Vehicle differential assembly and vehicle powertrain

Abstract

The application provides a differential assembly for a vehicle and a power system for a vehicle. In the differential assembly, a housing assembly, a planetary gear set, a differential gear set, a collecting piece and a plurality of guide tubes are included. The planet pin of the planetary gear set is fixed to the housing assembly and is formed with an inner pin flow channel. The differential gear set is used to be drivingly coupled with two half shafts of the vehicle. The collecting piece is fixed to the housing assembly, the annular body part of the collecting piece is formed with a collecting groove, and the pipe of the axial pipe part of the collecting piece is in communication with the collecting groove and the inner pin flow channel. The plurality of guide tubes are located on the axial opposite side of the collecting piece relative to the planetary gear set and have a tube opening. The pipe of the guide tube is in communication with the tube opening and the inner pin flow channel. In this way, the above-mentioned structure can better lubricate and cool the differential gear set of the differential assembly, so as to minimize the negative impact on the realization of the differential function due to the insufficient lubrication and cooling effect of the differential gear set.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the specific structure of a vehicle differential mechanism, and more specifically to a vehicle differential assembly and a vehicle power system including the differential assembly. Background Technology

[0002] In the prior art, differential components are typically used in the transmission mechanism of a vehicle to transmit torque from the vehicle's transmission to the wheels and enable different wheels to rotate at different speeds when the vehicle is turning.

[0003] A typical differential assembly includes an integrated housing assembly, a planetary gear set, and a differential gear set. Both the planetary gear set and the differential gear set are mounted on the housing assembly. Torque from the vehicle's transmission is input to the housing assembly via the planetary gear set. The differential gear set receives torque via the housing assembly and transmits it to the vehicle's half-shafts, enabling the two half-shafts to rotate at different speeds. Specifically, the differential gear set includes a differential pin (i.e., a pivot pin) and two sets of bevel gears assembled together. The differential pin is fixedly mounted to the housing assembly. The bevel gears of one set are mounted on the differential pin, while the bevel gears of the other set are always in mesh with the bevel gears of the set mounted on the differential pin, simultaneously providing a transmission connection to the vehicle's half-shafts.

[0004] To ensure the proper functioning of the differential components, the differential wheel set typically requires lubrication and cooling using fluids (such as oil) within the transmission or motor housing. However, existing technologies that utilize methods like splashing to lubricate and cool the differential wheel set are ineffective, easily leading to adhesion between the differential pins and the bevel gears mounted on them. This significantly negatively impacts the differential function of the differential assembly, and in some cases, may even prevent the differential wheel set from performing its differential function at all. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application was made in response to the aforementioned deficiencies in the prior art. One objective of this application is to provide a vehicle differential assembly that improves the lubrication and cooling of its internal differential wheel assembly, thereby minimizing the negative impact on differential function caused by insufficient lubrication and cooling of the differential wheel assembly. Another objective of this application is to provide a vehicle powertrain system including the aforementioned differential assembly.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present application may adopt the following technical solutions.

[0007] This application provides a vehicle differential assembly comprising:

[0008] Housing assembly;

[0009] A planetary gear set, which is mounted on the housing assembly and includes a plurality of planetary pins and planetary gears mounted on each of the planetary pins, each of the planetary pins being fixedly mounted on the housing assembly and forming an in-pin flow channel extending axially along the differential assembly;

[0010] A differential gear set, which is mounted on the housing assembly, is used for drive connection with two half-shafts of the vehicle;

[0011] A collecting component, fixedly mounted to the housing assembly, includes an annular main body and a plurality of first axial tubes. The annular main body forms an annular collecting groove. Each first axial tube is inserted into a corresponding pin internal flow channel, and each first axial tube forms a first conduit communicating with the collecting groove and the pin internal flow channel.

[0012] Multiple guide tubes are fixedly mounted to the housing assembly and located on the axially opposite side of the collector relative to the planetary gear set. Each guide tube forms a second conduit and a pipe opening that opens toward the differential gear set. The guide tube is inserted into a corresponding pin internal flow channel, and the second conduit communicates with the pin internal flow channel and the pipe opening.

[0013] In one alternative embodiment, the collection trough is open radially inward and has the outer peripheral wall of the annular body as the bottom of the trough, so that the collection trough can collect fluid from the radially inward under the action of centrifugal force.

[0014] In another alternative embodiment, the outer peripheral wall of the annular body is configured to have a plurality of protrusions, each of the protrusions protruding radially outward relative to its adjacent portion, such that the fluid collected by the collection tank can converge to the protrusion and enter the corresponding first axial pipe portion.

[0015] In another alternative embodiment, the guide tube includes a second axial tube portion and a radial tube portion that communicate with each other, each of the second axial tube portions being inserted into a corresponding pin internal flow channel, the radial tube portion extending radially inward from the second axial tube portion along the radial direction of the differential assembly, and the tube opening being formed at the radially inward end of the radial tube portion.

[0016] In another alternative scheme, let L1 be the vertical distance from the center of the pipe opening to the central axis of the differential assembly, and let L2 be the vertical distance from each point on the inner periphery of the annular main body portion used to form the annular collection tank sidewall to the central axis, satisfying L1>L2.

[0017] In another alternative embodiment, the differential gear set includes multiple differential pins, a first bevel gear set, and a second bevel gear set.

[0018] Each of the differential pins is fixedly installed on the housing assembly.

[0019] The first bevel gear set includes a plurality of first bevel gears, each first bevel gear being supported by a corresponding differential pin and capable of rotating relative to the housing assembly about the corresponding differential pin.

[0020] The second bevel gear set includes two second bevel gears, each of which meshes with all of the first bevel gears. The second bevel gears are used to connect with the half-shaft drive.

[0021] In another alternative embodiment, inside the housing assembly, the first bevel gear set and the second bevel gear set together define an inner cavity, the plurality of first bevel gears being arranged circumferentially spaced in the housing assembly, and the tube openings opening toward the inner cavity via the intervals between adjacent first bevel gears.

[0022] In another alternative embodiment, the housing assembly includes a housing body and a cover fixed to each other. The housing body includes a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion fixed to each other in the axial direction. The outer diameter of the large-diameter portion is larger than the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion, and the small-diameter portion is located on the axially closer side than the large-diameter portion.

[0023] The outer periphery of the large-diameter section has multiple mounting notches for mounting the planetary gears. Multiple guide tubes are mounted on one axial end face of the large-diameter section, and the collecting component is mounted on the other axial end face of the large-diameter section.

[0024] The cover is installed on one axial side end face of the small diameter portion and is located on the axial side closer than the plurality of guide tubes. The housing body and the cover surround and form an installation space, and the first bevel gear set and the second bevel gear set are both located within the installation space.

[0025] In another alternative embodiment, each planetary gear is supported by a corresponding planetary pin and is rotatable relative to the housing assembly about the corresponding planetary pin.

[0026] The planetary gear is a double-gear, which includes a first planetary gear and a second planetary gear. The outer diameter of the first planetary gear is smaller than that of the second planetary gear. The first planetary gear is arranged overlapping the differential gear set in the axial direction and is located radially outside the first bevel gear set and the second bevel gear set of the differential gear set. The second planetary gear is arranged offset from the differential gear set in the axial direction.

[0027] This application also provides a vehicle powertrain system including the vehicle differential component described in any of the above technical solutions.

[0028] By adopting the above technical solution, this application provides a vehicle differential assembly and a vehicle powertrain including the vehicle differential assembly. The differential assembly includes a housing assembly assembled together, and a planetary gear set, a differential gear set, a collector, and multiple guide tubes mounted on the housing assembly. Specifically, the planetary gear set includes multiple planetary pins and planetary gears mounted on each planetary pin. Each planetary pin is fixed to the housing assembly and forms an internal flow channel extending axially along the differential assembly. The differential gear set is used for transmission connection with the two half-shafts of the vehicle to achieve differential function. The collector is fixed to the housing assembly and includes an annular body portion and multiple first axial tube portions. The annular body portion forms an annular collection groove, each first axial tube portion is inserted into a corresponding internal flow channel, and the first axial tube portion forms a first conduit communicating with the collection groove and the internal flow channel. The multiple guide tubes are located axially opposite to the planetary gear set on the side where the collector is located and have tube openings opening toward the differential gear set. The guide tube is inserted into the flow channel inside the pin and forms a second pipe, which is connected to the tube opening and the flow channel inside the pin.

