JP2017166912A - Device for measuring range of motion of side gears in differential unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for accurately measuring the amount of axial motion of both side gears in a differential unit.SOLUTION: The measurement device comprises: forcing means 23 that moves side gears 11, 12 in a direction of an axis C, each toward an inner wall surface of a differential case 10, against the load of preloading means; rotary drive means for rotatably driving the side gear 11; and a pair of measurement means 41, 32 for measuring the amount of motion, in the direction of the axis C, of the side gears 11, 12 respectively. The rotary drive means includes a joint member 36 that can move with the side gear 11 in the direction of the axis C of the side gear, and which has: a shank portion connected to a rotary drive shaft of the rotary drive means; and an engagement means that is formed at a tip of the shank portion and which engages internal teeth 17 of the side gear 11. The measurement means includes: a gauge head 42 fitted around the shank portion of the joint member 36, so that the gauge head can rotate relative to the shank portion; and a spring for biasing the gauge head 42 to abut the side gear 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  In the differential unit (differential device) in which the preload is applied so that the side gear is separated from the inner wall surface of the differential case by the preload applying means, the movement range in the axial direction is measured while the side gear is rotated around the axis. It is related with the apparatus for doing.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the differential unit 1 that absorbs the difference between the rotational speeds of the left and right wheels of the automobile generally includes a differential case 10 that is rotationally driven by a driving force from an engine, and a differential case 10 that is mutually connected in the differential case 10. A pair of side gears 11, 12 arranged opposite to each other, a pinion gear shaft 13 that rotates in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the differential case 10 (axis C of both side gears), and the axis of the pinion gear shaft 13 And a pair of pinion gears 14 and 15 (only one is shown) that are respectively meshed with the side gears 11 and 12. The differential case 10 of the differential unit 1 has a flange portion 10a for attaching a ring gear.

  For example, Patent Document 1 is known as a document disclosing an apparatus for measuring backlash between a side gear and a pinion gear in such a differential unit. Patent Document 1 pays attention to the fact that the side gear moves in the axial direction according to the magnitude of the backlash at the meshing position of the side gear and the pinion gear, and rotates the side gear and the pinion gear meshed with each other in the axial direction of the side gear. A backlash measuring device is disclosed which can measure backlash in all meshing combinations of each tooth and tooth space by continuously detecting the amount of movement.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the differential unit 1, the side gears 11 and 12 are movable in the direction of the axis C, respectively, and the inner wall surface of the differential case 10 and the rear surfaces of the side gears 11 and 12 are provided. And a preload applying means 16 for applying a preload so as to separate the side gears 11 and 12 from the inner wall surface of the differential case 10.

  In such a differential unit 1, since the side gears 11 and 12 can move in the direction of the axis C, the movement range of the side gears 11 and 12 is measured to determine whether or not the movement range is appropriate. A process is performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the apparatus for measuring the movement range of the side gear includes the side gears 11, 12 with the differential case 10 fixed and the side gears 11, 12 rotated about the axis C. The movement range in the direction of the axis C is measured. In this measuring apparatus, the forcible moving means 23 for moving both side gears 11 and 12 in the direction of the axis C toward the inner wall surface of the differential case 10 against the preload applying means 16 of the differential unit 1, On the other hand, one having a rotation driving means 35 that rotationally drives 11 and a pair of measuring means 41 and 32 that measure the amount of movement of each side gear 11 in the axial center C direction is used.

  In this apparatus, when measuring the movement range of the side gears 11 and 12, the flange portion 10a is placed in a horizontal state and placed on the unit holder 21 and fixed. As a result, since the axial line of the differential case 10, that is, the axis C of both side gears 11 and 12, is arranged in the vertical direction, one side gear 11 is located below and the other side gear 12 is located above. Become.

  In the conventional technique in such a measuring apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5, the engaging portion 50 that engages with the internal teeth 17 formed on one side gear 11 of the rotation driving means 35, and the measuring means The jig 52 in which the measuring part 51 that is in contact with the side gear 11 is integrally formed is used. The jig 52 has an engaging portion 50 formed at the tip, and a shoulder portion 53 that is a boundary between the body portion that becomes the measuring portion 51 and the engaging portion 50 is formed on the end surface of the internal tooth 17 on the back surface of the side gear 11. Abutted.

