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US 12,296,830 B1Granted
Drive axle system and method for determining pinion gear torque
AssigneeDana Italia S.R.L.
InventorsClaudio Maffei, Efrem Rusconi, Andrea Bolza
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for a drive axle. The drive axle system, in one example, includes a displacement sensor coupled to a pinion input flange and configured to generate axial displacement data corresponding to the pinion input flange, where the pinion input flange is directly coupled to an angled pinion gear. The drive axle system further includes a controller configured to determine a torque at the pinion input flange based on the axial displacement data.
Claims19
A drive axle system, comprising:
- a displacement sensor directly coupled to a pinion input flange and configured to generate axial displacement data that corresponds to the pinion input flange, wherein the pinion input flange is coupled to an angled pinion gear via a shaft;
- an angular speed sensor coupled to the displacement sensor and configured to generate angular speed data associated with the pinion input flange;
- and
- a controller including instructions stored in memory that when executed cause the controller to:
- determine a torque at the pinion input flange based on the axial displacement data;
- wherein the pinion input flange is positioned external to a differential housing that at least partially surrounds the shaft;
- and
- wherein the angled pinion gear meshes with a ring gear in a differential.
5 more elements
A method for operating a drive axle system, comprising:
- receiving axial displacement data from a displacement sensor which is directly coupled to a pinion input flange;
- and
- determining a torque applied to the pinion input flange based on the axial displacement data;
- wherein the drive axle system includes:
- the displacement sensor;
- and
- the pinion input flange which is coupled to an angled pinion gear via a shaft;
- wherein the pinion input flange is positioned external to a differential housing that at least partially surrounds the shaft;
- and
- wherein the angled pinion gear meshes with a ring gear in a differential.
7 more elements
A drive axle system, comprising:
- a displacement sensor directly coupled to a pinion input flange and configured to generate axial displacement data that corresponds to the pinion input flange, wherein the pinion input flange is coupled to an angled pinion gear via a shaft, wherein the angled pinion gear meshes with a ring gear of a differential;
- an angular speed sensor coupled to the displacement sensor and configured to generate angular speed data that corresponds to the pinion input flange, wherein the angled pinion gear meshes with the ring gear in the differential;
- wherein the pinion input flange is positioned external to a differential housing that at least partially surrounds the shaft;
- and
- a controller including instructions stored in memory that when executed cause the controller to:
- determine a power transmitted through the pinion input flange based on the axial displacement and the angular speed of the pinion input flange;
- wherein the pinion input flange is positioned external to a differential housing.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.