[0029] In this way, the collection groove formed by the collecting component, the first pipe, the internal flow channel formed by the planetary gear pins, and the second pipe formed by the guide pipe together form a flow path for fluids such as oil. Furthermore, during the operation of the vehicle power system including this differential assembly, the fluid is collected into the collection groove of the collecting component under the action of centrifugal force, thereby entering the aforementioned flow path. As the fluid continues to enter the flow path, it flows along the path to the opening of the guide pipe, and finally enters the differential wheel set through the pipe opening. By adopting this solution, better lubrication and cooling of the differential assembly can be achieved, especially improving the lubrication and cooling effect on the differential wheel set inside the differential assembly, thereby minimizing the negative impact on the differential function caused by insufficient lubrication and cooling of the differential wheel set. Moreover, this solution uses a smaller amount of fluid, reducing fluid consumption and lowering costs. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a differential assembly according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the differential component.

[0032] Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the differential component.

[0033] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0034] 1. Housing assembly;

[0035] 11. Main body of the shell; 111. Large diameter section; 112. Small diameter section; 11c. Mounting notch; 12. Cover;

[0036] 2 planetary gear sets;

[0037] 21 Planetary pin; 21p1 Inner flow channel of pin; 21p2 Flow channel of pin wall; 22 Planetary gear; 221 First planetary gear; 222 Second planetary gear;

[0038] 3 differential gear set; 3c inner cavity;

[0039] 31 Differential pin; 32 First bevel gear; 33 Second bevel gear;

[0040] 4. Collection items;

[0041] 41 Annular main body; 41c Collection groove; 41p Protrusion; 42 First axial tube; 42p First pipe;

[0042] 5-pipe guide tube; 5-pipe second conduit;

[0043] 51 Second axial tube section; 52 Radial tube section; 52o Tube opening; 53 Guide section;

[0044] A is axial; R is radial. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The specific embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these specific descriptions are only for teaching those skilled in the art how to implement this application, and are not intended to exhaustively describe all possible methods of this application, nor to limit the scope of this application.

[0046] In this application, "transmission connection" refers to a connection between two components that can transmit torque, including direct connection and indirect connection.

[0047] In this application, unless otherwise specified, "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" refer to the axial, radial, and circumferential directions of the differential assembly (housing assembly), respectively, and "one side of the axial direction" refers to... Figure 3 The left side, that is, the side where the cover of the housing assembly is located, "the other side axially" refers to... Figure 3 The right side of the housing assembly, which is the side where the main body of the housing is located.

[0048] The differential assembly of one embodiment of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, a differential assembly according to an embodiment of this application includes a housing assembly 1, a planetary gear set 2, a differential gear set 3, a collector 4, and a guide tube 5 assembled together. The differential assembly has a central axis (see [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 3 (A single-dot dashed line in the diagram) and the whole thing can rotate around the central axis.

[0050] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, housing assembly 1 is used for mounting and supporting other components. Specifically, housing assembly 1 includes a housing body 11 and a cover 12 that can be detachably assembled together.

[0051] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the housing body 11 can be configured as a rotating body about the aforementioned central axis. The housing body 11 includes a large-diameter portion 111 and a small-diameter portion 112. The large-diameter portion 111 and the small-diameter portion 112 are integrally formed with each other and are connected and fixed to each other in the axial direction A. The outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 111 is larger than the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 112, and the small-diameter portion 112 is located on the axial side of the large-diameter portion 111. In this way, compared with the housing assembly 1 having the same outer diameter as the whole, the space occupied by it is reduced. Furthermore, the outer periphery of the large-diameter portion 111 is formed with a plurality of mounting notches 11c (three in this embodiment) for mounting the planetary gear 22. The mounting notches 11c are evenly arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the size of each mounting notch 11c is adapted to the size of the planetary gear 22 of the planetary gear set 2, so that the planetary gear 22 can be mounted in the corresponding mounting notch 11c.

[0052] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the cover 12 can be fixedly installed on the axial side end face of the small diameter portion 111 from the axial side via a threaded connection. That is, the cover 12 is located on the axial side end face of the entire housing body 11. In this way, the housing body 11 and the cover 12 surround and define the installation space for mounting the differential gear set 3, and both the first bevel gear set and the second bevel gear set of the differential gear set 3 are located within the installation space.

[0053] It is understood that in other alternative solutions, the housing body 11 can be fixed together with the cover 12 by welding or riveting, making them a non-removable whole. Furthermore, the shape and size of both the housing body 11 and the cover 12 can be adjusted as needed, and are not limited to the shapes and sizes shown in the figures of this embodiment.