  The jig 52 configured as described above is provided so as to correspond to the side gear 11 located on the lower side as described above, in relation to the arrangement of the rotation driving means 35 and the like. Therefore, the jig 52 is pressed toward the side gear 11 so that the shoulder portion 53 of the jig 52 is brought into contact with the side gear 11 following the movement of the side gear 11 positioned on the lower side in the axis C direction. A jig biasing means 55 for biasing is provided. On the other hand, the measuring element 34 of the other measuring means is supported so as to be movable in the direction of the axis C, and follows the movement of the side gear 12 located on the upper side in the direction of the axis C due to its own weight.

  Here, since the tracing stylus part 51 of the jig 52 is configured integrally with the engaging part 50, it rotates around the axial center together with the side gear 11 positioned on the lower side and moves in the axial direction. On the other hand, the measuring element 34 that measures the amount of movement of the side gear 12 located on the upper side does not have the engaging portion 50 and moves in the same direction as the side gear 12 moves in the axial center C direction. However, it does not rotate around the axis C.

JP-A-62-203008

  In the apparatus for measuring the movement range of the side gear configured as described above, friction is generated between the measuring portion 51 of the jig 52 and the side gear 11 when measuring the movement range of the side gears 11 and 12. In contrast, friction occurs between the other probe 34 and the side gear 34. As a result, the influence of friction differs between the two measuring means, and there has been a problem that the measurement results of the movement amounts of the side gears 11 and 12 in the direction of the axis C vary.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is a side gear that can measure the amount of movement of both side gears in the differential unit in the axial direction in a differential unit stably and accurately without variation. An object is to provide a moving range measuring device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a differential case that is rotationally driven by a driving force from a drive source, and a pair of pods that are disposed in the differential case so as to be opposed to each other and movable in the axial direction. A side gear, a pair of pinion gears that are respectively meshed with the pair of side gears and rotated together with the differential case, and an inner wall surface of the differential case and a back surface of each side gear are interposed between the side gear and the inner wall surface of the differential case. In a differential unit comprising a preload applying means for applying a preload so as to be separated, an apparatus for measuring a movement range of the side gear in the axial direction in a state where the differential case is fixed and the side gear is rotated around the axis. The both side gears are directed toward the inner wall surface of the differential case against the preload applying means. Forcibly moving means for moving in the axial direction, rotational driving means for rotationally driving one of the side gears, and a pair of measuring means for measuring the amount of movement of each side gear in the axial direction, The rotation drive means has a shaft portion connected to the rotation drive shaft, and an engagement portion formed at a tip portion of the shaft portion and engaged with an internal tooth formed in the side gear, A joint member that can move in the axial direction along with the side gear, and one of the measuring means includes a measuring element that is externally fitted so as to be rotatable relative to the shaft portion of the joint member; And a probe urging unit that urges the side gear to abut on the side gear.

In the present invention, the differential case is fixed, the joint member of the rotation driving means is engaged with the internal teeth formed on one side gear, and one of the joint members that are externally fitted to the joint member and biased by the probe biasing means. The measuring element of the measuring means is brought into contact with one side gear, and the measuring element of the other measuring means is brought into contact with the other side gear. At this time, the both side gears are in a state in which preload is applied so as to be separated from the inner wall surface of the differential case by preload applying means interposed between the back surface and the inner wall surface of the differential case. Next, the one side gear engaged with the joint is rotated around the axis by the rotation driving means. Since the differential unit is in a state where the differential case is fixed, when one side gear is driven to rotate, a pair of pinion gears meshed with the one side gear respectively rotate, and the other one meshed with the pair of pinion gears. The side gear rotates about the axis in the opposite direction to the one side gear. In this state, both the side gears face the inner wall surface of the differential case against the preload applying means by the forced moving means, and the axial direction extends to the movement limit where the back surface of the side gear contacts the inner wall surface of the differential case via the preload applying means. In addition, the force of moving the two side gears toward the inner wall surface of the differential case by the forcible moving means is released, and the two side gears at this time are moved back to the state in which preload is applied to both side gears by the preload applying means Are measured by the measuring means. The joint member of the rotation driving means is externally fitted on its shaft portion so that the measuring element of one measuring means can be relatively rotated. Further, the measuring element of one measuring means is urged to come into contact with the back surface of one side gear by the measuring element urging means. For this reason, the joint member rotates around the axis by driving the rotation driving means, whereas the probe externally fitted to the shaft portion of the joint member does not rotate around the axis. Therefore, friction is generated between one side gear and the measuring element. Further, while the other side gear rotates around the axis, the other measuring element does not rotate around the axis as well as the one measuring element. Therefore, friction is generated between the other side gear and the measuring element. Therefore, friction occurs between the side gears and the measuring element under substantially the same conditions.
According to the present invention, the rotation driving means includes a joint member, and one of the measuring means includes a measuring element externally fitted to the shaft portion of the joint member so as to be rotatable and a measuring element urging means. In the configuration, since frictional force is generated between both side gears and the probe, the amount of movement of the side gears in the axial direction can be measured under the same conditions. It is possible to prevent variation in measurement, and as a result, it is possible to provide a side gear movement range measuring device capable of measuring stably and accurately.

