Differential Device Pinion Gear Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing differential devices face challenges in reducing size while minimizing the increase in man-hours required for processing, as they often require additional components to support gear interactions, leading to increased complexity and size constraints.
Innovation Solution
A differential device design featuring first and second side gears coupled by a pinion gear set, where the first pinion gear has integral end-side gear portions meshed with both side gears, and second pinion gears are positioned away from each other in the circumferential direction, reducing axial length and eliminating the need for additional support components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the small diameter gear portion of the one pinion gear receives a force toward the second side gear, then a gear support portion must be formed in the differential case, but this increases the man-hours required for processing the differential case
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the gear support portion from the differential case structure. By redesigning the pinion gear arrangement and force distribution, the patent removes the need for this additional support component, thereby simplifying the differential case structure and reducing manufacturing complexity without compromising the ability to handle forces on the small diameter gear portion
Solution Approach 2:
The differential case is redesigned to serve multiple functions without requiring additional specialized components. The case structure itself is configured to directly support and manage the forces transmitted through the pinion gears, eliminating the need for separate gear support portions while maintaining structural integrity and force distribution capabilities
2Power
If the other pinion gear is meshed with the small diameter gear portion and second side gear at two locations, then the drive force transfer capability is improved, but the burden on the other pinion gear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the pinion gear arrangement into multiple gears (one pinion gear with large and small diameter portions, and another pinion gear) that share the drive force transfer burden. By distributing the meshing locations and force transmission across multiple gear components, the patent reduces the individual burden on each pinion gear while maintaining overall drive force transfer capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different local qualities to different portions of the pinion gears, specifically creating large and small diameter gear portions on the one pinion gear. This allows each local region of the gear system to be optimized for its specific function, with the meshing locations configured to distribute loads appropriately across different gear portions, thereby reducing the burden on individual gears while maintaining power transfer
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for a reduced device size without increasing processing time or requiring additional support components, balancing torque bias ratios and ensuring efficient drive force transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of side gears are coupled to each other by a plurality of pinion gears so as to make differential motion
Data Source
AI summary
A differential device includes: first and second side gears disposed side by side in the rotational axis direction; a pinion gear set in which two second pinion gears are meshed with a first pinion gear; and a housing that holds the pinion gear set. The first pinion gear has an axially one end-side gear portion meshed with the first side gear, and an axially other end-side gear portion meshed with the two second pinion gears. The axially one end-side gear portion and the axially other end-side gear portion are integral with each other. The two second pinion gears are meshed with the second side gear at positions away from each other in the circumferential direction of the second side gear. The axially other end-side gear portion of the first pinion gear is meshed with the two second pinion gears at positions on the radially outer side of the second side gear.