Abstract: A vehicle differential unit in which an input or drive pinion is mounted on a shaft which is supported on two axially spaced bearing assemblies carried by a housing which encloses the unit. The housing is provided with first and second apertures, the second aperture, which is provided with a detachable cover, being of sufficient size to pass the drive pinion and the first aperture not allowing the passage therethrough of the drive pinion. A first bearing assembly, which is supported in the first aperture, supports a first end portion of the shaft with which a vehicle drive shaft is normally associated and a second bearing assembly, located on the other side of the drive pinion from the first bearing assembly, supports a second end portion of the shaft which is located within the housing adjacent a crown wheel of the differential unit.

Abstract: A Hooke's joint comprises four bearing cups received in openings in respective yoke arms and retained therein by respective retaining elements. At least one retaining element associated with each yoke has radially-projecting fingers which terminate in cutting edges and which are seated in a groove cut in the wall of the corresponding opening by rotation of the retaining element. There is also described a tool for contracting the retaining element to enable it to be inserted into the opening and for rotating the retaining element.

Abstract: An epicyclic gear change assembly capable of giving a planetary ratio and direct drive and having first means for frictionally connecting two members of epicyclic gearing together for direct drive and second means for positively connecting two members of the gearing together for direct drive so that if the first means is engaged while the gearing is stationary and tends to slip when the gearing starts to be driven, the second means automatically comes into operation to inhibit such slipping.

Abstract: In a Hooke's joint comprising two yoke elements interconnected by a connecting member, the connecting member has trunnions received in respective bearing cups which are fitted in apertures formed in the arms of the yoke elements. Each arm of each yoke element has a retaining element to retain the associated bearing cup in the opening of the arm. The retaining element on one arm of each yoke element is adapted to bias the associated bearing cup towards the centre of the joint; whereas the retaining element on the other arm of the yoke element is adapted to function as a rigid stop to limit movement of the associated bearing cup away from the centre of the joint but not to bias the bearing cup inwardly of the joint.

Abstract: A control means comprising a fixed first member, two pivots fixed relative to the first member in spaced-apart relation, a second member movable relative to the first member, a third member movable relative to the second member by a first manually operated control between first and second positions in which respectively the third member engages the first and second pivots and thus mounts the second member for pivoting movement about the first and second pivots respectively, spring means acting on the second member and a linkage connected to the second member in such a location that when the third member is in its first position the spring force urges the linkage in one direction and when the third member is in its second position the spring force urges the linkage in the opposite direction.