US Patent 7682280 Differential assembly with preload adjustment mechanism

Patent 7682280 was granted and assigned to American Axle on March, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

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Is a

Patent

Patent attributes

Current Assignee

American Axle

Patent Jurisdiction

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Patent Number

7682280

Date of Patent

March 23, 2010

Patent Application Number

11820273

Date Filed

June 19, 2007

Patent Primary Examiner

Patent abstract

A vehicle differential assembly may include a differential housing rotatable about an axis, a first output assembly, a pinion gear, and a first coupling assembly. The first output assembly may include a first side gear and a first output member. The first side gear may be disposed within the differential housing and may be rotatable about the axis. The first output member may be coupled to the first side gear for rotation therewith. The first coupling assembly may be engaged with the first output assembly and may include a coupling mechanism and a biasing member. The coupling mechanism may extend through an opening in the first output member and may be displaceable relative to the differential housing in a direction generally parallel to the axis. The biasing member may be engaged with the coupling mechanism and may urge the first output assembly into frictional engagement with the differential housing.