JP2000230630A - Actuator for differential gear - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an actuator for differential gear capable of ensuring a smooth and reliable operation with a high reliability at a low cost regardless of installation error. SOLUTION: A free running differential gear is a differential gear in which torque transfer of rotation drive force is carried out to right and left side gears 5, 6 disposed on a rotation shaft of a differential case 1 via differential gears 4, 5, and 6, and a connection of the rotation drive force from the differential case to the differential gears 4, 5, 6 is carried out by an actuator 8 and an operation member 7 which is operated by a predetermined power. In this case, a centering member 12 or a centering member 13 is disposed between an inner peripheral part of the actuator 8 and an outer peripheral part of the differential case 1, and the actuator 8 is attached to a stationary member 9. By this constitution, since an adequate space δ is formed between the actuator 8 and the operation member 7, a mounting operation of the actuator 8 via a bracket 11 or the like is performed regardless of mounting accuracy of a differential carrier 9 to the stationary member, whereby a mounting operation can be simplified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a differential device for transmitting a rotational driving force of a differential case through a differential gear to left and right side gears disposed on a rotation shaft of the differential case by distributing the torque. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of differentials have been adopted as differentials for transmitting the rotational driving force of a differential case through a differential gear to left and right side gears disposed on the rotation shaft of the differential case by distributing the torque. For example, there are a free-running differential device that connects a rotational driving force from a differential case to a differential gear with a predetermined power, and a differential lock differential device that performs lock connection between a differential case and a differential gear with a predetermined power. . As an example of the former, Japanese Patent No. 2529245 proposed by the present applicant (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-235748).
Publication) has been disclosed. This is employed in a differential device on the auxiliary drive wheel side (for example, the front wheel main drive type rear wheel side) in a four-wheel drive vehicle, and is changed from a two-wheel drive state to a four-wheel drive state in conjunction with transfer switching. In order to perform the switching, the locking operation of connecting the differential gear side to the differential case is performed, and the rotational driving force from the differential case is differentially distributed to the wheel side and transmitted, and the locking operation is performed at a predetermined speed. It is configured to perform the operation using power, for example, fluid pressure such as air.

As shown in FIG. 4, a differential case 31 is rotatably supported by a bearing on a differential carrier 50 which is a stationary member fixed to the vehicle body side, and a driving force from a transfer (not shown) is transmitted to a pinion gear 40 and a pinion gear 40. It is transmitted via a ring gear 41 that meshes with this. A ring is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the differential case 31 to support both ends of a pinion shaft 33 orthogonal to the rotation axis of the differential case 31 by supporting the pinion gear 34 in a freely rotatable state with respect to the inner peripheral surface. (Inner case) 32 is fitted. The inner peripheral surface of the differential case 31 has a spline portion 31A formed on a part of the inner peripheral surface, and a tooth portion 37 on the outer periphery thereof.
A slide gear (cam ring) 37 with which A is engaged and rotates together is installed so as to be axially movable. The slide gear 37
Is operated by a fork 39 via a spring 38. The fork 39 is provided with a fluid path 47 provided on the stationary side.
The pressure chamber 44 in the cylinder 48 receives the fluid pressure of air or the like from the air and is connected to a piston 49 which axially moves by expansion.

[0004] Tooth portion 37B on the end face of the slide gear 37
Is engaged with the tooth portion 32B on the end face of the ring 32, the ring 32 is integrated with the differential case 31 via the spline portion 31A, and the rotational driving force of the differential case 31 is transmitted to the pinion gear 34 which is a differential gear. As a result, in the differential case 31 on the auxiliary driving wheel side, the driving force is
From the two-wheel drive state in which the drive force is not transmitted to the axles 45 and 46, the driving state is changed to the four-wheel drive state in which the drive force is transmitted to the axles 45 and 46. The gears are differentially driven by left and right side gears 35 and 36 arranged on the rotation shaft of the motor, and are transmitted with torque appropriately distributed.

