US5094655A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transaxle for rear wheel drive vehicle
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-04-12
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Granted: 1992-03-10
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Expires: 2011-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A rear wheel drive automotive vehicle is provided with a transaxle including a transmsision and a differential. The output shaft of the transmission extends rearward of a ring gear of the differential. A hypoid pinion gear is fixedly mounted on the rear end section of the output shaft and meshed with the ring gear. The pinion gear is rotatably supported on the inner surface of the rear section of a differential casing through a roller bearing. The roller bearing is detachable and adjustable in location relative to the differential casing rear section so that the pinion gear is readily removable to facilitate an adjustment operation of tooth contact between the pinion gear and the ring gear of the differential.
Inventors
- 👤 Hitoshi Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:24
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/04; B60K17/16; F; F16; F16C; F16C2361/00; F16C2361/61; F16H; F16H48/00; F16H48/38; F16H48/42; F16H2048/423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
308 words
A transaxle for a rear wheel drive vehicle, comprising: a differential having a casing and a ring gear rotatably disposed in said casing, said casing having first and second sections which are located respectively on first and second sides which are opposite to each other with respect to a vertical plane containing a center of said ring gear, said second section forming a free end section of said transaxle and having an opening formed at an extreme end of said free end section; a transmission having a casing connected to said first section of said differential casing, said transmission having an output shaft which extends in a direction of said differential casing second section over said vertical plane to form a free end section located on said second side; a pinion gear fixedly mounted on said output shaft free end section and meshed with said ring gear, said pinion gear being located on said second side and forming part of said differential, said pinion gear being readily removable from said output shaft free end section out of said transmission casing through said opening of said transmission casing second section; and a detachable and adjustable bearing unit through which said output shaft free end section is rotatably supported on said differential casing second section, a major part of said unit being disposed in said opening of said differential casing second section, said unit being in contact with said pinion gear and being secured to said differential casing second section, said unit being readily detachable from and adjustable in location relative to said differential casing second section to accomplish adjustment of tooth contact between said ring gear and said pinion gear, said unit including a bearing through which said output shaft free end section is rotatably supported on said differential casing second section, said bearing forming part of said differential.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
308 words
A transaxle for a rear wheel drive vehicle, comprising: a differential having a casing and a ring gear rotatably disposed in said casing, said casing having first and second sections which are located respectively on first and second sides which are opposite to each other with respect to a vertical plane containing a center of said ring gear, said second section forming a free end section of said transaxle and having an opening formed at an extreme end of said free end section; a transmission having a casing connected to said first section of said differential casing, said transmission having an output shaft which extends in a direction of said differential casing second section over said vertical plane to form a free end section located on said second side; a pinion gear fixedly mounted on said output shaft free end section and meshed with said ring gear, said pinion gear being located on said second side and forming part of said differential, said pinion gear being readily removable from said output shaft free end section out of said transmission casing through said opening of said transmission casing second section; and a detachable and adjustable bearing unit through which said output shaft free end section is rotatably supported on said differential casing second section, a major part of said unit being disposed in said opening of said differential casing second section, said unit being in contact with said pinion gear and being secured to said differential casing second section, said unit being readily detachable from and adjustable in location relative to said differential casing second section to accomplish adjustment of tooth contact between said ring gear and said pinion gear, said unit including a bearing through which said output shaft free end section is rotatably supported on said differential casing second section, said bearing forming part of said differential.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
A transaxle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pinion gear includes a gear section meshed with said ring gear, and a cylindrical shaft section integral and coaxial with said gear section, said cylindrical shaft section being fixedly mounted on said output shaft end section, wherein said bearing is a roller bearing fitted between an outer peripheral surface of said pinion gear cylindrical shaft section and an inner surface of said differential casing rear section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
284 words
A transaxle for a rear wheel drive vehicle, comprising: a differential having a casing and a ring gear rotatably disposed in said casing, said casing having first and second sections which are located respectively on first and second sides which are opposite to each other with respect to a vertical plane containing a center of said ring gear; a transmission having a casing connected to said first section of said differential casing, said transmission having an output shaft which extends in a direction of said differential casing second section over said vertical plane to form an end section located on said second side; a pinion gear fixedly mounted on said output shaft end section and meshed with said ring gear, said pinion gear being located on said second side and forming part of said differential, said pinion gear including a gear section meshed with said ring gear, and a cylindrical shaft section integral and coaxial with said gear section, said cylindrical shaft section being fixedly mounted on said output shaft end section; and a bearing through which said output shaft end section is rotatably supported on said differential casing second section, said bearing forming part of said differential and being detachably secured to said differential casing second section and adjustable in location relative to said differential casing second section, said bearing including a roller bearing fitted between an outer peripheral surface of said pinion gear cylindrical shaft section and an inner surface of said differential casing rear section; wherein said roller bearing has a outer race member which is formed with a radially outwardly extending flange section, said flange section being in contact with a rear end face of said differential casing rear section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
284 words
