Differential and thrust washer therefor

Abstract

A thrust washer and a differential containing a thrust washer. The differential has a housing, a spider with a plurality of spider arms, and one or more spider gears. The thrust washer includes a body comprising an annular shape having a width configured to approximately match a width of the one or more spider gears and further configured to a have a slope along the width configured to conform with an inner diameter of the housing and at least one engagement mechanism to engage with at least two of the plurality of spider arms to engage the thrust washer with the spider to approximately prevent the thrust washer from rotating relative to the housing when the thrust washer is installed in the differential.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A thrust washer for a differential having a housing, a spider comprising a plurality of spider arms, and one or more spider gears, the thrust washer comprising:
 a thrust washer body comprising an annular shape having a width configured to approximately match a width of the one or more spider gears and further configured to a have a slope along the width configured to conform with an inner diameter of the housing; and   at least one engagement mechanism configured to engage with at least two of the plurality of spider arms to engage the thrust washer with the spider to approximately prevent the thrust washer from rotating relative to the housing when the thrust washer is installed in the differential.   
     
     
         2 . The thrust washer of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spider arms comprises four spider arms, the at least one engagement mechanism comprises four apertures, and each of the four apertures are positioned and oriented to engage a respective one of the four spider arms when the thrust washer is installed in the differential. 
     
     
         3 . The thrust washer of  claim 1 , wherein the slope along the width also conforms to a shape of the spider gears. 
     
     
         4 . The thrust washer of  claim 1 , wherein the thrust washer body comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are connected and configured to assemble around the spider and the spider gears. 
     
     
         5 . The thrust washer of  claim 4 , wherein the slope is configured to engage with the housing to reduce separation of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         6 . The thrust washer of  claims 4 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to provide a gap between the first portion and the second portion when assembled to allow the flow of debris or the like. 
     
     
         7 . The thrust washer of  claim 1 , wherein the thrust washer has a continuous ring shape. 
     
     
         8 . A differential comprising:
 a housing;   a spider comprising a plurality of spider arms;   one or more spider gears configured to be installed on the spider;   at least two side gears positioned and oriented to engage the one or more spider gears within the housing; and   a thrust washer positioned between the housing and the at least one spider gear, the thrust washer comprising:
 a thrust washer body comprising an annular shape having a width configured to approximately match a width of the one or more spider gears and further configured to a have a slope along the width configured to conform with an inner diameter of the housing; and 
 at least one engagement mechanism configured to engage with at least two of the plurality of spider arms to engage the thrust washer with the spider to approximately prevent the thrust washer from rotating relative to the housing when the thrust washer is installed in the differential. 
   
     
     
         9 . The differential of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of spider arms comprises four spider arms, the at least one engagement mechanism comprises four apertures, and wherein each of the four apertures are positioned and oriented to engage a respective one of the four spider arms when the thrust washer is installed in the differential. 
     
     
         10 . The differential of  claim 8 , wherein the slope along the width also conforms to a shape of the spider gears. 
     
     
         11 . The differential of  claim 8 , wherein the thrust washer comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are connected and configured to assemble around the spider and the spider gears. 
     
     
         12 . The differential of  claim 11 , wherein the slope is configured to engage with the housing to reduce separation of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         13 . The differential of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to provide a gap between the first portion and the second portion to allow the flow of debris or the like. 
     
     
         14 . The differential of  claim 8 , wherein the thrust washer has a continuous ring shape.