Drive axle for vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive axle for a vehicle, having a differential mechanism 3 arranged in a transmission housing 1, which differential mechanism is connected to a hub 7 by means of a plug-in shaft 5, the plug-in shaft 5 passing through an axle housing 2. The end of the plug shaft 5 facing the differential 3 is fixedly arranged on the axle bevel gear 4 of the differential 3. A sensor wheel 9 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on one or two plug-in shafts 5, the rotational movement of which can be detected by a rotational speed sensor 8 arranged on the transmission housing 1 or the axle housing 2. The plug-in shaft (5) is directly or indirectly guided radially on the transmission housing (1) or radially in the region of the axle housing (2) coupled to the transmission housing (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive axle for a vehicle, the drive axle having a differential arranged in a transmission housing, the differential being connected to a wheel hub by means of a plug shaft, wherein the plug shaft is guided through an axle housing, wherein the plug shaft is fixedly arranged at its end facing the differential on an axle bevel gear of the differential, and wherein a sensing wheel is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on one or both of the plug shafts, and the rotational movement of the sensing wheel can be detected by a rotational speed sensor arranged on the transmission housing or the axle housing. Background Art

[0002] In a drive axle of this type, the plug shaft is floatingly supported, wherein the plug shaft is oriented towards the running tooth part of the axle bevel gear on the transmission side. On the wheel end side, the planetary gear set is driven by the plug shaft and is oriented towards the running tooth part of the planetary gear set.

[0003] During vehicle operation, vibrations and deflections of the plug shaft, especially due to load changes, can lead to signal interruptions of the rotational speed sensor, which results in incorrect further processing of the rotational signal. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a drive axle for a vehicle of the type described at the beginning, which can avoid this drawback and can generate at least as correct a rotational speed signal as possible by a rotational speed sensor, has a simple structure and basically does not lead to an increase in the required structural space.

[0005] According to the present invention, this object is solved in that the plug shaft is guided radially directly or indirectly on the transmission housing or in the region of the axle housing connected to the transmission housing.

[0006] By means of this guidance, pre-centering of the plug shaft is achieved and vibrations and deflections of the plug shaft are reduced, so that the rotational speed sensor generates at least as correct a rotational speed signal as possible.

[0007] An advantageous feasible solution for the guidance is that the axle bevel gear is rotatably guided radially on the differential housing by means of a bearing.

[0008] Herein, centering of the plug shaft is achieved in a simple manner by means of the axle bevel gear.

[0009] Another advantageous feasible solution for the guidance is that one or both of the plug shafts are rotatably guided radially on the axle housing or the transmission housing by means of a bearing.

[0010] Another advantageous feasible solution for the guidance is that one or both of the plug shafts are rotatably guided radially on the differential housing of the differential by means of a bearing.

[0011] The above-mentioned bearing can be a plain bearing or a rolling bearing with a simple structure.

[0012] Another advantageous and feasible solution for guidance is that the differential is a self-locking differential, which has a stack of plates arranged coaxially with the plug shaft. The stack of plates is alternately composed of axially movable inner plates and outer plates. Among them, the stack of plates can be axially loaded directly or indirectly by a pressure member configured as a sliding sleeve and capable of being axially loaded on the plug shaft, and the plug shaft is radially guided rotatably on the sliding sleeve.

[0013] It is also feasible that the differential is a self-locking differential, which has a stack of plates arranged coaxially with the plug shaft. The stack of plates is alternately composed of axially movable inner plates and outer plates. Among them, the stack of plates can be directly or indirectly loaded axially by a hydraulically loaded annular pressure piston in a manner capable of being axially moved on the plug shaft, and the plug shaft is radially guided rotatably on the pressure piston.

[0014] It is also feasible that the differential is a self-locking differential, which has a stack of plates arranged coaxially with the plug shaft. The stack of plates is alternately composed of axially movable inner plates and outer plates. Among them, the inner plate is radially guided rotatably on the differential housing and / or on the locking cover surrounding the stack of plates with its radially surrounding outer periphery.