[0005]

By the above-mentioned free-running differential, power is transmitted from the two-wheel drive state of the free state to the differential of the sub-drive wheel side by remote control using a predetermined power such as the fluid. This makes it possible to easily switch to the locked four-wheel drive state in which the differential action is performed. However, the fork 3 that operates the slide gear 37, which is an operation member for switching the driving state,
A piston 49 is loosely fitted on the outer peripheral portion of the differential case 31 and has a piston 49 on which the fork 39 is supported and fixed so that the fork 39 can slide smoothly.
There has been a demand for a high mounting accuracy of the cylinder 48 fitted with the differential carrier 50 to the differential carrier 50. If the inner peripheral portion of the fork 39 comes into contact with the outer peripheral portion of the differential case 31 during the operation of the slide gear 37, the operation and operation of the piston 49 in the cylinder 48 as an actuator are performed. The operation of the slide gear 37 becomes impossible, so that the required driving state cannot be obtained quickly, and there is a possibility that the responsiveness may be reduced and that there may be a case where abnormal noise is generated.

Therefore, the present invention solves the problems of the above-mentioned conventional free running differential and other differential differential lock differentials, so that the actuator can be smoothly and reliably mounted without being attached to mounting errors. An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable and low-cost actuator for a differential device which can ensure the operation.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a differential device for transmitting the rotational driving force of a differential case through a differential gear to left and right side gears disposed on a rotation shaft of the differential case by distributing the torque. In a free-running differential device in which the rotational drive force is connected from the differential case to the differential gear by an actuator operated by a predetermined power and an operating member, the rotational force may be set between an inner peripheral portion of the actuator and an outer peripheral portion of the differential case. The actuator is mounted on a stationary member with a centering member interposed therebetween. Further, the present invention is a differential device for transmitting the rotational driving force of the differential case by distributing the torque to left and right side gears disposed on the rotation shaft of the differential case via a differential gear, wherein the differential case and the differential gear A differential connection made by an actuator actuated by a predetermined power and an operating member, wherein a centering member is interposed between an inner peripheral portion of the actuator and an outer peripheral portion of the differential case to make the actuator a stationary member. It is characterized in that it is configured to be attached. Further, the present invention is a differential device for transmitting the rotational driving force of a differential case by distributing torque to left and right side gears disposed on a rotation shaft of the differential case through a differential gear, and transmitting the rotational driving force from the differential case to the differential gear. In the free running differential device in which the rotational driving force is connected by an actuator and an operating member operated by a predetermined power, the actuator is attached to a stationary member by a bracket, and an inner peripheral portion of the bracket and a differential case are connected. A centering member is interposed between the outer peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion.
Further, the present invention is a differential device for transmitting the rotational driving force of the differential case by distributing the torque to left and right side gears disposed on the rotation shaft of the differential case via a differential gear, wherein the differential case and the differential gear A differential connection made by an actuator operated by a predetermined power and an operating member, wherein the actuator is configured to be attached to a stationary member by a bracket, and an inner peripheral portion of the bracket and an outer peripheral portion of the differential case are connected. The present invention is characterized in that a centering member is interposed therebetween, and these are used as means for solving the problem.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a differential device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a differential device according to the present invention, which is an example applied to a free running differential device. FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view of the free running differential device, and FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1 showing before and after actuator operation. As shown in FIG.
The free running differential according to the present embodiment is configured as follows. The differential case 1 includes a right differential case 1B in which a differential gear is stored and a left differential case 1A that closes the differential gear in a lid shape, and rotates by receiving a rotational driving force from a transfer (not shown). The differential case 1 is rotatably supported by a bearing on a differential carrier 9 which is a stationary member fixed to the vehicle body side. The inner surface of the right differential case 1B is free to rotate with respect to the inner surface. In this state, the inner case 2 that supports the pinion gear 4 and supports both ends of the pinion shaft 3 orthogonal to the rotation axis of the differential case 1 is fitted, and the hole 1 in the side wall of the right differential case 1B is fitted.
In C, a clutch ring 7 as an operation member is slidably installed in the axial direction and rotates together with the differential case 1.
By connecting the clutch teeth 7A engraved on the inner end face of the clutch ring 7 and the clutch teeth 2A engraved on the outer end face of the inner case 2, the differential case 1 and the inner case 2 are integrated, and the differential case 1 Is transmitted to the inner case 2, and the bevel gears such as helical gears mesh with a plurality of pinion gears 4 supported by a pinion shaft 3 whose both ends are supported by the inner case 2. The driving torque is distributed and transmitted to the left and right side gears 5 and 6 arranged on the rotation shaft of the differential case 1 to perform a differential action.

The clutch ring 7 installed in the hole 1C of the right differential case 1B is urged to the outside of the differential case 1 by a return spring 14 interposed between the clutch ring 7 and the outer surface of the right differential case 1B. The clutch ring 7
A pressure ring 15 is fixed to the outer end face of the spring to form a seat for the return spring 14,
A retainer 8C of the actuator 8 on the stationary side, which will be described later, is rotatably slidably supported and receives an axial pressing force. The actuator 8 accommodates a diaphragm chamber 16 sealed by a diaphragm in a container composed of an upper case 8A disposed axially outside and a lower case 8B disposed axially inside. The retainer 8 </ b> C is fixed to the above. A part of the retainer 8C is locked and guided by an axial groove of the lower case 8B. A bracket 11 is fixed to an outer wall of the actuator 8, and the bracket 11 is attached to a bolt hole 9 </ b> A of the differential carrier 9 on the stationary side by an attachment bolt 10.

According to the present invention, in the free running differential having such a configuration, the centering member 12 or 13 is provided between the inner peripheral portion of the actuator 8 and the outer peripheral portion of the differential case 1 (the right differential case 1B in the illustrated example). And the actuator 8 is attached to a stationary member, that is, the differential carrier 9. That is, as a first example, the centering member 12 is disposed between the inner peripheral portion of the upper case 8A of the actuator 8 and the outer peripheral portion of the right differential case 1B,
Alternatively, as a second example, a centering member 13 is provided between an inner peripheral portion of a bracket 11 for attaching the actuator 8 to the differential carrier 9 and an outer peripheral portion of the right differential case 1B.
It is proposed that the arrangement of is. In FIG. 1, the first
And the second example are depicted on one drawing. Second
In the case where the centering member 13 is disposed between the inner peripheral portion of the bracket 11 of the example and the outer peripheral portion of the right differential case 1B, the upper case 8 of the actuator 8 of the first example is used.
A (ring-shaped) centering member is fixed to the inner peripheral portion (joining by welding or the like) with less restrictions,
Easy to arrange.

The centering member 12 is made of a material having a bearing function such as a washer or metal, and the centering members 12 and 13 are provided on the inner periphery of the upper case 8A and the inner periphery of the bracket 11. In this case, the specifications are such that the actuator 8 exhibits an appropriate centering function with respect to the pressure ring 15. That is, by providing the centering member 12 or 13, a predetermined appropriate gap δ is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the lower case 8B of the actuator 8 that moves axially and the inner peripheral portion of the pressure ring 15. . Therefore, by providing the centering member 12 or 13, the centering is performed so that a predetermined appropriate gap δ is formed between the actuator 8 and the pressure ring 15. At the time of mounting, there is no need to be concerned with the fitting accuracy S between the bolt hole 9A of the differential carrier 9 and the mounting bolt 10, and the mounting operation is simplified.

With such a configuration, when a pressure fluid such as air is supplied from a pressure source (not shown) to the diaphragm chamber 16 of the actuator 8 in the cut (OFF) state shown in FIG. The diaphragm chamber 16 expands to reach the connection (ON) state shown in FIG. In other words, the expansion of the diaphragm chamber 16 causes the retainer 8C of the actuator 8 to press the clutch ring 7 inward in the axial direction via the pressure ring 15 while slidingly contacting the rotating pressure ring 15, and the clutch teeth shown in FIG. 7A is meshed with and connected to the clutch teeth 2A of the inner case 2 so that the rotational driving force of the differential case 1 is transmitted via the inner case 2 to the pinion gear 4 which is a differential gear.
Side and is rotationally driven with a differential action. That is, the state changes from the two-wheel drive state to the four-wheel drive state. At this time, the inner peripheral portion of the upper case 8A and the right differential case 1B
The centering member 12 interposed therebetween promotes smooth axial movement of the actuator 8 and also forms a predetermined appropriate gap δ between the actuator 8 and the pressure ring 15, so that the clutch ring 7 That is, the inner peripheral portion of the pressure ring 15 does not interfere with the outer peripheral portion of the lower case 8 </ b> B of the actuator 8 to generate abnormal noise, and does not disturb the operation of the clutch ring 7.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and is an overall sectional view of an example applied to a differential lock differential device.
The differential lock device according to the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.
The differential case 1 composed of left and right differential cases 1A and 1B is rotatably supported by bearings on a differential carrier 9 which is a stationary member fixed to the vehicle body, and is provided in the right differential case 1B. , Both ends of the pinion shaft 3 are fixedly supported orthogonal to the rotation axis.
A plurality of pinion gears 4 are supported on the pinion shaft 3,
Left and right side gears 5 and 6 arranged on the rotation shaft of the differential case 1 are installed by meshing bevel gears such as helical gears from both axial sides of the plurality of pinion gears 4.
Also in this embodiment, the clutch ring 7 as an operation member is slidably inserted into the hole 1C formed in the right differential case 1B, and the pressure ring 15 is fixed to the outer end face of the clutch ring 7. The retainer 8C of the actuator 8 attached to the stationary differential carrier 9 via the bracket 11 is rotatably slidably supported by the pressure ring 15, and is configured to receive an axial pressing force. Although the basic configuration is the same as that of the free running differential of FIG. 1, the present embodiment is fundamentally different from the first embodiment in that the clutch ring 7 as the operating member forms a differential gear. That is, the connection and disconnection operation is performed by engaging with the rear surface of the right side gear 6.

In this embodiment, the clutch teeth 7A formed on the axially inner end face of the clutch ring 7 as the operating member are the same as the clutch teeth 6A formed on the outer end face of the right side gear 6. A return spring 14 is disposed between these end faces so as to freely mesh with each other, and biases the clutch ring 7 outward. A disc-shaped pressure ring 15 is attached to an outer end surface of the clutch ring 7 by an attachment screw 17. Actuator 8
1 and the manner of attachment of the differential carrier 9 to the bolt hole 9A via the bracket 11 by the attachment bolt 10 are the same as those in FIG. Therefore, when a pressure fluid such as air is supplied from a pressure source (not shown),
The diaphragm chamber 16 of the actuator 8 expands, and the retainer 8C presses the clutch ring 7 inward in the axial direction via the pressure ring 15 while slidingly contacting the rotating pressure ring 15, thereby causing the clutch teeth 7A to move to the right side gear 6
By meshing and connecting to the clutch teeth 6A, the differential case 1 and the right side gear 6, which is a differential gear, are integrated into a so-called differential lock state, which makes it easy to escape from a bad road.

At this time, also in the embodiment, the centering members 12 and 13 are provided on the inner peripheral portion of the upper case 8A and the inner peripheral portion of the bracket 11, so that the actuator 8
A suitable appropriate centering function for the pressure ring 15 is provided, and a predetermined appropriate gap δ is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the lower case 8B of the actuator 8 that moves axially and the inner peripheral portion of the pressure ring 15. Therefore,
The centering member 12 interposed between the inner peripheral portion of the upper case 8A and the right differential case 1B promotes smooth axial movement of the actuator 8, and the inner peripheral portion of the clutch ring 7, ie, the pressure ring 15, It does not interfere with the outer peripheral portion of the lower case 8B and generate abnormal noise or hinder the operation of the clutch ring 7. When a predetermined appropriate gap δ is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the lower case 8B of the actuator 8 and the inner peripheral portion of the pressure ring 15, the differential carrier 9 is attached when the actuator 8 is mounted via the bracket 11. Accuracy S between the bolt hole 9A and the mounting bolt 10
The installation work is simplified.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, within the scope of the present invention, the type of a free-running differential or a differential lock differential as a differential, and the differences between these differentials are described. Type of dynamic gear, shape and type of inner case, type of engagement of inner case or side gear with clutch ring, type of clutch ring that constitutes operating member and its fixed form with pressure ring, installation form in differential case, actuator The shape of each case and the retainer, the shape of the diaphragm chamber and their related structures, the form of sliding contact of the retainer with the pressure ring, the shape of the bracket for attaching the actuator to the differential carrier and the form of its attachment to the differential carrier, and the centering member Material and its actuator Rui may suitably selected for interposed forms and the like to the bracket.

[0017]

As described in detail above, the present invention relates to a free-running differential device in which a rotational driving force is connected from a differential case to a differential gear by an actuator operated by a predetermined power and an operating member. ,
A centering member is interposed between the inner peripheral portion of the actuator and the outer peripheral portion of the differential case to attach the actuator to the stationary member, so that a predetermined appropriate gap is formed between the actuator and the operating member. Therefore, when mounting the actuator via the bracket or the like, there is no need to be concerned with the mounting accuracy to a stationary member such as a differential carrier, and the mounting operation is simplified. In addition, when the rotational driving force on the differential case side is transmitted to the differential gear by the actuator and the operating member, the centering member interposed between the inner peripheral portion of the actuator and the outer peripheral portion of the differential case provides a smooth shaft for the actuator. Promotes the movement and forms a predetermined appropriate gap between the actuator and the operating member, so that the inner peripheral portion of the operating member interferes with the outer peripheral portion of the actuator to generate abnormal noise or to operate the operating member. Since there is no hindrance, quick operation can be ensured without impairing the responsiveness of the free running differential.

Further, in a differential lock differential device in which a lock connection between a differential case and a differential gear is made by an actuator and an operation member operated by a predetermined power,
When the actuator is attached to the stationary member with a centering member interposed between the inner peripheral portion of the actuator and the outer peripheral portion of the differential case, a predetermined appropriate When the actuator is mounted via a bracket or the like, there is no need to focus on the accuracy of mounting on a stationary member such as a differential carrier, and the mounting operation is simplified. In addition, when the differential case and the differential gear are integrated by the actuator and the operating member, the centering member interposed between the inner peripheral portion of the actuator and the outer peripheral portion of the differential case makes the axial movement of the actuator smooth. Facilitates and forms a predetermined appropriate gap between the actuator and the operating member, so that the inner peripheral portion of the operating member interferes with the outer peripheral portion of the actuator to generate abnormal noise or hinder the operation of the operating member. As a result, a quick differential lock operation can be ensured without impairing the responsiveness of the differential lock differential device.

Furthermore, the actuator is configured to be attached to a stationary member by a bracket,
When a centering member is provided between the inner peripheral portion of the bracket and the outer peripheral portion of the differential case, the centering member is joined at the inner peripheral portion of the bracket having relatively less restrictions than the inner peripheral portion of the actuator. The installation work is easy. As described above, according to the present invention, a smooth and reliable operation of the actuator can be ensured without depending on mounting errors, and a highly reliable and low-cost actuator for a differential device is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a differential device according to the present invention, and is an example of a free running differential device applied to a free running differential device, and is an overall sectional view of the free running differential device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1, showing before and after operation of an actuator.

FIG. 3 shows the second embodiment of the present invention and is an overall sectional view of an example applied to a differential lock differential device.

FIG. 4 is an overall cross-sectional view of a free-running differential as the background of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 differential case 1A left differential case 1B right differential case 1C hole 2 inner case 2A clutch teeth 3 pinion shaft 4 pinion gear 5 left side gear 6 right side gear 7 clutch ring (operation member) 7A clutch teeth 8 actuator 8A upper case 8B lower case 8C retainer 9 A Hole 10 Mounting bolt 11 Bracket 12 Centering member 13 Centering member 14 Return spring 15 Pressure ring 16 Diaphragm chamber 17 Mounting screw S Fitting accuracy δ Gap

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A differential device for transmitting a rotational driving force of a differential case to a left and right side gear disposed on a rotation shaft of the differential case through a differential gear by transmitting the torque to the differential gear from the differential case to the differential gear. A free-running differential device in which the rotational driving force is connected by an actuator operated by a predetermined power and an operating member, wherein a centering member is provided between an inner peripheral portion of the actuator and an outer peripheral portion of the differential case. A free running differential configured to be attached to a stationary member. 2. A differential device for transmitting a rotational driving force of a differential case by distributing torque to left and right side gears disposed on a rotation shaft of the differential case through a differential gear, wherein the differential case, the differential gear and A differential connection made by an actuator actuated by a predetermined power and an operating member, wherein a centering member is interposed between an inner peripheral portion of the actuator and an outer peripheral portion of the differential case to make the actuator a stationary member. A differential lock differential device characterized by being configured to be attached. 3. A differential device for transmitting a rotational driving force of a differential case to a left and right side gear disposed on a rotation shaft of the differential case through a differential gear by transmitting the torque to the differential gear from the differential case to the differential gear. In the free running differential device in which the rotational driving force is connected by an actuator and an operating member operated by a predetermined power, the actuator is attached to a stationary member by a bracket, and an inner peripheral portion of the bracket and a differential case are connected. A free running differential, wherein a centering member is interposed between the outer peripheral portion and the centering member. 4. A differential device for transmitting a rotational driving force of a differential case to a left and right side gears disposed on a rotation shaft of the differential case through a differential gear by transmitting the torque to the differential case. A differential connection made by an actuator operated by a predetermined power and an operating member, wherein the actuator is configured to be attached to a stationary member by a bracket, and an inner peripheral portion of the bracket and an outer peripheral portion of the differential case are connected. A differential lock differential device comprising a centering member interposed therebetween.