摘要 |
<p>IMPROVED SIDE GEAR MOUNTING FOR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY A differential gear assembly of the type including worm or helical-type gears mounted on crossed non-intersecting axes is provided wherein a pair of drive axles (12, 14) are received in bores (10) formed in the sides of a differential housing (4), and wherein axially aligned worm or side gears (18, 30) are coupled to each axle end for meshing engagement with torque transfer gears within said housing. One of the side gears (30) is provided with an outwardly directed flange (36) which overlaps an inwardly directed flange (42) associated with the housing to maintain the end faces of the side gears (18, 30) out of contact with each other to preclude axial thrust forces developed in one side gear (30) from passing to the other (18) and to eliminate frictional forces at the interface of the side gears, thereby reducing differences in bias ratios associated with opposite directions of differentiation without significantly reducing the overall bias ratio of the assembly.</p> |