US3768336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Differential
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
•
Filing: 1971-06-29
•
Granted: 1973-10-30
•
Expires: 1991-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A differential has a housing with two coaxial sun gears and two pairs of planetary pinions carried by the housing. The planetary pinions of each pair mesh with each other as well as with their respective sun gears so that two pinions, namely one in each pair, are capable of rotation in an orbit about its associated sun gear. The planetary pinion pairs transmit driving torque to the sun gears upon rotation of the housing yet permit differential rotation of the sun gears. Furthermore, the sun gears integrally include hollow tubular hubs that project outwardly from opposite sides of the housing so that the shaft or axles to be driven can be quickly connected to the hubs without the necessity of disassembly of the differential unit. Spur gears are used throughout, which simplifies and reduces the cost of the differential unit.
Inventors
- 👤 R Wharton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:05
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H48/00; F16H48/06; F16H48/10; F16H48/11; F16H2048/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
295 words
A differential comprising a housing, a first sun gear in said housing and being rotatable relative thereto, a second sun gear in said housing and being rotatable relative thereto, said sun gears being coaxial, said housing comprising two hollow members secured together and meeting along a parTing region, said region including therein a plane in which the axis of rotation of said sun gears is located, first planetary gear means within said housing and mounted on a first shaft, said first planetary gear means meshing with said first sun gear and movable in an orbit thereabout, second planetary gear means within said housing and mounted on a second shaft, said hollow members having grooves for receiving said shafts and projections for engaging one end of each shaft in its associated groove, said second planetary gear means meshing with said second sun gear and movable in an orbit thereabout, said planetary gears meshing and each being carried by the housing upon rotation thereof to apply driving torque to said sun gears and permit differential rotation of said sun gears with the projections and mesh of said pinions cooperating to maintain said shafts in substantially parallel relationship within said housing, each of said sun gears having a hub portion projecting outwardly from the housing for coupling to coaxial shafts to be driven by rotation of the housing, and a sprocket having a central opening, said hollow members projecting through said central opening and extending substantial distances on opposite sides of the sprocket and with the peripheral part of the housing engaging the sprocket at said central opening whereby the sprocket serves to hold the members assembled, said parting region plane being perpendicular to the plane of the sprocket, and means for securing said sprocket to said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
295 words
A differential comprising a housing, a first sun gear in said housing and being rotatable relative thereto, a second sun gear in said housing and being rotatable relative thereto, said sun gears being coaxial, said housing comprising two hollow members secured together and meeting along a parTing region, said region including therein a plane in which the axis of rotation of said sun gears is located, first planetary gear means within said housing and mounted on a first shaft, said first planetary gear means meshing with said first sun gear and movable in an orbit thereabout, second planetary gear means within said housing and mounted on a second shaft, said hollow members having grooves for receiving said shafts and projections for engaging one end of each shaft in its associated groove, said second planetary gear means meshing with said second sun gear and movable in an orbit thereabout, said planetary gears meshing and each being carried by the housing upon rotation thereof to apply driving torque to said sun gears and permit differential rotation of said sun gears with the projections and mesh of said pinions cooperating to maintain said shafts in substantially parallel relationship within said housing, each of said sun gears having a hub portion projecting outwardly from the housing for coupling to coaxial shafts to be driven by rotation of the housing, and a sprocket having a central opening, said hollow members projecting through said central opening and extending substantial distances on opposite sides of the sprocket and with the peripheral part of the housing engaging the sprocket at said central opening whereby the sprocket serves to hold the members assembled, said parting region plane being perpendicular to the plane of the sprocket, and means for securing said sprocket to said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US691591A
Cited
US732327A
Cited
US900857A
Cited
US827095A
Cited
US1030379A
Cited
US1987674A
Cited
US2788679A
Cited
US3365984A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |