GB2464088A - A welded differential and final drive assembly - Google Patents

A welded differential and final drive assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2464088A
GB2464088A GB0812800A GB0812800A GB2464088A GB 2464088 A GB2464088 A GB 2464088A GB 0812800 A GB0812800 A GB 0812800A GB 0812800 A GB0812800 A GB 0812800A GB 2464088 A GB2464088 A GB 2464088A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
differential
final drive
carrier
guiding
assembly according
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
GB0812800A
Other versions
GB0812800D0 (en
GB2464088B (en
Inventor
Torulf Karlsson
Anders Karlsson
Petra Adielsson
Franz-Josef Eckert
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.)
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Original Assignee
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
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 GM Global Technology Operations LLC filed Critical GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Priority to GB0812800.1A priority Critical patent/GB2464088B/en
Publication of GB0812800D0 publication Critical patent/GB0812800D0/en
Publication of GB2464088A publication Critical patent/GB2464088A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2464088B publication Critical patent/GB2464088B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K33/00—Specially-profiled edge portions of workpieces for making soldering or welding connections; Filling the seams formed thereby
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K33/00—Specially-profiled edge portions of workpieces for making soldering or welding connections; Filling the seams formed thereby
    • B23K33/004—Filling of continuous seams
    • B23K33/008—Filling of continuous seams for automotive applications
    • 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
    • F16H48/11—Differential gearings with gears having orbital motion with orbital spur gears having intermeshing planet 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
    • F16H2048/106—Differential gearings with gears having orbital motion with orbital spur gears characterised by two sun 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
    • F16H48/08—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
    • F16H48/38—Constructional details
    • F16H48/40—Constructional details characterised by features of the rotating cases

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Retarders (AREA)
  • Laser Beam Processing (AREA)

Abstract

A differential assembly 10 for use in a vehicle comprises a final drive 12 having a final drive carrier 16 and a differential gear system 14 comprising a differential carrier 18 connected to the final drive carrier 16. Between the differential carrier 18 and the final drive carder 16 a guiding 24 is provided, wherein the guiding 24 follows an irregularly formed path in an axial direction. The guiding 24 provides labyrinth sealing and the irregular path comprises a first radial contact surface 32 arranged in mainly an axial direction and second radial contact surface 36 also arranged in mainly an axial direction. The first and second contact surfaces 32, 36 are joined by a linking surface 34 which may have a circumferential groove 40. A weld, e.g. made by laser welding, connects the differential and final drive carriers 18, 16 and the labyrinth seal prevents solids or liquids, such as weld splatter, contaminating internal regions of the assembly.

