US 6,634,978 B2Granted

Differential device for 4WD-vehicles

AssigneeAisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsKoji Banno, Tohru Kagata, Yasuhiro Kobayashi

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Abstract

A differential device for 4WD vehicles having a reduced size and capable of being produced at lower costs makes it possible to select between a 2WD state, a differential-free 4WD state, and a differential-locked 4WD state. The differential device includes a differential case, a side gear, a hub, and a switching mechanism which establishes and interrupts a connection between each of the differential case, the side gear, and the hub. The switching mechanism includes, among other possible features, a first sleeve, a second sleeve which is separate from the first sleeve, and a pin. A sole actuator moves the second sleeve between first, second and third positions to establish the 2WD state, the differential-free 4WD state, and the differential-locked 4WD state.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A differential device for 4WD vehicles comprising:

a differential case which receives a driving force from a driving shaft to rotate the differential case;
first and second side gears accommodated in the differential case to deliver the driving force transmitted to the differential case at a ratio to first and second wheels;
a rotation member rotatable together with the first wheel;
a sole actuator;
a switching mechanism operatively driven along a wheel-axis by the sole actuator to selectively establish one of:
1) a 2WD state in which the rotation member is out of connection with the first side gear;
2) a differential-free 4WD state in which a connection is established only between the rotation member and the first side gear;
and 3) a differential-locked 4WD state in which the first side gear is connected to both the differential case and the rotation member;
the switching mechanism comprising:
a movable first member continually connected to the rotation member, the first member being connected to the first side gear when the first member is moved in one direction along the wheel-axis relative to the rotation member, the first member being disconnected from the first side gear when the first member is moved in an opposite direction relative to the rotation member;
a movable second member continually connected to the first member, the second member being connected to the differential case when the second member is moved in one direction along the wheel-axis relative to the first member, the second member being disconnected from the differential case when the second member is moved in an opposite direction along the wheel-axis relative to the first member;
the second member being positionable in a first position corresponding to the 2WD state, a second position corresponding to the differential-free 4WD state, and a third position corresponding to the differential-locked 4WD state;
a relative movement inhibiting mechanism which on demand inhibits movement of the first member relative to the rotation member, and which on demand inhibits movement of the second member relative to the first member;
the relative movement inhibiting mechanism being constructed so that:
while the second member is positioned within a range from the first position to the second position, the relative movement inhibiting mechanism inhibits the movement of the second member relative to the first member while the first member and the second member are concurrently moved relative to the rotation member;
while the second member is positioned within a range from the second position to the third position, the relative movement inhibiting mechanism inhibits the movement of only the first member relative to the rotation member, while the second member is brought into movement relative to the first member under an immovable condition of the first member along the wheel-axis.

13 more elements

A differential device for 4WD vehicles comprising:

a differential case which receives a driving force from a driving shaft to rotate the differential case;
a side gear accommodated in the differential case to deliver the driving force transmitted to the differential case to a wheel;
a rotation member rotatable together with the wheel;
a first member connected to the rotation member to rotate together with the rotation member;
a second member connected to the first member to rotate together with the first member;
an actuator operatively connected to the second member to axially move the second member between a first position constituting a 2WD state in which the side gear is out of connection with the rotation member and is out of connection with the differential case, a second position constituting a differential-free 4WD state in which the side gear is connected to the rotation member and is out of connection with the differential case, and a third position constituting a differential-locked 4WD state in which the side gear is connected to both the differential case and the rotation member;
a relative movement inhibiting mechanism inhibiting axial movement of the second member relative to the first member while the actuator moves the second member axially between the first position and the second position so that the actuator axially moves the first member along with the second member relative to the rotation member;
the relative movement inhibiting mechanism inhibiting axial movement of the first member relative to the rotation member and permitting relative axial movement between the first and second members while the actuator moves the second member axially between the second position and the third position so that the actuator axially moves the second member relative to the first member.

5 more elements

A differential device for 4WD vehicles comprising:

a differential case which receives a driving force from a driving shaft to rotate the differential case;
a side gear accommodated in the differential case to deliver the driving force transmitted to the differential case to a wheel;
a rotation member rotatable together with the wheel;
a first member connected to the rotation member to rotate together with the rotation member;
a second member connected to the first member to rotate together with the first member;
an actuator operatively connected to the second member to axially move the second member between a first position constituting a 2WD state in which the side gear is out of connection with the rotation member and is out of connection with the differential case, a second position constituting a differential-free 4WD state in which the side gear is connected to the rotation member and is out of connection with the differential case, and a third position constituting a differential-locked 4WD state in which the side gear is connected to both the differential case and the rotation member;
a pin slidably positioned in a through hole in the first member and having one portion which engages a portion of the second member during axial movement of the second member between the first position and the second position to interconnect the first and second members and cause the first member to move together with the second member relative to the rotation member and having another portion which engages a portion of the rotation member during axial movement of the second member between the second position and the third position to interconnect the first member and the rotation member and permit the second member to move relative to the first member and the rotation member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/105,400Filed 26 Mar 2002
Priority: JP 2001-08887326 Mar 2001
Published: US 2002/0137589 A126 Sep 2002
Granted: 21 Oct 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F16H 63/36
Locking or disabling mechanisms: interlocking devices
B60K 17/3462
The transfer gear being a differential gear: with means for changing distribution of torque between front and rear wheels
B60K 17/35
Having differential means for driving one set of wheels, e.g. the front, at one speed and the other set, e.g. the rear, at a different speed:…
B60K 23/08
Arrangement or mounting of control devices for vehicle transmissions, or parts thereof, not otherwise provided for: for changing number of driven…