It is a perspective view which shows the whole measuring apparatus of this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the measuring apparatus of this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view which shows the state which pressed the side gear against the preload provision means by the forced movement means from the state of FIG. A joint member having external teeth to be engaged with internal teeth formed on the side gear of the present invention, one measuring element of measuring means externally fitted to the shaft portion of the joint member, and a measuring element urging means It is an expanded sectional view shown. It is a front view which shows the conventional jig | tool with which the engaging part engaged with the internal tooth formed in the side gear, and the measuring element contact | abutted to one side gear of a measurement means were integrally comprised.

  Initially, the structure of the differential unit 1 in this Embodiment is demonstrated mainly based on FIG. 2 and FIG.

  The differential unit 1 includes a differential case 10, a pair of side gears 11 and 12 disposed in the differential case 10 so as to be opposed to each other and movable in the axial direction, and an axis line of the differential case 10 (the axial center C of both side gears 11 and 12). A pair of pinion gear shafts 13 that rotate in the direction orthogonal to the differential case 10 and that are supported by the pinion gear shafts 13 so as to be rotatable around the shafts and mesh with the side gears 11 and 12, respectively. Pinion gears 14 and 15, and preload applying means 16 that are interposed between the inner wall surface of the differential case 10 and the back surface of each side gear and apply preload so as to separate the side gears 11 and 12 from the inner wall surface of the differential case 10. ing. The differential case 10 of the differential unit 1 has a flange portion 10a for attaching a ring gear. The differential case 10 is engaged with a drive pinion whose ring gear is connected to the output shaft of an automobile engine (transmission), and is driven to rotate about the axis C of the side gears 11 and 12. The flange portion 10 a has a surface on which the ring gear is attached orthogonal to the axis C of the side gears 11 and 12, and is positioned at one side gear 11 side end of the differential case 10.

  Serrations (inner teeth) 17 are formed on the inner peripheral portions of the side gears 11 and 12, respectively. The serrations 17 can be engaged with serrations (external teeth) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the axle shaft connected to the wheels of the automobile. The bosses 18 formed on the back side of the side gears 11 and 12 are fitted in the recess 10b of the differential case 10 so as to be movable in the direction of the axis C. The preload urging means 16 can be constituted by a disc spring or the like. At a position orthogonal to the pinion gear shaft 13 of the differential case 10, an opening 19 having a size capable of allowing jigs 24 and 24 (described later) of the forced moving means 23 to enter is formed.

  Next, an embodiment of the measuring apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail based on FIGS. 1 to 4 by measuring the movement range of the side gears 11 and 12 of the differential unit 1 configured as described above. To do.

  On the table 20 of the measuring device 2, a unit holder 21 that holds the flange portion 10 a of the differential case 10 of the differential unit 1 is provided. A fixing means 22 is provided above the unit holder 21 to contact the other side gear 12 side end of the differential case 10 of the differential unit 1 and fix the differential case 10 to and from the unit holder 21. Therefore, when measuring the movement range of the side gears 11 and 12, the differential unit 1 is configured such that the axis C of the side gears 11 and 12 faces the vertical direction, one side gear 11 is on the lower side, and the other side gear 12 is on the upper side. Will be located.

