Abstract: An axle has a central crown wheel receiving portion with a pinion side and an opposite side. The opposite side is defined by a first crown wheel bowl for receiving a part of a crown wheel, the first crown wheel bowl having a peripheral edge. The axle includes a second crown wheel bowl for receiving the part of the crown wheel. The second crown wheel bowl is nested with the first crown wheel bowl and is attached to the first crown wheel bowl at a peripheral edge to define a reservoir.

Abstract: A method of controlling a fluid level around a transmission gear of a vehicle includes the steps of providing a set of predetermined operating conditions, each predetermined operating condition having a corresponding predetermined fluid level requirement, operating the vehicle at an actual operating condition, determining a predetermined operating condition equivalent to the actual operating condition, and arranging the fluid level around the transmission gear to be equivalent to the predetermined fluid level requirement corresponding to the predetermined operating condition.

Abstract: An assembly of a crown wheel and a differential casing of a differential gear assembly is adapted to welding. The differential casing has a circular flange with an axially extending lip engaged in a circular groove of the crown wheel which is further relieved at a radially outer side to give clearance for a high energy welding beam. An interface between the crown wheel and the circular flange is in one example a frusto-conical surface, which presents an oblique angle to the welding beam.

Abstract: A differential lock assembly includes a shift collar (36) that is moved in response to an electronic input signal between locked and unlocked positions. A coil housing (40) is supported on the shift collar and includes a recess (42) that receives a coil. A drag plate (60) is connected to the shift collar and coil housing to enclose the coil within the recess. When the coil is energized, the shift collar (36) is moved to the locked position. A resilient member (74) returns the shift collar (36) to the unlocked position when the coil is not energized. The shift collar (36), coil housing (40), drag plate (60), and resilient member (74) are pre-assembled together to form an assembled unit, which is installed within an axle differential as an adjusting nut to apply preload to an associated differential bearing.

Abstract: A differential gear casing of flower pot construction has an outer surface which is configured for receiving a crown wheel, whereby the crown wheel can be pressed onto the outer surface by different amounts for different applications. The outer surface is free from projections such that the crown wheel can be mounted on the outer surface from any axial direction. The outer surface defines a band on the differential gear casing and is parallel with a central axis of the differential gear casing. The crown wheel is secured to the differential gear casing using an axial weld line. In other embodiments, the crown wheel and/or a cover for the differential ear casing are secured in place using axial and/or radial weld lines.

Abstract: An electronic differential lock assembly includes a shift collar that is movable in response to an electronic signal from an unlocked position where axle shaft speed differentiation under predetermined conditions is permitted to a locked position where a pair of axle shafts is fixed for rotation together. Speed differentiation is provided by a differential that includes a differential gear assembly supported within a differential case. A coil surrounds the shift collar and is selectively energized to move the shift collar from the unlocked position to the locked position. The shift collar is splined to one of the axle shafts and is selectively splined to the differential case to lock the axle shafts together. The electronic differential lock assembly includes a return spring that automatically disengages the shift collar from the differential case once the coil is no longer energized.

Abstract: An electronic differential lock assembly includes a shift collar that is movable in response to an electronic signal from an unlocked position where axle shaft speed differentiation under predetermined conditions is permitted to a locked position where a pair of axle shafts are fixed for rotation together. Speed differentiation is provided by a differential that includes a differential gear assembly supported within a differential case. A coil surrounds the shift collar and is selectively energized to move the shift collar from the unlocked position to the locked position. The shift collar is splined to one of the axle shafts and is selectively splined to the differential case to lock the axle shafts together. The electronic differential lock assembly includes a return spring that automatically disengages the shift collar from the differential case once the coil is no longer energized.

Abstract: A differential carrier assembly includes a differential carrier and a differential casing having a ring gear that is supported on right and left differential bearings for rotation about a differential axis. The right and left differential bearings are each supported in respective right and left bearing housings. A pinion having a pinion gear meshes with the ring gear and includes a spigot positioned on a differential axis side of the pinion gear. The spigot is supported in a spigot bearing, and the spigot bearing is supported in a spigot bearing housing. One of the right or left bearing housings and the spigot bearing housing are formed on a common component which is separate from and securable to the differential carrier.