US 7,320,659 B2
Differential assembly with semi-elliptical assembly window
John P. Pritchard, New Baltimore, Mich. (US); Paul H. Petruska, Royal Oak, Mich. (US); and Howard J. Bruno, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (US)
Assigned to American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., Detroit, Mich. (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/118,919.
Prior Publication US 2006/0243092 A1, Nov. 02, 2006
Int. Cl. F16H 57/02 (2006.01); F16H 57/04 (2006.01); F16H 61/00 (2006.01); F16H 48/06 (2006.01); F16H 57/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 475—331  [475/220; 74/606 R] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A differential assembly adapted to transfer the rotational energy from a drive shaft to an axle shaft, the differential assembly comprising:
a differential case including at least two apertures formed therein to provide access to a chamber interior of the differential case such that gears of a gear set may be passed through either of said apertures and retained in said chamber, one of said apertures being defined by a semi-elliptical segment having ends interconnected by a pair of elongated segments, said elongated segments being interconnected by an arcuate segment.