Axle assembly bearing positioning and preload adjustment tool and method of implementing same
First Claim
1. A motor vehicle differential axle assembly, comprising:
- a motor vehicle differential case driven by an input shaft and having a gear assembly disposed therein for allowing differential speed rotation between a pair of output shafts, said case being rotatably supported in a housing through a pair of bearing assemblies;
said bearing assemblies being disposed about a respective one of said output shafts, said housing having an opening providing access within said housing; and
a pair of threaded adjusters having a substantially cylindrical body disposed within and threadingly engaging said housing, said threaded adjusters each being selectively positionable along a central axis by selective relative rotation relative to said housing, said substantially cylindrical bodies each having gear teeth disposed on a surface thereof positioned proximate said opening of said housing for engaging a rotatable tool to thereby facilitate selective positioning relative to said housing, said pair of threaded adjusters being one each positioned between said housing and a respective one of said pair of bearing assemblies, each of said threaded adjusters provided for simultaneous adjustment to facilitate one of selective positioning of said differential case relative to said housing and establishing a preload to said bearing assemblies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An axle assembly bearing preload positioning and load adjustment device and associated method. A differential case 51 is rotatably supported in a housing by a pair of bearing assemblies. A pair of threaded adjusters having a substantially cylindrical body are each disposed within and threadingly engage the housing for selectively positioning the case 51 relative to the housing. The adjusters each include gear teeth for engaging a rotatable tool to facilitate both position a and bearing preload. The threaded adjusters are simultaneously adjustable to provide for either selective positioning of the differential case 51 relative to the housing or establishing a preload to said bearing assemblies. The tool head may be automatically controlled with an electronically controlled indexing machine.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A motor vehicle differential axle assembly, comprising:
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a motor vehicle differential case driven by an input shaft and having a gear assembly disposed therein for allowing differential speed rotation between a pair of output shafts, said case being rotatably supported in a housing through a pair of bearing assemblies;
said bearing assemblies being disposed about a respective one of said output shafts, said housing having an opening providing access within said housing; and
a pair of threaded adjusters having a substantially cylindrical body disposed within and threadingly engaging said housing, said threaded adjusters each being selectively positionable along a central axis by selective relative rotation relative to said housing, said substantially cylindrical bodies each having gear teeth disposed on a surface thereof positioned proximate said opening of said housing for engaging a rotatable tool to thereby facilitate selective positioning relative to said housing, said pair of threaded adjusters being one each positioned between said housing and a respective one of said pair of bearing assemblies, each of said threaded adjusters provided for simultaneous adjustment to facilitate one of selective positioning of said differential case relative to said housing and establishing a preload to said bearing assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification