CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FOR A DIFFERENTIAL OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

Coupling device (1) for a differential (2) of a motor vehicle, has a drive gear (3) and an inner differential carrier (4) which at least partially surrounds at least one bevel differential side gear (5) and at least one bevel differential pinion (6). An actuating device (7) is configured to move a coupling element (8), into a coupling state by the actuating device (7), particularly by means of an actuating element (9), to couple the inner differential carrier (4) with the drive gear (3) and move the coupling element (8) into a decoupling state by the actuating device (7) to decouple the inner differential carrier (4) from the drive gear (3).

Claims

1. A coupling device for a differential of a motor vehicle, which differential has a drive gear and an inner differential carrier which at least partially surrounds at least one bevel differential side gear and at least one bevel differential pinion, wherein an actuating device is configured to move a coupling element into a coupling state by means of the actuating device, to couple the inner differential carrier with the drive gear and move the coupling element into a decoupling state by the actuating device to decouple the inner differential carrier from the drive gear, wherein either the actuating device is configured to adjust the actuating element in the coupling state and the decoupling state at a distance from the coupling element, or the actuating element and the coupling element are arranged on the input side.

2. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device is configured to couple an outer differential carrier, which is coupled to the drive gear in the coupling state, to the inner differential carrier.

3. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device has an actuator which is configured to move the coupling element into the decoupling state, or to move the coupling element into the coupling state and decoupling state.

4. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device has a claw element which is coupled with the actuator and which provides a slot in which an engagement portion of the coupling element is received, wherein the actuator is configured to put the claw element in at least one end position in such a way that the engagement portion of the coupling element is at a distance from the walls of the slot.

5. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device has a spring element configured to transmit to the coupling element an engagement force against a disengagement movement generated by an actuator.

6. The coupling device according to claim 5, wherein the actuating device is configured to push or pull the spring element into the coupling state or decoupling state during a movement of the coupling element.

7. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element and the coupling element are supported so as to be rotatable relative to one another, wherein the actuating device is formed in such a way that a rotational movement occurs between the coupling element and actuating element only in a closing movement.

8. The coupling device according to claim 5, wherein the actuating device and the spring element, are arranged at least partially inside of the drive gear.

9. A differential for a motor vehicle, comprising a coupling device according to claim 1.

10. A transmission device having a step-down gear unit and a differential, wherein the differential is configured according to claim 1.

11. An electric axle for a motor vehicle with an electric machine and a transmission device with a step-down gear unit and a differential, wherein the transmission device is formed according to claim 10.

12. A motor vehicle comprising an electric axle according to claim 11.

13. A motor vehicle comprising a transmission device according to claim 10.

14. A motor vehicle comprising a differential according to claim 9.

15. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein the inner differential carrier comprises a bevel differential pinion carrier.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention will be described in the following based on embodiment examples referring to the drawings. The drawings are schematic and show:

[0029] FIG. 1 a transmission device for a motor vehicle comprising a coupling device in a decoupling state according to a first embodiment example;

[0030] FIG. 2 the transmission device of FIG. 1 in a coupling state; and

[0031] FIG. 3 the transmission device of FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a section of a transmission device with a coupling device 1 for a differential 2 of a motor vehicle, not shown in greater detail, which differential 2 has a drive gear 3 and an inner differential carrier 4 which at least partially surrounds two bevel differential side gears 5 and two bevel differential pinions 6. An actuating device 7 is configured to move a coupling element 8, particularly a sliding sleeve, by means of the actuating device 7, particularly by means of an actuating element 9, into a coupling state in order to couple the inner differential carrier 4 with the drive gear 3 and to move the coupling element 8 by means of the actuating device 7 into a decoupling state in order to decouple the inner differential carrier 4 from the drive gear 3.

[0033] In the first embodiment example according to FIGS. 1, 2, an actuator, not shown in more detail, is provided which is configured to move the actuating element 9 between the decoupling state shown in FIG. 1 and the coupling state shown in FIG. 2. The actuating device 7 additionally has a spring element 10 which is configured to transmit a spring force to the coupling element 8. Accordingly, in the situation shown in FIG. 1, the spring element 10 exerts a spring force on the coupling element 8 which causes a movement of the coupling element 8 into the coupling state shown in FIG. 2, i.e., on the left-hand side of the drawing.

