Differential bearing preload lock

Claim 2

A differential mechanism comprising a differential carrier, a driving pinion rotatably mounted in said carrier, said carrier having tubular extensions through which axle shafts are adapted to extend, a differential case, bearing means mounting said case in said carrier for rotation about the axis of said axles, a gear connected to said case and meshing with said driving pinion, adjuster means in said carrier movable toward and away from said bearing means through a range in an infinite number of incremental movements for varying the load applied to such bearing means, and locking means for locking said adjuster means in an infinite number of positions throughout the range of adjuster means movement.

Claim 3

A differential mechanism comprising a differential carrier, a driving pinion rotatably mounted in said carrier, said carrier having tubular extensions through which axle shafts are adapted to extend, a differential case, bearing means mounting said case in said carrier for rotation about the axis of said axles, a gear connected to said case and meshing with said driving pinion, adjuster means in said carrier movable toward and away from said bearing means through a range in an infinite number of incremental movements for varying the load applied to such bearing means, and locking means for locking said adjuster means in an infinite number of positions throughout the range of adjuster means movement.

Claim 4

A differential mechanism comprising a differential carrier, a driving pinion rotatably mounted in said carrier, said carrier having tubular extensions through which axle shafts are adapted to extend, a differential case, bearing means mounting said case in said carrier for rotation about the axis of said axles, a gear connected to said case and meshing with said driving pinion, adjuster means in said carrier movable toward and away from said bearing means through a range in an infinite number of incremental movements for varying the load applied to such bearing means, and locking means for locking said adjuster means in an infinite number of positions throughout the range of adjuster means movement.

Claim 5

A differential mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjuster means includes at least one threaded member threadably connected to at least one tubular extension on the inside of the latter, said locking means including a locking member having one leg extending toward the threads of said threaded member, said leg having means thereon for engaging said threaded member for inhibiting rotational movement thereof.

Claim 6

A differential mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said locking member has a second leg extending generally parallel to the axis of said axles, and means for securing said second leg against movement relative to said carrier.

Claim 7

A differential mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means on said one leg for engaging said threaded member comprises at least one pointed extension, said pointed extension being adapted to engage the threaded portion of said threaded member.

Claim 8

A differential mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said one leg is generally rectangular, said means on said leg for engaging said threaded member comprising two pointed extensions on said leg at the end thereof closer to said threaded member, said pointed extensions being spaced apart from one another.

Claim 9

A differential mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein said pointed extensions are located at opposite corners of one side of said rectangular leg.

Claim 10

A differential mechanism comprising a differential carrier, a driving pinion rotatably mounted in said carrier, said carrier having tubular extensions through which axle members are adapted to extend, a differential case comprising a first cup-shaped portion carryinG a driven gear positioned for driving engagement with said pinion, a second cup-shaped portion adjacent said first cup-shaped portion, a differential pinion shaft extending between said two cup-shaped portions, means securing said differential pinion shaft to said cup-shaped portions, differential pinion gears mounted on said differential pinion shaft, first and second side gears respectively mounted in said first and second cup-shaped portions, the gears within said differential case being engaged with one another for the transmission of torque, each cup-shaped portion having an extension, bearing means between each extension on said cup-shaped portions and said carrier mounting said cup-shaped portions for rotation about the axis of rotation of said axle members, adjuster means in threaded engagement with said carrier and movable toward and away from said bearing means throughout a range in an infinite number of increment movements for varying the load applied thereto, and locking means for locking said adjuster means in any selected position within said range of movement thereof.

Claim 11

A differential mechanism comprising a differential carrier, a driving pinion rotatably mounted in said carrier, said carrier having tubular extensions through which axle members are adapted to extend, a differential case comprising a first cup-shaped portion carryinG a driven gear positioned for driving engagement with said pinion, a second cup-shaped portion adjacent said first cup-shaped portion, a differential pinion shaft extending between said two cup-shaped portions, means securing said differential pinion shaft to said cup-shaped portions, differential pinion gears mounted on said differential pinion shaft, first and second side gears respectively mounted in said first and second cup-shaped portions, the gears within said differential case being engaged with one another for the transmission of torque, each cup-shaped portion having an extension, bearing means between each extension on said cup-shaped portions and said carrier mounting said cup-shaped portions for rotation about the axis of rotation of said axle members, adjuster means in threaded engagement with said carrier and movable toward and away from said bearing means throughout a range in an infinite number of increment movements for varying the load applied thereto, and locking means for locking said adjuster means in any selected position within said range of movement thereof.

Claim 12

A differential mechanism as set forth in claim 7 wherein said threaded locking means includes two threaded members, one being adjacent each bearing means, said locking means including a locking member for each threaded member, each locking member having a first leg extending toward the threads of the adjacent threaded member, said leg having means thereon for engaging said threaded member for inhibiting rotational movement thereof.

Claim 13

A differential mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein said one leg is generally rectangular, said means on said leg for engaging said threaded member comprising two pointed extensions on said leg at the end thereof closer to said threaded member, said pointed extensions being spaced apart from one another.