GB2357816A - A vehicle differential with yaw control arrangement - Google Patents

A vehicle differential with yaw control arrangement Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2357816A
GB2357816A GB0027514A GB0027514A GB2357816A GB 2357816 A GB2357816 A GB 2357816A GB 0027514 A GB0027514 A GB 0027514A GB 0027514 A GB0027514 A GB 0027514A GB 2357816 A GB2357816 A GB 2357816A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
control
gear
shaft
clutch
differential
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0027514A
Other versions
GB2357816B (en
GB0027514D0 (en
Inventor
John Spooner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Original Assignee
Land Rover Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Land Rover Group Ltd filed Critical Land Rover Group Ltd
Publication of GB0027514D0 publication Critical patent/GB0027514D0/en
Publication of GB2357816A publication Critical patent/GB2357816A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2357816B publication Critical patent/GB2357816B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H48/00—Differential gearings
    • F16H48/20—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices
    • F16H48/22—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices using friction clutches or brakes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H48/00—Differential gearings
    • F16H48/06—Differential gearings with gears having orbital motion
    • F16H48/08—Differential gearings with gears having orbital motion comprising bevel gears
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H48/00—Differential gearings
    • F16H48/06—Differential gearings with gears having orbital motion
    • F16H48/10—Differential gearings with gears having orbital motion with orbital spur gears
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H48/00—Differential gearings
    • F16H48/20—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices
    • F16H48/24—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices using positive clutches or brakes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H48/00—Differential gearings
    • F16H48/20—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices
    • F16H48/30—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices using externally-actuatable means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H48/00—Differential gearings
    • F16H48/20—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices
    • F16H48/30—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices using externally-actuatable means
    • F16H48/34—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices using externally-actuatable means using electromagnetic or electric actuators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H48/00—Differential gearings
    • F16H48/20—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices
    • F16H2048/204—Control of arrangements for suppressing differential actions
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H48/00—Differential gearings
    • F16H48/20—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices
    • F16H48/30—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices using externally-actuatable means
    • F16H48/34—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices using externally-actuatable means using electromagnetic or electric actuators
    • F16H2048/346—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices using externally-actuatable means using electromagnetic or electric actuators using a linear motor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H2200/00—Transmissions for multiple ratios
    • F16H2200/20—Transmissions using gears with orbital motion
    • F16H2200/203—Transmissions using gears with orbital motion characterised by the engaging friction means not of the freewheel type, e.g. friction clutches or brakes
    • F16H2200/2071—Transmissions using gears with orbital motion characterised by the engaging friction means not of the freewheel type, e.g. friction clutches or brakes using three freewheel mechanism
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H48/00—Differential gearings
    • F16H48/20—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices
    • F16H48/30—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices using externally-actuatable means
    • F16H48/32—Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices using externally-actuatable means using fluid pressure actuators

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Retarders (AREA)

Abstract

A vehicle differential 3 provides torque to drive shafts 4, 5 whilst a yaw control arrangement comprises a control clutch 60 and gear pairs 6, 16; 7, 17; 8, 18, having different ratios, which provide fixed differential ratios between the shafts 4, 5 when the clutch 60 is engaged. Gears 6, 7, 8 are connected to a control shaft 10 by selector clutches 11, 12, eg dog tooth clutches, that are operated by a yaw controller, via a solenoid, in dependence upon the rate of yaw. Another gear pair 9, 19 are connected to shaft 10 by clutch 60 so that when one of the gear pairs 6, 16; 7, 17; 8, 18, are selected, via dog clutches 11, 12, both drive shafts 4, 5 rotate at a fixed rotational ratio. Because of the different ratios of gear pairs 6, 16; 7, 17; 8, 18, it is possible to control the rotation of shaft 4 relative to shaft 5, thus a correction or enhancement of yaw is made by varying the speed of shaft 4 relative to shaft 5 or vice versa.