[0054] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the planetary gear set 2 is mounted on the housing assembly 1, and the planetary gear set 2 as a whole is capable of rotating around the aforementioned central axis together with the housing assembly 1. Specifically, the planetary gear set 2 includes a plurality of planetary pins 21 assembled together (three in this embodiment) and planetary gears 22 mounted on each planetary pin 21.

[0055] like Figure 3As shown, each planetary pin 21 extends linearly along the axial direction A. Each planetary pin 21 is installed in an axial mounting hole in the housing assembly 1 at a location with a mounting notch 11c, and each planetary pin 21 can be interference-fitted with the axial mounting hole to be fixed together with the housing body 11. Each planetary pin 21 has an internal flow channel 21p1 extending through along the axial direction A, and each internal flow channel 21p1 has an opening facing outward at both axial ends of the planetary pin 21. In addition, each planetary pin 21 also has a plurality of pin wall flow channels 21p2 extending radially through the planetary pin 21 itself. These pin wall flow channels 21p2 communicate with the internal flow channels 21p1 and are used to guide the fluid in the internal flow channels 21p1 to the bearings radially outside the planetary pin 21 for lubrication and cooling of the bearings.

[0056] like Figure 3 As shown, each planetary gear 22 is mounted on a corresponding planetary pin 21 via a bearing, such that each planetary gear 22 is supported by the corresponding planetary pin 21 and can rotate freely relative to the housing assembly 1 around the corresponding planetary pin 21. In this embodiment, the planetary gear 22 is a double gear with a stepped structure. The double gear includes a first planetary gear 221 and a second planetary gear 222 formed integrally, and the outer diameter of the first planetary gear 221 is smaller than the outer diameter of the second planetary gear 222. The first planetary gear 221 is arranged overlapping with the differential gear set 3 in the axial direction A and is located radially outside the first bevel gear set and the second bevel gear set of the differential gear set 3. The second planetary gear 222 is arranged offset from the differential gear set 3 in the axial direction A. This arrangement helps to reduce the overall axial and radial dimensions of the differential assembly. Furthermore, the first planetary gear 221 can always be meshed with, for example, an external gear ring (not shown), which can be fixedly connected to the housing of the vehicle's transmission, and the second planetary gear 222 can always be meshed with, for example, the sun gear (not shown) of the vehicle's transmission, thereby increasing the torque from the sun gear and using this torque to drive the differential assembly to rotate as a whole.

[0057] It is understood that in other alternative solutions, the number of planetary gears 22 is not limited to the three described in this embodiment, and the type of planetary gears 22 is not limited to the above-mentioned double gears, but other numbers or other types of planetary gears 22 can be used, and the number of planetary pins 21 can be adjusted accordingly to the planetary gears 22.

[0058] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the differential gear set 3 is mounted on the housing assembly 1, and the differential gear set 3 as a whole can rotate around the aforementioned central axis together with the housing assembly 1. The differential gear set 3 can be used to drive the two half-shafts of the vehicle to achieve differential function. Specifically, as shown... Figure 3As shown, the differential gear set 3 includes a differential pin 31, a first bevel gear set, and a second bevel gear set assembled together.

[0059] like Figure 3 As shown, multiple (three in this embodiment) differential pins 31 extend linearly along different radial directions R. Each differential pin 31 is installed in a radial mounting hole of the housing body 11, and each differential pin 31 can be engaged with the radial mounting hole and fixed to the housing body 11 by other connectors.

[0060] like Figure 3 As shown, the first bevel gear set includes multiple (three in this embodiment) first bevel gears 32. Each first bevel gear 32 is mounted on and supported by a corresponding differential pin 31, allowing the first bevel gear 32 to rotate together with the differential pin 31 while also rotating independently around its corresponding differential pin 31. Furthermore, the multiple first bevel gears 32 are evenly arranged circumferentially, with a gap between adjacent first bevel gears 32.

[0061] like Figure 3 As shown, the second bevel gear set includes two second bevel gears 33, each of which is coaxially arranged with the housing assembly 1 and meshes with all the first bevel gears 32. The second bevel gears 33 are used to achieve a transmission connection with the half-shafts of the vehicle through a spline engagement, so that the differential assembly can output torque to the half-shafts via the differential gear set 3 and realize the differential function of the two half-shafts.

[0062] In addition, such as Figure 3 As shown, inside the housing assembly 1, the first bevel gear set and the second bevel gear set together define the inner cavity 3c, that is, the space enclosed between the first bevel gear set and the second bevel gear set constitutes the inner cavity 3c.

