An axle assembly having a drive pinion that may be rotatably supported by first and second sets of roller bearing elements. A preload element may exert a preload force on at least one of the first and second sets of roller bearing elements. The preload element may be disposed on the drive pinion in an inboard direction from the yoke.

An exemplary device for distributing gear lubricant in a gear assembly housing of a vehicle includes a gear assembly housing having a sealed interior portion defined by a first housing and an second housing, the sealed interior portion containing a lubricant and enclosing a gear assembly having a gear rotatably mounted in the gear assembly housing that rotates through the lubricant and a reservoir housing secured to an upper portion of the first housing, the reservoir housing defining a reservoir fluidly connected to the sealed interior portion of the gear assembly housing and including an orifice fluidly connected to a gear assembly component, the orifice having a predetermined size for allowing the lubricant to flow to the gear assembly component. As the gear rotates, the gear transfers the lubricant to the reservoir.

A manufacturing method for a power transmission mechanism including: first and second shafts having first and second double helical gears; first and second rolling bearings rotatably supporting the shafts with respect to a case and restrict movement of the shafts in an axial direction thereof, includes an assembling step of assembling an outer ring of the first rolling bearing and an outer ring of the second rolling bearing to the case in a state where the outer rings are movable in the respective axial directions; and a positioning step of determining axial positions of the first rolling bearing and the second rolling bearing while rotating the first shaft and the second shaft in a state where the first double helical gear and the second double helical gear are meshed with each other, after the assembling step.

A transmission for a power train of a vehicle includes an input shaft, two output shafts, and a differential arranged between the two output shafts. The differential includes two planetary gear sets, which include multiple gear set elements. A first output torque is at least indirectly transmittable onto the first output shaft by the first planetary gear set. A support torque of the first planetary gear set is convertible in the second planetary gear set such that a second output torque, which corresponds to the first output torque, is transmittable onto the second output shaft. A second gear set element of the first planetary gear set is connected to the first output shaft for conjoint rotation via a spline. At least one first duct for axial passage of lubricant is formed between inner toothing and the outer toothing of the spline.

Products and methods are provided for controlling thermal expansion. In various exemplary embodiments, a structure includes a body constructed of a material exhibiting a first coefficient of linear thermal expansion. A component is disposed inside the body and exhibits a second coefficient of linear thermal expansion that is lower than the first coefficient of linear thermal expansion. A layer is wrapped around the body and constrains thermal expansion of the body. The layer includes a composite containing fibers that are aligned with one another to constrain expansion in a desired direction or in multiple directions. The layer is independently useful to provide a retention function for the body.

A differential assembly for use in a vehicle. The differential assembly includes a differential case having an inner surface and an outer surface defining a hollow portion therein. At least a portion of a differential gear set having a first side gear, a second side gear and one or more pinion gears is disposed within the hollow portion of the differential case. The one or more pinion gears have one or more pinion gear apertures having at least a portion of one or more trunnions of a spider disposed therein. Interposed between an outer surface of the one or more trunnions of the one or more spiders and a surface defining the one or more pinion gear apertures is one or more first bearing assemblies.

A family of axle assemblies that employ a modular concept to maximize part commonality amongst the several axle assemblies. The axle assemblies have a housing assembly that employs a main housing that is formed from a casting that is common to all of the axle assemblies.

An axle assembly having a differential carrier, a differential assembly, and a lubricant deflector. The differential assembly is mounted to the differential carrier and is rotatable about a differential axis. The lubricant deflector is mounted to the differential carrier and directs lubricant that is splashed or sprayed by a ring gear of the differential assembly into a lubricant passage of the differential carrier.

A cap for a helical LSD is provided with: a clutch member including clutch teeth; a clutch ring including a ring portion including clutch teeth so as to mesh with the clutch member and one or more tab portions projecting radially outwardly from the ring portion; a cap main body fixed on an axial end of the casing; a receding portion of the cap main body receding from a first face toward a second face and being so dimensioned as to receive and allow the clutch ring to be axially movable, the receding portion including one or more dock portions respectively receiving the tab portions; an opening to allow access to the tab portions; side faces of the tab portions and inner faces of the dog portions so that the faces in combination axially press the clutch ring toward the clutch member; and one or more base portions.

An axle assembly that includes an axle housing, a differential carrier, and an electric motor module. The differential carrier that is mounted to the axle housing and rotatably supports a differential. The electric motor module is received inside the differential carrier and is operatively connected to and provides torque to the differential.