Description

Differential assembly Des cript ion The invention relates to a differential assembly, by means of which the speed and torque of a drive wheel of an automobile may be adjusted.
It is known to connect a final drive to a Is differential gear system system, wherein the final drive may be connected to a gear box output shaft and the differential gear system system to a driving shaft of an automobile wheel. The final drive and the differential gear system system are normally designed as planetary drive, so that a continuous variation of the speed and torque is safeguarded. For transmission between the final drive and the differential gear system system it is known to connect a final drive carrier of the final drive to a differential carrier of the differential gear system system via a screw connection provided in assigned flanges of the final drive carrier and the differential carrier.
It is a disadvantage of such kind of a differential assembly that a big building space is necessary to arrange and assemble the differential assembly.
Particularly in a design, where the final drive is positioned offset to the gear box output shaft and driven by means of a chain, building space is very limited.
It is the object of the invention to provide a differential assembly, particularly a chain driven differential assembly, which enables a reduced building space.
The solution of the object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are given by the dependent claims.
The differential assembly according to the invention, which is adapted for use in a vehicle, particularly an automobile, comprises a final drive comprising a final drive carrier. The differential assembly further comprises a differential gear system system comprising a differential carrier connected to the final drive carrier. According to the invention between the differential carrier and the final drive carrier a guiding is provided, wherein the guiding follows an irregularly formed path in axial direction.
Since the guiding design between the final drive carrier and the differential carrier is irregular, particularly uneven, stepped, zigzag-formed, angular, curved or the like a protection against intruding particles and/or liquids is provided. Particularly the guiding provides a labyrinth sealing. Due to this protection it is possible to connect the final drive carrier and the differential carrier by welding or bonding, since liquid or solid particles, for instance welding splatters or the like, are prevented from passing the guiding and intruding into the internal regions of the differential gear system system. Flanges and screw connections may be omitted leading to a reduced building space.
Particularly the guiding comprises at least a first radial contact surface arranged in mainly axial direction and a second radial contact surface arranged in mainly axial direction, wherein the first radial contact surface and the second radial contact surface are connected to each other by a linking surface comprising at least partially a fraction in radial direction. Due to the radial contact surfaces a turning of the differential carrier with respect to the final drive carrier is facilitated during assembling. At the same time the radial contact surfaces are located on different diameters due to the linking surface leading to a mainly stepped design of the guiding in a cross sectional view.
Preferably the guiding comprises a circumferential groove. Welding splatters or the like may be received by the groove, so that these particles are prevented from intruding the differential gear system system. The groove may provide a barrier, which can only be passed against gravity direction. If a particle arrives at the groove this particle may be transported along the circumferential groove in gravity direction and rests at the bottom, where the particle can not reach the interior of the differential gear system.
Particularly the final drive carrier and the differential carrier are connected to each other by welding with or without filling material, particularly by laser welding. This leads to strong and proper connection and renders screw connections and flanges for enabling screw connections unnecessary.
In a preferred embodiment the differential carrier is split into at least a first differential carrier part and a second differential carrier part. Preferably the first differential carrier part and a second differential carrier part are connected to each other by welding, particularly laser welding. Due to the split design of the differential carrier the assembling is facilitated.
Sun gears, planet gears and ring gears may be inserted into the first differential carrier part and subsequent closed into the differential carrier by connecting the second differential carrier part with the first differential carrier part. Depending on the specific design of the differential gear system for example ring gears may be omitted. Further helical gears and/or strait bevel gears may be provided. Particularly the differential carrier parts are welded together in the same processing step when the differential carrier and the final drive carrier are welded together.
Particularly the final drive comprises a chain for speed and torque transfer from a sprocket of a gearbox output shaft to a sun gear of the final drive. Due to the saved building space of the differential assembly according to the invention this building space may be used to drive the final drive be means of a chain.
Particularly the final drive may be positioned offset to the gearbox output shaft.
Preferably the final drive is a planetary drive comprising a sun gear meshing with at least one planet gear, preferably three or four planet gear, supported by the final drive carrier. The sun gear and the planet gear may particularly be bevel gears. Due to the reduced building space sufficient space for providing bevel gears in the final drive are present. Vibrations due to meshing teeth are avoided.
In a preferred embodiment the final drive carrier supports a sun gear and/or a planetary gear of the differential gear system or the differential carrier supports a sun gear and/or a planetary gear of the final drive particularly in addition to the support of its own sun gear and/or planetary gear. Since the carrier of the final drive and the carrier of the differential gear system are connected to each other, each of both carriers can be used for functions of the other carrier. This enables a design of the differential assembly, which allows a facilitated assembling.
The invention further relates to an automobile comprising a combustion engine connected to a gearbox, whereby the gearbox comprises a gearbox output shaft connected to at least one drive wheel via a differential assembly, which may be designed as previously described.
Due to the reduced building space of the differential assembly the differential assembly may be chain driven and positioned offset to the gearbox output shaft.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to a preferred embodiment described hereinafter.
In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a differential assembly according to the invention and Fig. 2 is a schematic detailed view of the differential assembly of Fig. 1.
The differential assembly 10 comprises a final drive 12 and a differential gear system 14. The final drive 12 comprises a final drive carrier 16, which is connected to a differential carrier 18, as well as a final drive sun gear and final drive planetary gears, which particularly may be bevel gears but are not illustrated for sake of clarity. The differential carrier 18 carries several planet gears 20 meshing with assigned sun gears 22 for providing the intended speed and torque transmission. The differential carrier may be split, for instance cut into two halves, facilitating the assembling of the planet gears 20 and the sun gears 22 for example. Due to the split design helical gears and/or strait bevel gears may be used. In the illustrated embodiment the left sun gear 22 of the differential gear system 14 is supported and guided by the final drive carrier 16, so that the final drive carrier 16 provides a function generally provided the differential carrier 18.
The connecting surfaces of the final drive carrier 16 and the differential carrier 18 are shaped such, that an irregular guiding 24 is provided, which is in the in Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment mainly stepped formed. The final drive carrier 16 and the differential carrier 18 are welded together by means of a laser weld seam 26.
Since dirt particles, like welding splatter, should not intrude the differential carrier 14, the guiding 24 starts at an outer surface 28 with first axial contact surfaces 30, at which the final drive carrier 16 and the differential carrier 18 abut in axial direction. The first axial contact surface 30 is followed by first radial contact surfaces 32 for radial guiding, at which the final drive carrier 16 and the differential carrier 18 abut in radial direction. Then second axial contact surfaces 34, second radial surfaces 36 and third axial contact surfaces 38 follows. Due to the opposing surfaces 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 of the final drive carrier 16 and the differential carrier 18 the guiding 24 provides a labyrinth sealing. In order to prevent double tolerances the opposing surfaces 30, 34, 36 comprise a clearance fit, wherein the first radial contact surfaces 32 comprise a press fit and the third axial contact surfaces 38 are in direct contact to each other. Flanges, which may protrude from the final drive carrier 16 and the differential carrier 18, can be omitted, since a screw connection is not necessary, leading to a reduced building space.
If so, one or more grooves 40 may be provided, so that dirt particles may be led to the bottom via the grooves 40. The grooves 40 are particularly arranged at the first radial contact surface 32 and/or the second radial contact surface 36 of the final drive carrier 16 and/or the differential carrier 18. Is

Claims (10)

  1. Claims 1. Differential assembly for a vehicle, comprising a final drive (12) comprising a final drive carrier (16) and a differential gear system (14) comprising a differential carrier (18) connected to the final drive carrier (12), wherein between the differential carrier (18) and the final drive carrier (16) a guiding (24) is provided, wherein the guiding (24) follows an irregularly formed path in axial direction.
  2. 2. Differential assembly according to claim 1 whereby the guiding (24) provides a labyrinth sealing.
  3. 3. Differential assembly according to claim 1 or 2 whereby the guiding (24) comprises at least a first radial contact surface (32) arranged in mainly axial direction and a second radial contact (36) surface arranged in mainly axial direction, wherein the first radial contact surface (32) and the second radial contact surface (36) are connected to each other by a linking surface (34) comprising at least partially a fraction in radial direction.
  4. 4. Differential assembly according to anyone of claims 1 to 3 whereby the guiding (24) comprises a circumferential groove (40)
  5. 5. Differential assembly according to anyone of claims 1 to 4 whereby the final drive carrier (16) and the differential carrier (18) are connected to each other by welding, particularly laser welding.
  6. 6. Differential assembly according to anyone of claims 1 to 5 whereby the differential carrier (18) is split into at least a first differential carrier part and a second differential carrier part, wherein preferably the first differential carrier part and a second differential carrier part are connected to each other by welding, particularly laser welding.
  7. 7. Differential assembly according to anyone of claims 1 to 6 whereby the final drive (12) comprises a chain for speed and torque transfer from a sprocket of a gearbox output shaft to a sun gear of the final drive (12)
  8. 8. Differential assembly according to anyone of claims 1 to 7 whereby the final drive (12) is a planetary drive comprising a sun gear meshing with at least one planet gear supported by the final drive carrier (16)
  9. 9. Differential assembly according to anyone of claims 1 to 7 whereby the final drive carrier (16) supports a sun gear (22) of the differential gear system (14) or the differential carrier (18) supports a sun gear of the final drive (12)
  10. 10. Automobile comprising a combustion engine connected to a gearbox, whereby the gearbox comprises a gearbox output shaft connected to at least one drive wheel via a differential assembly (10) according to anyone of claims 1 to 9.
GB0812800.1A 2008-07-12 2008-07-12 Differential assembly Expired - Fee Related GB2464088B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0812800.1A GB2464088B (en) 2008-07-12 2008-07-12 Differential assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0812800.1A GB2464088B (en) 2008-07-12 2008-07-12 Differential assembly

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0812800D0 GB0812800D0 (en) 2008-08-20
GB2464088A true GB2464088A (en) 2010-04-07
GB2464088B GB2464088B (en) 2012-08-08

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0812800.1A Expired - Fee Related GB2464088B (en) 2008-07-12 2008-07-12 Differential assembly

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180245606A1 (en) * 2015-08-21 2018-08-30 Advics Co., Ltd. Accumulator

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10781908B2 (en) 2017-12-11 2020-09-22 Gkn Automotive Limited Driveline components with weld vent

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060278036A1 (en) * 2005-02-25 2006-12-14 Ronjo Company, Llc. Releasable enclosure for differential housing
DE102006008239A1 (en) * 2006-02-22 2007-08-23 Volkswagen Ag Process to manufacture two-part automotive gearbox housing linked at butt weld seam with raised lips
DE102007059406A1 (en) * 2006-12-21 2008-06-26 Luk Lamellen Und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs Kg Method for limiting contamination of interior of components during welding comprises forming section which curves back on itself on one of flanges on components which are welded together, welding particles collecting in cavity so formed

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060278036A1 (en) * 2005-02-25 2006-12-14 Ronjo Company, Llc. Releasable enclosure for differential housing
DE102006008239A1 (en) * 2006-02-22 2007-08-23 Volkswagen Ag Process to manufacture two-part automotive gearbox housing linked at butt weld seam with raised lips
DE102007059406A1 (en) * 2006-12-21 2008-06-26 Luk Lamellen Und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs Kg Method for limiting contamination of interior of components during welding comprises forming section which curves back on itself on one of flanges on components which are welded together, welding particles collecting in cavity so formed

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180245606A1 (en) * 2015-08-21 2018-08-30 Advics Co., Ltd. Accumulator
US10851804B2 (en) * 2015-08-21 2020-12-01 Nhk Spring Co., Ltd. Accumulator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0812800D0 (en) 2008-08-20
GB2464088B (en) 2012-08-08

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Free format text: APPLICANT GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC SECURITY TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20170712