DIFFERENTIAL TRANSMISSION COMPRISING FRICTIONALLY COUPLED POWER OUTLETS

Abstract

A differential transmission having an epicyclic housing, a first sun gear in the epicyclic housing, a second sun gear also in the epicyclic housing and arranged on the same axis of revolution as the first sun gear, a planetary assembly revolves around the axis of revolution together with the epicyclic housing and couples the two sun gears such that they can rotate in opposite directions, and a coupling device in a receiving space defined between the sun gears for generating a bridging torque which couples the two sun gears in a frictional manner. The coupling device has a first coupling ring element supported via a conical surface against a first conical inner wall of the receiving space, and a second coupling ring element supported via a conical surface against a second conical inner wall of the receiving space, and a spring arrangement axially loads the two coupling ring elements such that they are pressed against the respective conical inner wall of the receiving space.

Claims

1. A differential transmission comprising: an epicyclic housing; a first sun gear accommodated in the epicyclic housing; a second sun gear also accommodated in the epicyclic housing and arranged on a same axis in reference to an axis of revolution of the first sun gear; a planetary assembly that rotates with the epicyclic housing about the axis of revolution that couples the two sun gears to allow rotation in opposite directions in reference to each other about said axis of revolution; and a coupling device accommodated in a receiving chamber defined between the sun gears to generate a bridge moment coupling the two sun gears in a frictional manner; the coupling device comprising: a first coupling ring element supported via a conical area at a first conical inner wall that limits the receiving chamber; a second coupling ring element supported via a conical area at a second conical inner wall that limits the receiving chamber; and a spring arrangement that axially stresses the two coupling ring elements such that under an effect of the spring arrangement the first and second coupling ring elements are each urged against the respective first or second conical inner walls.

2. The differential transmission according to claim 1, wherein the first conical inner wall is formed by an inner circumferential wall of the first sun gear.

3. The differential transmission according to claim 2, wherein the second conical inner wall is formed by an inner circumferential wall of the second sun gear.

4. The differential transmission according to claim 1, wherein the two sun gears are arranged in axial proximity to each other, and a crown gear of the first sun gear is located in an axial plane of the first coupling ring element and a crown gear of the second sun gear is located on an axial plane of the second coupling ring element.

5. The differential transmission according to claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling ring elements are coupled to each other in an axially displaceable fashion.

6. The differential transmission according to claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling ring elements are coupled to each other such that a torque applied between said first and second coupling ring elements leads to an increase of an axial stress of the first and second coupling ring elements.

7. The differential transmission according to claim 1, wherein the first sun gear comprises a hub section and said hub section is centered in a rotational fashion in a socket section of the second sun gear.

8. The differential transmission according to claim 1, wherein the epicyclic housing carries a drive sprocket located in an axial plane of the two sun gears.

9. The differential transmission according to claim 1, wherein the differential is embodied as a spur gear differential and a crown circle diameter of the first sun gear is smaller than a root gear diameter of the second sun gear.

10. A differential transmission comprising: an epicyclic housing; a first sun gear accommodated in the epicyclic housing; a second sun gear also accommodated in the epicyclic housing (H) and arranged on a same axis in reference to an axis of revolution of the first sun gear; a planetary assembly that rotates with the epicyclic housing about the axis of revolution that couples the two sun gears for rotation in opposite directions in reference to each other about said axis of revolution; and a coupling device accommodated in a receiving chamber defined between the sun gears that generates a bridge moment coupling the two sun gears in a frictional manner; the first sun gear and the second sun gear each being embodied as spur gears and arranged in proximity to and axially following each other, and the receiving chamber of the coupling device is formed by plate-shaped recesses formed in the first and the second sun gear, and crown gears of the two sun gears surround the receiving chamber in an axial plane of the coupling device.

11. The differential transmission of claim 10, wherein a crown gear of the first sun gear is located in an axial plane of the first coupling ring element and a crown gear of the second sun gear is located on an axial plane of the second coupling ring element.

12. The differential transmission of claim 10, wherein the first and second coupling ring elements are coupled to each other in an axially displaceable fashion.

13. The differential transmission of claim 10, wherein the first and second coupling ring elements are coupled to each other such that a torque applied between said first and second coupling ring elements leads to an increase of an axial stress of the first and second coupling ring elements.

14. The differential transmission of claim 10, wherein the first and second coupling ring elements including coupling gearing on facing axial sides thereof, and the coupling gearing of the first coupling ring element engages the coupling gearing of the second coupling ring element.

15. The differential transmission of claim 10, wherein the coupling gearing of the first and second coupling ring elements include teeth having diagonal circumferential end faces that contact one another to form a wedge system.

16. A differential transmission comprising: an epicyclic housing; a first sun gear located in the epicyclic housing; a second sun gear also located in the epicyclic housing and arranged on a same axis of revolution as the first sun gear; a planetary assembly that rotates with the epicyclic housing about the axis of revolution that couples the first and second sun gears to allow rotation in opposite directions in reference to each other about said axis of revolution; and a coupling device located between the sun gears that frictionally couples the first and second sun gears in a frictional manner, the coupling device comprising: a first coupling ring element supported via a conical area at a first conical inner wall located on the first sun gear; a second coupling ring element supported via a conical area at a second conical inner wall located on the second sun gear; and an elastic element that axially stresses the two coupling ring elements against the respective first or second conical inner walls.

17. The differential transmission of claim 16, wherein a crown gear of the first sun gear is located in an axial plane of the first coupling ring element and a crown gear of the second sun gear is located on an axial plane of the second coupling ring element.

18. The differential transmission of claim 16, wherein the first and second coupling ring elements are coupled to each other in an axially displaceable fashion.

19. The differential transmission of claim 16, wherein the first and second coupling ring elements are coupled to each other such that a torque applied between said first and second coupling ring elements leads to an increase of an axial stress of the first and second coupling ring elements.

20. The differential transmission of claim 16, wherein the first and second coupling ring elements including coupling gearing on facing axial sides thereof, and the coupling gearing of the first coupling ring element engages the coupling gearing of the second coupling ring element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Further details and features of the invention are discernible from the following description in connection with the drawings. Shown are:

[0040] FIG. 1 an axially sectioned illustration to show the design of a differential transmission according to the invention with a coupling device comprising external conical coupling rings, with the coupling device being arranged in a receiving chamber surrounded by the sun gears;

[0041] FIGS. 2a and 2b a sectional illustration and sketch of forces to explain the system of forces stressing the friction areas, and to explain the generation of the bridge torque;

[0042] FIG. 3 an illustration of a detail to show further features of the coupling device as well as the special arrangement thereof inside the sun gears;

[0043] FIG. 4 a perspective axial cross-section of the first coupling ring element;

[0044] FIG. 5 a sketch to illustrate the kinematic coupling of the two coupling ring elements without any additional axial force being generated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The illustration according to FIG. 1 shows a differential transmission according to the invention with an epicyclic housing H, a first sun gear S1 embodied as a spur gear, which is accommodated in the epicyclic housing H, a second sun gear S2, also embodied as a spur gear, which is also accommodated in the epicyclic housing H, and which is arranged on the same axis in reference to the axis of revolution X1 of the first sun gear S1, and a planetary assembly P rotating with the epicyclic housing H for coupling the two sun gears S1, S2 such that they can be rotated in directions opposite each other.

[0046] The epicyclic housing H comprises a first housing side part H1 and a second housing side part 112, as well as a drive sprocket Z. The two housing side parts H1, 112 are located in flat recesses of the drive sprocket Z such that the external edge section of the housing side parts H1, 112 can be lowered below the respective facial area of the drive sprocket Z. This allows a particularly short axial design length of the differential transmission.

[0047] The planetary assembly P comprises first planets P1, which engage the first sun gear S1, as well as second planets P2, which engage the second sun gear S2. The first planets P1 engage the second planets P2 in the axial engagement plane of the first sun gear S1. The planets P1, P2 are supported via spur gear journals in the epicyclic housing H. For this purpose bores are formed in the housing side parts H1, 112.

[0048] The differential transmission according to the invention is characterized in that a coupling device 4 is accommodated in a receiving chamber 3 surrounded by the sun gears S1, S2, in order to generate a bridging torque coupling in a frictional fashion the two sun gears S1, S2, with the coupling device 4 comprising a first coupling ring element R1, which rests via a conical area F1 at a first conical inner wall K1, which limits the receiving chamber 3. Additionally the coupling device 4 comprises a second coupling ring element R2, which rests via a conical area F2 on a second conical inner wall K2 of the receiving chamber 3. The coupling device 4 comprises also a spring arrangement 5, for applying axial stress upon the two coupling ring elements R1, R2 such that they, under the effect of the spring arrangement 5, are driven axially towards the outside in opposite directions, i.e. away from each other, towards the respectively conical inner wall K1, K2 of the receiving chamber 3. The spring arrangement 5 rests in the interior of the two coupling ring elements R1, R2 and is supported axially at ring steps of the coupling ring elements R1, R2 projecting radially inwardly beyond a cylindrical inner area. The ring steps are located near an axial end section of the respective coupling ring element R1, R2 on each side towards which the respective conical jacket area F1, F2 of the coupling ring element R1, R2 tapers. The ring steps form ring areas at which the spring arrangement 5 is axially supported.

[0049] In this exemplary embodiment the first conical internal wall K1 is formed by the inner circumferential wall of the first sun gear S1. The second conical inner wall K2 is formed by an inner circumferential wall of the second sun gear S2. The two sun gears S1, S2 are axially arranged closely neighboring each other such that the crown gear ZS1 of the first sun gear S2 is located in the axial plane of the first coupling ring element R1 and the crown gear ZS2 of the second sun gear S2 is located in the axial plane of the second coupling ring element R2. The two coupling ring elements R1, R2 are coupled to each other in an axially displaceable fashion. The coupling can be achieved via a purely axial gear engagement, or also be yielded such that the two coupling ring elements R1, R2 are coupled to each other such that torque acting between the coupling ring elements results in an axial displacement of the coupling ring elements R1, R2, i.e. in them moving apart and thus an increase develops of the axial stress of the friction areas F1, F2 of the coupling ring elements R1, R2.

[0050] The first sun gear S1 comprises a hub section SN1, with it being possible to center this hub section SN1 rotationally in a socket section SB2 of the second sun gear S2. The drive sprocket Z forms a drive sprocket Z1, which is located on the axial level of the two sun gears S1, S2. The differential transmission according to the invention is in this exemplary embodiment formed as a spur gear differential, with the crown circle C1 of the first sun gear S1 being smaller than the root circle C2 of the second sun gear S2. This geometric feature is realized by a profile shift, while the teeth count of the sun gears S1, S2 is identical.

[0051] The differential transmission shown in the illustration according to FIG. 1 is characterized, regardless of the special implementation of the coupling device 4 via conical friction areas F1, F2, urged axially apart against the conical inner walls K1, K2 of the sun gears S1, S2, also in that the first sun gear S1 and the second sun gear S2 are respectively embodied as spur gears and the receiving chamber 3 of the coupling device 4 is formed by recesses embodied in the first and the second sun gears S1, S2, and the gears ZS1, ZS2 of the two sun gears S1, S2 surround the receiving chamber 3 on the axial level of the coupling device 4. The respective part of the receiving chamber 3 is therefore axially located behind one of the facial areas of the sun gear S1, S2 respectively facing the adjacent sun gear S2, S1.

[0052] As discernible from the two illustrations according to FIGS. 2a and 2b, it is possible to generate via the bias of the spring arrangement 5 a force system in which the components R1, S1 and R2, S2, respectively being in contact with each other via friction, are stressed with forces FN, which are greater than the spring force F generated by the spring arrangement 5. The angle of taper (I) of the external casing F1, F2 of the respective friction ring element R1, R2 as well as the inner surfaces K1, K2 of the sun gears S1, S2 are embodied such that no self-locking can occur. The friction force FR acting between the friction ring elements R1, R2 and the respective sun gear S1, S2 is here essentially equivalent to the product of the normal force FN (FN=F/sin ) applied between the friction areas and the friction coefficient c of the friction pairs. The bridge moment then generated via the coupling device 4 is here equivalent to the product of this friction force FR with the friction area radius Rc, i.e. the average diameter of the respective conical external jacket F1, F2 of the friction ring element R1, R2.

[0053] The illustration according to FIG. 3 shows in the form of a perspective image the design of the coupling device 4, which in the assembled state of the transmission is accommodated in the interior chamber surrounded by the sun gears S1, S2. The two external friction ring elements R1, R2 embodied conically are preferably made form a sintered material. The conical external casings F1, F2 of the friction ring elements R1, R2 may be provided with a coating, which in cooperation with the features of the counter walls K1, K2 on the one hand generates the desired friction coefficient and on the other hand allows a relative motion with sufficiently low wear-and-tear.

[0054] The two friction ring elements R1, R2 are coupled to each other via gears SP. It comprises first gear geometries SP1, which are embodied at the first friction ring element R1, as well as second gear geometries SP2, which are embodied at the second friction ring element R2. The two gear geometries are formed with essentially complementary geometries, which provide diagonal areas, though, and which allow a slight rotation of the friction ring elements R1, R2 and here lead to an increase of the pressure engaging the walls K1, K2. This gearing SP is here formed at faces of the friction ring elements R1, R2 facing each other.

[0055] The illustration according to FIG. 4 illustrates here the coupling gears SP1 provided for coupling the friction ring elements R1, R2 and formed at the first friction ring element R1. This coupling gearing SP1 forms here diagonal areas SP1A, which in case of a relative rotation of the sun gears S1, S2 lead to an increase of the force applied to the friction areas. The diagonal areas SP1A of the coupling gears SP1 of the first friction ring element R1 are here supported in the circumferential direction on the diagonal areas SP2A of the coupling gearing SP2 of the second friction ring element R2, forming a diagonal area or wedge system. The wedge angle GA ranges preferably from 5 to 25. The parameters of the coupling device can be adjusted and optimized by the selection of the angle of taper, the resilience, and the friction coefficient of the contact areas. The bridging moment is here adjusted, e.g., with regards to the inertia of the section of the drive train located in the power flow downstream the respective sun gear as well as the torque requirements of the wheel drive shafts. The conical areas may be coated with a material offering a high friction coefficient and high resistance to wear and tear, such as a MO-coating, carbon coating, or titanium coating. The diagonal engagement of the gears provide the differential with a progressive characteristic, the mechanical features of the differential transmission can be adjusted to the respective vehicle type, depending on the selection of the angle and other geometric parameters.

[0056] The illustration according to FIG. 5 shows a coupling of the two friction ring elements R1, R2 via a gearing, which does not include a diagonal area engagement system. The wedge angle GA amounts here to 0. In this embodiment the force pushing by the friction ring elements F1, F2 against the conical inner walls K1, K2 of the sun gears S1, S2 is exclusively generated by the spring arrangement 5 (cf. here FIG. 1). This variant of the coupling device shows, unlike the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, no progressive characteristic.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0057] 3 Receiving chamber

[0058] 4 Coupling device

[0059] 5 Spring arrangement

[0060] C1 Crown circle

[0061] C2 Root circle

[0062] F Resilience

[0063] FN Force

[0064] FR Friction force

[0065] H Epicyclic housing

[0066] H1 Housing side part

[0067] H2 Housing side part

[0068] K1 Inner wall

[0069] K2 Inner wall

[0070] P Planetary assembly

[0071] P1 Planets

[0072] P2 Planets

[0073] R1 Coupling ring element

[0074] R2 Coupling ring element

[0075] Rc Radius of friction area

[0076] S1 Sun gear

[0077] S2 Sun gear

[0078] SN1 Hub section

[0079] SB2 Socket section

[0080] SP Gearing

[0081] SP1 Coupling gears

[0082] SP2 Coupling gears

[0083] SP1A Diagonal areas

[0084] SP2A Diagonal areas

[0085] X1 Axis of revolution

[0086] Z Drive sprocket

[0087] Z1 Drive crown

[0088] ZS1 Crown gear

[0089] ZS2 Crown gear