  The forcible moving means 23 moves forward and backward so that the pair of jigs 24, 24 arranged at positions opposed to each other across the central axis of the unit holder 21 on the table 20, and the jigs 24 move toward and away from each other. And an actuator 25. The actuator 25 includes a ball screw mechanism connected to both jigs 24, a feed mechanism 26 including a rotary encoder that detects the feed amount of the jigs 24, an electric motor 27, and a rotational drive force of the electric motor 27 to the feed mechanism 26. A driving force transmission mechanism 28 such as a conductive belt can be used. A contact surface 24 a that contacts the tooth surfaces of the side gears 11 and 12 is formed at the tip of the jig 24. The contact surface 24a is inclined with respect to the forward / backward movement direction of the jig 24, and resists the urging force of the preload urging means 16 when the jig 24 further moves forward from the state of being in contact with the side gears 11 and 12. Then, a pressing force is applied to move the side gears 11 and 12 in the direction of the axis C so as to approach the inner wall surface of the differential case 10, and as a result, both the side gears 11 and 12 are separated from each other. Further, when the jig 24 moves backward, the abutment surface 24 a releases the pressing force that moves the side gears 11 and 12 in the direction of the axis C, and the preload biasing means 16 causes the side gears 11 and 12 to move inside the differential case 10. Allowing the return movement in the direction of the axis C away from the wall surface allows the side gears 11 and 12 to approach each other.

  Furthermore, the actuator 25 includes load detection means such as a torque transducer for detecting a load of driving force for moving the jig 24. The load detection means outputs the detection signal to the controller. The controller receives the detection signal from the load detecting means, and the jig 24 moves forward and the contact surface 24a presses the side gears 11 and 12 to move in the axial direction. As a result, the preload applying means is applied to the inner wall surface of the differential case. 16, it is determined whether or not the movement limit where the rear surfaces of the side gears 11 and 12 are in contact with each other is determined, the forward movement of the jig 24 by the actuator 25 is stopped, and the rotation of the electric motor 27 is reversed. In addition, the controller determines that the jig 24 moves backward and the contact surface 24a is separated from the tooth surfaces of the side gears 11 and 12, and when the measurement of the moving range of the side gears 11 and 12 is continued, the controller again It is possible to reverse the rotation of the electric motor 27 to move the jig 24 forward, and when the movement range of the side gears 11 and 12 has been measured, the jig 24 is controlled to be further moved backward so as to retract from the differential case 10. it can.

  The measuring means 32 for measuring the amount of movement of the side gear 12 located on the upper side includes a displacement sensor 33 and a measuring element 34 in contact with the side gear 12, and is provided on a lifting platform 31 that moves up and down by driving a motor 30. It has been. The tracing stylus 34 is supported so as to move up and down with the movement of the side gear 12 and to be non-rotatable around the axis C. The measuring element 34 is shaped so that the tip (lower end) thereof is in contact with the end face of the tooth of the serration 17 of the side gear 12. When measuring the amount of movement of the side gear 12 in the direction of the axis C, the lifting platform 31 moves upward to retract upward when the differential case 10 is fixed, and moves downward after the differential case 10 is fixed and measured. The element 34 is moved into the differential case 10, and the position in the ascending / descending direction is controlled so that the tip of the measuring element 34 comes into contact with the end face of the tooth of the serration 17 of the side gear 12.

  The joint member 36 of the rotation driving means 35 has a shaft hole 36a formed over the entire length in the center of the cross section. The shaft hole 36a is inserted with a rotational drive shaft 37 that is rotationally driven by a rotational drive source such as an electric motor. The cross section of the shaft hole 36a and the rotational drive shaft 37 includes the rotational drive shaft 37 in the shaft hole 36a. It is formed in an oval shape so as not to rotate relative to each other because of the size that can be inserted. The length from the upper surface to the tip of the base portion 37 a of the rotation drive shaft 37 is formed to be longer than the entire length of the joint member 36. A large diameter portion larger than the diameter of the shaft portion 36c is formed at the upper tip portion of the joint member 36, and a plurality of protrusions 36b extending in the axial direction are disposed in the large diameter portion in the circumferential direction. This protrusion 36b comprises the external tooth engaged with the serration 17 of the side gear 11 located on the lower side. A stopper 38 that prevents the joint member 36 from coming off the rotational drive shaft 37 is provided at a predetermined position at the tip of the rotational drive shaft 37.

