Actuating mechanism for transmission of motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuating mechanism (2) for a transmission (3) of a motor vehicle, comprising a switching mechanism (5), in particular a switching ring, which can be moved into at least two switching states by means of a switching element (4), in particular a switching fork, the switching mechanism (5) is designed to couple the first transmission element (7), in particular a movable gear, to the second transmission element (8), in particular a shaft, in at least a first switching state, and to decouple the first transmission element (7) from the second transmission element (8) in at least a second switching state, the switching element (4) being fixedly connected to the switching shaft (10), and the switching mechanism (5) being designed to decouple the first transmission element (7) from the second transmission element (8) in at least a second switching state. The switching shaft is movably arranged in a bearing opening (14) of a retaining element (11), in particular of a retaining plate, which retaining element is connected or can be connected to a housing of the transmission (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating mechanism for a transmission device of a motor vehicle, which comprises a switching mechanism, in particular a switching ring, which can be moved into at least two switching states by means of a switching element, in particular a switching fork, wherein the switching mechanism is designed to couple a first transmission element, in particular a loose gear, with a second transmission element, in particular a shaft in at least a first switching state, and to decouple the first transmission element from the second transmission element in at least a second switching state. Background Art

[0002] From the prior art, actuating mechanisms for transmissions of motor vehicles are generally known, which have, for example, an actuator which can generate a movement of a shift fork in order to bring a shift ring into a desired shift position or a desired shift state. Usually, for this purpose, the shift fork is guided along a shaft or a bolt which is fixedly arranged in the housing of the transmission. For this purpose, the actuator can act directly on the shift fork or an element connected to the shift fork so that the shift fork can be moved along the bolt or swiveled about it. Therefore, in the area of ​​the actuating point, i.e. in the area of ​​the axial and radial position of the shift ring, a relatively large installation space is required, because the shift ring, the shift fork and the actuator must be arranged there. In various applications, for example for shifting transmission elements on an intermediate shaft, there is not enough installation space for such an arrangement.

[0003] In principle, the actuator can be spaced apart from the shifting point, but in this case, however, the load path from the actuator to the shifting element must be guided through a transmission, so that, for example, a curved or meandering load path occurs, which can lead to jamming of elements of the actuating mechanism due to the bending forces that occur on the shifting element. In this case, manufacturing tolerances, more precisely positioning tolerances of the elements, for example positioning tolerances of the shifting element when it engages in the shifting mechanism, may not be fully compensated. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an actuating mechanism for a transmission of a motor vehicle which is improved compared to the above.

[0005] This object is achieved by an actuating device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] As described at the outset, the invention relates to an actuating mechanism for a transmission of a motor vehicle. The actuating mechanism has a switching mechanism, for example a switching ring, which can be moved into at least two switching states and can be actuated or switched by means of a switching element. In particular, a shift fork can be used as the switching element, which engages in a corresponding contour of the switching ring in the radial direction and can thus place the switching ring in different switching states in the axial direction.

[0007] In a first switching state, a first transmission element, such as a loose gear, can be coupled to a second transmission element, such as a shaft, wherein, in a second switching state, the first transmission element is decoupled from the second transmission element. In other words, the loose gear and the shaft can be understood as transmission elements, wherein the operating mechanism is basically designed to selectively establish or separate the coupling state between the first transmission element and the second transmission element. In the coupled state or "first switching state", the first transmission element is coupled to the second transmission element so that torque can be transmitted. In the decoupled state or "second switching state", the coupling is separated so that no torque can be transmitted from the first transmission element to the second transmission element, and vice versa. In the scope of the present application, the terms "first", "second", etc. can be interchanged or changed arbitrarily.

[0008] The present invention is based on the recognition that a switching element is fixedly connected to a switching shaft, which is movably arranged in a bearing opening of a retaining element, in particular a retaining plate, which is connected to or can be connected to the housing of the transmission. As mentioned above, in contrast, in the prior art, a movable coupling of the switching element to the shaft is usually provided so that the switching element can move along the shaft. In contrast, the present invention proposes that the switching element, for example a shift fork, is fixedly connected to the switching shaft so that no relative movement can occur between the switching element and the switching shaft.

[0009] The switching shaft is movably arranged in a bearing opening of a retaining element, in particular a retaining plate. The retaining element is connected to the housing of the transmission or can be connected to the housing of the transmission. Therefore, in the assembled state in which the operating mechanism is installed in the transmission, the retaining plate is connected to the housing of the transmission and provides a bearing opening, in which the switching shaft is movably supported. Advantageously, the operating force can therefore be introduced into the switching element via the switching shaft, because the movement of the switching shaft can ultimately be directly transmitted to the switching element fixedly connected to the switching shaft. This makes it unnecessary for the actuator, which is provided for generating the operating force or the operating movement, to be arranged in the area of ​​the switching element, but rather to be separated from the switching part by the length of the switching shaft. As a result, structural space can be saved in the area of ​​the switching part. By movably guiding the switching shaft in the bearing opening of the retaining element fixedly connected to the housing, there is no need for the switching shaft to be guided or supported in a bent manner through the housing.

[0010] For the operating mechanism, it can be provided that the end of the switching shaft opposite to the end guided in the bearing opening is movably supported in a recess of the housing. According to the described design of the operating mechanism, it can be provided that the end of the switching shaft opposite to the end of the switching shaft guided in the bearing guide, that is, the end pointing away from the bearing opening, can be movably supported in a recess of the housing of the transmission. This results in two bearing locations for the switching shaft, namely, one bearing location in the recess in the housing of the transmission and one bearing location in the bearing opening of the retaining element. These bearing locations can be advantageously arranged so that the operating force for operating the switching mechanism exerts as little bending force on the switching shaft as possible, and thus it can be achieved that the operating force is better introduced into the switching mechanism.

[0011] Furthermore, it can be provided for the actuating mechanism that the recess and the bearing opening are arranged at the same radial position. In the context of the present application, positions and directions, in particular "axial direction, radial direction, radial position, axial position" etc., are essentially referred to the rotation axis of the actuating mechanism, for example the rotation axis of the switching mechanism or the rotation axis of the transmission. Therefore, arranging the recess and the bearing opening at the same radial position means that the recess and the bearing opening have the same distance from the respective rotation axis. It follows from this that the switching shaft ultimately extends parallel to the rotation axis. Therefore, when a force is introduced into the switching shaft, the force is introduced into the switching element, for example the shift fork, parallel to the rotation axis, so that almost no bending forces are generated along the actuating path.

[0012] As already described, the actuating mechanism can in principle have an actuator in order to generate an actuating force or a movement of a switching element in order to switch the switching mechanism. Specifically, the actuating mechanism can have an actuator, which is arranged in particular in the region of the aforementioned recess and is designed to move the switching shaft in the axial direction, wherein a drive element, in particular a drive pinion, coupled to the actuator is coupled to the switching shaft in the region of the actuating axis, in particular the center axis of the switching shaft. Thus, as described, the actuator can be spaced apart from the actual switching location, i.e. by the length of the switching shaft or by the length of the switching shaft in the region between the coupling point of the switching element and the actuator on the switching shaft.

[0013] Thus, the actuator and the drive element can be coupled to the switching shaft so that forces are introduced from the actuator into the switching shaft in the region of the actuation axis, for example the center axis of the switching shaft. As a result, almost no bending moments or almost no bending forces are introduced into the switching shaft, but the switching shaft can be loaded on its center axis and thus can transmit actuation forces to the switching element. For example, a toothing can be provided on the switching shaft, into which a drive pinion of the actuator can engage. The toothing of the switching shaft can be introduced into the switching shaft itself. For example, the toothing can be located on the actuation axis, or the center axis or the actuation axis of the switching shaft can extend through the toothing.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the operating mechanism, the above-mentioned retaining element can be connected to the housing by means of at least one fixing part, in particular a screw part, wherein the fixing part passes through a transmission element in an axial direction, and the transmission element is arranged on a first transmission element or a second transmission element, wherein the radial position of the fixing part is farther from the rotation axis of the transmission element than the outer diameter of the transmission element.

[0015] As described above, the first transmission element can be, for example, a movable gear and the second transmission element can be, for example, a shaft. A drive gear or a fixed gear can be arranged on the second transmission element as a further transmission element. In this case, the fixing for fixing the retaining element can pass through the further transmission element in the axial direction. Here, the radial position of the fixing is further outward than the outer diameter of the transmission element in the radial direction. As an example, the fixing can be arranged in the corner area of ​​a rectangle, the side length of which corresponds to the outer diameter of the transmission element. As a result, there is no need to change the transmission device, but a part of the structural space that would otherwise remain unused can be utilized. Viewed in the axial direction, the further transmission element is located on the shaft of the second transmission element, which can be an intermediate shaft, and the further transmission element is adjacent to the first transmission element in the axial direction. The first transmission element can be a movable gear with a smaller tooth circle diameter than the further transmission element, which can be implemented as a fixed gear with a comparatively larger tooth circle diameter.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the actuating mechanism, the switching element can be supported around an actuating axis, in particular a center axis of the switching shaft, so that the switching element can be pivoted around the actuating axis, in particular to compensate for tolerances with the switching mechanism. As described above, since the switching shaft is arranged in the recess and the retaining element, the actuating force or the actuating movement can be introduced into the switching element along a straight line. According to the described design, the switching element can perform a torsion around the center axis of the switching shaft and thus compensate for tolerances with the switching mechanism, in particular the switching ring. Since the switching element is arranged to be pivotable around the switching shaft, the actuating mechanism can better react to position deviations between the switching element and the switching mechanism.

[0017] Furthermore, the actuating mechanism can also be improved in such a way that the switching shaft has a groove in which the locking element is at least partially accommodated. The groove extends circumferentially in the outer diameter of the switching shaft, for example. As an example, a so-called "C-clip" can be used as the locking element. In the non-actuated state, the locking element at least partially protrudes from the groove, but can be elastically pressed into the groove by the action of a force. In order to engage the switching shaft with the retaining element, the retaining element has a chamfer in the region of the bearing opening, so that when the switching shaft is axially introduced, the chamfer presses the locking element into the groove, so that the switching shaft can be guided through the bearing opening together with the locking element.

[0018] After passing through the bearing opening, the switching shaft can be free, more precisely freely rotating, during which the locking element can expand again and thus provide protection against falling out. The switching shaft cannot be pulled back from the bearing opening without pressing the locking element back into the recess, so that the switching shaft is locked at the retaining element. Advantageously, the actuating mechanism can thus already be provided as a subassembly in partially assembled form, wherein at least the retaining element and the switching shaft on which the switching element is arranged can be provided as a preassembled subassembly.

[0019] As already described, the second transmission element can be implemented as a shaft. In this case, the switching mechanism can be arranged axially movably on the first transmission element or the second transmission element, which is configured as an intermediate shaft or a side shaft. With the aforementioned "other transmission element", for example, the electric motor can be coupled to the transmission. In order to decouple the electric motor from the transmission, the switching mechanism can be moved by the switching element to the corresponding switching state, i.e. the second switching state, so that the first transmission element is decoupled from the second transmission element. The first transmission element, which can be implemented as a loose gear, can, for example, engage with the drive gear of the differential. If the connection is thus disconnected, the electric motor is decoupled from the driven part of the motor vehicle.

[0020] In addition to the actuating mechanism, the invention also relates to a drive train having the aforementioned actuating mechanism. As described, the actuating mechanism can be used in particular for coupling or decoupling an electric machine. The drive train can have an electric machine as an axle drive or an electric axle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having such a drive train and / or the aforementioned actuating mechanism.

[0021] All advantages, details and features described with regard to the actuating device are fully transferable to the drive train and the motor vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The present invention will be explained below according to embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are schematic diagrams and:

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a cross section of a powertrain of a motor vehicle including a steering mechanism;

[0024] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 a schematic diagram of a portion of the operating mechanism in; and

[0025] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 Details of the drive train. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figure 1A schematic cross section of a drive train 1 in a motor vehicle is shown. The drive train 1 comprises an actuating mechanism 2, which is used for a transmission 3 of the drive train 1. The actuating mechanism 2 comprises a switching element 4, which is designed, for example, as a shift fork, but can also be designed in another way. In addition, the actuating mechanism 2 has a switching mechanism 5, which is designed as a switching ring in the illustrated embodiment, but can also be designed in another way. The switching mechanism 5 can be moved into at least two switching states by means of the switching element 4. For this purpose, the switching element 4, for example a shift fork, is coupled to the switching mechanism 5, i.e. the switching ring, so that the switching mechanism 5 can be moved in the axial direction with reference to the rotation axis 6 of the transmission 3 or the actuating mechanism 2.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the switching mechanism 5 can couple the first transmission element 7 with the second transmission element 8 in a first switching state, or can release the coupling between the first transmission element 7 and the second transmission element 8 in a second switching state. Figure 1 It is shown that the first transmission element 7 is implemented as a loose gear and the second transmission element 8 is implemented as a shaft, in particular an intermediate shaft of the transmission device 3, on which the loose gear is arranged. Another transmission element 9 is also shown, which can be implemented as a fixed gear on the intermediate shaft. It can be seen that the switching mechanism 5 and therefore the switching element 4 are arranged on the second transmission element 8, i.e. on the intermediate shaft, between the other transmission element 9 and the first transmission element 7 in the axial direction. If the switching mechanism 5 enters the second switching state, i.e. the uncoupled state, it is separated from the first transmission element 7, so that the first transmission element is arranged to be freely rotatable on the second transmission element 8. If the switching mechanism 5 enters the first switching state, i.e. the coupled state, in particular Figure 1 On the right side of the figure, a coupling is established between the first transmission element 7 and the second transmission element 8.

[0028] The operating mechanism 2 has a switching shaft 10, to which the switching element 4 is coupled. The switching shaft 10 is accommodated in a retaining element 11, for example a retaining plate, which is connected to a housing 12 of the transmission 3. The manner in which the retaining element 11 is connected to the housing 12 can be selected in principle arbitrarily, wherein, for example Figures 1 to 3 As shown, a fixing element 13, for example a screw, is provided, by means of which the holding element 11 can be fixed to the housing 12, wherein the fixing element 13 is arranged radially further outward than the diameter of the further transmission element 9 with reference to the rotation axis 6. As a result, the available structural space for fixing the holding element 11 can be better utilized.

[0029] The retaining element 11 is provided with a bearing opening 14, in which a first end of the switching shaft 10 is movably accommodated. In other words, the switching shaft 10 engages in the bearing opening 14 and is sometimes supported there in the axial direction. At the opposite end of the switching shaft 10, the switching shaft engages in a recess 15 in the housing 12 and is also supported movably there. It can be seen that the radial position 16 of the recess 15 and the bearing opening 14 is essentially the same, so that they have the same distance from the rotation axis 6. In other words, the actuation direction, for example the center axis of the switching shaft 10, can extend parallel to the rotation axis 6, so that the actuation force introduced into the switching shaft 10 can be transmitted to the switching element 4 along a straight line and thus does not cause bending moments or bending forces.

[0030] The described arrangement also allows the switching element 4 to be swiveled about the actuation direction, more precisely the center axis of the switching shaft 10, and thus tolerances between the switching element 4 and the switching mechanism 5 can be compensated. Due to the fixed coupling of the switching element 4 to the switching shaft 10, the actuator 17 can be spaced from the switching position at which the switching mechanism 5 is switched, for example, from the axial position of the switching mechanism 5. It can be seen that the actuator 17 is arranged in the region of the recess 15 in the axial direction and at the end of the switching shaft 10 facing away from the retaining element 11. The actuator 17 is coupled to the drive element 18, in particular the drive pinion. As a result, the actuator 17 is coupled to the switching shaft in the region of the actuation axis, more precisely the longitudinal center axis of the switching shaft 10. The toothing in the switching shaft 10 can be arranged, for example, in the region of the longitudinal center axis, or the longitudinal center axis or the actuation axis can extend along the toothing or extend through the toothing, for example through the toothing body or along the bottom of the tooth groove. This makes it possible to introduce the actuation force particularly directly in the actuation direction without deforming the switching shaft 10.

[0031] As already described, the retaining element 11 can be Figure 2 The fixing member 13 schematically shown in dotted lines is fixed to the housing 12. Figure 2 The dashed line in FIG. 1 shows the outline of another transmission element 9. Figure 2 , two of the fixing elements 13 are shown by way of example in which they pass through the further transmission element 9 in the axial direction and thus better utilize the corner region of a rectangle whose side length is the outer diameter of the further transmission element 9 , which corner region would otherwise remain unused.

[0032] exist Figure 3, the engagement of the end of the switching shaft 10 in the bearing opening 14 in the retaining element 11 is shown in detail. The retaining element 11 has a chamfer 19 in the region of the bearing opening 14, which interacts with a locking element 20 accommodated in a groove 21 in the end of the switching shaft 10. During assembly, the locking element 20, for example a C-clip, is pressed into the groove 21 due to the chamfer 19, so that the switching shaft 10 can be inserted through the bearing opening 14 with its end in the axial direction. In the region of the immediately following free rotation or free state, the locking element 20 can partially leave the groove 21 again and thus lock the switching shaft 10 in the axial direction on the retaining element 11. As a result, the retaining element can already be provided together with the switching shaft 10 as a preassembled component in a captive manner.

