US 2006/0052206 A1Published application

Torque vectoring limited slip differential assembly

AssigneeMAGNA Powertrain AG & Co KG

InventorDumitru Puiu

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A drive axle assembly includes first and second axleshafts connected to a pair of wheels and a drive mechanism operable to selectively couple a driven input shaft to one or both of the axleshafts. The drive mechanism includes a differential, first and speed changing units and first and second mode clutches. The first mode clutch is operable in association with the first speed changing unit to increase the rotary speed of the first axleshaft which, in turn, causes a corresponding decrease in the rotary speed of the second axleshaft. The second mode clutch is operable in association with the second speed changing unit to increase the rotary speed of the second axleshaft so as to cause a decrease in the rotary speed of the first axleshaft. A control system controls actuation of both mode clutches.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A motor vehicle, comprising:

a pair of first wheels;
a pair of second wheels;
a powertrain operable to transmit drive torque to said first wheels;
a drive mechanism for transmitting drive torque from said powertrain to said second wheels, said drive mechanism including a differential, first and second planetary gearsets and first and second mode clutches, said differential having an input component driven by said powertrain and first and second output components driving said second wheels, said first planetary gearset having a first gear element coupled for rotation with said first output component, a second gear element and a third gear element in constant mesh with said first and second gear elements, said second planetary gearset having a fourth gear element coupled for rotation with said second output component, a fifth gear element and a sixth gear element in constant mesh with said fourth and fifth gear elements, said first mode clutch is operable for retarding rotation of said second gear element so as to increase the rotary speed of said first gear element, and said second mode clutch is operable for retarding rotation of said fifth gear element so as to increase the rotary speed of said fourth gear element;
and
a control system for controlling actuation of said first and second mode clutches.

3 more elements

A motor vehicle, comprising:

a powertrain operable for generating drive torque;
a driveline for transmitting drive torque from said powertrain to first and second wheels, said driveline including an input shaft driven by said powertrain, a first axleshaft driving said first wheel, a second axleshaft driving said second wheel and a drive mechanism coupling said input shaft to said first and second axleshafts, said drive mechanism including a differential, first and second speed changing units and first and second mode clutches, said differential having an input component driven by said input shaft and first and second output components, said first speed changing unit including a first gear driving said first axleshaft, a second gear driven by said first output component and a third gear meshed with said first gear and said second gear, said second speed changing unit including a fourth gear driving said second axleshaft, a fifth gear driven by said second output component and a sixth gear meshed with said fourth gear and said fifth gear, said first mode clutch is operable for reducing the rotary speed of said second gear for increasing the rotary speed of said first axleshaft, and said second mode clutch is operable for reducing the rotary speed of said fifth gear for increasing the rotary speed of said second axleshaft;
and
a control system for controlling actuation of said first and second mode clutches.

1 more element

A drive axle assembly for use in a motor vehicle having a powertrain and first and second wheels, comprising:

a first axleshaft driving the first wheel;
a second axleshaft driving the second wheel;
a differential having an input component driven by the powertrain, a first output component driving said first axleshaft and a second output component driving said second axleshaft;
a first speed changing unit having a first gear driven by said first output component and a second gear;
a second speed changing unit having a third gear driven by said second output component and a fourth gear;
a first mode clutch operable for braking rotation of said second gear;
a second mode clutch operable for braking rotation of said fourth gear;
and
a control system for controlling actuation of said first and second mode clutches, wherein a first drive mode is established when said first mode clutch is engaged and said second mode clutch is released, whereby said first axleshaft is overdriven relative to said input component and said differential causes said second axleshaft to be underdriven relative to said input component.

6 more elements

A motor vehicle, comprising:

a powertrain operable for generating drive torque;
a first driveline having a first shaft driving a pair of first wheels;
a second driveline having a second shaft driving a pair of second wheels;
a power transfer unit for selectively transmitting drive torque from said powertrain to said first and second shafts, said power transfer unit including a differential, first and second speed changing units and first and second mode clutches, said differential having an input component driven by said powertrain, a first output component driving said first shaft and a second output component driving said second shaft, said first speed changing unit having a first sun gear driven by said first output component, a first ring gear and a set of first planet gears meshed with said first sun gear and said first ring gear, said second speed changing unit having a second sun gear driven by said second output component, a second ring gear and a set of second planet gears meshed with said second sun gear and said second ring gear, said first mode clutch is operable for braking rotation of said first ring gear and said second mode clutch is operable for braking rotation of said second ring gear;
and
a control system for controlling actuation of said first and second mode clutches.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/265,219Filed 2 Nov 2005
Priority: 27 May 2004
Published: 9 Mar 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B60K 23/0808
For changing number of driven wheels , for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles: for varying torque distribution between…
B60K 17/3462
The transfer gear being a differential gear: with means for changing distribution of torque between front and rear wheels
B60K 23/04
Arrangement or mounting of control devices for vehicle transmissions, or parts thereof, not otherwise provided for: for differential gearing
F16H 48/08
With gears having orbital motion: comprising bevel gears

Family

Application10/855,904Continuation · filed 27 May 2004
Application11/265,219Continuation · filed 2 Nov 2005
US 2005/0266952 A1Published application
US 7,004,876 B2Related patent
US 7,059,991 B2Related patent
US 2006/0052206 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.