[0063] It is understood that in other alternative solutions, the number of first bevel gears 32 is not limited to the three described in this embodiment, but can be other numbers, and the number of differential pins 31 can be adjusted accordingly.

[0064] In this embodiment, as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the collector 4 is located on the other side of the planetary gear set 2 along the axial direction A and is fixedly mounted on the housing assembly 1 (fixed to the other side of the axial end face of the large diameter portion 111 of the housing body 11), so that the collector 4 can rotate together with the housing assembly 1. Specifically, the collector 4 includes an integral annular body portion 41 and a plurality of (three in this embodiment) first axial tube portions 42.

[0065] like Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, the annular main body 41 is formed as a ring shape that extends continuously along the circumference. The annular main body 41 has an annular collection groove 41c, which opens radially inward and has its bottom on the outer peripheral wall of the annular main body 41. When the vehicle power system including the aforementioned differential assembly is in operation, the differential assembly rotates as a whole, and fluid, for example, from the radially inward rotating shaft of the collector 4, can be collected into the collection groove 41c under the action of centrifugal force. Furthermore, the outer peripheral wall of the annular main body 41 is configured to form a plurality of protrusions 41p, each protrusion 41p protruding radially outward relative to its adjacent portion, so that the fluid collected by the collection groove 41c can converge at the protrusion 41p and enter the corresponding first axial pipe portion 42.

[0066] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, a first axial tube portion 42 extends linearly from the annular body portion 41 along axial direction A toward one side. The number of first axial tube portions 42 is the same as the number of planetary pins 21. Each first axial tube portion 42 is connected to a portion of the annular body portion 41 with a protrusion 41p, and each first axial tube portion 42 is also inserted into a corresponding inner flow channel 21p1 through an opening on the other side of the axial direction of the planetary pin 21. The first axial tube portion 42 forms a first conduit 42p extending along axial direction A, which communicates with the collection tank 41c and the inner flow channel 21p1. Thus, the fluid collected by the collection tank 41c can enter the inner flow channel 21p1 through the first conduit 42p.

[0067] In this embodiment, as Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, multiple (three in this embodiment) guide tubes 5 are located on one axial side of the planetary gear set 2 along the axial direction A and are fixedly mounted to the housing body 11 (fixed to the axial side end face of the small diameter portion 112 of the housing body 11) so that the guide tubes 5 are fixed relative to the planetary pins 21 of the planetary gear set 2. Each guide tube 5 includes a second axial tube portion 51, a radial tube portion 52, and a guide portion 53 formed integrally. Each second axial tube portion 51 extends linearly along the axial direction A toward the other axial direction and is inserted into the corresponding pin internal flow channel 21p1 through the axial side opening of the planetary pin 21. The second axial tube portion 51 forms an axial channel extending along the axial direction A, and the axial channel communicates with the pin internal flow channel 21p1. The radial tube portion 52 extends linearly from the second axial tube portion 51 along the radial direction R toward the radial inward direction, and the radial tube portion 52 forms a radial channel extending along the radial direction R. The tube opening 52o of the guide tube 5 is formed at the radial inward end of the radial tube portion 52. Furthermore, the radial tube 52 and the second axial tube 51 are interconnected, such that the second tube 5p, which is composed of both axial and radial tubes, is connected to the inner flow channel 21p1. Additionally, since the plurality of guide tubes 5 are positioned on the opposite side axially from the cover 12 of the housing assembly 1, it is advantageous to arrange the tube openings 52o of the guide tubes 5 toward the differential gear set 3 installed inside the housing assembly 11. Furthermore, as... Figure 3 As shown, the pipe opening 52o opens toward the inner cavity 3c via the gap between adjacent first bevel gears 32, allowing fluid flowing out through the pipe opening 52o to enter the inner cavity 3c for more adequate lubrication and cooling of the differential assembly, especially the differential gear set 3. Furthermore, the guide portion 53 is connected to the radially inner end of the radial pipe portion 52 to receive fluid from the pipe opening 52o. The guide portion 53 is used only to guide fluid discharged from the pipe opening 52o toward the differential gear set 3, whereby the radially inner end face of the guide portion 53 is integrally formed as an inclined surface relative to the radial direction R for guidance.