  The measuring means 41 that measures the amount of movement of the side gear 11 located on the lower side includes a measuring element 42 that contacts the side gear 11 and a sensor unit that detects the amount of movement of the measuring element 42 in the axial center C direction. Sensor 44. As shown in FIG. 4, the measuring element 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter large enough to rotate around the axis with respect to the shaft portion 36 c of the joint member 36, and the shaft portion 36 c of the joint member 36. It is fitted outside. The measuring element 42 has an axial length substantially the same as the axial length of the shaft portion 36 c of the joint member 36. As shown in FIG. 4, between the base end (lower end) of the probe 42 and the base 37a of the rotary drive shaft 37, the probe 42 is attached to follow the movement of the side gear 11 in the axis C direction. A spring 45 is interposed as an urging member urging means. Therefore, the upper end surface of the measuring element 42 is in contact with the side surface of the large-diameter shaft portion 36 c where the protrusion 36 b of the joint member 36 is disposed, and the upper end surface of the joint member 36 is pressed against the stopper 38. It has become.

A rotation driving means 35 for rotating and driving the side gear 11 located on the lower side, and a measuring means 41 for measuring the amount of movement of the side gear 11 in the axial direction are supported by a lifting platform 46.
When measuring the amount of movement of the side gear 11 in the direction of the axis C, the elevator 46 causes the measuring element 42 and the joint member 36 to enter the differential case 10 that is fixed by moving upward, and is jointed to the serration 17 of the side gear 11. The protrusion 36b constituting the external teeth of the member 36 is engaged, the upper end of the measuring element 41 is brought into contact with the end face of the tooth of the serration 17 on the back surface of the side gear 11, and the amount of movement of the side gear 11 in the axial direction When the measurement is finished, the lifting platform 46 is controlled to move in the lifting direction so as to descend and retract the probe 42 and the joint member 36 out of the differential case 10.

  Next, the operation of the apparatus configured as described above will be described. In measuring the axial movement range of the side gears 11 and 12 of the differential unit 1, first, the jig 24 of the forcible moving means 23 is moved backward, the upper measuring means 32 is retracted upward, The base 46 is lowered and the joint member 36 and the measuring element 42 are retracted. In this state, the flange portion 10a of the differential case 10 is held by the unit holder 21 of the table 20, and the fixing means 22 is brought into contact with the side gear 12 side end surface located above the differential case 10 of the differential unit 1 to fix the differential case 10. .

  Next, the upper lift 31 is moved downward to bring the probe 34 into the differential case 10, and the tip of the probe 34 is brought into contact with the end face of the serration 17 on the back surface of the side gear 12.

  Further, the lift 46 is raised, the measuring element 42 and the joint member 36 are inserted into the fixed differential case 10, and the protrusion 36 b constituting the external teeth of the joint member 36 is engaged with the serration 17 of the side gear 11. Further, the upper end of the probe 42 is brought into contact with the end face of the tooth of the serration 17 on the back surface of the side gear 11. At this time, the spring 45 interposed between the probe 42 and the base 37a of the rotary drive shaft 37 is in a compressed state.

  In this state, the joint member 36 in which the shaft hole 36a is inserted into the rotational drive shaft 37 is rotationally driven by a rotational drive source such as an electric motor of the rotational drive means 35. In the differential unit 1, since the differential case 10 is fixed, when one side gear 11 is driven to rotate, a pair of pinion gears 14, 15 meshed with the one side gear 11 rotate, and the pair of pinion gears 14. , 15, the other side gear 12 rotates about the axis in the opposite direction to the one side gear 11.

  In this state, the electric motor 27 of the forced moving means 23 is rotationally driven, and the jigs 24 and 24 are moved forward by the feed mechanism 26 so as to approach each other. The side gears 11 and 12 are shafts so as to approach the inner wall surface of the differential case 10 against the urging force of the preload applying means 16 interposed between the contact surface 24a of the jig 24 and the inner wall surface of the differential case 10, respectively. Move in the direction of heart C. The forward movement of the jig 24 is continued until it is detected that the back surface of the side gears 11 and 12 has reached the movement limit where the back surface of the side gears 11 and 12 contacts the inner wall surface of the differential case 10. Thereafter, the electric motor 27 of the forcible moving means 23 is rotationally driven in the reverse direction, and the jigs 24 are moved backward by the feed mechanism 26 so as to be separated from each other. The side gears 11 and 12 are released from being pressed by the abutment surface 24 a of the jig 24, and are axially separated from the inner wall surface of the differential case 10 by the preload applying means 16 interposed between the inner surfaces of the differential case 10. Move back in the direction. The jig 24 moves backward until the contact surface 24a is detected to be separated from the tooth surfaces of the side gears 11 and 12, or when the movement range of the side gears 11 and 12 in the axial center C direction is measured. 24 is continued until it goes out of the differential case 10 and retreats.

