JP6583369B2 - Differential equipment for four-wheel drive vehicles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a differential device for a four-wheel drive vehicle provided in a power transmission path from a drive source to auxiliary drive wheels.

  As a four-wheel drive vehicle, it is composed of an engine as a drive source, a transmission, and a differential device for front wheels, and is mounted on the front portion of the vehicle body to drive left and right front wheels as main drive wheels. A transfer is provided, a propeller shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is connected to the transfer, a rear wheel differential device is connected to the rear end portion thereof, and left and right rear wheels as auxiliary drive wheels can be driven. Are known.

  In the four-wheel drive vehicle, a coupling that can vary the transmission torque may be disposed on the propeller shaft, and the output torque of the drive source is evenly distributed between the front wheels and the rear wheels by completely fastening the coupling. It becomes a four-wheel drive state to be transmitted, and by completely releasing the coupling, it becomes a two-wheel drive state in which the output torque of the drive source is transmitted only to the front wheels, and in the middle of the complete coupling and complete release of the coupling The distribution of torque transmitted to the rear wheels is adjusted according to the engaged state.

  In addition, the transfer has a pair of bevel gears that mesh with each other, more specifically, the shaft center of the front wheel differential, in order to transmit power from the front wheel differential extending in the vehicle width direction to the propeller shaft extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction. A bevel gear provided above and a bevel gear provided on the axis of the propeller shaft are used.

  In the four-wheel drive vehicle, the four-wheel drive state in which the front wheels and the rear wheels are driven is compared with the two-wheel drive state in which only the front wheels are driven, and the drive loss is accompanied by the distribution of the output torque of the drive source to the rear wheels. Since the fuel consumption increases and the fuel consumption deteriorates, the vehicle is usually driven in the two-wheel drive state, and the four-wheel drive state is set only when necessary.

  However, during two-wheel drive, the drive system on the rear wheel side such as the propeller shaft from the bevel gear to the rear wheel and the rear wheel differential in the transfer rotates in a non-power transmission state where power is not transmitted. Abnormal noise due to gearing can occur between gears provided, for example, between a pair of gears such as a pair of bevel gears provided on a transfer, and can cause noise in the vehicle interior.

  In contrast, a damper device that suppresses the occurrence of abnormal noise in the drive system on the rear wheel side during two-wheel drive is provided. It is conceivable to suppress the generation of sound.

  In order to suppress noise generated between gears during two-wheel drive, for example, in Patent Document 1, a side gear is urged against a differential case by a spring, and a gear between the side gear and pinion gear is driven during two-wheel drive. In order to suppress abnormal noise generated in the above, there is disclosed.

JP 2010-242925 A

  By the way, in the differential device for a four-wheel drive vehicle provided in the power transmission path from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheel, in order to prevent the drive shaft that is spline-fitted to the side gear from being pulled out outward in the vehicle width direction, In some cases, a clip is attached to the drive shaft and the clip is engaged with a spline portion of the side gear to prevent the drive shaft from coming off.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional differential apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of the differential apparatus shown in FIG. A differential device 100 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is for a rear wheel, which is an auxiliary drive wheel of a four-wheel drive vehicle, and a pair of pinion gears rotatably fitted to a pinion shaft 102 fixed to a differential case 101. 103 and a pair of side gears 105 that mesh with the pair of pinion gears 103 and are spline-fitted to the drive shaft 104.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the clip 106 is attached to the circumferential groove 104 b formed in the spline portion 104 a of the drive shaft 104, and the drive shaft 104 is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the spline portion 105 a of the side gear 105. The side gear 105 is spline-fitted so as to be positioned.

  In the differential device 100, when the rear wheel is moved outward in the vehicle width direction according to the road surface condition and the drive shaft 104 is moved outward in the vehicle width direction, the clip 106 attached to the drive shaft 104 is used. Is engaged with the end surface 105b of the side gear 105 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the spline portion 105a, and the drive shaft 104 is prevented from coming out outward in the vehicle width direction.

  On the other hand, when the rear wheel is moved inward in the vehicle width direction according to the road surface condition and the drive shaft 104 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, the end surface 104c of the drive shaft 104 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. Is in contact with the pinion shaft 102 and the drive shaft 104 is restricted from moving inward in the vehicle width direction.