[0068] To further promote the flow of fluid collected by the collector 4 towards the guide pipe 5 via the flow path formed by the collection tank 41c, the first pipe 42p, the inner flow channel 21p1, and the second pipe 5p, a pressure difference can be created in the aforementioned flow path through the following configuration. Specifically, as follows... Figure 3 As shown, the center of the pipe opening 52o (e.g., the center of a circular pipe opening 52o) is connected to the central axis of the differential assembly. Figure 3Let L1 be the vertical distance between the single-dot dashed line and L2 be the vertical distance between each point on the inner periphery of the side wall of the annular main body 41 of the collector 4, which forms the annular collection groove 41c, and the central axis, satisfying L1>L2. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the inner periphery of the side wall of the annular collection groove 41c is the inner periphery of one axial side wall of the annular main body 4, which protrudes radially inward compared to the other axial side wall. During the operation of the vehicle power system including this differential assembly, the axial side wall of the annular main body 4 can guide fluid to flow towards the bottom of the annular collection groove 41c, and the entire interior of the annular main body 4, including the surface of this axial side wall, will be filled with sufficient fluid to form a fluid ring. Furthermore, with the entire flow path essentially filled with fluid, the above-described structure can generate a siphon-like phenomenon throughout the flow path, thereby creating a pressure difference to guide the fluid towards the guide pipe 5, thus allowing the fluid to be discharged more smoothly from the guide pipe 5 to the differential wheel set 3. Furthermore, it can be understood that at the inner periphery of the annular main body 4 corresponding to the protrusion 41p, the perpendicular distance between each point on the inner periphery and the central axis of the differential assembly can be smaller than L1 as described above, and also smaller than the perpendicular distance between other points on the inner periphery and the central axis of the differential assembly. This alternative is more conducive to creating a pressure difference in the flow path, so that the fluid can be discharged more smoothly from the guide pipe 5 to the differential wheel set 3.

[0069] By adopting the above technical solution, on the one hand, a flow path for fluids such as oil is formed by the collection groove 41c formed by the collection component 4, the first pipe 42p, the internal flow channel 21p1 formed by the planetary gear pin 21, and the second pipe 5p formed by the guide pipe 5. On the other hand, during the operation of the vehicle power system including this differential assembly, the fluid collected by the collection groove 41c of the collection component 4 can be guided into the above-mentioned flow path. Under the combined action of the centrifugal force and the pressure difference constructed by the specific structure, the fluid is guided to flow in a predetermined direction to the pipe opening 52o of the guide pipe 5, and then enters the differential wheel set 3 through the pipe opening 52o. By adopting this solution, the differential wheel set 3 can be better lubricated and cooled, especially the lubrication and cooling effect of the differential wheel set 3 inside the differential assembly can be improved, thereby minimizing the negative impact on the realization of the differential function due to insufficient lubrication and cooling effect of the differential wheel set 3. Moreover, this solution uses less fluid, which can reduce fluid consumption and reduce costs.

[0070] The specific technical solutions of this application have been described in detail above, but this application is not limited to the above technical solutions. The following is a supplementary explanation.

[0071] i. This application also provides a vehicle powertrain system including the vehicle differential assembly described in the above embodiments. Examples of the vehicle powertrain system described above can be a pure electric powertrain system (electric axle drive system) or a hybrid powertrain system. In a pure electric powertrain system, the oil used to cool the motor can be used to lubricate and cool the differential assembly; in a hybrid powertrain system, the oil in the transmission can be used to lubricate and cool the differential assembly.

[0072] ii. The differential assembly of this application can be integrated into the transmission of a vehicle power system, which may include the differential assembly described in the above specific embodiments, and the vehicle's power source can transmit torque to the wheels via the differential assembly.

Claims

1. A differential component for a vehicle, characterized in that, include: Housing assembly (1); Planetary gear set (2), which is mounted on the housing assembly (1) and includes a plurality of planetary pins (21) and planetary gears (22) mounted on each of the planetary pins (21), each of the planetary pins (21) being fixedly mounted on the housing assembly (1) and forming an in-pin passage (21p1) extending along the axial direction (A) of the differential assembly; A differential gear set (3) is mounted on the housing assembly (1) and is used for transmission connection with the two half shafts of the vehicle; A collection component (4), fixedly mounted to the housing assembly (1), comprising an annular main body (41) and a plurality of first axial tubes (42), the annular main body (41) forming an annular collection groove (41c), each of the first axial tubes (42) being inserted into a corresponding pin-inner flow channel (21p1), and each of the first axial tubes (42) forming a first conduit (42p), the first conduit (42p) communicating with the collection groove (41c) and the pin-inner flow channel (21p1); and Multiple guide tubes (5) are fixedly installed on the housing assembly (1) and located on the opposite side of the collector (4) relative to the planetary gear set (2). Each guide tube (5) has a second pipe (5p) and a pipe opening (52o) opening toward the differential gear set (3). The guide tube (5) is inserted into the corresponding pin channel (21p1). The second pipe (5p) communicates with the pin channel (21p1) and the pipe opening (52o).

