JPH05106710A - Differential limiting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sufficiently supply lubricating oil to a multiple disk clutch to reduce the wear of the clutch disk by forming on the inside wall surface of an outer case a rib for recovering oil spray scratched up by a reduction gear, and an oil path to introduce the lubricating oil flowing along the rib to a downstream roller of a conical roller bearing. CONSTITUTION:A rib 9 for recovering oil spray scratched up by a reduction gear 1 is formed on the inside wall surface of an outer case 6, and an oil path for supplying lubricating oil 8 to a roller 7a of a conical roller bearing 7 is formed downstream of lubricating oil 8 flowing along the rib 9. A plurality of through holes 11 are provided for introducing lubricating oil 8 scattered by the rotation of the conical roller bearing 7 to a multiple disk clutch. Further, an inner case 5 is provided with an oil escape hole 12 for discharging the lubricating oil 8 to the outer case 6. The height of the oil escape hole 12 is set rather high so that a predetermined amount of the lubricating oil 8 is reserved at the bottom of the inner case 5 even under the stoppage condition of the device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used as a differential limiting device for controlling the action of a differential device provided between left and right axle shafts of an automobile in a controlled manner. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is used in a differential limiting device having a structure in which a multi-plate clutch is provided between the left and right axle shafts connected via a differential gear.
The invention particularly relates to the supply of lubricating oil to a clutch of a limited slip differential and its control mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique for providing a multi-plate clutch between left and right axle shafts of an automobile and controlling the engagement and disengagement of the clutches to limit the action of a differential device provided between the left and right axle shafts is known. Are known. This technique was initially to temporarily stop or limit the action of the differential in order to get the vehicle out of the drive wheels when they got stuck in a snowy road or muddy. However, technology has been developed to automatically operate the function of this differential device under computer control, so that the vehicle can run stably on icy roads and wet roads, and for stable running when cross winds are received at high speeds. Also came to be used.

The applicant of the present application filed a patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-22).
No. 0249, which has not been published at the time of filing of the present application), disclosed a structure of such a multi-disc clutch of a limited slip differential and a transmission mechanism of its controlled displacement. In this structure, a multi-plate clutch is provided in the differential gear case, a pressure cylinder that controls joining and disengagement of the multi-plate clutch is attached to the case side, and a series of mechanical displacements of the piston sliding in the cylinder A transmission mechanism is used for transmission to the multiple disc clutch in the differential gear case. This structure includes an inner case that houses the multi-plate clutch and the differential gear and rotates integrally with the reduction gear. Further, the inner case and the reduction gear form a non-rotating body with respect to the rotation of the axle shaft. The outer case is covered with a tapered roller bearing between the outer case and the inner case, and lubricating oil is injected into the outer case.

[0004]

The inventor of the present application has tested the above-described differential limiting device under various conditions and confirmed that the device is excellent. It has been found that when the multi-plate clutch is controlled to be in the half-clutch state over time, the lubrication oil may not be sufficiently supplied to the multi-plate clutch, and in this case, wear of the clutch increases.

That is, the supply of the lubricating oil to the multi-plate clutch in the above-mentioned differential limiting device is basically due to the splash of the lubricating oil injected into the differential gear case. If a volume of lubricating oil, which is a fraction of the total volume in the differential gear case, is injected into the case, each gear that rotates with the rotation of the axle shaft scoops out this lubricating oil. It becomes oil and scatters in the case. The structure is such that when this oil droplet falls on various places inside the case, the various places inside the case are evenly filled with oil. When this oil drop also falls on the multi-plate clutch, the multi-plate clutch is refueled. This structure is a structure that does not require a special mechanism for lubricating oil supply, and is an extremely excellent technique known from old times.

