Differential device with disconnection function

Abstract

A differential device (10) is provided. The differential device (10) includes a housing (30), a bracket (40), and a disconnect coupling (50) having radially projecting splines (56a-b) configured to selectively connect the bracket (40) to the housing (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a differential device, and more particularly to a solution for disconnecting a rotating component in a differential device from a transmission system. Background Art

[0002] A differential is typically installed on a vehicle's axle, enabling the wheels on that axle to rotate at different speeds. The differential consists of a ring gear that receives input drive torque and generates rotation. The ring gear is connected to a planetary carrier, which houses planetary bevel gears. These planetary bevel gears mesh with driven bevel gears connected to the corresponding wheel axles. Because the planetary bevel gears can rotate about their own axes, differential motion is generated between the driven bevel gears.

[0003] It has been suggested that a disconnect function be added to the differential to achieve the purpose of disconnecting the driven bevel gear (i.e. the corresponding wheel) from the transverse ring gear. Such an example is described in WO2020178875, in which the ring gear is connected to the outer shell. The inner shell, together with the planetary bevel gears and the driven bevel gear, constitutes a planetary carrier and is connected to the outer shell through a clutch. The clutch is composed of a cylindrical member that can move axially relative to the outer shell, and the member can move axially relative to the outer shell and is provided with axially upright teeth, which are opposite to the corresponding axially arranged mating teeth on the inner shell. By engaging the clutch, the cylindrical member moves axially, so that the dog teeth are engaged, thereby connecting the ring gear to the inner shell through the outer shell.

[0004] While the aforementioned prior art documents provide a solution for achieving the desired differential disconnect function, the teeth generate significant and disturbing noise during axial engagement and disengagement. Therefore, there is a need for an improved differential device with disconnect function that achieves smoother operation and reduces unnecessary noise. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome, at least to some extent, one or more of the above-mentioned limitations of the prior art.

[0006] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a differential device comprising a housing, a carrier, and a disconnect coupling having radially projecting splines configured to selectively connect the carrier to the housing.

[0007] The radially projecting splines may be provided on an axially movable jaw member.

[0008] The radially protruding splines may be arranged in parallel in at least two rows.

[0009] The radially projecting splines may be provided on a first side of the jaw member, and the jaw member may further be provided with a second set of splines on a second side.

[0010] The radially projecting splines may be oriented toward the bracket and configured to selectively engage mating splines of the bracket.

[0011] The second set of splines of the jaw member may be in constant engagement with the mating splines of the housing.

[0012] The jaw member may be rigidly attached to the controllable sleeve.

[0013] According to a second aspect, a differential device is provided, comprising a housing, a carrier, and a disconnect coupling having a claw member radially disposed between the carrier and the housing.

[0014] The jaw member may be provided with radially projecting splines configured to selectively connect the bracket to the housing.

[0015] According to a third aspect, a vehicle is provided, comprising the differential device according to the first aspect or the second aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Now, with reference to the accompanying drawings, several embodiments of the present invention are exemplarily described, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a differential device according to an embodiment;

[0018] Figure 2a -b is Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the differential device shown in a connected state;

[0019] Figure 3a -b is Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the differential device shown in a disconnected state;

[0020] Figure 4a -b is Figure 1 An enlarged cross-sectional schematic diagram of the local structure of the differential device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Figure 1 FIG2 shows a cross-sectional view of a differential assembly 10. The differential assembly 10 includes a ring gear 20 securely attached to a differential housing 30, for example, via bolts 21. While the ring gear 20 shown in the figure is provided with radial teeth 22, it should be noted that the ring gear 20 may also be designed with bevel teeth. The ring gear 20 is configured to receive input torque from a torque source (e.g., an electric motor, not shown).

[0022] The differential housing 30 surrounds a carrier 40. The carrier 40 has a cylindrical extension and carries two oppositely arranged planetary bevel gears 42, 44. These planetary bevel gears 42, 44 are connected to the carrier 40 via a pin 46 passing through the carrier 40.

[0023] The planetary bevel gears 42, 44 are respectively engaged with two oppositely disposed driven bevel gears 48, 49. Each driven bevel gear 48, 49 is respectively connected to a corresponding wheel shaft (not shown).

[0024] The bracket 40 is selectively connected to the differential case 30 via a disconnect coupling 50. The disconnect coupling 50 includes an axially movable sleeve 52 disposed radially outside the differential case 30. The disconnect coupling 50 also includes a cylindrical claw member 54 fixedly connected to the sleeve 52 such that axial movement of the sleeve 52 causes the claw member 54 to move axially in tandem.