  Thus, in the differential device for an auxiliary drive wheel that prevents the drive shaft from coming off by engaging the clip attached to the drive shaft with the spline portion of the side gear, when the drive shaft is moved inward in the vehicle width direction. In some cases, the end surface of the drive shaft on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is brought into contact with the pinion shaft to restrict the movement of the drive shaft toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

  However, in the differential apparatus, when only the main drive wheel is driven and power is not transmitted from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheel, the drive shaft is moved inward in the vehicle width direction due to the road surface condition or the like. When the end surface on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft comes into contact with the pinion shaft, noise may be generated to cause noise in the vehicle interior.

  On the other hand, by increasing the torque distribution from the two-wheel drive state to the auxiliary drive wheel and transmitting a predetermined torque to the auxiliary drive wheel, the drive shaft is prevented from moving inward in the vehicle width direction. Although it is conceivable to suppress the generation of noise due to the end surface on the inner side of the drive shaft in the vehicle width direction coming into contact with the pinion shaft, it drives the drive without transmitting torque to the auxiliary drive wheels because it deteriorates fuel consumption. It is desirable to suppress the generation of abnormal noise due to contact between the shaft and the pinion shaft.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a differential device for a four-wheel drive vehicle provided in a power transmission path from a drive source to auxiliary drive wheels, and the drive shaft is a pinion shaft during two-wheel drive in which power is not transmitted from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheels. It is an object of the present invention to suppress the generation of abnormal noise caused by contacting the

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

First, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is configured to switch between a two-wheel drive state in which only the main drive wheel is driven and a four-wheel drive state in which the main drive wheel and the auxiliary drive wheel are driven. A differential case, a pinion shaft that is fixed to the differential case and extends in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction, and a pinion gear that is rotatably fitted to the pinion shaft are provided in a power transmission path from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheel in the drive vehicle. And a side gear meshing with the pinion gear, the side gear being attached to the auxiliary drive wheel and spline-fitted to a drive shaft extending in the vehicle width direction on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the pinion shaft . A differential device, wherein the drive shaft is moved inward in the vehicle width direction when the drive shaft is moved inward in the vehicle width direction. And an end face is provided with a regulating means for regulating that abuts against the pinion shaft.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a side gear side spline portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the side gear, and a side gear side peripheral groove is provided in the side gear side spline portion. A shaft-side spline portion that is fitted to the side gear-side spline portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft, and a shaft-side circumferential groove is provided in the shaft-side spline portion. A clip is mounted across the side circumferential groove and the shaft side circumferential groove, and the restricting means is constituted by an inner portion in the vehicle width direction from the side gear side circumferential groove in the side gear side spline portion. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a seal member that seals between the drive shaft and a housing in which the differential device is housed is attached. A cover member that covers the space between the seal member and the drive shaft from the outer side in the vehicle width direction is provided on one side of the drive shaft, and the drive shaft is moved inward in the vehicle width direction to the cover member. An elastic member that is in contact with the other of the housing side and the drive shaft side is sometimes attached, and the restricting means is constituted by the elastic member.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the differential device for a four-wheel drive vehicle provided in the power transmission path from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheel, the drive shaft is moved inward in the vehicle width direction. There are sometimes provided restricting means for restricting the end surface on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft from coming into contact with the pinion shaft.

  Thus, in the differential device for auxiliary drive wheels, when the drive shaft is moved inward in the vehicle width direction during two-wheel drive in which power is not transmitted from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheels, Since the end surface on the inner side in the direction is restricted from coming into contact with the pinion shaft, it is possible to suppress the generation of noise due to the drive shaft coming into contact with the pinion shaft.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the restricting means is constituted by the inner part in the vehicle width direction from the side gear side circumferential groove in the side gear side spline part.

  Thus, when the drive shaft is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, the clip attached to the shaft side circumferential groove is engaged with the vehicle width direction inner portion of the side gear side spline portion, so that the side gear and the pinion gear are It is restricted that the pinion gear contacts the pinion shaft by moving inward in the vehicle width direction, and the end surface on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft is in contact with the pinion shaft, so that the above effect can be obtained effectively. When the pinion gear is brought into contact with the pinion shaft, the lubricating oil film formed at the fitting portion between the pinion gear and the pinion shaft can suppress the movement of the pinion gear inward in the vehicle width direction. Can be played more effectively.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the cover member that covers the space between the seal member and the drive shaft is provided on one of the housing side and the drive shaft side to which the seal member that seals the gap between the drive shaft is attached. The restricting means is constituted by an elastic member that is attached to the cover member and contacts the other of the housing side and the drive shaft side.

  As a result, when the drive shaft is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, the elastic member attached to the cover member provided on one of the housing side and the drive shaft side contacts the other of the housing side and the drive shaft side. Therefore, the end face on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft is restricted from coming into contact with the pinion shaft, and the above effect can be effectively obtained with a relatively simple configuration.

It is sectional drawing which shows the differential apparatus of the four-wheel drive vehicle which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of the differential apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the spline fitting part of a side gear and a drive shaft. It is sectional drawing which shows the differential apparatus of the four-wheel drive vehicle which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the differential apparatus of the conventional four-wheel drive vehicle. It is a principal part enlarged view of the differential apparatus shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a differential device for a four-wheel drive vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the differential device shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the differential device 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to be switchable between a two-wheel drive state in which only the front wheels are driven and a four-wheel drive state in which the front wheels and the rear wheels are driven. A drive pinion 3 that is mounted on a four-wheel drive vehicle and is for a rear wheel provided in a power transmission path from an engine as a drive source disposed at the front of the vehicle body to a rear wheel, and connected to a coupling 2 It is to be driven by.

  The differential device 1 includes a differential case 10 that is rotatably supported by a housing 4 in which the differential device 1 is housed via a bearing 5, and a ring gear 11 that is fixed to the differential case 10 and meshes with the drive pinion 3. .

  The differential device 1 also has a differential mechanism 20 housed in a differential case 10, and the differential mechanism 20 is fixed to the differential case 10 and extends in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction, and rotates to the pinion shaft 21. A pair of pinion gears 22 that are freely fitted to each other and a pair of left and right side gears 23 that mesh with the pair of pinion gears 22 are provided.

  In the pair of left and right side gears 23, the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft 24 extending in the vehicle width direction through the shaft insertion portion 4 a provided in the housing 4 and the shaft insertion portion 10 a provided in the differential case 10 is splined. It is mated. The drive shaft 24 can rotate relative to the housing 4 and the differential case 10 together with the side gear 23, and a rear wheel is attached to the outer side of the drive shaft 24 in the vehicle width direction.

  As a result, the differential device 1 is configured so that the output torque transmitted from the engine is changed between the left and right so that the output torque transmitted from the engine becomes a rotational difference in accordance with the driving situation when the coupling 2 is fastened and the front wheels and the rear wheels are driven. It is transmitted to the drive shaft 24 and transmitted to the left and right rear wheels.

  Lubricating oil is stored in the housing 4, and the lubricating oil is supplied to the gear meshing portion of the drive pinion 3 and the ring gear 11, the bearing 5, and the like to be lubricated, and the lubricating oil is also supplied to the differential case 10 to pinion. Lubricating oil is supplied to the fitting portion between the shaft 21 and the pinion gear 22, the gear meshing portion between the pinion gear 22 and the side gear 23, the spline fitting portion between the side gear 23 and the drive shaft 24, and the like. .

  Further, in order to prevent the lubricating oil stored in the housing 4 from leaking to the outside, the drive shaft 24 is connected to the housing 4, specifically to the shaft insertion portion 4 a, on the outer side in the vehicle width direction from the bearing 5. A seal member 30 for sealing the gap is attached.

  The seal member 30 is formed in a ring shape, and as shown in FIG. 2, an outer peripheral portion 31 attached to the inner peripheral surface of the shaft insertion portion 4 a of the housing 4 by press-fitting, and extends radially inward from the outer peripheral portion 31. And an inner peripheral portion 32 that is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 24.

  The inner peripheral portion 32 of the seal member 30 is inclined to the inner side in the radial direction toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the first lip portion 32a that slides on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 24 and the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The second lip portion 32b that inclines inward in the radial direction and contacts the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 24 toward the vehicle, and the first lip portion 32a and the second lip portion 32b that extend outward in the vehicle width direction and the drive. The cover part 32c which covers between the shafts 24 from the vehicle width direction outer side is provided.