On the other hand, various techniques for positively circulating the lubricating oil when the lubricating oil is insufficient are conventionally known. However, since the limited slip differential device which is the object of the present invention is a portion that is continuously subjected to a strong vibration during traveling, it is not appropriate to provide a complicated lubricating oil circulation mechanism having a joint portion of pipe lines or the like here. Further, it is known from the results of the above-mentioned test that even if there is a shortage of lubricating oil, it is very small. Therefore, it is not appropriate to newly provide a complicated lubricating oil circulation mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device capable of supplementing a slight lack of lubricating oil as described above with a simple mechanism.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a reduction gear and
A differential gear driven by the reduction gear, a multi-disc clutch provided between the left and right axle shafts connected via the differential gear, and the multi-disc clutch and the differential gear are accommodated and An inner case that rotates together with the reduction gear, and the inner case and the reduction gear are covered by an outer case that is a non-rotating body with respect to the rotation of the axle shaft, and a thrust is provided between the outer case and the inner case. In a limited slip differential device in which a tapered roller bearing is provided and lubricating oil is injected into the outer case, the oil droplets that are scraped up into the outer case by the reduction gear are collected on the inner wall surface of the outer case. A rib is formed, and an oil passage for supplying the lubricating oil to at least one roller of the tapered roller bearing is formed on the downstream side of the lubricating oil flowing along the rib. Characterized in that the inner casing is a plurality of through holes provided so as to introduce the lubricating oil scattered by the rotation of the roller bearings on the multi-plate clutch.

The inner case is provided with an oil escape hole for discharging the lubricating oil in the inner case to the outer case.
It is desirable that the internal case be formed so as to retain a predetermined level of lubricating oil even when the apparatus is stopped.

[0010]

By forming a rib for collecting oil droplets on the inner wall surface of the differential gear case, a large amount of oil droplets can be collected on this rib. An oil passage for introducing the lubricating oil into the tapered roller bearing is provided downstream of the lubricating oil flowing along the rib. Since the rollers of the tapered roller bearing are arranged in a conical shape, rotation causes a pumping action, and the lubricating oil is scattered and discharged from the tapered roller bearing. The scattered and released lubricating oil is introduced into the inner case, that is, the multi-plate clutch, through a plurality of holes provided in the inner case.

In the device of the present invention, the required lubricating oil is effectively supplied by the simple and robust structure without adding a complicated lubricating oil circulating device for supplying the lubricating oil.

Further, the oil escape hole for discharging the lubricating oil, which has been conventionally provided in the inner case, into the outer case is changed to a position close to the axle shaft, that is, a higher position in the rotation stopped state to stop the rotation. Even in the state, it is preferable that the lubricating oil is set to partially remain in the inner case. With this structure, even if the multi-disc clutch is controlled to be in the half-clutch state immediately after starting after being stopped for a long time, the multi-disc clutch will be retained by the lubricating oil remaining inside the inner case. The required lubricating oil will be supplied.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrow A shown in FIG. 1 in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. ..

In the embodiment of the present invention, the reduction gear 1, the differential gear 2 driven by the reduction gear 1, and the differential gear 2
And a multi-plate clutch 4 provided between the left and right axle shafts 3 connected via an inner case 5 that houses the multi-plate clutch 4 and the differential gear 2 and rotates together with the reduction gear 1.
The inner case 5 and the reduction gear 1 are covered by an outer case 6 which is a non-rotating body with respect to the rotation of the axle shaft 3, and a tapered roller bearing 7 is provided between the outer case 6 and the inner case 5. The lubricating oil 8 is provided inside the outer case 6 and the lubricating oil 8 is injected into the outer case 6. Further, as a feature of the present invention, the outer case 6 is attached to the inner wall surface of the outer case 6 by the reduction gear 1.
Ribs 9 are formed to collect oil that is scraped up inside,
An oil passage 10 for supplying the lubricating oil 8 to at least one roller 7a of the tapered roller bearing 7 is formed on the downstream side of the lubricating oil 8 flowing along the rib 9, and the lubricating oil scattered by the rotation of the tapered roller bearing 7 is formed. 8 are introduced into the multi-plate clutch 4, a plurality of through holes 11 are provided in the inner case 5, and the inner case 5 has an oil escape for releasing the lubricating oil 8 in the inner case 5 to the outer case 6. A hole 12 is formed so that a predetermined level of lubricating oil 8 can be retained in the inner case 5 even when the apparatus is stopped.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention thus constructed will be described.

