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.

A gear assembly is provided that simplifies the integration of a differential assembly into the hollow rotor of an electric motor. The gear assembly utilizes a hollow cross member that includes a central portion and a plurality of hollow extension members onto which the gears are mounted. Within each of the hollow extension members is a pin. When the pins are withdrawn, the assembly fits unimpeded within the hollow rotor. When the pins are partially extended out of the corresponding extension members, the ends of the pins fit within apertures in the rotor. A plug fits within a centrally located thru-hole in the central portion of the hollow cross member, thereby locking the pins in the extended position and locking the gear assembly in place.

A differential assembly including a differential housing, a gear assembly, a shaft, and a ring gear. The differential housing generally includes a peripheral wall, first and second end walls connected to the peripheral wall and spaced apart along a rotational axis so that the peripheral wall and the first and second end walls, in combination, define an internal cavity, a transitional region defined in the differential housing where the second end wall meets the peripheral wall, and a first window formed through the peripheral wall, the transitional region, and/or the second end wall and into the internal cavity, the first window including a central portion and first and second ear portions adjoining the central portion and extending outwardly therefrom. The first window defines a shape when projected perpendicularly onto a first plane including both the rotational axis and a pinion axis, said pinion axis extending perpendicular to the rotational axis.

A differential device may include a housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface having an outer ring gear and said outer surface having a first receptacle and a sun gear positioned within the housing, the sun gear having a second receptacle positioned opposite the first receptacle. The differential device may further include an intermediate gear interposed between the sun gear and the outer ring gear, a bearing interposed between the inner surface of the housing and the sun gear, and a central axis intersecting the first receptacle and the second receptacle. The housing and the sun gear may be configured to rotate freely about the central axis.

In at least one implementation, a method of assembling gears into a housing of an automotive differential includes, selecting a thickness dimension of first and second pinion gear washers, and first and second side gear washers, locating a pair of pinion gears, a pinion shaft and a pair of side gears at least partially within an interior of the housing with the pinion gear washers between the housing and separate ones of the pinion gears, and the side gear washers between the housing and separate ones of the side gears. The thickness of the side gear washers may be a function of target side gear apex positions and relative to a pinion gear apex axis. The thickness of the pinion gear washers may be a function of target pinion gear apex positions residing along a pinion gear apex axis and relative to a side gear apex axis.

In a differential gear device including: a differential casing rotatable about an axis and having a pair of through-holes; a pinion shaft accommodated within the differential casing and extending through the through-holes; a pair of pinion gears fitted on an outer circumferential surface of the pinion shaft such that the pinion gears are rotatable relative to the pinion shaft; a pair of side gears meshing with the pinion gears; and a pair of pinion washers interposed between the differential casing and the respective pinion gears, each of the pinion washers has a retainer structure partially inserted through a gap formed between an inner circumferential surface of a corresponding one of the through-holes and the outer circumferential surface of the pinion shaft. The retainer structure is held in contact with a corresponding axial end face of the pinion shaft, to prevent axial movements of the pinion shaft.

A differential gear device including: a differential casing; and a pair of side gears which are disposed within the differential casing such that the side gears are rotatable about the above-indicated axis and are axially opposed to each other, and such that a rotary motion of the differential casing about the above-indicated axis is transmitted to the side gears through at least one pinion gear, the differential casing having a pair of bearing portions which extend from its respective inner surfaces toward back surfaces of the respective side gears, which are coaxial with said axis and which have respective annular seating surfaces which receive axial loads from the side gears, and wherein each of the pair of bearing portions has a protrusion extending from an outer circumference of corresponding one of the annular seating surfaces in a radially outward direction of the annular seating surface.

A differential for a rear wheel drive vehicle is previewed comprising a differential case for rotationally supporting and housing a pinion shaft with the pinion shaft extending axially through an opening in the differential case. A pinion seal extends around the pinion shaft and has an outer edge abutting a cavity wall defining the opening in the differential case. The pinion seal has an axial lip projecting in an axial direction. A plastic deflector has a discshaped main body formed of a plastic material, a passageway extending through the plastic deflector, and a stainless steel ring fixedly coupled to the disc-shaped main body providing a stainless steel running surface. The plastic deflector is assembled on the pinion shaft such that the pinion shaft extends through the deflector passageway and the stainless steel running surface abuts the axial lip of the pinion seal.

A gear assembly is provided that simplifies the integration of a differential assembly into the hollow rotor of an electric motor. The gear assembly utilizes a hollow cross member that includes a central portion and a plurality of hollow extension members onto which the gears are mounted. Within each of the hollow extension members is a pin. When the pins are withdrawn, the assembly fits unimpeded within the hollow rotor. When the pins are partially extended out of the corresponding extension members, the ends of the pins fit within apertures in the rotor. A plug fits within a centrally located thru-hole in the central portion of the hollow cross member, thereby locking the pins in the extended position and locking the gear assembly in place.

A driveline component with a differential having a differential gearset mounted in a differential case. The differential gearset has first and second side gears and one or more pinion gears that are meshed with the first and second side gears. The differential gearset is configured to limit inboard thrusting of the first and second side gears so that backlash will be always be present between the pinion gears and each of first and second side gears.