[0034] The coupling element 8 can have corresponding detents which hold the coupling element 8 in the individual states. It may also be provided that the actuator holds the actuating element 9 in the decoupling state against the spring force of the spring element 10. Since the actuating element 9, the coupling element 8 and the spring element 10 are arranged on the input side, particularly at an outer differential carrier 11, there is no relative movement carried out between the actuating element 9, the coupling element 8 or the spring element 10.

[0035] In order to change from the decoupling state shown in FIG. 1 into the coupling state, the coupling element 8 which can be constructed, for example, as a sliding sleeve, is moved in order to produce the connection between the outer differential carrier 11 and the inner differential carrier 4. For this purpose, the coupling element 8 has an outer toothing and an inner toothing so that the inner toothing of the drive gear 3 can be coupled with the outer toothing of the differential carrier 4. Further, the drive gear 3 is welded to the outer differential carrier 11 so that the drive gear 3 and the outer differential carrier 11 form an inseparable unit.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows the coupling state in which the coupling element 8 engages in the toothing at the inner differential carrier 4 and accordingly produces the coupling between the drive gear 3 and the inner differential carrier 4. To change from the decoupling state to the coupling state, the spring element 10 can expand and accordingly displace the coupling element 8 and, along with the coupling element 8, the actuating element 9. In other words, the spring force is at least partially reduced in order to displace the coupling element 8 and, therefore, to produce the coupling between the drive gear 3 and the inner differential carrier 4. If the inner differential carrier 4 is to be decoupled again, the actuator can move the actuating element 9 and, accordingly, the coupling element 8 in the decoupling direction, and the spring element 10 is compressed and a corresponding return force is built up. Accordingly, the situation depicted in FIG. 2 can be changed to the situation depicted in FIG. 1.

[0037] Therefore, a relative movement between the coupling element 8, the actuating element 9 and the spring element 10 occurs at most during a changeover from the decoupling state into the coupling state, since the inner differential carrier 4 is rotatable relative to the drive gear 3 in the decoupling state. The difference in speed is reduced during the changeover to the coupling state because the drive gear 3 and the inner differential carrier 4 are subsequently coupled together via the coupling element 8. In this changeover, the difference in speed can be reduced by means of a rotatable support between the spring element 10 and the coupling element 8 until the teeth engage with one another.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a further configuration in which the spring element 10 can be dispensed with. Analogous to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows the coupling state in which the coupling element 8 produces the connection between the drive gear 3 and the inner differential carrier 4. The actuating element 9 additionally has a claw element 12 which provides a slot 13 in which an engagement portion 14 of the coupling element 8 engages. Accordingly, it is possible that the actuator, not shown in more detail, moves the actuating element 9 which is formed as a claw element 12 or has the claw element 12 or is coupled with a claw element 12. The slot 13 has walls 15 which can contact the coupling element 8 at the engagement portion 14 in order to displace the coupling element 8.

[0039] Further, the actuating device 7 is configured to adjust the actuating element 9 in such a way that there is a distance between the walls 15 and the engagement portion 14 both in the coupling state and in the decoupling state. This means that in the coupling state as well as in the decoupling state the coupling element 8 is at a distance from the actuating element 9 and, therefore, the coupling element 8 and actuating element 9 do not make contact.

[0040] Accordingly, in an advantageous achievement, no friction occurs between the actuating device 7 and the coupling element 8 either in the coupling state or in the decoupling state. In both states, the actuating element 9, coupling element 8, spring element 10 can be stationary or can be at the same speed or, in case of a difference in speed between the individual components, the actuating element 9 or claw element 12 can be spaced apart in a corresponding manner so that no friction occurs.

[0041] The advantages, details and features shown in the individual embodiment examples are combinable, exchangeable and transferable with one another.