[0025] An actuator (not shown) is provided to control the disconnect mechanism 50. Preferably, the actuator is an electromechanical actuator having an eccentric pin that is inserted into a slot in the sleeve 52. Driven by the actuator, the pin rotates and, due to its eccentric structure, simultaneously moves axially. Therefore, the maximum axial displacement of the sleeve 52 can be achieved by rotating the pin by ±90° or less.

[0026] However, it should be noted that other actuators may also replace the above-mentioned exemplary solution using an eccentric pin; as an alternative, a ball ramp mechanism or a hydraulic piston may be considered to control the disconnect coupling 50 .

[0027] The claw member 54 is radially arranged between the bracket 40 and the housing 30. The claw member 54 has external splines 55 that engage with the mating splines 31 on the inner surface of the housing 30.

[0028] The jaw member 54 is further provided with internal splines 56 a - b that are selectively engageable with the mating external splines 41 a , 41 b on the bracket 40 .

[0029] Reference Figure 2a -b shows that the differential device 10 is in the connection state of the disconnect coupling 50 , that is, the bracket 40 is rotationally connected to the housing 30 .

[0030] Figure 2a The outer surface of the claw member 54 is shown. The axial length of the external spline 55 exceeds the maximum movable axial distance of the claw member 54. Therefore, the spline 55 projecting radially outward from the claw member 54 always remains engaged with the inner spline 31 of the housing 30.

[0031] Figure 2b The outer surface of the bracket 40 is shown. The side ends of the bracket 40 are provided with two rows of splines 41a, 41b. The splines 41a, 41b protrude radially and engage with corresponding internal splines 56a-b of the claw member 54.

[0032] Reference Figure 3a -b, the figure shows that the differential device 10 is in the disengaged state of the disconnect coupling 50 , that is, the bracket 40 can rotate freely relative to the housing 30 .

[0033] Figure 3a The outer surface of the claw member 54 is shown, which corresponds to Figure 2a , but the sleeve 52 and the claw member 54 have moved axially to the right. The external splines 55 of the claw member 54 are still engaged with the internal splines 31 of the housing 30.

[0034] Figure 3b The outer surface of the bracket 40 is shown, which corresponds to Figure 3a , but the sleeve 52 and the claw member 54 have moved axially to the right. The two rows of splines 56a-b have been axially displaced and are no longer engaged with the external splines 41a, 41b of the bracket 40.

[0035] Figure 4a -b shows a cross-sectional view of the disconnect coupling 50. Figure 4a , which shows the disconnect coupling 50 in a connected state. At this point, the sleeve 52 has moved leftward to its end position, corresponding to the position of the claw member 54, in which its spline rows 56a-b engage with the spline rows 41a, 41b of the bracket 40.

[0036] exist Figure 4b , the sleeve 52 has moved rightward to its opposite end position, which corresponds to the spline rows 56a - b of the jaw member 54 being axially moved out of contact with the spline rows 41a , 41b of the bracket 40 .

[0037] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be noted that in some embodiments, the splines 55 and 56a-b of the jaw member 54 may be arranged in the opposite manner, that is, the jaw member 54 is always connected to the bracket 40 and selectively connected to the housing 30. In this configuration, the external spline configuration of the bracket needs to be relocated to the inside of the housing 30, and vice versa.

[0038] From the above description it is apparent that, although a number of embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not restricted thereto but may be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A differential device (10), characterized in that : includes a housing (30), a bracket (40) and a disconnect coupling (50), wherein the disconnect coupling (50) has radially protruding splines (56a-b) and is configured to selectively connect the bracket (40) to the housing (30).

2. The differential device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The radially protruding splines (56a-b) are provided on a claw member (54) that is movable in the axial direction.

3. The differential device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that :The radially protruding splines (56a-b) are arranged in at least two parallel rows.

4. The differential device (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The radially protruding splines (56a-b) are provided on a first side of the claw member (54), and the claw member (54) is provided with a second set of splines (55) on a second side.

5. The differential device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that The radially projecting splines (56a-b) face the bracket (40) and are configured to selectively engage with mating splines (41a-b) on the bracket (40).

6. The differential device (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that The second set of splines (55) of the claw member (54) is always engaged with the matching splines (31) on the housing (30).

7. The differential device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that :The claw member (54) is rigidly connected to a controllable sleeve (52).

8. A differential device (10), characterized in that : It includes a housing (30), a bracket (40) and a disconnect coupling (50), wherein the disconnect coupling (50) has a claw member (54) radially arranged between the bracket (40) and the housing (30).

9. The differential device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that The claw member (54) is provided with radially projecting splines (56a-b) configured to selectively connect the bracket (40) to the housing (30).

10. A vehicle, characterized in that : comprising a differential device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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