  The seal member 30 has an outer peripheral portion 31 and an inner peripheral portion 32 formed using an elastic material such as rubber, and a core metal 33 integrally formed on the outer side of the outer peripheral portion 31 and the inner peripheral portion 32 in the vehicle width direction. Molded. A ring-shaped spring 34 that elastically presses the first lip portion 32a against the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 24 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the first lip portion 32a.

  A cover member 35 that covers the seal member 30, specifically, the space between the first lip portion 32 a and the second lip portion 32 b and the drive shaft 24 from the outer side in the vehicle width direction is integrated with the metal core 33 of the seal member 30. Is formed. The cover member 35 extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the core metal 33 on the radially outer side from the cover portion 32c, and extends between the first lip portion 32a and the second lip portion 32b and the drive shaft 24 in the vehicle width direction. Covering from the outside. The cover member 35 may be configured separately from the core metal 33 of the seal member 30 and attached to the housing 4.

  The drive shaft 24 to which the seal member 30 is slidably contacted is in contact with the front end portion 41 that is spline-fitted to the side gear 23, the case insertion portion 42 that is inserted into the shaft insertion portion 10 a of the differential case 10, and the seal member 30. A housing insertion portion 43 inserted into the shaft insertion portion 4 a of the housing 4, and a diameter-enlarged portion that is expanded from the housing insertion portion 43 to the outer side in the vehicle width direction and radially outward from the housing insertion portion 43. 44.

  The enlarged diameter portion 44 of the drive shaft 24 is formed larger in the radial direction than the cover member 35 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the cover member 35, and an end surface 44 a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is formed on the cover member 35 in the vehicle width direction. They are provided so as to face each other at a distance.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing a spline fitting portion between the side gear and the drive shaft. As shown in FIG. 3, the side gear side spline portion 25 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the side gear 23, and the shaft side spline portion 27 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion 41 that is the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft 24. The side gear side spline portion 25 and the shaft side spline portion 27 are fitted together to form the spline fitting portion 15 between the side gear 23 and the drive shaft 24. Both the side gear side spline part 25 and the shaft side spline part 27 are formed such that tooth traces extend in the vehicle width direction.

  The shaft-side spline portion 27 is provided with a shaft-side circumferential groove 28, and the shaft-side circumferential groove 28 is formed so as to be recessed inward in the radial direction of the drive shaft 24 along the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 24. The shaft-side spline portion 27 has a vehicle width direction inner side portion 27 a from the shaft side circumferential groove 28 and a vehicle width direction outer side portion 27 b from the shaft side circumferential groove 28.

  The side gear side circumferential groove 26 is also provided in the side gear side spline portion 25, and the side gear side circumferential groove 26 is formed so as to be recessed outward in the radial direction of the side gear 23 along the inner circumferential surface of the side gear 23. The side gear side spline portion 25 has a vehicle width direction inner side portion 25 a from the side gear side circumferential groove 26 and a vehicle width direction outer side portion 25 b from the side gear side circumferential groove 26.

  The side gear 23 and the drive shaft 24 are spline-fitted so that the side gear side circumferential groove 26 and the shaft side circumferential groove 28 overlap each other in the vehicle width direction, and the side gear side circumferential groove 26 and the shaft side circumferential groove 28. The clip 45 is mounted over the.

  A C-type clip is used as the clip 45, and the clip 45 is formed so as to be mounted across the side gear side circumferential groove 26 and the shaft side circumferential groove 28, and on the inner circumferential side of the side gear side spline portion 25. It is formed so that it can bend. The shaft side circumferential groove 28 is formed so as to accommodate the clip 45 bent toward the inner circumferential side of the side gear side spline portion 25.

  When the drive shaft 24 is inserted into the side gear 23 with the clip 45 mounted in the shaft-side circumferential groove 28, the clip 45 is bent toward the inner side of the side gear-side spline portion 25, specifically, the vehicle width direction outer portion 25b. The shaft-side circumferential groove 28 and the side gear-side circumferential groove 26 are expanded in a position where they overlap in the vehicle width direction and are mounted across the side gear-side circumferential groove 26 and the shaft-side circumferential groove 28.

