Differential assembly having means for accommodating angular misalignments of axle segments

Claim 1

In a differential assemby of the type which includes a differential case having means for receiving a pair of axle ends together with a pair of worm gears coupled to said pair of axle ends for rotation therewith, and including at least one transfer gear in meshing engagement with each of said worm gears, with said transfer gears being operatively connected with each other for transferring drive between said pair of worm gears and their associated axle ends, said differential assembly being characterized by means for accommodating angular misalignments of said axle ends from a common center axis, said means comprising spherical mounting surfaces formed within said differential case for receiving spherical bearing surfaces associated with said pair of worm gears such that axle ends can be mounted in positions which are pivoted slightly out of a common axis so as to provide a camber or caster to wheels carried at outer ends of said axles, and including a spacing means which can be removably installed between said axle ends so as to define a predetermined spacing between the axle ends, said spacing means having opposed convex spherical surfaces for bearing against corresponding concave spherical surfaces formed on opposing ends of said worm gears.