Multi-speed planetary differential

In a planetary differential (10) having first and second planetary sets (16,18) individually having ring, sun and carrier elements (26,28,30,34,36,38), first and second output members (20,22) individually connected to one of said ring and carrier elements (26,30,34,38) of the first and second planetary sets (16,18), and a rotary input member (12), the improvement comprising:

• the sun elements (28,36) of the first and second planetary sets (16,18) being connected together for joint rotation;
• and
• means (14') for driving said output members (20,22) at substantially equal levels of torque in a plurality of reduced speeds, said means (14') being driven by said rotary input member (12) and driving the remaining one of said ring and carrier elements (34,38) of the second planetary set (18) in at least one of the plurality of speeds, the remaining one of said ring and carrier elements (26,30) of the first planetary set (16) being driven by one of said input member (12) and said means (14'), said means (14') including third and fourth planetary sets (104,106) individually having ring, sun and carrier elements (116,118,120,124,126,128), said sun elements (118,126) of the third and fourth planetary sets (104,106) being connected together for joint rotation, said means (14') further including clutch means (114) for selectively coupling said sun elements (118,126) of the third and fourth planetary sets (104,106) to said ring element (26) of the first planetary set (16) for joint rotation.

In a planetary differential (10) having first and second planetary sets (16,18) individually having ring, sun and carrier elements (26,28,30,34,36,38), first and second output members (20,22) individually connected to one of said ring and carrier elements (26,30,34,38) of the first and second planetary sets (16,18), and a rotary input member (12), the improvement comprising:

• the sun elements (28,36) of the first and second planetary sets (16,18) being connected together for joint rotation;
• and
• means (14') for driving said output members (20,22) at substantially equal levels of torque in a plurality of reduced speeds, said means (14') being driven by said rotary input member (12) and driving the remaining one of said ring and carrier elements (34,38) of the second planetary set (18) in at least one of the plurality of speeds, the remaining one of said ring and carrier elements (26,30) of the first planetary set (16) being driven by one of said input member (12) and said means (14'), said means (14') including third and fourth planetary sets (104,106) individually having ring, sun and carrier elements (116,118,120,124,126,128), said sun elements (118,126) of the third and fourth planetary sets (104,106) being connected together for joint rotation, said means (14') further including clutch means (112) for selectively coupling said ring element (116) of the third planetary set (104) to said ring element (26) of the first planetary set (16).

In a planetary differential (10) having first and second planetary sets (16,18) individually having ring, sun and carrier elements (26,28,30,34,36,38), first and second output members (20,22) individually connected to one of said ring and carrier elements (26,30,34,38) of the first and second planetary sets (16,18), and a rotary input member (12), the improvement comprising:

• the sun elements (28,36) of the first and second planetary sets (16,18) being connected together for joint rotation;
• and
• means (14') for driving said output members (20,22) at substantially equal levels of torque in a plurality of reduced speeds, said means (14') being driven by said rotary input member (12) and driving the remaining one of said ring and carrier elements (34,38) of the second planetary set (18) in at least one of the plurality of speeds, the remaining one of said ring and carrier elements (26,30) of the first planetary set (16) being driven by one of said input member (12) and said means (14'), said means (14') including third and fourth planetary sets (104,106) individually having ring, sun and carrier elements (116,118,120,124,126,128), said sun elements (118,126) of the third and fourth planetary sets (104,106) being connected together for joint rotation, said means (14') further including brake means (108) for stopping rotation of said sun elements (118,126) of the third and fourth planetary sets (104,106).

A multi-speed planetary differential (10) for receiving input at an input gear (12), and delivering output to first and second output members (20,22) on a common axis (24), comprising:

• a first planetary set (16) having ring, sun and carrier elements (26,28,30), one of said ring and carrier elements (26,30) being connected to said first output member (20);
• a second planetary set (18) having ring, sun and carrier elements (34,36,38), one of said ring and carrier elements (34,38) of the second planetary set being connected to said second output member (22), the sun element (28) of the first planetary set (16) being connected to rotate jointly with the sun element (36) of the second planetary set (28), the input gear (12) being continuously connected for joint rotation with the remaining one of said ring and carrier elements (26,30) of the first planetary set;
• and
• means (14) for driving said output members (20,22) at equal levels of torque and at least two different reduced speeds while maintaining true differential action, said means (14) being connected to said input gear (12) and driving said remaining one of said ring and carrier elements (34,38) of the second planetary set in at least one of said speeds, said means (14) being located between the first and second planetary sets (16,18) on the common axis (24).

A multi-speed planetary differential (10) for receiving input from a driven gear (86) and delivering substantially equal torque output to first and second output members (20,22), comprising:

• a first planetary set (16) having ring, sun and carrier elements (26,28,30), a preselected first one of said ring and carrier elements (26,30) being connected to said first output member (20);
• a second planetary set (18) having ring, sun, and carrier elements (34,36,38), a preselected first one of said ring and carrier elements (34,38) of the second planetary set being connected to said second output member (22), said sun elements (28,36) of the first and second planetary sets (16,18) being connected for joint rotation;
• and
• a third planetary set (44) having ring, sun, and carrier elements (46,48,50), located between the first and second planetary sets (16,18) on a common axis (24) therewith, said sun element (48) of the third planetary set (44) and the remaining one of said ring and carrier elements (26,30) of the first planetary set (16) being connected together for joint rotation and being driven by said driven gear (86), said carrier element (50) of the third planetary set (44) being connected to rotate with and driving the remaining one of said ring and carrier elements (34,38) of the second planetary set (18) in one speed, true differential action being maintained by establishing the e values of the first and second planetary sets (16,18) at a preselected different relationship.

A multi-speed planetary differential (10) for receiving input from a driven gear (86) and delivering substantially equal torque to opposite first and second wheels (166,168), comprising:

• a first planetary set (16") having ring, sun and carrier elements (26",28",30"), the ring element (26") being connected to rotate with said first wheel (166);
• a second planetary set (18) having ring, sun and carrier elements (34,36,38), the ring element (34) of the second planetary set being connected to rotate with said second wheel (168), the sun elements (28",36) of the first and second planetary sets (16",18) being connected together for joint rotation;
• and
• means (14,14"") for providing true differential and reduced multi-speed capability of said ring elements (26",34) of the first and second planetary sets (16",18), said means (14,14"") being connected to said driven gear (86) and to the carrier elements (30",38) of both said first and second planetary set (16",18) and being disposed on a common axis (24) therewith.

A multi-speed planetary differential (10) for receiving input from a driven gear (86) and delivering equal torque to opposite first and second wheels (166,168), comprising:

• a first planetary set (16) having ring, sun and carrier elements (26,28,30) and a single plurality of planetary elements (32), the carrier element (30) being connected to rotate with said first wheel (166);
• a second planetary set (18") having ring, sun and carrier elements (34",36",38") and first and second pluralities of planet elements (157,159), the carrier element (38") of the second planetary set (18") being connected to rotate with said second wheel (168), said sun elements (28,36") being connected for joint rotation;
• and
• means (14'") for providing true differential and reduced multi-speed capability of said carrier elements (30,38") of the first and second planetary sets (16,18"), said means (14'") being connected to said driven gear (86) and to the ring elements (26,34") of said first and second planetary sets (16,18") and being disposed on a common axis (24) therewith.