  In the differential device 1, when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, the clip 45 engages with the end surface on the vehicle width direction outer side in the vehicle width direction inner portion 25 a of the side gear side spline portion 25. The side gear 23 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, the pinion gear 22 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction via the gear meshing portion of the side gear 23 and the pinion gear 22, and the pinion gear 22 is brought into contact with the pinion shaft 21. . The drive shaft 24 is provided such that an end surface 24 a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is separated from the pinion shaft 21 when the pinion gear 22 is brought into contact with the pinion shaft 21.

  Thus, the differential device 1 restricts the end surface 24a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft 24 from coming into contact with the pinion shaft 21 when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction. A restricting means is provided, and the restricting means is constituted by an inner portion 25 a in the vehicle width direction from the side gear side circumferential groove 26 in the side gear side spline portion 25.

  On the other hand, when the drive shaft 24 is moved outward in the vehicle width direction, the clip 45 engages with the end surface on the vehicle width direction inner side in the vehicle width direction outer portion 25b of the side gear side spline portion 25 to drive the drive shaft. It is suppressed that 24 falls out to the vehicle width direction outer side.

  In the present embodiment, the auxiliary drive wheel differential device 1 in a four-wheel drive vehicle in which the front wheel is the main drive wheel and the rear wheel is the auxiliary drive wheel is described. However, the rear wheel is the main drive wheel and the front wheel is assisted. The same can be applied to a differential device for auxiliary drive wheels in a four-wheel drive vehicle as drive wheels.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the differential device 1 for a four-wheel drive vehicle provided in the power transmission path from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheels is used when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction. A restricting means 25 a for restricting the end surface 24 a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft 24 from coming into contact with the pinion shaft 21 is provided.

  Thereby, in the differential device 1 for auxiliary drive wheels, when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction during two-wheel drive in which power is not transmitted from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheels, the drive shaft is controlled by the restricting means 25a. Since the end surface 24a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of 24 is restricted from coming into contact with the pinion shaft 21, it is possible to suppress the generation of noise due to the drive shaft 24 coming into contact with the pinion shaft 21.

  Further, the restricting means 25 a is configured by a vehicle width direction inner side portion 25 a from the side gear side circumferential groove 26 in the side gear side spline portion 25.

  Thereby, when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, the clip 45 mounted in the shaft side circumferential groove 28 is engaged with the vehicle width direction inner portion 25a of the side gear side spline portion 25. The side gear 23 and the pinion gear 22 are moved inward in the vehicle width direction so that the pinion gear 22 contacts the pinion shaft 21, and the end surface 24 a of the drive shaft 24 in the vehicle width direction inner side is contacted with the pinion shaft 21. Thus, the generation of abnormal noise due to the contact between the drive shaft 24 and the pinion shaft 21 can be effectively suppressed.

  When the pinion gear 22 is brought into contact with the pinion shaft 21, the lubricating oil film formed on the fitting portion 16 between the pinion gear 22 and the pinion shaft 21 prevents the pinion gear 22 from moving inward in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, as compared with the contact between the drive shaft 24 and the pinion shaft 21 where a lubricating oil film is difficult to form between the end surface 24a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft 24 and the outer peripheral surface of the pinion shaft 21, Generation of abnormal noise due to contact between the drive shaft 24 and the pinion shaft 21 can be more effectively suppressed.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a differential device for a four-wheel drive vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the differential apparatus according to the second embodiment is shown in a cross section corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3 in the differential apparatus according to the first embodiment. The differential device according to the second embodiment is the same as the differential device according to the first embodiment except that the restriction means for restricting the end surface on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft from contacting the pinion shaft is different. Therefore, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, also in the differential device 51, the side gear side spline portion 25 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the side gear 23, and the shaft side spline portion 27 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip end portion 41 of the drive shaft 24. The side spline portion 25 and the shaft side spline portion 27 are fitted to form a spline fitting portion 15 between the side gear 23 and the drive shaft 24.

  A shaft-side circumferential groove 28 is provided in the shaft-side spline portion 27, and the shaft-side circumferential groove 28 is formed so as to be recessed radially inward of the drive shaft 24 along the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 24. 27 has a vehicle width direction inner side portion 27 a from the shaft side circumferential groove 28 and a vehicle width direction outer side portion 27 b from the shaft side circumferential groove 28.