2. The vehicle differential assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The collecting tank (41c) is open to the radially inward side and has the outer peripheral wall of the annular main body (41) as the bottom of the tank, so that the collecting tank (41c) can collect fluid from the radially inward side under the action of centrifugal force.

3. The vehicle differential assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer peripheral wall of the annular main body (41) is configured to form a plurality of protrusions (41p), each of the protrusions (41p) protruding radially outward relative to its adjacent portion, such that the fluid collected by the collection groove (41c) can converge to the protrusion (41p) and enter the corresponding first axial tube (42).

4. The vehicle differential assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The guide tube (5) includes a second axial tube section (51) and a radial tube section (52) that are connected to each other. Each second axial tube section (51) is inserted into the corresponding pin inner channel (21p1). The radial tube section (52) extends from the second axial tube section (51) along the radial (R) direction of the differential assembly toward the radial inward side. The tube opening (52o) is formed at the radial inward end of the radial tube section (52).

5. The vehicle differential assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, Let L1 be the vertical distance from the center of the pipe opening (52o) to the central axis of the differential assembly, and let L2 be the vertical distance from each point on the inner periphery of the annular main body (41) used to form the side wall of the annular collection groove (41c) to the central axis, satisfying L1>L2.

6. The vehicle differential assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The differential gear set (3) includes multiple differential pins (31), a first bevel gear set, and a second bevel gear set. Each of the differential pins (31) is fixedly installed on the housing assembly (1). The first bevel gear set includes a plurality of first bevel gears (32), each first bevel gear (32) being supported by a corresponding differential pin (31) and rotatable relative to the housing assembly (1) about the corresponding differential pin (31). The second bevel gear set includes two second bevel gears (33), each of which meshes with all of the first bevel gears (32) at all times. The second bevel gears (33) are used to drive the half shaft.

7. The vehicle differential assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, Inside the housing assembly (1), the first bevel gear set and the second bevel gear set together define an inner cavity (3c), the plurality of first bevel gears (32) are arranged circumferentially spaced in the housing assembly (1), and the tube opening (52o) opens toward the inner cavity (3c) via the interval between adjacent first bevel gears (32).

8. The differential assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The housing assembly (1) includes a housing body (11) and a cover (12) fixed to each other. The housing body (11) includes a large-diameter portion (111) and a small-diameter portion (112) fixed to each other along the axial direction (A). The outer diameter of the large-diameter portion (111) is larger than the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion (112). The small-diameter portion (112) is located on the axial side of the large-diameter portion (111). The outer periphery of the large-diameter portion (111) has multiple mounting notches (11c) for mounting the planetary gear (22). Multiple guide tubes (5) are mounted on one axial end face of the large-diameter portion (111), and the collecting member (4) is mounted on the other axial end face of the large-diameter portion (111). The cover (12) is installed on one axial side end face of the small diameter portion (112) and is located on the axial side of the plurality of guide tubes (5). The housing body (11) and the cover (12) surround and form an installation space. The first bevel gear set and the second bevel gear set are both located in the installation space.

9. The differential assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, Each of the planetary gears (22) is supported by a corresponding planetary pin (21) and is rotatable relative to the housing assembly (1) about the corresponding planetary pin (21). The planetary gear (22) is a double gear, which includes a first planetary gear (221) and a second planetary gear (222). The outer diameter of the first planetary gear (221) is smaller than the outer diameter of the second planetary gear (222). The first planetary gear (221) and the differential gear set (3) are arranged overlapping in the axial direction (A) and are located radially outside the first bevel gear set and the second bevel gear set of the differential gear set (3). The second planetary gear (222) and the differential gear set (3) are arranged offset in the axial direction (A).

10. A power system for a vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle differential assembly includes any one of claims 1 to 9.

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