Aaron Don Atkinson

US Patent:

7270026, Sep 18, 2007

Filed:

May 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/435852

Inventors:

Aaron W. Atkinson - Royal Oak MI, US
Joseph Palazzolo - Livonia MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16H 48/22

US Classification:

74424, 475230, 475235

Abstract:

A differential having a differential case, a pair of side gears disposed in the differential case and a biasing element disposed between the side gears to force the side gears against the differential case, creating a torque bias between the side gears and the differential case. The torque bias may also include the torque bias between the biasing element and the side gears. In some embodiments, the differential may include washers disposed between the side gears and the differential case, so that the torque bias may be the sum of the bias created between the side gears and the biasing element, the side gears and the washer, and the washer and the differential case. In an alternative embodiment, the differential includes a pair of pinions rotatably engaging the side gears, wherein the biasing element applies a force to the pinion gears to create a torque bias on the pinion gears, thereby inhibiting the side gears from movement relative to each other until the pinion torque bias is overcome.

US Patent:

20050049104, Mar 3, 2005

Filed:

Aug 27, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/648988

Inventors:

Aaron Atkinson - Royal Oak MI, US
Douglas Miller - Madison Heights MI, US

International Classification:

F16H048/06

US Classification:

475230000

Abstract:

A method of assembling a differential assembly and a biasing element for a differential wherein the biasing element may be added or removed from an assembled differential without having to remove the pinion shaft. The biasing element is generally a W-spring that includes a center opening and open sides that face the same direction to facilitate the addition or removal of the biasing element.