  In the differential device 51, the side gear side spline portion 25 is not provided with a side gear side circumferential groove, and only the side gear side spline portion 25 formed in the same manner as the vehicle width direction outer side portion 25 b of the side gear side spline portion 25 in the differential device 1 is provided. Is formed.

  The side gear 23 and the drive shaft 24 are spline-fitted so that the shaft-side circumferential groove 28 is positioned on the inner side in the vehicle width direction from the side gear-side spline portion 25 on the inner circumferential surface of the side gear 23. A clip 45 is attached.

  The clip 45 is bent toward the inner peripheral side of the side gear side spline portion 25 when the drive shaft 24 is inserted into the side gear 23 in a state of being attached to the shaft side peripheral groove 28, and the shaft side peripheral groove 28 is The diameter of the inner peripheral surface is increased at a position on the inner side in the vehicle width direction from the side gear side spline portion 25, and the inner peripheral surface of the side gear 23 and the shaft side peripheral groove 28 are mounted.

  Also in this embodiment, the seal member 30 that seals between the drive shaft 24 and the housing 4 is attached to the housing 4, and the metal core 33 of the seal member 30 is disposed between the seal member 30 and the drive shaft 24 outside the vehicle width direction. A cover member 35 that covers from one side is integrally formed.

  In the differential device 51, a cover member 60 that covers the space between the seal member 30 and the drive shaft 24 from the outer side in the vehicle width direction is provided on the drive shaft 24. The cover member 60 is formed into a ring shape using a metal material, is attached to the drive shaft 24 and extends in the vehicle width direction, and extends in the vehicle width direction on the radially outer side of the inner peripheral portion 61. The outer peripheral part 62, the inner peripheral part 61, and the outer peripheral part 62 are connected and the connection part 63 extended in radial direction is provided, and it is formed in cross-sectional substantially U shape.

  The cover member 60 has an inner peripheral portion 61 attached between the housing insertion portion 43 and the enlarged diameter portion 44 in the drive shaft 24, and a connecting portion 63 having a diameter on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the cover portion 32 c of the seal member 30. The outer peripheral portion 62 extends in the vehicle width direction on the radially outer side of the cover portion 32c of the seal member 30 and covers the space between the seal member 30 and the drive shaft 24 from the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

  In the present embodiment, on the housing 4 side, specifically, on the cover member 35 integrally formed on the core metal 33 of the seal member 30 attached to the housing 4, on the outer side in the vehicle width direction from the cover member 35. An elastic member 37 is attached so as to protrude. The elastic member 37 is formed in a ring shape with a substantially rectangular cross section using an elastic material such as rubber, and when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, specifically, the drive shaft. It is provided so as to come into contact with the end face 44a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the 24 enlarged diameter portions 44.

  Further, an elastic member 67 is attached to the drive shaft side, specifically, a cover member 60 attached to the drive shaft 24 so as to protrude inward in the vehicle width direction from the cover member 60. The elastic member 67 is formed in a ring shape with an approximately rectangular cross section using an elastic material such as rubber, and when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, specifically, the housing 4. It is provided so as to contact the cored bar 33 of the sealing member 30 attached to the.

  In the differential device 51, when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, the elastic member 37 attached to the cover member 35 on the housing 4 side is on the drive shaft side, specifically, the diameter of the drive shaft 24 is increased. An elastic member 67 that is in contact with the portion 44 and attached to the cover member 60 on the drive shaft side is in contact with the housing side, specifically, the metal core 33 of the seal member 30.

  The drive shaft 24 has an elastic member 37 attached to the cover member 35 on the housing 4 side in contact with the drive shaft 24 side and an elastic member 67 attached to the drive shaft side cover member 60 on the housing 4 side. The end surface 24a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is provided so as to be separated from the pinion shaft 21 when in contact.

  Thus, the differential device 51 restricts the end surface 24a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft 24 from coming into contact with the pinion shaft 21 when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction. The restricting means is provided, and the restricting means is constituted by elastic members 37 and 67 attached to the cover members 35 and 60 on the housing 4 side and the drive shaft 24 side.

  In this embodiment, the elastic member 37 is attached to the cover member 35 on the housing 4 side and the elastic member 67 is attached to the cover member 60 on the drive shaft 24 side. However, the elastic member is attached only to the cover member 35 on the housing 4 side. 37 may be attached, or the elastic member 67 may be attached only to the cover member 60 on the drive shaft 24 side.