A multi-plate clutch 4 provided between the left and right axle shafts 3 connected via a differential gear 2, an inner case 5 that houses the differential gear 2 and rotates together with the reduction gear 1, and a reduction gear A predetermined amount of lubricating oil 8 shown in FIG. 1 is injected into the outer case 6 which is not rotated with respect to the rotation of the axle shaft 3.

When power from a main shaft (not shown) is transmitted in this state, the gears including the differential gear 2 and the reduction gear 1 rotate together with the axle shaft 3, and the lubricating oil accumulated at the bottom of the outer case 6 8 is scraped up and scattered as a thin oil droplet.

A part of the scattered lubricating oil 8 is collected by the rib 9 formed on the inner wall surface of the outer case 6. Since the rib 9 is inclined downward, the lubricating oil 8 flows down in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 and is supplied to the roller 7a of the tapered roller bearing 7 through the oil passage 10.

Since the rollers 7a of the tapered roller bearing 7 are arranged in a conical shape, they generate a pumping action with rotation,
The lubricating oil 8 is sucked and scattered from the through hole 11 into the inner case 5, and is uniformly supplied to the multi-plate clutch 4.

The lubricating oil 8 supplied to the multi-plate clutch 4 is
It collects at the bottom of the inner case 5, and the portion exceeding the position of the oil escape hole 12 overflows and flows down to the bottom of the outer case 6. Since the oil escape hole 12 is formed to have a slightly higher height, the lubricating oil 8 is retained at the bottom of the inner case 5 in a predetermined amount even when the rotation of the lubricating oil 8 is stopped.

Therefore, even if the multi-plate clutch 4 is controlled to be in the half-clutch state immediately after starting after being stopped for a long time, the lubricating oil 8 remaining in the inner case 5 is increased due to the rotation of each gear. It is supplied to the plate clutch 4, and the lubrication state can be maintained from the start.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to sufficiently supply the lubricating oil to the multi-plate clutch,
The lubrication effect can be enhanced and the wear of the clutch plate can be reduced. In particular, even if the multi-plate clutch is controlled to be in the half-clutch state immediately after the engine is stopped for a long time, the lubricating oil remaining in the inner case is supplied from the time of starting, so the lubrication state should always be maintained. There is an effect that can be.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 1 in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a case according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Reduction Gear 2 Differential Gear 3 Axle Shaft 4 Multi Disc Clutch 5 Inner Case 6 Outer Case 7 Tapered Roller Bearing 7a Roller 8 Lubricating Oil 9 Rib 10 Oil Passage 11 Through Hole 12 Oil Escape Hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A reduction gear, a differential gear driven by the reduction gear, a multi-disc clutch provided between left and right axle shafts connected via the differential gear, and the multi-disc clutch. And an inner case that accommodates the differential gear and rotates together with the reduction gear, and the inner case and the reduction gear are covered by an outer case that is a non-rotating body with respect to the rotation of the axle shaft, and the outer case thereof. A tapered roller bearing is provided between the outer case and the inner case, and a lubricating oil is injected into the outer case, wherein the inner wall surface of the outer case is provided inside the outer case by the reduction gear. A rib is formed to collect the oil splashed up, and an oil passage for supplying the lubricating oil to at least one roller of the tapered roller bearing is provided downstream of the lubricating oil flowing along the rib. Is formed, the differential limiting apparatus, wherein a plurality of through-holes in the inner case so as to introduce the lubricating oil scattered by the rotation of the tapered roller bearing in the multiple disc clutch is provided. 2. The inner case is provided with an oil escape hole for discharging the lubricating oil in the inner case to the outer case, and the lubricating oil of a predetermined level is kept in the inner case even when the apparatus is stopped. Claim 1 formed so that it can be retained.
The differential limiting device described.