[0033] In particular, the operating mechanism 2 can be configured to selectively couple or decouple the further transmission element 9 to the first transmission element 7, or to couple or decouple the first transmission element 7 to the second transmission element 8. In particular, the electric motor is coupled to the further transmission element 9. Thus, in an operating state of the transmission 3 in which the electric motor is not used, it can be decoupled by means of the operating mechanism 2. Therefore, the operating mechanism 2 can also be understood as a "disconnection unit". As described, the second transmission element 8 is embodied as an intermediate shaft of the transmission 3, such as Figure 1 shown.

[0034] Advantages, details and features shown in the various embodiments can be combined with each other, interchanged with each other and transferred to each other as desired. As described, the drive train 1 can be a component of a motor vehicle not shown in detail, so that this description can also be transferred to this motor vehicle.

[0035] Reference numerals list

[0036] 1 Drivetrain

[0037] 2 Operating mechanism

[0038] 3 Transmission

[0039] 4 Switching elements

[0040] 5 Switching mechanism

[0041] 6 Axis of rotation

[0042] 7 First transmission element

[0043] 8 Second transmission element

[0044] 9 Another transmission element

[0045] 10 Switching axis

[0046] 11. Retaining element

[0047] 12 Housing

[0048] 13 Fixing parts

[0049] 14 Support opening

[0050] 15 concavity

[0051] 16 Radial position

[0052] 17 Actuator

[0053] 18 Drive element

[0054] 19 Chamfer

[0055] 20 Locking element

[0056] 21 grooves.

Claims

1. An operating mechanism (2) for a transmission (3) of a motor vehicle, the operating mechanism comprising a switching mechanism (5), in particular a switching ring, which can be moved into at least two switching states by means of a switching element (4), in particular a switching fork, wherein: The switching mechanism (5) is designed to couple a first transmission element (7), in particular a loose gear, with a second transmission element (8), in particular a shaft, in at least a first switching state, and to decouple the first transmission element (7) from the second transmission element (8) in at least a second switching state, and is characterized in that the switching element (4) is fixedly connected to a switching shaft (10), the switching shaft being movably arranged in a supporting opening (14) of a retaining element (11), in particular a retaining plate, and the retaining element being connected to a housing (12) of the transmission device (3) or being connectable to the housing of the transmission device.

2. The operating mechanism (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that An end of the switching shaft (10) opposite the end guided in the bearing opening (14) is movably supported in a recess (15) of the housing (12).

3. The operating mechanism (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that The recess and the bearing opening (14) are arranged at the same radial position (16).

4. An operating mechanism (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that An actuator (17) is provided, which is particularly arranged in the area of ​​the recess (15) and is designed to move the switching shaft (10) in an axial direction, wherein a drive element (18), particularly a drive pinion, coupled to the actuator (17) is coupled to the switching shaft (10) in the area of ​​an operating axis, particularly a center axis of the switching shaft (10).

5. An operating mechanism (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The retaining element (11) is connected to the housing (12) by means of at least one fixing element (13), in particular a screw element, wherein the fixing element (13) passes through a transmission element (9) in the axial direction, the transmission element being arranged on the first transmission element or the second transmission element (8), wherein the radial position of the fixing element is further away from the rotation axis of the transmission element (9) than the outer diameter of the transmission element (9).

6. An operating mechanism (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The shift element (4) is mounted about the actuation axis, in particular the center axis of the shift shaft (10), so that the shift element (4) can be pivoted about the actuation axis, in particular to compensate for tolerances with the shift mechanism (5).

7. An operating mechanism (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The switch shaft (10) has a groove (21) in which a locking element (20) is at least partially accommodated.

8. An operating mechanism (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The transmission device (3) is designed as a disconnect device, wherein the switching member (5) is arranged axially displaceably on a first transmission element or a second transmission element (8) designed as an intermediate shaft or a side shaft.

9. Drive train comprising an operating mechanism (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Motor vehicle comprising a drive train according to claim 9 and / or a steering mechanism (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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