US 6,585,093 B2 · Drive force transmission apparatus

Abstract

A drive force transmission apparatus disposed within a differential carrier and adapted to drivingly couple first and second rotary shafts. The drive force transmission apparatus includes an outer casing coupled to the first rotary shaft, an inner shaft coupled to the second rotary shaft, a frictional clutch which enters a frictionally engaged state upon reception of a thrust force to thereby couple the outer casing and the inner shaft together, and an electromagnetic drive mechanism for generating the thrust force. The electromagnetic drive mechanism includes an electromagnet disposed outside the outer casing, a yoke supporting the electromagnet, the yoke being fixedly supported by the carrier in such a manner that the yoke faces a side wall of the outer casing with a gap formed therebetween, and a thrust force generation mechanism disposed inside the outer casing and adapted to produce the thrust force to be applied to the frictional clutch upon receipt of a magnetic force from the electromagnet via the gap and the side wall of the outer casing. A surface of the yoke and a surface of the side wall of the outer casing which face the gap each have a hardened surface layer.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A drive force transmission apparatus comprising:

a frictional clutch disposed between a first rotary member and a second rotary member disposed to be rotatable relative to each other;
an electromagnetic drive mechanism for bringing said frictional clutch into a frictionally engaged state, upon reception of electricity, in order to couple said first and second rotary members in a torque transmissible manner;
and
a facing member disposed to be rotatable relative to said first rotary member with a gap formed therebetween, wherein
a surface of said first rotary member and a surface of said facing member which face the gap each have a hardened surface layer.

2 more elements

A drive force transmission apparatus disposed within a carrier fixed to a vehicle body and adapted to drivingly couple first and second rotary shafts rotatably supported by said carrier, said drive force transmission apparatus comprising:

an outer casing coupled to said first rotary shaft, said outer casing being rotatable relative to said carrier;
an inner shaft coupled to said second rotary shaft, said inner shaft being disposed coaxially with said outer casing and being rotatable relative to said carrier and said outer casing;
a frictional clutch disposed in an annular space defined by said outer casing and said inner shaft, said frictional clutch entering a frictionally engaged state upon reception of a thrust force in order to couple said outer casing and said inner shaft together;
and
an electromagnetic drive mechanism disposed on one side of said frictional clutch with respect to the axial direction of said inner shaft, said electromagnetic drive mechanism including an electromagnet disposed outside said outer casing, a yoke supporting said electromagnet, said yoke being fixedly supported by said carrier in such a manner that said yoke faces a side wall of said outer casing with a gap formed therebetween, and a thrust force generation mechanism disposed inside said outer casing and adapted to produce the thrust force to be applied to said frictional clutch upon receipt of a magnetic force from said electromagnet via the gap and the side wall of said outer casing, wherein
a surface of said yoke and a surface of the side wall of said outer casing which face the gap each have a hardened surface layer.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Drive force transmission apparatus

Life of this patent

Drive force transmission apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20