Appeal 2006-2530
Application 10/610,143
and 14 have been allowed. We have jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. § 6(b)
(2002).
Appellants invented a differential carrier housing for use in a wheel
differential assembly, where the differential carrier housing includes a
hollow rib extending from a forward end to a reward end of the differential
carrier housing.
We need only discuss claims 2, and 5, which depend from claim 1.
Claims 1, 2 and 5 read as follows:
1. A differential carrier housing, comprising:
a body disposed about an axis and having first and
second axial ends, said body configured to receive a pinion shaft,
an inter-axle differential, and an input shaft supported on an
input shaft bearing;
a radially extending flange extending from said body
proximate said second axial end of said body and configured for
connection to an axle housing; and,
a hollow rib extending from a forward end located on
said body rearward of said input shaft bearing to a rear end
located at said flange.
2. A differential carrier housing according to claim 1,
wherein said hollow rib has a constant wall thickness from said
forward end to said rear end.
5. A differential carrier housing according to claim 1,
wherein said rear end of said hollow rib is aligned with a bearing
support for a differential case of a wheel differential.
2
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