[0015] Another advantageous and feasible solution is that the differential is a self-locking differential, which has a stack of plates arranged coaxially with the plug shaft. The stack of plates is alternately composed of axially movable inner plates and outer plates. Among them, the outer plate is radially guided rotatably on the cylindrical shoulder of the axle bevel gear with its radially surrounding inner periphery. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 A longitudinal sectional view showing a differential arranged in a transmission housing according to the prior art and a plug shaft of a vehicle drive axle guided through an axle housing towards the wheel end;

[0018] Figure 2 Showing according to Figure 1 A longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of a plug shaft of a vehicle drive axle supplemented for guidance;

[0019] Figure 3 Showing according to Figure 1 A longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of a plug shaft of a vehicle drive axle supplemented for guidance;

[0020] Figure 4 Longitudinal sectional view of a third embodiment of a splined shaft supplemented for guidance of a drive axle of a vehicle according to Figure 1 ;

[0021] Figure 5 Longitudinal sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a splined shaft supplemented for guidance of a drive axle of a vehicle according to Figure 1 ;

[0022] Figure 6 Enlarged fragment of an embodiment according to Figure 5 ; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The drive axle shown has a transmission housing 1, to which two oppositely disposed tubular axle housings 2 are flange-connected.

[0024] A differential 3 is arranged in the transmission housing. A radially inwardly extending splined shaft 5 is non-rotatably arranged on the axle bevel gears of the differential and is oriented towards the running teeth of the differential.

[0025] The mutually coaxial splined shaft 5, which is rotatable about the axis of rotation 10, passes through the axle housing 2 and is guided to a planetary gear unit 6 arranged in the wheel end 7 and is oriented with its outwardly extending end towards the running teeth of the planetary gear unit.

[0026] The splined shaft is thus floatingly supported.

[0027] Radially inwardly extending speed sensors 8 are arranged in the axle housing 2. They are directed towards a sensor wheel 9 fixedly arranged radially around the splined shaft 5 and detect the rotational speed of the splined shaft 5. The signals of the speed sensors are guided via lines (not shown) to an evaluation device for further processing.

[0028] The differential 3 has a coaxial large bevel gear 11 rotatably supported relative to the axis of rotation 10, which can be rotated by a vehicle drive means (not shown).

[0029] A differential housing 12 consisting of two pot-shaped parts is arranged on the large bevel gear 11. The differential housing is rotatably supported on one of the splined shafts 5 at its axial ends respectively in a manner rotatable about the axis of rotation 10.

[0030] Support pins 13 extend transversely to the axis of rotation 10 and are fastened with their free ends to the radially surrounding wall of the differential housing 12. Two opposed compensating gears 14 are rotatably supported on the support pins 13 and are respectively engaged in two axle bevel gears 4.

[0031] On the left side part of the differential housing 10, a hydraulically insertable locking element 15 is arranged, which has a stack of plates 16 arranged coaxially with the plug shaft 5. The stack of plates consists of axially movable inner plates 17 and outer plates 18 alternating with each other. Among them, the stack of plates 16 can be loaded with force in a compressed manner by a pressure element constructed as a sliding sleeve 19 that can axially move on the plug shaft 5.

[0032] The sliding sleeve 19 can in turn be loaded by an annular pressure piston 20 surrounding the plug shaft 5. The pressure piston is movably arranged in an annular cylindrical recess 22 of the left axle housing 2 and can be loaded with pressure through a hydraulic connection 21.

[0033] In Figure 2 In the embodiment, the radially surrounding peripheral surface 26 of the axle bevel gear has an outer diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of the differential housing 12 surrounding the axle bevel gear, so as to axially guide the plug shaft.

[0034] In Figure 3 In the embodiment, axially outside the differential 3 and the locking element 15, a ring 23 of a sliding bearing 24 is arranged on the plug shaft 5. The ring is rotatably supported on the cylindrical support surface 25 of the axle housing 2 with its outer periphery and is thus radially guided.

[0035] In Figure 4 In the embodiment, two feasible solutions for radially guiding the plug shaft 5 are shown on the left side.

[0036] On the one hand, the plug shaft 5 has an outer diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of the pressure piston 20 of the locking element 15.

[0037] Alternatively, the plug shaft 5 can have an outer diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of the sliding sleeve 19.

[0038] In Figure 4 On the right side, as another feasible solution, the outer diameter of the plug shaft 5 is surrounded by an approximately the same inner diameter of the region 27 of the differential housing 12.

[0039] In Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the embodiment, the inner plate 17 of the stack of plates 16 has an outer diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical region of the differential housing 12 surrounding the inner plate, for radially guiding the plug shaft 5. It goes without saying that the same can also be the case for other inner plates 17.

