US4037492A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bearing arrangement for axle or shafts provided with rotating gears in a differential gear box
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
•
Filing: 1975-11-05
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Granted: 1977-07-26
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Expires: 1995-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A differential gear box containing rotatable gears mounted on shafts extending through the gear box includes bearing rings positioned between the gears and the gear box. The bearing rings are joined together by webs to form an unitary bearing ring structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl Ashauer
- 👤 Hansjorg Mihatsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:25
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H57/00; F16H57/08; F16H48/00; F16H48/06; F16H48/08; F16H2048/085; F16H48/38; F16H2048/387
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
In a differential gear box containing rotatable gears mounted on shafts extending through the gear box and having bearing rings positioned between the gears and the gear box, each of the bearing rings encompassing a shaft of a respective gear, the improvement wherein each of the bearing rings is joined to at least one adjacent bearing ring by a web to form an unitary bearing ring structure which includes all the bearing rings, whereby entrainment of the bearing rings resulting from rotation of the gears on the shafts is prevented.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a differential gear box containing rotatable gears mounted on shafts extending through the gear box and having bearing rings positioned between the gears and the gear box, each of the bearing rings encompassing a shaft of a respective gear, the improvement wherein each of the bearing rings is joined to at least one adjacent bearing ring by a web to form an unitary bearing ring structure which includes all the bearing rings, whereby entrainment of the bearing rings resulting from rotation of the gears on the shafts is prevented.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The differential gear box of claim 1, wherein the unitary bearing ring structure is at least partially plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The differential gear box of claim 1, wherein the gear box is a spherical shell, the gears are bevel gears, and the bearing rings are circular and joined into an endless ring by the webs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The differential gear box of claim 3, wherein the unitary bearing ring structure is divided by a transverse cut through one of the webs to form a split ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The differential gear box of claim 1, wherein the bearing rings include perforations, the perforations acting as oil reservoirs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The differential gear box of claim 1, wherein the bearing rings include slits, the slits acting as oil reservoirs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-25 | 1981-01-24 | 1981-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-25 | 1985-01-24 | 1985-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-25 | 1989-01-24 | 1989-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |