JPH0814362A - Differential limiting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a torque-sensitive preload type differential limiting function in order to enhance escaping performance when one wheel is slipping by providing friction plates in the inside portions of the differential case of a differential gear which are opposite to differential side gears, and providing differential springs for pressing the friction plates against the differential case. CONSTITUTION:This differential limiting device 28 applies preloads to right and left friction plates 30R, 30L by means of right and left differential springs 34R, 34L, and presses right and left differential side gears 18R, 18L against differential pinions 16, 16 to reduce a play between teeth. During differential action whereby a difference in speed is produced between the differential side gears 18R, 18L, the friction plates 30R, 30L limit the differential action by means of friction against the opposite sides 32R, 23L of a case. When the right differential side gear 18R rotates, for example, the right differential spring 34R is rotated with one end of the right differential spring 34R engaged with a right meshing edge, and the differential action is limited by the friction of the right friction plate 30R against the right opposite side 32R of the case.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a limited slip differential device,
In particular, it can exert the torque sensitive preload type differential limiting function,
It can improve the escape performance when one wheel slips,
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a differential limiting device having a simple structure capable of automatically adjusting backlash.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle such as an automobile, a differential device 102 is provided as shown in FIG. 11, for example, in order to allow a differential between the left and right wheels during turning. The differential device 102 is provided with a differential case 104. The differential case 104 includes the right and left case shaft support portions 106R and 106R.
L is pivotally supported on a differential carrier (not shown) by right and left case bearings 108R and 108L. Right and left case axle support portions 106R and 106L have right and left axle shaft insertion holes 110R and 11R through which left and right drive axles (not shown) are inserted.
0L is formed.

The differential case 104 is formed with a shaft hole 112 penetrating in a direction intersecting with the axes of the right and left axle insertion holes 110R and 110L.
The pinion shaft 114 is fixedly installed by being inserted into the shaft 2.
On the pinion shaft 114 inside the differential case 104, differential pinions 116 and 116 are axially supported. The right and left diff side gears 118R and 118L are meshed with the diff pinion 116.

The right and left differential side gears 118R
118L is the right / left gear shaft support 120R / 120L
The right and left gear shaft supports 122 in the differential case 104
It is pivotally supported by R · 122L. Right / left gear shaft support 1
20R / 120L are formed with right / left axle connecting holes 124R / 124L to which left and right drive axles (not shown) are connected. Reference numeral 126 is a ring gear. The ring gear 126 is meshed with a drive pinion (not shown) that is axially supported by the differential carrier.

The differential device 102 includes a differential pinion 1
16/116 and right / left diff side gear 118R / 1
To automatically adjust the backlash with 18L,
Left disc springs 128R and 128L are provided. The differential device 102 includes a right / left case facing surface 130 on the right / left gear shaft support portions 122R / 122L in the differential case 104.
R · 130L is provided, and the right and left case facing surfaces 13
Right / left gear facing surfaces 132 facing right / left diff side gears 118R / 118L so as to face 0R / 130L
R ・ 132L is provided.

The right and left disc springs 128R and 128L
Are elastically interposed between the right / left case facing surfaces 130R / 130L and the right / left gear facing surfaces 132R / 132L, respectively, to automatically adjust the backlash.

Some of such differential gears are provided with a differential limiting device in order to prevent the slippage of one wheel on a road surface or the like having a small coefficient of friction, which makes it impossible to escape. The differential limiting device includes a friction type that generates a friction torque and a mechanical type that uses a mechanical clutch mechanism. The friction type differential limiting device includes a torque sensitive type differential limiting device using a multi-plate clutch friction mechanism and a preload type differential limiting device using a spring that produces a differential resistance force between differential side gears. Further, there is a torque-sensitive preload type differential limiting device that has both the functions of the torque-sensitive type and the preload type.

A torque-sensitive differential limiting device using the multi-disc clutch friction mechanism is shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 202 is a differential device. The differential device 202 has the same structure as that shown in FIG.
That is, in the differential device 202, right / left case shaft support portions 206R / 206L are provided on the differential case 204, and the right / left case bearings 208R / 208L are pivotally supported on a differential carrier (not shown), and the right / left case shaft support portions 206R / 2 are supported.
Right and left axle insertion holes 210R and 210L are formed in 06L.

The differential case 204 has a shaft hole 2
The pinion shaft 214 is fitted and fixed to the pin 12. The differential pinions 216 and 216 are pivotally supported on the pinion shaft 214 in the differential case 204, and the right and left differential side gears 21 are attached to the differential pinions 216 and 216.
8R and 218L are meshed.

The right and left differential side gears 218R
218L is the right / left gear shaft support 220R / 220L
The right and left gear shaft supports 222R of the differential case 104
・ Attach to 222L, right / left axle connecting hole 224R ・
224L is formed. Reference numeral 226 is a ring gear. The ring gear 226 is meshed with a drive pinion (not shown) that is axially supported by the differential carrier.

The differential device 202 includes a differential limiting device 2
28 are provided. The differential limiting device 228 is provided with right / left gear clutch plates 230R / 230L attached to the right / left diff side gears 218R / 218L so as to be slightly movable in the axial direction and non-rotatable.
The left side case clutch plates 232R and 232L are provided so as to be movable in a small axial direction and non-rotatably mounted, and the right side and left side gear clutch plates 230R and 230L and the right side and left side case clutch plates 232R and 232L are alternately stacked. There is.

This differential limiting device 228 uses a cam mechanism or a spring (not shown) when relative rotation occurs between the clutch plates 230R and 230L and 232R and 232L when the right and left diff side gears 218R and 218L are differentially moved. Each clutch plate 230R / 230L and 232R / 232
A differential resistance force is generated between L to limit the differential.

An example of such a differential limiting device is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-26595. The differential limiting device disclosed in this publication is connected to a driven shaft on the other side via a friction clutch mounted on the clutch outer, which is helically spline-coupled to a drive shaft on the one side, to connect the clutch outer and the friction clutch. A spring that urges in the engaging direction is provided between them, and when a torque difference larger than the set load of this spring occurs between the drive shaft and the driven shaft, the clutch outer moves in the engaging direction due to the helical spline connection. By increasing the pressing force of the spring, the drive shaft and the driven shaft are locked and the differential is limited.

[0014]

However, the above-mentioned FIG.
The torque-sensitive differential limiting device using the multi-plate clutch friction mechanism shown in (1) has a disadvantage that it cannot be escaped when one wheel slips and slips when the wheel is removed.

As the differential limiting device, there is a rotation-sensitive differential limiting device using a viscous joint. However, since the differential limiting device using this viscous joint has a structure in which the viscous fluid is sealed in the viscous joint, there is a disadvantage that the structure becomes complicated.

[0016]

In order to eliminate the above-mentioned inconvenience, the present invention pivotally supports a diff pinion on a pinion shaft in a diff case and meshes with the diff pinion to connect the left and right drive axles respectively. A differential device for axially supporting the left and right differential side gears in the differential case is provided, and a friction plate that is slidably contacted with a portion of the differential device facing the differential side gear in the differential case is provided. A differential spring that is pre-loaded on the differential case and is not elastically deformed when the differential side gear is not differential, and elastically deformed by rotation of the differential side gear in a predetermined direction to press the friction plate against the differential case when the differential side gear is differential. Is provided.

[0017]

According to the structure of the present invention, the differential limiting device is provided with a friction plate which is slidably contacted with a portion of the differential device facing the differential side gear in the differential case. When the side gear is not differential, it is not elastically deformed, and when the differential side gear is differential, it is elastically deformed by the rotation of the differential side gear in a predetermined direction to press the friction plate against the differential case. A torque-sensitive differential limiting function can be achieved according to the limiting function, and the differential side gear that preloads the friction plate to the differential case is pressed against the differential side gear toward the differential pinion side to play between the tooth surfaces. The friction limiting function can be exhibited by the two members of the friction plate and the differential spring.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 9 show an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 2 is a differential device. The differential device 2 is provided with a differential case 4. The differential case 4 is
The right and left case shaft support portions 6R and 6L are pivotally supported on a differential carrier (not shown) by right and left case bearings 8R and 8L. Right and left case axle support portions 6R and 6L are formed with right and left axle shaft insertion holes 10R and 10L into which left and right drive axles (not shown) are inserted.

The differential case 4 is formed with a shaft hole 12 penetrating in a direction intersecting with the axes of the right and left axle insertion holes 10R and 10L, and a pinion shaft 14 is fitted and fixed in the shaft hole 12. There is. The pinion shaft 14 in the differential case 4 has a differential pinion 16, 16
Is rotatably supported. Defpinion 16 ・ 16 has
The right and left differential side gears 18R and 18L are meshed.

The right and left differential side gears 18R / 1
8L pivotally supports the right and left gear shaft support portions 20R and 20L to the right and left gear shaft support portions 22R and 22L in the differential case 4. Right and left gear shaft support portions 20R and 20L are formed with right and left axle connection holes 24R and 24L to which left and right drive axles (not shown) are connected. Reference numeral 26 is a ring gear. The ring gear 26 is meshed with a drive pinion (not shown) that is axially supported by the differential carrier.

The differential 2 is provided with a differential limiting device 28. The differential limiting device 28 is provided with right and left friction plates 30R and 30L. The right and left friction plates 30R and 30L are the right and left differential side gears 18
The right and left gear shaft support portions 20R and 20L of the R / 18L are rotatably mounted on the right and left sides of the differential case 4 and face the right and left differential side gears 18R and 18L.
The left case facing surfaces 32R and 32L are slidably contacted.

In the differential limiting device 28, the right / left friction plates 30R / 30L are connected to the right / left case facing surface 32.
Right / left differential springs 34R / 34 pressing against R / 32L
L is provided. Right / left differential spring 34R / 34L
Is wound into a coil with a material having a substantially rectangular cross section being positioned such that its long side is substantially orthogonal to the spring winding center line. These right and left differential springs 34R and 34L are
The right and left diff side gears 18R and 18L are rotatably mounted on the right and left gear shaft support portions 20R and 20L, respectively.
As shown in, one side edge is the right / left friction plate 30R.
It is fixedly attached to 30L.

The differential limiting device 28 has a stepped right side on the right and left gear facing surfaces 36R and 36L of the right and left differential side gears 18R and 18L facing the right and left case facing surfaces 32R and 32L.・ Left side engagement edge 38R
・ 38L is provided. Right / left side engaging edge 38R / 38
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, L is the right / left differential springs 34R / 34L wound in a coil shape by rotation of the right / left diff side gears 18R / 18L in a predetermined direction during differential rotation.
This right and left differential spring 34R is engaged with the other side end of
・ 34L for the right and left friction plates 30R and 30L
Is pressed by the right and left case facing surfaces 32R and 32L and elastically deformed so as to limit the differential. 3 to 5, the right differential side gear 18R, the right friction plate 30R, and the right differential spring 34R are illustrated.

As described above, the differential limiting device 28 includes the right and left diff side gears 18R and 18 in the diff case 4.
Right / left case facing surface 32 provided at a portion facing L
Right / left friction plate 30R slidingly contacting R / 32L
・ 30L is provided, and the right and left friction plates 30R ・ 30
L is preloaded to the differential case 4, and when the right / left differential side gears 18R / 18L are not differentially elastically deformed, when the right / left differential side gears 18R / 18L are differential, the right / left friction plates 30R / 30L are attached to the differential case 4. Right / left diff side gear 18R / 1 to press the right / left case facing surfaces 32R / 32L to limit the differential.
Right and left differential springs 34R and 34L springs that are elastically deformed by rotation of 8 L in a predetermined direction are provided.

In the differential limiting device 28, the right / left friction plates 30R / 30L and the right / left differential springs 34R / 34L are connected to the right / left differential side gears 18R /.
18L and the differential case 4 are arranged symmetrically.

Next, the operation will be described.

In the differential limiting device 28, the right and left friction plates 30R and 30L are connected to the right and left case facing surfaces 32R and 32L of the differential case 4 by the right and left differential springs 34R and 3R.
Preload with 4L.

Therefore, the differential limiting device 28 uses the reaction force of the right and left differential springs 34R and 34L for preloading the right and left friction plates 30R and 30L onto the right and left case facing surfaces 32R and 32L of the differential case 4. , Right side
Install the left diff side gears 18R and 18L into the diff pinion 16
・ It is possible to reduce the play between tooth flanks by pressing to the 16 side. Therefore, the differential limiting device 28 can automatically adjust the backlash.

Right / left diff side gears 18R / 18L
When there is no differential in the differential, the differential case 4, the differential pinion 16, 16 and the right / left differential side gear 18
R / 18L, right / left friction plates 30R / 30L and right / left differential spring 34 of the differential limiting device 28.
R and 34L rotate together.

Right / left diff side gears 18R / 18L
Right and left side differential springs 34R
The right / left friction plates 30R / 30L preloaded by 34L cause differential resistance due to friction between the right / left case facing surfaces 32R / 32L of the differential case 4 to limit the differential. That is, the differential limiting device 28 performs preload type differential limiting.

During this differential operation, for example, when the right diff side gear 18R rotates in a predetermined direction as shown in FIG. 7, the right differential spring 34R is attached to the right engaging edge 38R formed on the right gear facing surface 36R of the right diff side gear 18R. The other side end is engaged and the right differential spring 34R is rotated in a predetermined direction.

The rotation of the right differential spring 34R in a predetermined direction rotates the right friction plate 30R fixed to one end of the right differential spring 34R. The right friction plate 30R, which is preloaded by the right differential spring 34R, causes a differential resistance due to friction with the right case facing surface 32R of the differential case 4, and limits the differential.

The right diff side gear 18R which rotates in the predetermined direction is pushed by the gear reaction force when the torque due to the differential increases, and pushes the right differential spring 34R. The right friction plate 30R pressed by the right differential spring 34R is strongly pressed by the right case facing surface 32R and causes a differential resistance due to friction with the right case facing surface 32R to limit the differential.

The right diff side gear 18R which rotates in the predetermined direction is increased as the differential rotation due to the differential increases, as shown in FIGS.
As shown in, the coiled right differential spring 34R is elastically deformed so as to widen in the radial direction (or extend in the winding direction). The right side friction plate 30R pushed by the elastic deformation of the right side differential spring 34R includes the right side case facing surface 32.
It is pressed more strongly by R, and a differential resistance is generated due to friction with the right case facing surface 32R, further restricting the differential. That is, the differential limiting device 28 performs torque-sensitive differential limiting.

The differential limiting device 28 is formed on the right gear facing surface 36R of the right differential side gear 18R as shown in FIG. 7 when the right differential side gear 18R rotates in the opposite direction to the predetermined direction. The right side engaging edge 38R and the other end of the right side differential spring 34R are not engaged with each other, and the right side differential spring 34R is not elastically deformed.

In the differential limiting device 28, the right and left friction plates 30R and 30L and the right and left differential springs 34R and 34L are connected to the left and right drive axles, respectively. Between the right and left gear facing surfaces 36R and 36L and the right and left case facing surfaces 32R and 32L of the differential case 4 are symmetrically arranged.

As a result, the differential limiting device 28 limits the differential by the frictional force of one of the right friction plate 30R and the right differential spring 34R and the left friction plate 30L and the left differential spring 34L. .

Further, the differential limiting device 28 is provided on the right side.
Preloading the right and left friction plates 30R and 30L by the left differential springs 34R and 34L provides preload type differential limiting, and when torque acts, torque sensitive differential limiting due to gear meshing reaction force. I do.

As described above, the differential limiting device 28 is provided with the right / left friction plates 30R / 30L slidably contacting the right / left case facing surfaces 32R / 32L in the differential case 4, and the right / left friction plates 30R / 30L. Preload 30L to the differential case 4 and right / left differential side gear 18
In order to press the right / left side friction plates 30R / 30L against the right / left case facing surfaces 32R / 32L of the differential case 4 when the right / left differential side gears 18R / 18L are in a differential state without being elastically deformed when the R / 18L is not differential. By providing the right and left differential springs 34R and 34L that are elastically deformed by the rotation of the right and left differential side gears 18R and 18L in a predetermined direction, a torque-sensitive differential limit is provided in accordance with the preload type differential limit function. It can exert its function.

Further, the differential limiting device 28 uses the reaction force of the right and left differential springs 34R and 34L for pre-loading the right and left friction plates 30R and 30L on the right and left case facing surfaces 32R and 32L of the differential case 4. The play between the tooth flanks can be reduced by pressing the right / left diff side gears 18R / 18L toward the diff pinion 16/16 side.

Further, the differential limiting device 28 includes the right and left friction plates 30R and 30L and the right and left differential springs 3.
A differential limiting function can be exhibited by two members of 4R and 34L.

Therefore, the differential limiting device 28 can exert a torque sensitive preload type differential limiting function, and can improve the escape performance when one wheel slips. Also,
The differential limiting device 28 includes right and left friction plates 30.
R / 30L is the right / left case facing surface 3 of the differential case 4.
Right / left differential springs 34R / 3 to preload to 2R / 32L
The backlash can be automatically adjusted by the reaction force of 4 L. Further, the differential limiting device 28 includes the right and left friction plates 30R and 30L and the right and left differential springs 3.
By being composed of two members of 4R and 34L, the structure is simple and can be implemented cost effectively.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, the differential limiting device can exhibit the torque sensitive differential limiting function in accordance with the preload type differential limiting function, and the friction plate. The reaction force of the differential spring that preloads the differential case allows the differential side gear to be pressed toward the differential pinion side to reduce the play between the tooth surfaces, and the differential limiting function is achieved by the friction plate and differential spring. be able to.

Therefore, this differential limiting device can exert a torque-sensitive preload type differential limiting function, improve the escape performance when one wheel slips, and use the friction plate as a differential case. The backlash can be automatically adjusted by the reaction force of the differential spring to be preloaded, and the structure is simple because it is composed of two members, the friction plate and the differential spring.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a differential device showing an embodiment of a differential limiting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a friction plate and a differential spring.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a right diff side gear.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a right diff side gear.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the right diff side gear during reverse rotation.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the right diff side gear when rotating in a predetermined direction.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the differential gear when the differential is limited.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a differential limiting device.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a differential device showing a conventional example of a differential limiting device.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a differential device showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 differential device 4 differential case 6R / 6L right / left case shaft support 8R / 8L right / left case bearing 10R / 10L right / left axle insertion hole 12 shaft hole 14 pinion shaft 16/16 differential pinion 18R / 18L right / left diff side gear 20R / 20L right / left gear shaft support 22R / 22L right / left gear shaft support 24R / 24L right / left axle connection hole 26 ring gear 28 differential limiting device 30R / 30L right / left friction plate 32R / 32L right / left case Opposing surface 34R / 34L right / left differential spring 36R / 36L right / left gear facing surface 38R / 38L right / left engaging edge

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A differential device for axially supporting a diff pinion on a pinion shaft in a diff case, and for supporting left and right diff side gears meshed with the diff pinion and respectively connected to left and right drive axles in the diff case, A friction plate that is slidably contacted with a portion of the differential device facing the differential side gear in the differential case is provided. The friction plate is preloaded on the differential case and is not elastically deformed when the differential side gear is in a non-differential state. A differential limiting device comprising a differential spring elastically deformed by rotation of the differential side gear in a predetermined direction so as to press the friction plate against the differential case when the differential side gear is differential. 2. The differential limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the friction plates and the differential springs are symmetrically arranged between the left and right differential side gears respectively connected to the left and right driving axles and the differential case. The differential limiting device according to 1. 3. The differential limiting device is provided with a friction plate slidably contacting a case facing surface in the differential case facing the differential side gear, and the differential spring wound around the friction plate in a coil shape. One end of the differential spring is fixedly provided, and the differential spring wound in the coil shape on the gear facing surface of the differential side gear facing the case by rotating the differential side gear in a predetermined direction during differential. 2. The differential limiting device according to claim 1, wherein an engaging edge is formed which is engaged with the other side end and elastically deforms the differential spring.