Differential gear assembly and locking mechanism

• US 3,323,844 A
• Filed: 02/24/1965
• Issued: 06/06/1967
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1965
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gustav V. Hedstrom
• Original Assignee: Gustav V. Hedstrom
• Inventors: Hedstrom, Gustav V.
• Application Number:
  US04/434,892
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• US Class Current: 384/563
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/548 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/60 with threaded parts, e.g. bolt and nut connections in general F16B23/00 - F16B43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/61 Toothed gear systems, e.g. support of pinion shafts in general F16H57/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/06 Ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/061 mounting a plurality of bearings side by side
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/423 characterised by bearing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/08 comprising bevel gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/42 characterised by features of the input shafts, e.g. mounting of drive gears thereon
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/926 Positive lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/984 Longitudinal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49927 Hollow body is axially joined cup or tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49929 Joined to rod
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2188 Axle and torque tubes

Claims

1. A PINION SHAFT AND BEARING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING:

(A) A HOUSING HAVING SPACED BEARING SEATS THEREIN;

(B) BEARINGS HAVING INNER AND OUTER RACES, THE OUTER RACES BEING MOUNTED IN THE SEATS;

(C) A PINION SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH THE BEARINGS AND ROTATIVELY CARRIED THEREBY, SAID SHAFT HAVING SHOULDERS ENGAGED BY THE INNER RACES OF THE BEARINGS;

(D) EXTERNAL THREADS ON THE SHAFT BEYOND ONE OF THE BEARINGS;

(E) AN INTERNALLY THREADED NUT ON THE EXTERNAL THREADS OF THE SHAFT AND TIGHTENED SO AS TO ENGAGE AND IMPOSE AXIAL THRUST ON THE INNER RACE OF ONE OF THE BEARINGS, THEREBY ESTABLISHING A PRE-DETERMINED TORQUE LOAD ON THE SHAFT SUPPORTING BEARINGS;

(F) A MULTIPLICITY OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING EDGES ON THE NUT AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED ABOUT THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE NUT, SAID EDGES COLLECTIVELY DEFINING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL PATH;

(G) A LOCKING MECHANISM FOR LOCKING THE NUT AGAINST ROTATIVE MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE SHAFT, SAID MECHA-