  When the side gears 11 and 12 are rotated, the measuring units 32 and 41 press the side gears 11 and 12 by the forcible moving unit 23 and move them in the direction of the axis C to reach the movement limit. A measuring element 42 that moves with the movement of the side gears 11 and 12 in the direction of the axis C between the time when the contact surface 24a is separated from the tooth surfaces of the side gears 11 and 12, The displacement sensors 44 and 33 measure the amount of movement 34.

  The measuring element 34 in contact with the end face of the tooth of the serration 17 on the back surface of the side gear 12 located on the upper side can follow the movement of the side gear 12 in the direction of the axis C by its own weight. Then, the side gear 12 rotates around the axis C with respect to the probe 34 that is supported around the axis C so as not to rotate. Therefore, friction is generated between the tip of the measuring element 34 and the tooth end face of the serration 17 on the back surface of the side gear 12.

  On the other hand, the measuring element 42 in contact with the end face of the tooth of the serration 17 on the back surface of the side gear 11 located on the lower side is arranged so that the side gear 11 approaches the inner wall surface of the differential case 10 by the forcible moving means 23. In the state of being moved in the direction, the side gear 11 is pressed. Therefore, the measuring element 42 does not leave the side gear 11 and follows the movement of the side gear 11 in the direction of the axis C.

  Further, in a state where the pressing by the forcible moving means 23 is released and the side gear 11 returns and moves away from the inner wall surface of the differential case 10, the measuring element 42 is urged to contact the side gear 11 by the spring 45. The measuring element 42 does not leave the side gear 11, and the measuring element 42 can follow the return movement of the side gear 11 in the axis C direction.

  Since the measuring element 42 is externally fitted around the axis C with respect to the shaft portion 36 c of the joint member 36, the measuring element 42 and the end surface of the tooth of the serration 17 on the back surface of the side gear 11 are relative to each other. Rotation causes friction between the two. As a result, friction due to relative rotation is similarly generated between the upper side gear 12 and the measuring element 34 and between the lower side gear 11 and the measuring element 42. Therefore, it is possible to prevent variation in the amount of movement of the side gear 12 in the direction of the axis C measured by the probe 34 and the amount of movement of the side gear 11 in the direction of the axis C measured by the probe 42. As a result, the amount of movement of the side gears 11 and 12 in the direction of the axis C can be stably and accurately measured.

  1: differential unit, 10: differential case, 11, 12: side gear, C: shaft center, 14, 15: pinion gear, 16: disc spring (preloading means), 17: serration (internal teeth), 2: measuring device, 23 : Forced movement means, 32: Upper measuring means, 34: Measuring element, 35: Rotation driving means, 36: Joint member, 36a: Shaft hole, 36b: Projection (external tooth), 36c: Shaft portion, 37: Rotation Drive shaft 41: Lower measuring means 42: Measuring element 45: Spring (measuring element biasing means)

Claims (1)

A differential case that is rotationally driven by a driving force from a drive source, a pair of side gears that are opposed to each other in the differential case and arranged to be movable in the axial direction, and are respectively meshed with the pair of side gears and rotated together with the differential case A differential unit comprising: a pair of pinion gears; and a preload applying means that is interposed between an inner wall surface of the differential case and a back surface of each side gear and applies a preload so as to separate the side gear from the inner wall surface of the differential case. In the state where the differential case is fixed and the side gear is rotated around the axis, the apparatus measures the range of movement of the side gear in the axial direction,
Forcibly moving means for moving the both side gears in the axial direction toward the inner wall surface of the differential case against the preload applying means;
Rotation drive means for rotating and driving one of the side gears;
A pair of measuring means for measuring the amount of movement of each side gear in the axial direction,
The rotation drive means has a shaft portion connected to the rotation drive shaft, and an engagement portion formed at a tip portion of the shaft portion and engaged with an internal tooth formed in the side gear, A joint member that can move in the axial direction along with the side gear,
One of the measuring means includes a measuring element that is externally fitted to be rotatable relative to the shaft portion of the joint member, and a measuring element urging means that urges the measuring element to abut on the side gear. An apparatus for measuring a moving range of a side gear in a differential unit.

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