A transaxle for a rear wheel drive vehicle, comprising: a differential having a casing and a ring gear rotatably disposed in said casing, said casing having first and second sections which are located respectively on first and second sides which are opposite to each other with respect to a vertical plane containing a center of said ring gear; a transmission having a casing connected to said first section of said differential casing, said transmission having an output shaft which extends in a direction of said differential casing second section over said vertical plane to form an end section located on said second side; a pinion gear fixedly mounted on said output shaft end section and meshed with said ring gear, said pinion gear being located on said second side and forming part of said differential, said pinion gear including a gear section meshed with said ring gear, and a cylindrical shaft section integral and coaxial with said gear section, said cylindrical shaft section being fixedly mounted on said output shaft end section; and a bearing through which said output shaft end section is rotatably supported on said differential casing second section, said bearing forming part of said differential and being detachably secured to said differential casing second section and adjustable in location relative to said differential casing second section, said bearing including a roller bearing fitted between an outer peripheral surface of said pinion gear cylindrical shaft section and an inner surface of said differential casing rear section; wherein said roller bearing has a outer race member which is formed with a radially outwardly extending flange section, said flange section being in contact with a rear end face of said differential casing rear section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A transaxle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said differential includes a tooth contact adjustment shim interposed between said flange section and said rear end face of said differential casing rear section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A transaxle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said differential includes bolts for detachably fastening said outer race member flange section to said rear end face of said differential casing rear section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
208 words
A transaxle for a rear wheel drive vehicle, comprising: a differential having a casing and a ring gear rotatably disposed in said casing, said casing having first and second sections which are located respectively on first and second sides which are opposite to each other with respect to a vertical plane containing a center of said ring gear; a transmission having a casing connected to said first section of said differential casing, said transmission having an output shaft which extends in a direction of said differential casing second section over said vertical plane to form an end section located on said second side; a pinion gear fixedly mounted on said output shaft end section and meshed with said ring gear, said pinion gear being located on said second side and forming part of said differential, said pinion gear comprising a hypoid pinion gear which is located above a horizontal plane containing the center of said ring gear relative to the vehicle; and a bearing through which said output shaft end section is rotatably supported on said differential casing second section, said bearing forming part of said differential and being detachably secured to said differential casing second section and adjustable in location relative to said differential casing second section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
208 words
A transaxle for a rear wheel drive vehicle, comprising: a differential having a casing and a ring gear rotatably disposed in said casing, said casing having first and second sections which are located respectively on first and second sides which are opposite to each other with respect to a vertical plane containing a center of said ring gear; a transmission having a casing connected to said first section of said differential casing, said transmission having an output shaft which extends in a direction of said differential casing second section over said vertical plane to form an end section located on said second side; a pinion gear fixedly mounted on said output shaft end section and meshed with said ring gear, said pinion gear being located on said second side and forming part of said differential, said pinion gear comprising a hypoid pinion gear which is located above a horizontal plane containing the center of said ring gear relative to the vehicle; and a bearing through which said output shaft end section is rotatably supported on said differential casing second section, said bearing forming part of said differential and being detachably secured to said differential casing second section and adjustable in location relative to said differential casing second section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
286 words
A transaxle for a rear wheel drive vehicle, comprising: a differential having a casing in which a ring gear is rotatably disposed, said casing having first and second sections which are located respectively on first and second sides which are opposite to each other with respect to a vertical plane containing a center of said ring gear; a transmission having a casing connected to said first section of said differential casing, said transmission having an output shaft which extends in a direction of said differential casing second section over said vertical plane to form an end section located on said second side; a pinion gear fixedly mounted on said output shaft end section and meshed with said ring gear, said pinion gear being located on said second side and forming part of said differential, said pinion gear including a gear section meshed with said ring gear, and a cylindrical shaft section integral and coaxial with said gear section, said cylindrical shaft section being fixedly mounted on said output shaft end section; and a bearing through which said output shaft end section is rotatably supported on said differential casing second section, said bearing forming part of said differential and being detachably secured to said differential casing second section and adjustable in location relative to said differential casing second section, said bearing including a roller bearing fitted between an outer peripheral surface of said pinion gear cylindrical shaft section and an inner surface of said differential casing rear section; wherein said roller bearing has an outer race member which is formed at its outer peripheral surface with an external thread which is engageable with an internal thread formed at the inner surface of said differential casing rear section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
286 words
A transaxle for a rear wheel drive vehicle, comprising: a differential having a casing in which a ring gear is rotatably disposed, said casing having first and second sections which are located respectively on first and second sides which are opposite to each other with respect to a vertical plane containing a center of said ring gear; a transmission having a casing connected to said first section of said differential casing, said transmission having an output shaft which extends in a direction of said differential casing second section over said vertical plane to form an end section located on said second side; a pinion gear fixedly mounted on said output shaft end section and meshed with said ring gear, said pinion gear being located on said second side and forming part of said differential, said pinion gear including a gear section meshed with said ring gear, and a cylindrical shaft section integral and coaxial with said gear section, said cylindrical shaft section being fixedly mounted on said output shaft end section; and a bearing through which said output shaft end section is rotatably supported on said differential casing second section, said bearing forming part of said differential and being detachably secured to said differential casing second section and adjustable in location relative to said differential casing second section, said bearing including a roller bearing fitted between an outer peripheral surface of said pinion gear cylindrical shaft section and an inner surface of said differential casing rear section; wherein said roller bearing has an outer race member which is formed at its outer peripheral surface with an external thread which is engageable with an internal thread formed at the inner surface of said differential casing rear section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A transaxle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said differential casing rear section is formed with a threaded hole which is perpendicular to and reaches said internal thread, wherein said differential includes a stop screw threadedly disposed in said threaded hole and reaching said bearing outer race member external thread.
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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) | 1995-03-10 | 1995-09-09 | 1996-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-10 | 1999-09-09 | 2000-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-10 | 2003-09-09 | 2004-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |