Differential speed limiting device mechanism
AssigneesMitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Daikin Seisakusho
InventorsKiyoshi Shikata, Bonnosuke Takamiya
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A differential limiting device is provided for use in a differential mechanism adapted to divide and transmit a torque from an input shaft to two output shafts. The device includes an oil pump driven by the difference in revolution speed between two shafts selected from the input shaft and output shafts, a wet clutch equipped with two types of disks and adapted to connect said selected two shafts to each other by the pressure of a working oil discharged from the oil pump, and an orifice-equipped lubricating passage for jetting out the working oil, which has been discharged from the oil pump, toward the disks of the clutch in order to avoid possible burnout of the disks.
Claims9
A differential speed limiting device in a differential mechanism adapted to receive, via an input shaft, a drive force from a transmission connected to an engine and to distribute the drive force to two output shafts, comprising:
- an oil pump interposed between two shafts selected from the input shaft and output shafts and driven by a difference in revolution speed between said selected two shafts, thereby discharging a working oil in an amount proportional to the difference in revolution speed;
- a wet clutch equipped with two types of plural disks and a working oil compartment and adapted to connect said selected two shafts to each other by the discharge pressure generated by an orifice;
- said orifice restricts the amount of said working oil from said oil pump to generate a discharge pressure and to jet lubricating oil to said clutch discs;
- passage means which supplies the working oil, discharged from the oil pump, to the working oil compartment of the clutch;
- and
- lubricating passage means with one end in communication with said passage means, and the other end opening near said disks of said clutch;
- said orifice being provided with the opening end, or near the opening end, of the lubricating passage means.
In combination with a differential mechanism having an input shaft and two output shafts,
- a differential speed limiting device comprising a wet clutch comprising coaxial inner and outer clutch members coupled respectively with said two output shafts of said differential mechanism, said outer clutch member having axially extending keyways on an inner periphery thereof and said inner clutch member having axially extending keyways on an outer periphery thereof and a plurality of annular clutch disks between said clutch members and comprising clutch disks having keys on an inner periphery engaging keyways of said inner clutch member alternating with clutch disks having keys on an outer periphery engaging keyways of said outer clutch member, whereby said clutch disks are movable axially relative to said clutch members,
- means for applying pressure to press said clutch disks together, said pressure applying means comprising a cylinder and a piston defining a chamber in said cylinder, said piston being disposed to apply pressure to said clutch disks,
- means for supplying oil under pressure to said chamber to thereby apply pressure to said clutch disks, said pressure oil supplying means comprising pump means having an output proportional to a difference in speed of said two output shafts of said differential mechanism, and
- said piston having therein a calibrated orifice opening from said chamber to said clutch disks to modify the oil pressure in said chamber and to lubricate and cool said clutch disks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.