Manual adjuster for prestressing a differential gear and method of making a differential gear using same

• US 6,219,927 B1
• Filed: 06/24/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Westermaier, Fritz
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US09/180,938
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 335/01, 337/10, 337/12, 337/83, 338/13, 338/14, 338/15, 338/18, 338/19, 338/27, 338/31, 338/32, 338/33, 338/36
• US Class Current: 33/501
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/0062 Tools specially adapted for assembly of transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/02043 for vehicle transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/0227 Assembly method measuring first tolerances or position and selecting mating parts accordingly, e.g. special sized shims for transmission bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/022 Adjustment of gear shafts or bearings for compensating misalignment of axes of toothed gearings without orbital motion F16H1/26; for compensating misalignment of axes of planetary gears F16H1/48
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/023 Mounting or installation of gears or shafts in the gearboxes, e.g. methods or means for assembly
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/037 Gearboxes for accommodating differential gearings rotating cases for differential gearings F16H48/40

Abstract

A differential gear housing includes grooves into which retaining rings are fitted which engage on races of tapered roller bearings. The width of the securing rings is determined in accordance with the desired tooth flank clearance between a ring gear and a bevel drive pinion and with a desired prestress in the tapered roller bearings. Preliminary to selecting the retaining rings, devices are used which engage with a tensioning bush in the grooves and have a pressure member movable axially inside the tensioning bush and supported on the respective tapered roller bearing race. The pressure member is then suitably moved in relation to the tensioning bush to a position where the desired prestress and tooth flank clearance have been reached. The desired retaining ring axial width can then be read off from the device followed by selection and insertion of the desired retaining rings.

Claims

1. Adjuster assembly for a differential gear which has:

a gear box with first and second axially spaced gear box grooves,

a gear axle carrying a ring gear which in use meshes with a bevel drive pinion, said gear axle having first and second axle ends,

a first retaining ring insertable in the first gear box groove,

a first tapered roller bearing having a first roller bearing ring resting against the first retaining ring and operable to support the first axle end at the gear box,

a second retaining ring insertable in the second gear box groove, and

a second tapered roller bearing having a second roller bearing ring resting against the second retaining ring and operable to support the second axle end at the gear box,

wherein tooth play between the ring gear and bevel drive pinion and prestressing force at the roller bearing are dependent on axial thicknesses of the first and second retaining rings,

said adjuster assembly being operable to determine desired axial thicknesses of said retainer rings prior to selection and insertion of the retainer rings, and comprising;

(i) a first adjusting device having a first tension bush supportingly engageable in the first gear box groove, a first pressure piece axially displaceable in the first tension bush and supportable at the first roller bearing ring, and a first adjusting spindle operable to displace the first pressure piece with respect to the first tension bush, and

(ii) a second adjusting device having a second tension bush supportingly engageable in the second gear box groove, a second pressure piece axially displaceable in the second tension bush, and a second adjusting spindle operable to displace the second pressure piece with respect to the second tension bush,

said first and second adjusting devices including measuring devices indicating desired retainer ring thicknesses based upon use of the adjusting devices to determine desired tooth play between the ring gear and bevel drive pinion and prestressing force at the tapered roller bearings.

2. Adjuster assembly according to claim 1, wherein the measuring devices include a measuring scale provided on the first adjusting device which indicates a desired axial width of the first retaining ring.

3. Adjuster assembly according to claim 2, wherein the measuring devices include a measuring scale provided on the second adjusting device which indicates a desired axial width of the second retaining ring.

4. Adjuster assembly according to claim 3, therein each tension bush includes at least two partial shells configured to accommodate insertion thereof by respective collars on their free ends into the respective gear box grooves.

5. Adjuster assembly according to claim 3, wherein said first adjusting spindle is connected with a manually operable set screw handle for rotating the first adjusting spindle with a threaded connection operable to axially displace the first pressure piece and first tension bush with respect to one another.

6. Adjuster assembly according to claim 5, wherein the second adjusting spindle is connected with a hydraulic drive for operating a threaded connection operable to axially displace the second pressure piece and second tension bush with respect to one another.

7. Adjuster assembly according to claim 3, wherein the second adjusting spindle is connected with a hydraulic drive for operating a threaded connection operable to axially displace the second pressure piece and second tension bush with respect to one another.

8. Adjuster assembly according to claim 2, wherein each tension bush includes at least two partial shells configured to accommodate insertion thereof by respective collars on their free ends into the respective gear box grooves.

9. Adjuster assembly according to claim 1, wherein the measuring devices include a measuring scale provided on the second adjusting device which indicates a desired axial width of the second retaining ring.

10. Adjuster assembly according to claim 9, wherein each tension bush includes at least two partial shells configured to accommodate insertion thereof by respective collars on their free ends into the respective gear box grooves.

11. Adjuster assembly according to claim 1, wherein each tension bush includes at least two partial shells configured to accommodate insertion thereof by respective collars on their free ends into the respective gear box grooves.

12. Adjuster assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first adjusting spindle is connected with a manually operable set screw handle for rotating the first adjusting spindle with a threaded connection operable to axially displace the first pressure piece and first tension bush with respect to one another.

13. Adjuster assembly according to claim 12, wherein the second adjusting spindle is connected with a hydraulic drive for operating a threaded connection operable to axially displace the second pressure piece and second tension bush with respect to one another.

14. Adjuster assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second adjusting spindle is connected with a hydraulic drive for operating a threaded connection operable to axially displace the second pressure piece and second tension bush with respect to one another.

15. A method of making a differential gear which has

a gear box with first and second axially spaced gear box grooves,

a gear axle carrying a ring gear which in use meshes with a bevel drive pinion, said gear axle having first and second axle ends,

a first retaining ring insertable in the first gear box groove,

a first tapered roller bearing having a first roller bearing ring resting against the first retaining ring and operable to support the first axle end at the gear box,

a second retaining ring insertable in the second gear box groove, and

a second tapered roller bearing having a second roller bearing ring resting against the second retaining ring and operable to support the second axle end at the gear box,

wherein tooth play between the ring gear and bevel drive pinion and prestressing force at the roller bearings are dependent on axial thicknesses of the first and second retaining rings,

said method including

(i) providing an adjusting assembly including:

a first adjusting device having a first tension bush supportingly engageable in the first gear box groove, a first pressure piece axially displaceable in the first tension bush and supportable at the first roller bearing ring, and a first adjusting spindle operable to displace the first pressure piece with respect to the first tension bush, and

a second adjusting device having a second tension bush supportingly engageable in the second gear box groove, a second pressure piece axially displaceable in the second tension bush, and a second adjusting spindle operable to displace the second pressure piece with respect to the second tension bush,

said first and second adjusting devices including measuring devices indicating desired retainer ring thicknesses based upon use of the adjusting devices to determine desired tooth play between the ring gear and bevel drive and pinion prestressing force at the tapered roller bearings, and

using said adjuster assembly to determine desired thicknesses of the retainer rings and subsequently to remove the adjusting devices and insert the retainer rings for final assembly of the differential gear.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the measuring devices include a measuring scale provided on the first adjusting device which indicates a desired axial width of the first retaining ring.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the measuring devices include a measuring scale provided on the second adjusting device which indicates a desired axial width of the second retaining ring.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the measuring devices include a measuring scale provided on the second adjusting device which indicates a desired axial width of the second retaining ring.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein each tension bush includes at least two partial shells configured to accommodate insertion thereof by respective collars on their free ends into the respective gear box grooves.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein said first adjusting spindle is connected with a manually operable set screw handle for rotating the first adjusting spindle with a threaded connection operable to axially displace the first pressure piece and first tension bush with respect to one another.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the second adjusting spindle is connected with a hydraulic drive for operating a threaded connection operable to axially displace the second pressure piece and second tension bush with respect to one another.

22. A method according to claim 15, wherein the second adjusting spindle is connected with a hydraulic drive for operating a threaded connection operable to axially displace the second pressure piece and second tension bush with respect to one another.