[0040] List of reference numerals

[0041] 1 Transmission housing

[0042] 2 Axle housing

[0043] 3 Differential

[0044] 4 Axle Bevel Gear

[0045] 5 Plug Shaft

[0046] 6 Planetary Transmission

[0047] 7 Wheel Hub

[0048] 8 Rotation Speed Sensor

[0049] 9 Sensing Wheel

[0050] 10 Axis of Rotation

[0051] 11 Large Bevel Gear

[0052] 12 Differential Case

[0053] 13 Support Pin

[0054] 14 Compensating Gear

[0055] 15 Locking Piece

[0056] 16 Laminated Stack

[0057] 17 Inner Laminated Sheet

[0058] 18 Outer Laminated Sheet

[0059] 19 Slide Sleeve

[0060] 20 Pressure Piston

[0061] 21 Hydraulic Connector

[0062] 22 Annular Cylindrical Recess

[0063] 23 Ring

[0064] 24 Plain Bearing

[0065] 25 Support Surface

[0066] 26 Peripheral Side Surface

[0067] 27 Region

Claims

1. A drive axle for a vehicle, the drive axle having a differential (3) arranged in a transmission housing (1), the differential being connected to a wheel hub (7) via a plug-in shaft (5), wherein: The plug-in shaft (5) is guided through the axle housing (2), wherein the plug-in shaft (5) is fixedly arranged with its end facing the differential (3) on the axle bevel gear (4) of the differential (3), and wherein a sensor wheel (9) is arranged on one or both plug-in shafts (5) in a rotationally fixed manner, the rotational movement of the sensor wheel being detectable by a speed sensor (8) arranged on the transmission housing (1) or the axle housing (2), characterized in that the plug-in shaft (5) is radially guided directly or indirectly on the transmission housing (1) or radially guided in the region of the axle housing (2) connected to the transmission housing (1).

2. The drive axle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The axle bevel gear is radially guided on the differential carrier (12) via a bearing in a rotatable manner.

3. The drive axle according to claim 1, characterized in that: One or two plug-in shafts (5) are radially guided on the axle housing (2) or the transmission housing (1) in a rotatable manner via bearings.

4. The drive axle according to claim 1, characterized in that: One or two plug-in shafts (5) are radially guided on a differential carrier (12) of the differential (3) in a rotatable manner via bearings.

5. The drive axle according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The bearing is a sliding bearing (24) or a rolling bearing.

6. The drive axle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The differential (3) is a self-locking differential having a lamination stack (16) arranged coaxially with a plug-in shaft (5), the lamination stack consisting of alternating axially displaceable inner laminations (17) and outer laminations (18), wherein the lamination stack (16) can be directly or indirectly loaded with axial force by a pressure piece configured as a sliding sleeve (19) which can be loaded with force in an axially displaceable manner on the plug-in shaft (5), and wherein the plug-in shaft (5) is radially guided on the sliding sleeve (19) in a rotatable manner.

7. The drive axle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The differential (3) is a self-locking differential having a lamination stack (16) arranged coaxially with a plug-in shaft (5), the lamination stack consisting of alternating axially displaceable inner laminations (17) and outer laminations (18), wherein the lamination stack (16) can be loaded directly or indirectly with force by a hydraulically loadable annular pressure piston (20) in an axially displaceable manner on the plug-in shaft (5), wherein the plug-in shaft (5) is radially guided on the pressure piston (20) in a rotatable manner.

8. The drive axle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The differential (3) is a self-locking differential having a lamination stack (16) arranged coaxially with the plug-in shaft (5), the lamination stack consisting of alternating axially displaceable inner laminations (17) and outer laminations (18), wherein the inner laminations (17) are radially guided with their radially surrounding outer periphery on a differential case (12) and / or on a locking cover surrounding the lamination stack (16) in a rotatable manner.

9. The drive axle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The differential (3) is a self-locking differential having a lamination stack (16) arranged coaxially with the plug-in shaft (5), the lamination stack consisting of alternating axially displaceable inner laminations (17) and outer laminations (18), wherein the outer laminations (18) are radially guided with their radially surrounding inner periphery on a cylindrical shoulder of the axle bevel gear (4) in a rotatable manner.

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