Differential with disconnect
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDavid Allen Janson, Gregory Daniel Goleski, Matthew David Hammond
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A differential includes a disconnect feature. When in a disengaged state, the drive gear is decoupled from the differential carrier. As a result, the portions of the powertrain that would provide propulsion through the differential may be stationary and parasitic drag is decreased. The differential is transitioned into an engaged state by providing electrical current in a solenoid coil fixed to the housing. A solenoid piston acts through a thrust bearing to slide a sleeve, thereby coupling the carrier to the drive gear.
Claims17
A vehicle differential comprising:
- a drive gear supported for rotation with respect to a housing;
- a carrier directly supported for rotation with respect to the drive gear by a first set of bearings and a second set of bearings;
- gearing axially located between the first set of bearings and the second set of bearings and configured to transmit torque from the carrier to left and right stub shafts and to constrain the carrier to rotate at a speed between speeds of the left stub shaft and the right stub shaft;
- a sleeve slidingly connected to the carrier and configured to selectively couple the drive gear to the carrier;
- a solenoid coil fixed to the housing;
- a solenoid piston configured to slide axially in response to an electrical current in the solenoid coil;
- and
- a thrust bearing between the solenoid piston and the sleeve to push the sleeve into an engaged position with the drive gear.
A vehicle differential comprising:
- a drive gear supported for rotation with respect to a housing;
- a carrier supported for rotation with respect to the drive gear by two sets of needle bearings, each set of needle bearings contacting the drive gear and the carrier;
- gearing configured to transmit torque from the carrier to left and right stub shafts and to constrain the carrier to rotate at a speed between speeds of the left stub shaft and the right stub shaft;
- a sleeve slidingly connected to the carrier and configured to selectively couple the drive gear to the carrier;
- a solenoid coil fixed to the housing;
- a solenoid piston configured to slide axially in response to an electrical current in the solenoid coil;
- and
- a thrust bearing between the solenoid piston and the sleeve to push the sleeve into an engaged position with the drive gear.
A vehicle differential comprising:
- a drive gear supported for rotation with respect to a housing;
- a carrier supported for rotation with respect to the drive gear by two sets of needle bearings, each set of needle bearings contacting the drive gear and the carrier;
- a beveled left side gear fixed to a left stub shaft;
- a beveled right side gear fixed to a right side shaft;
- a plurality of beveled planet gears each meshing with the left side gear and the right side gear and supported for rotation with respect to the carrier;
- and
- a sleeve slidingly connected to the carrier and configured to selectively couple the drive gear to the carrier;
- wherein a distance from an axis of rotation of the carrier to a needle bearing of the two sets of needle bearings is less than a radius of the left side gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.