  As described above, also in the present embodiment, the differential device 51 of the four-wheel drive vehicle provided in the power transmission path from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheel is used when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction. In addition, there are provided restricting means 37 and 67 for restricting the end surface 24a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft 24 from coming into contact with the pinion shaft 21.

  Thus, in the auxiliary drive wheel differential device 51, when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction during two-wheel drive in which power is not transmitted from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheel, the restriction means 37 and 67 Since the end surface 24a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft 24 is restricted from coming into contact with the pinion shaft 21, it is possible to suppress the generation of noise due to the drive shaft 24 coming into contact with the pinion shaft 21.

  Also, cover members 35 and 60 that cover the space between the seal member 30 and the drive shaft 24 are provided on one of the housing 4 side and the drive shaft 24 side to which the seal member 30 that seals the space between the drive shaft 24 and the drive shaft 24 is provided. The restricting means 37 and 67 are constituted by elastic members 37 and 67 which are attached to the cover members 35 and 60 and come into contact with the other of the housing 4 side and the drive shaft 24 side.

  Thus, when the drive shaft 24 is moved inward in the vehicle width direction, the elastic members 37 and 67 attached to the cover members 35 and 60 provided on one side of the housing 4 side and the drive shaft 24 side are the housings. 4 and the other side of the drive shaft 24 side, the end surface 24a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the drive shaft 24 is restricted from contacting the pinion shaft 21, and the drive shaft 24 has a relatively simple configuration. The generation of abnormal noise due to contact between the pinion shaft 21 and the pinion shaft 21 can be suppressed.

  The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and various improvements and design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the differential device for a four-wheel drive vehicle provided in the power transmission path from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheel, the generation of noise due to the contact between the drive shaft and the pinion shaft is prevented. Since it becomes possible to suppress, there exists a possibility of being utilized suitably in the manufacture industry field | area of a vehicle, such as the case where the differential apparatus mounted in a vehicle is manufactured.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,51 Differential apparatus 4 Housing 10 Differential case 21 Pinion shaft 22 Pinion gear 23 Side gear 24 Drive shaft 25 Side gear side spline part 26 Side gear side circumferential groove 27 Shaft side spline part 28 Shaft side circumferential groove 30 Seal member 35, 60 Cover members 37, 67 Elastic member 45 clip

Claims (3)

Power transmission from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheel in a four-wheel drive vehicle configured to be switchable between a two-wheel drive state for driving only the main drive wheel and a four-wheel drive state for driving the main drive wheel and the auxiliary drive wheel Auxiliary drive wheels , which are provided on a path, are a differential case, a pinion shaft that is fixed to the differential case and extends in a direction orthogonal to the vehicle width direction, a pinion gear that is rotatably fitted to the pinion shaft, and a side gear that meshes with the pinion gear. And a side gear that is spline-fitted to a drive shaft that extends in the vehicle width direction on the outer side of the pinion shaft in the vehicle width direction .
A regulation means for regulating that the end surface of the drive shaft inward in the vehicle width direction contacts the pinion shaft when the drive shaft is moved inward in the vehicle width direction;
A differential device for a four-wheel drive vehicle. A side gear side spline portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the side gear and a side gear side circumferential groove is provided in the side gear side spline portion,
A shaft-side spline portion that is fitted to the side gear-side spline portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface on the vehicle width direction inner side of the drive shaft, and a shaft-side circumferential groove is provided in the shaft-side spline portion,
A clip is mounted across the side gear side circumferential groove and the shaft side circumferential groove,
The restricting means is configured by an inner portion in the vehicle width direction from the side gear side circumferential groove in the side gear side spline portion.
The differential apparatus of the four-wheel drive vehicle of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. A seal member for sealing between the drive shaft and the drive shaft is attached to a housing in which the differential device is accommodated,
A cover member that covers the space between the seal member and the drive shaft from the outer side in the vehicle width direction is provided on one of the housing side and the drive shaft side,
An elastic member that contacts the other of the housing side and the drive shaft side when the drive shaft is moved inward in the vehicle width direction is attached to the cover member,
The restricting means is constituted by the elastic member.
The differential apparatus of the four-wheel drive vehicle of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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