Differential housing and structure

摘要

A differential features an inexpensive lightweight housing formed of sheet material the rugged construction of which makes it extremely resistant to damage and distortion in use. The embodiment illustrated comprises a housing the peripheral wall of which is defined by a tube segment having a generally rectangular configuration. Each end of the tube segment is capped by a plate centrally contoured about a central aperture to form thereon a cup-like projection the configuration of which is that of a conically tapered, outwardly and axially directed shell the apex of which is truncated. In the case of each end plate the conically tapered shell-like projection seats and nests therein a complementarily shaped sleeve type bearing set in place by offsets of that portion of the plate which defines its base. The respective end plates and their contained bearings, as so paired, each accommodate the projection therethrough of one of the differential shafts. The adjacent ends of said shafts mount gears positioning inwardly of the tube segment to mesh with a pair of transversely spaced transfer gears. The latter freely rotate on a shaft fixed transversely of the tube segment without the need for and benefit of separate fasteners. The differential housing is shown in two forms. In the one case the housing is a single plate segment wrapped into a tubular configuration. In the other it is formed of two identical substantially U-shaped stampings the open ends of which are joined in an overlapped relation by means of offsets to give the so-combined structure not only a generally rectangular configuration but extremely high strength. Strength is added to the single plate form of the housing by application of a shallow U-shaped stamping to opposite inner wall surface portions thereof.