Spring retainer for limited slip differentials

DETAILED DESCRIPTION This invention overcomes the problem of possible spring plate retainer failure by providing a retainer plate which is capable of resisting bending loads exerted by the preload compression springs of a limited slip differential.
According to this invention, spring retainer plates are provided which have transverse walls which are in abutting contact with the side gears of the differential to transfer the load of compression springs thereto.
Each plate includes an aperture formed in the transverse wall in alignment with a recess of an adjacent side gear in concentric relation to the output shaft of the differential.
The transverse wall includes straight portions and flared portions to allow for the insertion and removal of a biasing assembly into position between the side gears through a side port in the differential casing.
The straight portions are appropriately sized to pass between the pinion gears and are provided with inwardly directed side walls having circular apertures therethrough.
The side walls completely surround and define the aperture so that bending loads on the transverse wall of the plate are resisted by portions of the side walls.
Each plate is adapted to nest with a cooperating plate so that the side walls of one plate overlap the side walls of the other plate in such a fashion that their apertures are in alignment and encircle the pinion shaft passing therethrough.
These apertures receive the pinion pin and serve to properly locate the biasing assembly within the differential housing and additionally serve to retain the biasing assembly within the differential cavity after assembly and cause it to rotate with the pinion shaft about the output shaft center line.