and the second plate-like member, a plurality of stays extended from the plate-like portion and connected to the first plate-like member, and a plurality of stays extended from the plate-like portion and connected to the second plate-like member.

A vehicle driveline component with a differential case, a cross-pin, a differential gearset, and a retaining member. The differential case is rotatable about a first axis and has an annular wall member that defines a differential cavity. The cross-pin is received in a cross-pin aperture formed through a first side of the annular wall member. The cross-pin extends through the differential cavity along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The differential gearset is received in the differential cavity and includes a pair of side gears, which are rotatable about the first axis, and a pair of pinion gears that are journally supported by the cross-pin and meshingly engaged with the side gears. The retaining member is welded to the annular wall member and limits movement of the cross-pin relative to the differential case along the second axis in a direction toward the retaining member.

A case for a differential gear set includes: a rotatable carrier having a cylindrical fitting face and a radially projecting flange having an axially directed butting face; a cover having a brim section so projecting axially as to fit on an outer periphery of the flange and so dimensioned as to align an end face of the brim section with the butting face; a ring gear fitting on the fitting face and having a back face in contact with the butting face; and a weld metal uniting the carrier, the cover and the ring gear together, wherein the butting face of the carrier, the end face of the cover and the back face of the ring gear are so dimensioned as to keep a circular groove exposed outward and reaching an interface between the back face and the butting face and the weld metal fills the groove.

A differential gear includes a holder which is provided between first and second pinion gears in a differential case and through which a differential pinion shaft is inserted. An insertion hole is radially formed in the differential pinion shaft. The holder is formed with a fixing hole facing the insertion hole when the differential pinion shaft is inserted through the holder. Due to insertion of a fixing pin through the fixing hole and the insertion hole, the differential pinion shaft and the holder are relatively non-rotatable. Due to the holder being held between first and second side gears, relative rotation of the holder with respect to the differential case is restricted, and the differential pinion shaft is non-rotatable relative to the differential case.

A downsized differential gear unit designed to prevent transmission of an excessive torque. The differential gear unit comprises: a differential mechanism held in a casing; a ring gear mounted rotatably and reciprocatably on the casing; a friction mechanism that is arranged between the ring gear and the casing; and an elastic member that pushes the ring gear in an axial direction. A torque possible to be transmitted between the ring gear and the casing is set to a torque governed by a pushing force of the elastic member and the frictional force of the friction mechanism.

A method for joining components of a vehicle drive axle assembly. The method includes heating an axle housing to a first predetermined temperature and cooling a pinion cartridge to be installed with the housing to a second predetermined temperature. Removing the axle housing from exposure to the first predetermined temperature and removing the pinion cartridge from the second predetermined temperature and rapidly installing the pinion cartridge within the axle assembly before the axle assembly and the pinion return to ambient temperature provides a frictional fit, joining the two components without use of additional fastening devices.

A vehicle driveline component with a differential case, a cross-pin, a differential gearset, and a retaining member. The differential case is rotatable about a first axis and has an annular wall member that defines a differential cavity. The cross-pin is received in a cross-pin aperture formed through a first side of the annular wall member. The cross-pin extends through the differential cavity along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The differential gearset is received in the differential cavity and includes a pair of side gears, which are rotatable about the first axis, and a pair of pinion gears that are journally supported by the cross-pin and meshingly engaged with the side gears. The retaining member is welded to the annular wall member and limits movement of the cross-pin relative to the differential case along the second axis in a direction toward the retaining member.