Description

2357816 A Vehicle Differential Assemb The present invention relates to a
vehicle differential assemblies and more particularly to differential assemblies which provide yaw control by means of an output torque differential across an axle.
It is known that there are advantages in providing yaw control of a vehicle in order to improve stability and performance. Vehicle yaw relates to the tendency of a vehicle to twist about a vertical wds as a result of asymmetrical torque distributions and control of the output torques across an axle may be beneficial in vehicle cornering.
A vehicle turns when a yaw moment is generated, conventionally by steering the front wheels. This can be enhanced if additional torque is given to the outer driving wheel in order to increase the yaw moment. Conventional drive trains in vehicles do not provide this. However, more recently, differential assemblies have been proposed whereby the torque provided to individual wheels can he supplemented and controlled by gears and clutches linking the drive to each wheel.
Thus, by altering the degree of clutch engagement, the torque split between individual wheels can be varied. The respective degrees of clutch engagement are determined by a controller dependent upon operational requirements and/or sensed condition of the vehicle.
Unfortunately, the proposed differential assemblies can be difficult to package within a vehicle and it is an object of this invention to provide a somewhat simplified assembly.
Accordance to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a differential assembly for a. motor vehicle and comprising an input shaft, a main differential, two drive shahs coupled across the main differential in order to drive respective wheels of the vehicle, the main differential takin drive torque fro the 9 input shaft in order to drive each drive shaft, and a torque distribution mn ans comprising a control shaft which couples the drive shafts independently of the main differential through a control clutch and a control gear set providing at two fixed ratios between the control shaft and one of the drive shafts selectah. e by gear selection means, the arrangement being such that the torque distribution 1 means provide at least two fixed rotational speed ratios between the drive shafts and according to the selection of the gear selection means, one of the said at ast two rotational speed ratios being an increasing ratio and the other beig a 10 decreasing ratio.
A controller may be arranged to operate the control clutch and the ear selection means.
Conveniently the control clutch is mounted on the control shaft. The co trol gear set may comprise at least one gear coupled to one of the drive shafts an at e ne ge --shaft t fo" e kast o ar coupled to the control o rin a gear pair on one sid of the main differential and a gear coupled to the other drive shaft and a gear coupled to the control shaft to form a clutch gear pair on the other side of the am differential, the clutch coupling said gear control set across the main dfiTere tial between the drive shafts when required.
The gears may be coupled to the control shaft are coupled to the control saft through a respective selector clutch.
The torque distribution means may provides three fixed rotational r tios between the drive shafts, one equal ratio, one reduced ratio and one incre ed ratio. Thus the assembly caii be readily adapted to provide a locking diSfere tial as well as yaw control.
The invention also provides, according to another aspect thereof, a vehicle including a differential assembly according to said one aspect.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which a schematic depiction of a vehicle differential assembly.
In the drawing, the vehicle differential assembly comprises an input shaft 1 for connection to a propeller shaft from a prime mover such as an engine and this is connected to a bevel pinion 2 which engages a bevel wheel 20 attached to a bevel gear type main differential 3. This distributes torque transmitted to the bevel wheel 20 to left and right hand drive shafts 4, 5 which in turn are coupled to road wheels (not shown) in order to propel the vehicle. As described so far the differential assembly is conventional.
As indicated previously more specific control of torque distribution across the drive shafts 4, 5 allows better control of vehicle yaw. Thus, a torque distribution means is provided to couple the drive shafts 4, 5 independently of the main differential 3 and control the ratios of the torques provided by each of the drive shafts 4, 5. The torque distribution means comprises a control shaft 10 which can rotate about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the differential 3. A control clutch 60 and a control gear set are mounted on the control shaft 10, the control gear set including gears 6, 7, 8 which are paired with respective gears 16, 17, 18 fast with one of the drive shafts 5. The control clutch 60 is also associated with a control gear pair comprising a clutch gear 9 and a drive shaft gear 19 coupled to the other drive shaft 4. The control shaft 10 is coupled to the gears 6, 7, 8 through gear selection means comprising a two way dog clutch 11 and a one way dog clutch 12.
In the arrangement shown, the clutch gear 9 has an identical number of t eth 1 to one of the control gears 6, whereas control gear 7 has a smaller number of th and the control gear 8 has a greater number of teeth. Selection of the dog clu es 11, 12 rotates the control shaft 10 at fixed ratios relative to the drive shaft 5 as as determined by which combination of pairs of gears 6, 16; 7, 17; 8, 18 is selected There are three fixed ratios, which can be:- (a) a ratio which is equal to the ratio provided by the clutch gear pair 9, 19 to give an even rotational speed between the drive shafts 4, 5 and so is equivalentto a conventional differential lock arrangement; (b) a ratio which is smaller than the ratio provided by the clutch gear pair i9 so that the drive shaft 4 rotates slower than the drive shaft 5 in order to ere te a right or left yaw tendency dependent upon the vehicle configuration; and (c) a ratio which is larger than the ratio provided by the clutch gear pair 9, 19 1 so that the drive shaft 4 rotates faster than the drive shaft 5 in order to create i 15 the opposite right or left yaw tendency to the yaw tendency of (b) above.
The equal ratio (a) is provided by using dog clutch 11 to select gear pair 6 and 16, the smaller ratio b) is provided by using dog clutch 12 to select gear pair 8 wid 18 and the larger ratio c) is provided by using dog clutch 11 to select gear pair 71 1 5 and 17 In normal use of the vehicle, neither dog clutch 11, 12 is engaged and the drive shafts 4, 5 are free to rotate as driven by the propeller shaft 1 and the ge differential 3.
The dog clutches 11, 12 are normally engaged when the control clutch 160 is disengaged. The control clutch is conveniently a multiplate type, having a drum 14 with one set of clutch plates rotationally fixed to gear 9 and another set of clutch plates 13 rotationally fixed to the control shaft 10. The clutch 60 is hydraulically or electrically ae tuated under the control of an electronic control means which can control yaw and / or slip. In use, the electronic control means engages the appropriate dog clutch and then controls the torque transmitted by the control clutch 60 to control the degree of torque differential between the drive shafts 4 and 5 and thus control yaw and slip as required.
It will be understood that the differential assembly could be associated with the front or rear axle of a vehicle or both axles if a four wheel drive. The gear differential 3 could be replaced by a limited slip differential, e.g. Torsen (7!rade Mark). Similarly, the dog clutches 11, 12 may be replaced by other selector mechanisms such as synchromesh clutches.

Claims (1)

1. A differential assembly for a motor vehicle and comprising an input shaft, ja main differential, two drive shafts coupled across the main differential in order to drive respective wheels of the vehicle, the main differential takin drive torque from the input shaft in order to drive each drive shaft, and a torque distribution means comprising a control shaft which couples the d+e shafts independently of the main differential through a control clutch and control gear set providing at least two fixed ratios between the control sh t and one of the drive shafts selectable by gear selection means, the arrangement being- such that the torque distribution means provide at lea i 1 two fixed rotational speed ratios between the drive shafts and according to the ) t selection of the gear selection means, one of the said at least two rotationa speed ratios being an increasing ratio and the other being a decreasing rat.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein a controller is arranged to oper te the control clutch and. the gear selection means.
3, An assembly as claimed in claim - 1 or claim 2 wherein the control clutch is i mounted on the control shaft.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the control gear set comprises at least one gear coupled to one of thedrive shafts and at least one gear coupI d to the control shaft to form a gear pair on one side of the main differential d d a gear coupled to the other drive shaft and a gear coupled to the control sh to form a clutch gear pair on the other side of the main differential, the clu h coupling said gear control set across the main differential between the driv shafts when required..
5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the gears are coupled to the control shaft are coupled to the control shaft through a respective selector clutch.
6. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the torque distribution means provides three fixed rotational ratios between the drive shafts, one equal ratio,. one reduced ratio and one increased ratio.
10. A differential assembly for a motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
11. A vehicle including a differential assembly as claimed in any preceding. claim.
GB0027514A 1999-11-10 2000-11-10 A vehicle differential assembly Expired - Fee Related GB2357816B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9926494.7A GB9926494D0 (en) 1999-11-10 1999-11-10 A vehicle yaw control arrangement

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0027514D0 GB0027514D0 (en) 2000-12-27
GB2357816A true GB2357816A (en) 2001-07-04
GB2357816B GB2357816B (en) 2003-12-24

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Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9926494.7A Ceased GB9926494D0 (en) 1999-11-10 1999-11-10 A vehicle yaw control arrangement
GB0027514A Expired - Fee Related GB2357816B (en) 1999-11-10 2000-11-10 A vehicle differential assembly

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9926494.7A Ceased GB9926494D0 (en) 1999-11-10 1999-11-10 A vehicle yaw control arrangement

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1841614A2 (en) * 2005-01-26 2007-10-10 Magna Drivetrain of America, Inc. Torque vectoring axle assembly
US11079000B2 (en) * 2018-08-23 2021-08-03 Hong Cao Differential capable of automatically restricting differential ratio and increasing torque

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4805721A (en) * 1986-02-26 1989-02-21 Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Power transmitting system for a four-wheel drive vehicle
US5058700A (en) * 1988-04-15 1991-10-22 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Drive force distribution control system for motor vehicle
EP0546733A1 (en) * 1991-11-29 1993-06-16 Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Drive power distribution control system for vehicle
EP0575152A1 (en) * 1992-06-15 1993-12-22 Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Left/right drive torque adjusting apparatus for vehicle and left/right drive torque adjusting method for vehicle
EP0662402A1 (en) * 1993-12-29 1995-07-12 CENTRO RICERCHE FIAT S.p.A. An electronically controlled differential with a system for controlling torque distribution

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4805721A (en) * 1986-02-26 1989-02-21 Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Power transmitting system for a four-wheel drive vehicle
US5058700A (en) * 1988-04-15 1991-10-22 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Drive force distribution control system for motor vehicle
EP0546733A1 (en) * 1991-11-29 1993-06-16 Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Drive power distribution control system for vehicle
EP0773130A2 (en) * 1991-11-29 1997-05-14 Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Drive power distribution control system for vehicle
EP0575152A1 (en) * 1992-06-15 1993-12-22 Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Left/right drive torque adjusting apparatus for vehicle and left/right drive torque adjusting method for vehicle
EP0662402A1 (en) * 1993-12-29 1995-07-12 CENTRO RICERCHE FIAT S.p.A. An electronically controlled differential with a system for controlling torque distribution

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1841614A2 (en) * 2005-01-26 2007-10-10 Magna Drivetrain of America, Inc. Torque vectoring axle assembly
EP1841614A4 (en) * 2005-01-26 2009-02-04 Magna Drivetrain America Inc Torque vectoring axle assembly
US11079000B2 (en) * 2018-08-23 2021-08-03 Hong Cao Differential capable of automatically restricting differential ratio and increasing torque

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2357816B (en) 2003-12-24
GB9926494D0 (en) 2000-01-12
GB0027514D0 (en) 2000-12-27

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
746 Register noted 'licences of right' (sect. 46/1977)

Effective date: 20050713

732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20091110