Patent US6409626B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6409626B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Axle assembly having a differential case adjustably secured to a housing
Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group LLC
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Filing: 2000-06-29
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Granted: 2002-06-25
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Expires: 2020-06-29
Abstract
Abstract An axle assembly employs a simple adjustable connection between the differential case and the housing to adjust the position of the ring gear relative to the pinion gear. A pair of adjustment collars facilitates positioning the differential case to selectively position the ring gear relative to the pinion gear of an input shaft. The adjustment collars threadingly engage the differential case. Bearings are disposed between the adjustment collars and the housing. The adjustment collars are rotated to position the differential case together with the ring gear. The adjustment collars are also provided to adjust the preload of the bearings. A locking collar is employed to lock the adjustment collars once the differential case and ring gear are properly positioned. In an alternate embodiment a single adjustment collar is employed. Shims and spacers are utilized to position the differential case and ring gear and the adjustment collar used to adjust the preload of the bearings.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl James Irwin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:26
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/04; B60K17/16; F; F16; F16H; F16H48/00; F16H48/06; F16H48/08; F16H48/38; F16H2048/385; F16H48/40; F16H2048/405; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19623
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
An axle assembly comprising: a housing; a differential case rotatably mounted within said housing, said differential case having a ring gear non-rotatably fixed thereto for engaging a pinion gear; at least one adjustment collar disposed between said differential case and said housing and threadingly engaging said differential case to selectively position said differential case and ring gear relative to said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
An axle assembly comprising: a housing; a differential case rotatably mounted within said housing, said differential case having a ring gear non-rotatably fixed thereto for engaging a pinion gear; at least one adjustment collar disposed between said differential case and said housing and threadingly engaging said differential case to selectively position said differential case and ring gear relative to said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The axle assembly according to claim 1 , said assembly further comprising: a locking collar fixed to said differential case and engaging said adjustment collar to prevent rotation of said adjustment collar relative to said differential case.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
The drive axle assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said locking collar comprises: an annular member having a plurality of teeth engaging an associated slot formed in said adjustment collar and having a plurality of holes provided to align with at least one of a plurality of bores formed in said differential case, and said locking collar and differential case are bolted together through at least one of said holes to prevent relative rotation there between, thereby fixing said adjustment collar in both rotational and axial positions relative to said differential case.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The axle assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one adjustment collar comprises a first adjustment collar disposed on one side of said differential case proximate said ring gear and a second adjustment collar disposed on an opposite side of said differential case, said assembly further comprising a pair of bearings one each disposed between each of said adjustment collars and said housing to provide a rotatable connection between said differential case and said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of adjusting the axle assembly of claim 4 by positioning the differential case relative to said housing, said method comprising the steps of: rotating said first adjustment collar relative to said differential case to selectively position said differential case relative to said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method of adjusting the axle assembly of claim 4 by positioning the differential case relative to said housing and by adjusting a preload of said bearings said method comprising the steps of: rotating said first adjustment collar relative to said differential case to selectively position said differential case relative to said housing; and rotating said second adjustment collar relative to said differential case to adjust a preload of said bearings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The axle assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said adjustment collar is partially disposed and threadingly engages an annular recess formed in said differential case.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
An axle assembly comprising: a housing; a differential case mounted within said housing, said differential case having a ring gear non-rotatably fixed thereto for engaging a pinion gear; a pair of bearings disposed between said differential case proximate opposite sides thereof and said housing thereby forming a rotatable connection there between; one of at least one shim disposed between said differential case and a first one of said bearings and a spacer disposed between said first bearing and said housing to position said differential case and ring gear relative to said housing; and an adjustment collar disposed between said differential case and a second one of said bearings, said adjustment collar threadingly engaging said differential case whereby rotation of said adjustment collar adjusts a preload of said bearings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
An axle assembly comprising: a housing; a differential case mounted within said housing, said differential case having a ring gear non-rotatably fixed thereto for engaging a pinion gear; a pair of bearings disposed between said differential case proximate opposite sides thereof and said housing thereby forming a rotatable connection there between; one of at least one shim disposed between said differential case and a first one of said bearings and a spacer disposed between said first bearing and said housing to position said differential case and ring gear relative to said housing; and an adjustment collar disposed between said differential case and a second one of said bearings, said adjustment collar threadingly engaging said differential case whereby rotation of said adjustment collar adjusts a preload of said bearings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The axle assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said spacer is disposed between said first bearing and said housing and said at least one shim is disposed between said first bearing and said differential case.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of adjusting the axle assembly of claim 9 by adjusting the position of said differential case relative to said housing, said method comprising the steps of: selectively choosing a thickness of said spacer and providing a select number of shims between said differential case and said first bearing.
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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) | 2005-06-24 | 2005-12-24 | 2006-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-24 | 2009-12-24 | 2010-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-24 | 2013-12-24 | 2014-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |