JP2018059606A - Differential device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a differential device which does not require to operate an actuator while running in a four-wheel drive state, and which can suppress deterioration of engagement strength of a clutch member while suppressing increase in the number of components and assembly man-hours.SOLUTION: A differential device 1 includes a differential mechanism 3, a differential case 2, a clutch member 5, an actuator 6 and a wave washer 8. The actuator 6 presses the clutch member 5 via a through-hole 222a penetrating the differential case 2 in an axial direction. The clutch member 5 has a first engagement part 51. At the differential case 2, a second engagement part 224 is provided at a position opposing to the first engagement part 51 in the axial direction, and the through-hole 222a is formed at a position which does not oppose to the first engagement part 51. While the actuator 6 is not operating, the first engagement part 51 and the second engagement part 224 are engaged with each other by an energization force of the wave washer 8, and the engagement is released by the operation of the actuator 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a differential device.

  Conventionally, it is mounted on a four-wheel drive vehicle having main drive wheels and auxiliary drive wheels, and distributes the drive force of the drive source to the left and right auxiliary drive wheels while allowing the differential to be driven, and the drive force to these auxiliary drive wheels. There is known a differential device capable of interrupting transmission of the signal (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  The differential device described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 is arranged to be movable in the axial direction in the outer case, the inner case disposed in the outer case, the differential mechanism accommodated in the inner case, and the outer case. And an actuator that moves the clutch member in the axial direction. The actuator is disposed outside the outer case. The axial movement of the clutch member can be switched between a connected state in which the outer case and the inner case are connected in a relatively non-rotatable manner and a non-connected state in which the inner case is relatively rotatable with respect to the outer case. In this connected state, the driving force input to the outer case is distributed from the differential mechanism to the left and right auxiliary drive wheels, and the vehicle is in a four-wheel drive state. Further, in the non-connected state, the transmission of the driving force to the auxiliary driving wheel is cut off, and the two-wheel driving state in which the driving force is transmitted only to the main driving wheel is achieved.

  In the differential device described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of meshing teeth are formed on the opposing surfaces of the inner case and the clutch member, and the elastic device is disposed between the inner surface of the outer case and the axial end surface of the clutch member. The clutch member is biased toward the inner case by the member. The clutch member has a protrusion that passes through a hole formed through the outer case in the axial direction, and rotation with respect to the outer case is restricted. When the actuator is not operating, the clutch member is engaged with the inner case by the urging force of the elastic member, and the driving force is transmitted from the outer case to the inner case via the clutch member. Further, the actuator moves the clutch member in the axial direction against the urging force of the elastic member by the operation thereof, and releases the engagement between the clutch member and the inner case. The actuator has an electromagnet and an annular plunger that moves in the axial direction by the magnetic force of the electromagnet, and a ring made of a non-magnetic material is fixed inside the plunger. The ring has a connecting portion facing the tip of the protrusion of the clutch member inserted through the hole of the outer case, and the connecting portion and the protrusion of the clutch member are fixed by a bolt.

  In the differential device described in Patent Document 2, a plurality of meshing teeth are formed on the opposing surfaces of the outer case and the clutch member, and the clutch member is disposed so as to be axially movable and relatively non-rotatable with respect to the inner case. ing. A shift spring is disposed between the clutch member and the inner case, and this shift spring urges the clutch member in the meshing direction with the outer case. The outer case is formed with a hole that penetrates the side wall in the axial direction, and an arm of a pressure plate to which a pressing force is applied by an actuator is inserted into the hole. When the actuator is not operating, the clutch member is engaged with the outer case by the biasing force of the shift spring, and the driving force is transmitted from the outer case to the inner case via the clutch member. Further, the actuator presses the clutch member through the pressure plate by its operation, and releases the engagement between the clutch member and the outer case. In the radial direction of the outer case, the plurality of meshing teeth and the hole are formed at the same position. That is, on the inner surface of the side wall of the outer case facing the clutch member in the axial direction, a plurality of meshing teeth are formed in a part in the circumferential direction, and a hole is formed in a portion where these meshing teeth are not formed.

  According to the differential device configured as described above, it is not necessary to operate the actuator when traveling in a four-wheel drive state, and even when traveling on a low μ road such as a snowy road for a long time, Heat generation and power consumption can be suppressed.

JP 2009-228840 A JP-A-10-78110

  In the differential device described in Patent Document 1, the actuator moves the protrusion of the clutch member so as to be pulled out from the hole of the outer case by its operation, so that the connection portion of the ring and the protrusion of the clutch member as described above Must be fixed with bolts, and this fixing increases the number of parts and the number of assembly steps.

  Moreover, in the differential device described in Patent Document 2, since the plurality of meshing teeth and the hole are formed at the same position in the radial direction of the outer case, some of the plurality of meshing teeth of the clutch member The meshing teeth will not mesh with the meshing teeth of the outer case. For this reason, the meshing strength is reduced, and there is a possibility that the driving force that can be transmitted from the outer case to the inner case via the clutch member may be limited. That is, the meshing portion between the clutch member and the outer case tends to be the weakest part in driving force transmission.

  Therefore, the present invention does not require an actuator to be operated when traveling in a four-wheel drive state, and suppresses a decrease in meshing strength at the meshing portion of the clutch member while suppressing an increase in the number of parts and assembly man-hours. The object is to provide a possible differential.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has at least three rotating elements, and the driving force input to the first rotating element among the plurality of rotating elements is differentiated between the second and third rotating elements. A differential mechanism that allows movement to be transmitted; a differential case that accommodates the differential mechanism; and a differential case that is movably disposed in an axial direction parallel to a rotation axis of the differential case. A clutch member that can be coupled to the one rotating element so as not to be relatively rotatable, an actuator that generates a pressing force that presses the clutch member to one side in the axial direction, and the clutch member in the axial direction. A biasing member that biases to the other side, and the actuator presses the clutch member through a through-hole penetrating the differential case in the axial direction, and the clutch member is formed by the through-hole. A first meshing portion having a plurality of meshing teeth on a surface facing the side wall of the differential case, and the side wall of the differential case has a plurality of positions at positions facing the first meshing portion and the axial direction. A biasing force of the biasing member is provided when a second meshing portion having meshing teeth is provided, the through hole is formed at a position not facing the first meshing portion, and the actuator does not generate the pressing force. The first meshing portion and the second meshing portion are meshed with each other so that the differential case and the one rotating element are connected to each other so as not to rotate relative to each other, and the first meshing portion is caused by the pressing force generated by the operation of the actuator. And the second engagement portion are disengaged from each other.

  According to the differential device of the present invention, it is not necessary to operate the actuator during traveling in a four-wheel drive state, and the meshing strength of the meshing portion of the clutch member is reduced while suppressing an increase in the number of parts and assembly man-hours. Can be suppressed.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the differential gear which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of a differential. It is the top view which looked at the 2nd case member of the differential from the 1st case member side. It is the perspective view which shows the clutch member of a differential gear, (a) is the perspective view seen from the 1st meshing part side, (b) is the perspective view seen from the cylindrical part side. It is sectional drawing which expands a part of differential device and shows operation | movement of a differential device, and shows the non-operation state of an actuator. It is sectional drawing which expands a part of differential device and shows operation | movement of a differential device, and shows the operating state of an actuator. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows a part of differential device which concerns on one modification of this invention.

[Embodiment]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, although embodiment described below is shown as a suitable specific example in implementing this invention, although there are some parts which have illustrated various technical matters that are technically preferable. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this specific embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of a differential device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the differential. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the second case member of the differential device as viewed from the first case member side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a clutch member of the differential gear. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an operation of the differential device by enlarging a part of the differential device, and shows a non-actuated state of the actuator. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of the differential device by enlarging a part of the differential device, and illustrating an operation state of the actuator.

(Configuration of differential device)
The differential device 1 includes a pair of left and right main drive wheels (for example, front wheels) to which the driving force of a driving source such as an engine is always transmitted, and a pair of left and right auxiliary drives to which the driving force of the driving source is transmitted according to a running state It is mounted on a four-wheel drive vehicle having wheels (for example, rear wheels), and is used as a differential device that distributes drive force to the left and right wheels of the auxiliary drive wheels. Further, the differential device 1 can intermittently transmit the driving force to the auxiliary driving wheels. When the driving force is transmitted only to the main driving wheel, the vehicle is in a two-wheel driving state, and when the driving force is transmitted to the main driving wheel and the auxiliary driving wheel, the vehicle is in a four-wheel driving state. In the four-wheel drive state, the differential device 1 distributes the input driving force to the left and right drive shafts on the auxiliary drive wheel side.

  The differential device 1 includes a differential case 2 rotatably supported via a pair of bearings 91 and 92 on a differential carrier 9 as an accommodating member fixed to the vehicle body, a differential mechanism 3 accommodated in the differential case 2, A clutch mechanism 4 is provided between the differential case 2 and the differential mechanism 3 for transmitting the driving force in an intermittent manner. Lubricating oil (diff oil) for lubricating the differential mechanism 3 is introduced into the differential case 2.

  The differential case 2 is formed by coupling a first case member 21 and a second case member 22 that are arranged in parallel in the direction of the rotation axis O. The first case member 21 is formed by forging, for example, and has a disk shape that covers the opening of the second case member 22. The flange portion 212 that abuts the flange portion 223 of the second case member 22 is integrated with the first case member 21. Have. Further, the first case member 21 is formed with a shaft insertion hole 21 a into which a drive shaft connected to one side gear 32 of the pair of side gears 32 so as not to be relatively rotatable is inserted.

  The second case member 22 has a bottomed cylindrical shape that accommodates the differential mechanism 3 and the clutch member 5, and the cylindrical part 221 and the end part of the cylindrical part 221 on the first case member 21 side are: A side wall 222 extending inward from one end on the opposite side and a flange 223 projecting outward from the other end of the cylindrical portion 221 are integrally provided.

  A through hole 222 a that penetrates the differential case 2 in the axial direction parallel to the rotation axis O is formed in the side wall 222 at a position that does not face meshing teeth 510 of the first meshing portion 51 of the clutch member 5 described later. In the present embodiment, a plurality of (four) through holes 222 a are formed in the side wall 222 at intervals of about 90 degrees in the circumferential direction of the differential case 2. Further, a shaft insertion hole 222b into which a drive shaft connected to one side gear 32 of the pair of side gears 32 so as not to be relatively rotatable is inserted in the side wall 222. The plurality of through holes 222a and the shaft insertion hole 222b penetrate the side wall 222 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis O. Further, a second meshing portion 224 having a plurality of meshing teeth 220 is provided on the inner surface of the side wall 222 (the surface facing the first case member 21). The plurality of meshing teeth 220 are provided at equal intervals over the entire circumference in a partial region in the radial direction on the inner surface of the side wall 222.

  A driving force is input to the differential case 2 from a ring gear 23 (see FIG. 1) fixed to the flange portions 212 and 223 of the first and second case members 21 and 22. In the present embodiment, a plurality of bolt insertion holes 212a formed in the flange portion 212 of the first case member 21 and a plurality of bolt insertion holes 223a formed in the flange portion 223 of the second case member 22, respectively. The ring gear 23 is fixed so as to rotate integrally with the differential case 2 by a plurality of fastening bolts 24 inserted. The fastening bolt 24 has a head portion 241 that abuts on the flange portion 212 of the first case member 21, and a shaft portion 242 having a male screw formed through the bolt insertion holes 212 a and 223 a and screwed into the screw hole 23 a of the ring gear 23. Match.

  The first case member 21 and the second case member 22 are coupled by a plurality of coupling bolts 25 (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, the first case member 21 and the second case member 22 are coupled by the four coupling bolts 25 before the ring gear 23 is fastened. In FIG. 2, three of these coupling bolts 25 are shown. The coupling bolt 25 is inserted into a bolt insertion hole 223 b formed in the flange portion 223 of the second case member 22 and screwed into a screw hole 212 b formed in the first case member 21.

  The differential mechanism 3 has at least three rotating elements, and allows the second and third rotating elements to differentially drive the driving force input to the first rotating element among these rotating elements. Can be transmitted. In the present embodiment, the differential mechanism 3 has a pair of pinion shafts 30, four pinion gears 31, and a pair of side gears 32 as rotating elements. The pair of pinion shafts 30 is an aspect of the first rotating element, and the pair of side gears 32 is an aspect of the second and third rotating elements. Of the four pinion gears 31, two pinion gears 31 are pivotally supported by one pinion shaft 30, and the other two pinion gears 31 are pivotally supported by the other pinion shaft 30. The pinion gear 31 and the side gear 32 are composed of bevel gears, and mesh with each other with the gear shafts orthogonal to each other.

  The left and right drive shafts are coupled to the pair of side gears 32 so as not to rotate relative to each other. Between the pair of side gears 32 and the first case member 21 and the second case member 22, annular plate washers 34 are respectively disposed. The pinion gear 31 and the side gear 32 have a plurality of gear teeth, but these gear teeth are not shown in FIG.

  Each pinion shaft 30 includes a pair of engaged portions 301 that are engaged with a clutch member 5 of the clutch mechanism 4 described later, a pair of pinion gear support portions 302 that are inserted through the pinion gear 31, and a pair of pinion gear support portions 302. A connecting portion 303 to be connected is integrally formed, and is formed in a shaft shape as a whole. The pair of engaged portions 301 are provided at both ends of the pinion shaft 30, and the connecting portion 303 is provided at the center portion in the axial direction of the pinion shaft 30. The pair of pinion gear support portions 302 is provided between each of the pair of engaged portions 301 and the connecting portion 303 and pivotally supports the pinion gear 31.

  The pair of pinion shafts 30 are meshed with each other at the center in the axial direction. Specifically, the coupling portion 303 of the other pinion shaft 30 is fitted into the recess 300 formed between the pair of pinion gear support portions 302 in the one pinion shaft 30, and the pair of pinion gears in the other pinion shaft 30. The connecting portion 303 of one pinion shaft 30 is fitted in the recess 300 formed between the support portions 302. The pair of pinion shafts 30 are orthogonal to each other when viewed along the rotation axis O of the differential case 2.

  The clutch mechanism 4 includes a clutch member 5 that is movable in the central axis direction along the rotation axis O of the differential case 2, an actuator 6 that generates a pressing force that presses the clutch member 5 to one side in the central axis direction, the clutch member 5, and the actuator 6 and a wave washer 8 as an urging member for urging the clutch member 5 to the other side in the central axis direction. The clutch member 5 is disposed inside the differential case 2, more specifically, between the differential mechanism 3 and the cylindrical portion 221 of the second case member 22. The actuator 6 is disposed outside the differential case 2, more specifically, outside the side wall 222 of the second case member 22. The transmission member 7 has a leg portion 72 inserted through the through hole 222a. With this configuration, the actuator 6 presses the clutch member 5 through the through hole 222a.

  The clutch member 5 has a cylindrical shape whose central axis coincides with the rotational axis O of the differential case 2, and is relatively movable in the central axial direction along the rotational axis O of the differential case 2 with respect to the differential mechanism 3 and is not relatively rotatable. Is arranged. The clutch member 5 is formed by forging a steel material, and has a plurality of meshing teeth 510 provided on the surface facing the side wall 222 of the second case member 22 as shown in FIGS. 1 engaging portion 51 and a cylindrical portion 53 that extends from the first engaging portion 51 side to the first case member 21 side and is formed with an engaging portion 530 that the pinion shaft 30 engages in the circumferential direction. Have.

  On the inner surface of the side wall 222 of the second case member 22, a second engagement portion 224 is provided at a position facing the first engagement portion 51 and the central axis direction along the rotation axis O of the differential case 2. The first meshing portion 51 meshes with the second meshing portion 224 of the second case member case 22 in the circumferential direction. The through hole 222 a is formed on the outer peripheral side of the second meshing portion 224. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the through hole 222 a is formed so as to open to a part of the outer diameter side of the meshing tooth 220 in the radial direction of the second case member 22. The meshing teeth 510 of one meshing portion 51 are meshed with the meshing teeth 220 on the inner diameter side of the through hole 222a as a whole. However, the plurality of meshing teeth 220 may be formed only inside the through hole 222a.

  The engaging portion 530 of the clutch member 5 is formed as a groove that penetrates between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical portion 53 and extends in the central axis direction of the clutch member 5. Further, the cylindrical portion 53 of the clutch member 5 has an annular receiving surface 53 c that receives an urging force of a wave washer 8 as an urging member, which will be described later, on an end surface opposite to the first meshing portion 51.

  The engaged portions 301 provided at both ends of the pinion shaft 30 are engaged with the engaging portions 530. When the engaged portion 301 of the pinion shaft 30 is engaged with the engaging portion 530 of the clutch member 5, the clutch member 5 moves relative to the pinion shaft 30 in the axial direction parallel to the rotational axis O of the differential case 2. Possible and non-rotatable. In other words, the clutch member 5 is disposed so as to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the differential case 2 and can connect the differential case 2 and the pinion shaft 30 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The plurality of pinion gears 31 rotate (revolve) together with the clutch member 5 around the rotation axis O of the differential case 2. In the present embodiment, the engaged portions 301 provided at both ends of the pair of pinion shafts 30 are engaged with the clutch member 5, so that four engaging portions 530 are formed in the cylindrical portion 53. Yes.

  A washer 33 is disposed between the back surface 31 a of the plurality of pinion gears 31 and the inner peripheral surface 53 a of the cylindrical portion 53 of the clutch member 5. In the washer 33, the inner surface 33a facing the back surface 31a of the pinion gear 31 has a partial spherical shape, and the outer surface 33b facing the inner peripheral surface 53a of the cylindrical portion 53 of the clutch member 5 has a planar shape. When the pinion gear 31 rotates (rotates) around the pinion shaft 30, the back surface 31 a of the pinion gear 31 slides on the inner surface 33 a of the washer 33. When the clutch member 5 moves in the central axis direction with respect to the pinion shaft 30, the inner peripheral surface 53 a of the cylindrical portion 53 of the clutch member 5 slides on the outer surface 33 b of the washer 33.

  The transmission member 7 includes an annular portion 71 that contacts the side wall 222 of the second case member 22, and a plurality of leg portions 72 that extend from the annular portion 71 in parallel with the rotation axis O of the differential case 2. ing. The plurality of leg portions 72 are inserted into the through holes 222a and slide with the axial end surface 53b of the cylindrical portion 53 of the clutch member 5 on the side where the first meshing portion 51 is provided. In the present embodiment, the transmission member 7 is provided with four leg portions 72, and these leg portions 72 are arranged equally in the circumferential direction of the annular portion 71, in other words, about every 90 degrees. The transmission member 7 is formed by pressing a steel plate, and the distal end portion of the leg portion 72 (the end portion opposite to the base end portion on the annular portion 71 side) is bent inward. Each of the leg portions 72 of the transmission member 7 is inserted into the plurality of through holes 222a. Further, the axial end surface 53b of the cylindrical portion 53 of the clutch member 5 that slides with the leg portion 72 is opposed to the opening of the through hole 222a in the axial direction.

  The actuator 6 includes a coil winding 611 and an annular electromagnet 61 having a mold resin portion 612 for molding the coil winding 611, and a yoke 62 serving as a magnetic path of the magnetic flux of the electromagnet 61 generated by energization of the coil winding 611. And the axial movement of the yoke 62 relative to the second case member 22 of the differential case 2 and the armature 63 that presses the transmission member 7 while being in sliding contact with the mold resin portion 612 and guided in the direction of the rotational axis O of the differential case 2. And a regulating member 65 for regulating. The mold resin portion 612 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape along the rotation axis O. The armature 63 moves the clutch member 5 in a direction in which the first engagement portion 51 is engaged with the second engagement portion 224 of the differential case 2 by a magnetic force generated by energization of the coil winding 611. In the clutch member 5, the first engagement part 51 is engaged with the second engagement part 224 by the pressing force of the actuator 6 transmitted via the transmission member 7.

  An exciting current is supplied to the coil winding 611 from a control device (not shown) via a wire (not shown) led out from a boss portion 612c provided in the mold resin portion 612. The actuator 6 operates when an exciting current is supplied to the coil winding 611. Since the actuator 6 is disposed outside the differential case 2, current supply to the coil winding 611 is easy.

  The yoke 62 is made of a soft magnetic metal such as low carbon steel, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a cylindrical portion 621 that covers the inner peripheral surface 612 b of the mold resin portion 612 from the inside, and an axial direction of the cylindrical portion 621. A flange portion 622 that projects outward from one end portion and covers the axial end surface 612c of the mold resin portion 612 is integrally provided. The inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 621 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the differential case 2 at a portion facing the inner peripheral surface 621 a of the cylindrical portion 621.

  A stopper ring 64 is fixed to an end portion of the cylindrical portion 621 of the yoke 62 opposite to the flange portion 622. The stopper ring 64 is made of a nonmagnetic metal such as austenitic stainless steel, and includes an annular portion 641 connected to the yoke 62, a pair of projecting portions 642 that project in the axial direction from the annular portion 641 at two circumferential positions, and a projection It integrally has a folded portion 643 that is folded at an acute angle from the tip of the portion 642. The stopper ring 64 is prevented from rotating by a pair of protrusions 642 being engaged with the recess 90 of the differential carrier 9.

  The annular portion 641 faces the axial end surface 612d of the mold resin portion 612 (the end surface opposite to the axial end surface 612c facing the flange portion 622 of the yoke 62) in the axial direction. The annular portion 641 has an engaging protrusion 641 a that protrudes in the radial direction at the inner diameter end thereof, and the engaging protrusion 641 a is engaged with an engaging recess 642 a formed in the cylindrical portion 621 of the yoke 62. Match. The stopper ring 64 prevents the yoke 62 from rotating with respect to the differential carrier 9 by engaging the engaging protrusion 641a with the engaging recess 642a.

  The armature 63 is made of a soft magnetic metal such as low carbon steel, and has an annular outer ring portion 631 disposed on the outer periphery of the electromagnet 61, a side plate portion 632 facing the electromagnet 61 in the axial direction, and a shaft of the outer ring portion 631. It integrally has a flange portion 633 formed so as to protrude outward from the end portion on the differential case 2 side in the direction. The outer ring portion 631 has a cylindrical shape that covers the electromagnet 61 from the outer peripheral side. The side plate portion 632 protrudes inward from one end portion of the outer ring portion 631 in the axial direction, and faces the regulating member 65 in the axial direction. The flange portion 633 is in contact with the annular portion 71 of the transmission member 7.

  The armature 63 is supported by the electromagnet 61 with the inner peripheral surface 631 a of the outer ring portion 631 in contact with the outer peripheral surface 612 a of the mold resin portion 612. When the armature 63 moves in the axial direction, the inner peripheral surface 631a of the outer ring portion 631 slides on the outer peripheral surface 612a of the mold resin portion 612.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the side plate 632 of the armature 63 flows through the engagement hole 632a that engages with the protrusion 642 of the stopper ring 64, the insertion hole 632b through which the boss 612c of the electromagnet 61 is inserted, and the lubricating oil. A plurality of (9 in the example shown in FIG. 2) oil holes 632c are formed. Further, a surface 71a of the annular portion 71 of the transmission member 7 on the side opposite to the differential case 2 is in contact with the surface 633a of the flange portion 633 on the differential case 2 side. The armature 63 is prevented from being detached from the stopper ring 64 by the folded-back portion 643 of the stopper ring 64 and is prevented from rotating with respect to the differential carrier 9 by the protrusions 642 engaging with the engagement holes 632a. The protrusion 642 of the stopper ring 64 is engaged with the differential carrier 9 through the engagement hole 632a.

  The restricting member 65 is an annular member made of a soft magnetic metal such as low carbon steel, and is disposed between the stopper ring 64 and the annular portion 632 of the armature 63. Further, the inner end of the restricting member 65 is fixed to the end of the cylindrical portion 621 of the yoke 62 by welding, for example, and the axial movement of the stopper ring 64 relative to the cylindrical portion 621 of the yoke 62 is restricted. Yes.

  Between the first case member 21 and the differential mechanism 3, a wave washer 8 is disposed as an annular urging member made of an elastic body. The wave washer 8 is externally fitted to an annular protrusion 213 provided on the end surface of the first case member 21 on the second case member 22 side, and is in contact with the receiving surface 53 c at the tip of the cylindrical portion 53 of the clutch member 5. . The wave washer 8 is disposed in a compressed state in the central axis direction of the clutch member 5. The clutch member 5 is urged toward the side wall 222 of the second case member 22 by the urging force (restoring force) of the wave washer 8.

  In this embodiment, the urging member is the wave washer 8. However, the urging member may be formed by a coil spring or rubber. In the present embodiment, the wave washer 8 has an annular shape disposed between the differential mechanism 3 and the first case member 21, but is not limited to this, and the receiving surface of the cylindrical portion 53 of the clutch member 5. The urging members may be arranged at a plurality of locations facing 53c.

(Differential operation)
In the differential device 1, the first engagement portion 51 and the second engagement portion 224 are engaged in the circumferential direction by the operation and non-operation of the actuator 6, and the clutch member 5 and the differential case 2 are connected so as not to be relatively rotatable. The connection state and the non-connection state in which the clutch member 5 and the differential case 2 are relatively rotatable are switched.

  When the exciting current is not supplied to the coil winding 611 of the electromagnet 61, that is, when the actuator 6 is not operated so as not to generate a pressing force, the clutch member 5 is moved to the second case member 22 by the urging force of the wave washer 8. The first engagement portion 51 and the second engagement portion 224 are engaged with each other by being biased toward the side wall 222, and the differential case 2 and the clutch member 5 are connected so as not to be relatively rotatable. Thus, the differential case 2 and the pinion shaft 30 are connected so as not to be relatively rotatable. In addition, the armature 63 is an initial stage where the plate portion 632 contacts the folded portion 643 of the stopper ring 64 by the urging force of the wave washer 8 transmitted through the clutch member 5 and the transmission member 7 when the electromagnet 61 is not energized. Return to position.

  When the actuator 6 is inactive, the first meshing portion 51 and the second meshing portion 224 are meshed, and the driving force input from the ring gear 23 to the first case member 21 of the differential case 2 is applied to the clutch member 5, The vehicle is transmitted to the drive shaft via the pair of pinion shafts 30, the four pinion gears 31, and the pair of side gears 32 of the differential mechanism 3, and the vehicle is in a four-wheel drive state.

  When an excitation current is supplied to the coil winding 611 of the electromagnet 61, the side plate portion 632 of the armature 63 moves to the flange 622 side (see FIG. 5) of the yoke 62 by the magnetic force of the electromagnet 61. Thereby, the transmission member 7 presses the clutch member 5 toward the first case member 21, and the meshing between the first meshing portion 51 and the second meshing portion 224 is released. Specifically, the transmission member 7 receives the pressing force of the actuator 6 from the surface 71a opposite to the differential case 2 in the annular portion 71 via the flange portion 633 of the armature 63, and the clutch member 5 is moved by this pressing force. 1 to the case member 21 side.

  When the meshing between the first meshing part 51 and the second meshing part 224 is released, the differential case 2 and the clutch member 5 can be rotated relative to each other, so that the driving force is transmitted from the differential case 2 to the differential mechanism 3. Blocked. As a result, the driving force input from the ring gear 23 to the differential case 2 is not transmitted to the drive shaft, and the vehicle enters a two-wheel drive state.

  The position of the armature 63 in the axial direction is detected by a position sensor 93 fixed to the differential carrier 9, and the detection signal is transmitted to the control device. The position sensor 93 has a rod 931 that contacts the side plate portion 632 of the armature 63. The control device can recognize the position of the armature 63 based on the detection signal of the position sensor 93, and can determine whether or not the first meshing portion 51 and the second meshing portion 224 are meshed.

  The control device supplies an excitation current having a large current value that can quickly move the clutch member 5 to the electromagnet 61 when the actuator 6 is changed from the non-operating state to the operating state, and then the first meshing portion 51. When the engagement between the first engagement portion 224 and the second engagement portion 224 is determined to be released, the current value of the excitation current is determined based on the state where the engagement between the first engagement portion 51 and the second engagement portion 224 is released. The current value is reduced to a relatively small value that can maintain the current. Thereby, power consumption can be reduced.

(Modification)
FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the differential according to the modification. In the above-described embodiment, the through hole 222 a is formed on the outer peripheral side of the second meshing portion 224, the transmission member 7 has the distal end portion of the leg portion 72 bent inward, and the annular portion 71 is formed on the armature 63. Although configured so as to abut on a flange portion 633 formed to protrude outward from the outer ring portion 631, as shown in FIG. 7, the through hole 222 a has a plurality of meshing teeth 220 of the second meshing portion 224. It can also be configured such that it is formed on the inner peripheral side, the distal end portion of the leg portion 72 is bent inward, and the annular portion 71 abuts on the inner peripheral side of the side plate portion 632 of the armature 63. In this case, the flange portion 633 may not be provided in the armature 63.

(Operation and effect of the embodiment)
According to the first embodiment and the modification thereof described above, the first meshing portion 51 of the clutch member 5 and the second meshing portion 224 of the differential case 2 are meshed with each other by the urging force of the wave washer 8. It becomes a four-wheel drive state. For this reason, it is not necessary to energize the electromagnet 61 when traveling in the four-wheel drive state.

  Further, when the actuator 6 presses the clutch member 5 through the through-hole 222a formed in the side wall 222 of the second case member 22, the engagement between the first engagement portion 51 and the second engagement portion 224 is achieved. Therefore, it is unnecessary to fix the armature 63 and the transmission member 7 and the transmission member 7 and the clutch member 5 so that they cannot be separated from each other. For this reason, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts and assembly man-hours.

  Furthermore, since the through hole 222 of the differential case 2 is formed at a position that does not oppose the first meshing portion 51 of the clutch member 5 in the axial direction, all of the plurality of meshing teeth 510 of the first meshing portion 51 are formed. It is possible to mesh with the plurality of meshing teeth 220 of the second meshing portion 224 and suppress a decrease in meshing strength at the first and second meshing portions 51, 224.

(Appendix)
The present invention has been described above based on the first embodiment and its modifications. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be implemented. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the clutch case 5 connects and disconnects the differential case 2 and the pinion shaft 30 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The differential case and the one side gear may be connected so as not to be relatively rotatable by a member. In this case, the axial movement of the clutch member can switch between a state where the differential of the pair of side gears is allowed and a differential lock state where the differential of the pair of side gears is not allowed. In the differential lock state, the clutch member is engaged with the differential case by the urging force of the wave washer, and when releasing the differential lock state, the actuator presses the clutch member through the through hole of the differential case.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Differential device 2 ... Differential case 220 ... Meshing tooth 222 ... Side wall 222a ... Through-hole 224 ... 2nd meshing part 3 ... Differential mechanism 5 ... Clutch member 51 ... 1st meshing part 510 ... Meshing tooth 6 ... Actuator 7 ... Transmission member 72 ... Leg 8 ... Wave washer (biasing member)
O ... Rotation axis

Claims (5)

A differential mechanism having at least three rotating elements and transmitting the driving force input to the first rotating element among the plurality of rotating elements while allowing a differential to be transmitted to the second and third rotating elements;
A differential case that houses the differential mechanism;
A clutch member disposed so as to be movable in an axial direction parallel to the rotation axis of the differential case, and capable of connecting the differential case and any one of the plurality of rotating elements so as not to be relatively rotatable;
An actuator for generating a pressing force for pressing the clutch member to one side in the axial direction;
A biasing member that biases the clutch member to the other side in the axial direction,
The actuator presses the clutch member through a through-hole penetrating the differential case in the axial direction;
The clutch member has a first meshing portion having a plurality of meshing teeth on a surface facing the side wall of the differential case in which the through hole is formed,
The side wall of the differential case is provided with a second meshing portion having a plurality of meshing teeth at a position facing the first meshing portion in the axial direction, and at a position not facing the first meshing portion. A through hole is formed,
When the actuator does not generate the pressing force, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are engaged with each other by the urging force of the urging member so that the differential case and the one rotation element cannot be rotated relative to each other. Concatenated,
The meshing between the first meshing portion and the second meshing portion is released by the pressing force due to the operation of the actuator.
Differential device. The actuator includes a transmission member that transmits the pressing force to the clutch member,
The transmission member has a leg portion inserted through the through hole, and presses the clutch member via the leg portion.
The differential device according to claim 1. The clutch member is formed at a position where a sliding surface sliding with the leg portion faces the through hole in the axial direction.
The differential device according to claim 2. The through hole is formed on the inner peripheral side of the second meshing portion,
The differential device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The through hole is formed on the outer peripheral side of the second meshing portion,
The differential device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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