Drive module for a variable torque distribution

A drive module for a variable torque distribution in the driveline of a motor vehicle. comprising:

• a first shaft which is rotatably supported around an axis of rotation (B) relative to a stationary housing:
• a second shaft which is coaxially arranged relative to said first shaft and which is drivingly connected to the first shaft;
• a transmission stage arranged in a torque flow between the first shaft and the second shaft, said transmission stage having a carrier element which carries at least one planetary gear and which is able to rotate around the axis of rotation (B);
• a multi-plate coupling axially supported in the housing and selectively coupling the carrier element relative to the housing, such that, when coupled, torque is transmitted from one of the first or the second shaft to the other one of the first or the second shaft;
• wherein the housing, the first shaft, the second shaft, the transmission stage and the coupling form part of a unit, and wherein an attaching mechanism is provided at the housing for attaching the unit to a drive;
• wherein the carrier element comprises two carrier parts each formed in a cup shape, and connected to one another.

A motor vehicle comprising a driven axle with two sideshafts and an axle differential for variably distributing torque to the two sideshafts,

• wherein the axle differential comprises a differential carrier rotatably supported in a stationary differential housing, two sideshaft gears rotatably supported in the differential carrier and a plurality of differential gears engaging the two sideshaft gears,
• the vehicle further comprising a first drive module and a second drive module for a variable torque distribution in the driveline of a motor vehicle, said first and second drive module each comprising:
• a first shaft which is rotatably supported around an axis of rotation (B) relative to a stationary housing;
• a second shaft which is coaxially arranged relative thereto and which is drivingly connected to the first shaft;
• a transmission stage arranged in a torque flow between the first shaft and the second shaft, said transmission stage having a carrier element which carries at least one planetary gear and which is able to rotate around the axis of rotation (B);
• a coupling supported in the housing and selectively coupling the carrier element relative to the housing, such that, when coupled, torque is transmitted from one of the first or the second shaft to the other one of the first or the second shaft;
• wherein the housing, the first shaft, the second shaft, the transmission stage and the coupling form part of a unit, and wherein an attaching mechanism is provided at the housing for attaching the unit to a drive;
• wherein the housing of the first drive module is connected to the stationary differential housing, wherein the first shaft of the first drive module is connected in a rotationally fixed way to one of the two sideshaft gears and wherein the second shaft of the first drive module is connected in a rotationally fixed way to the differential carrier,
• wherein the housing of the second drive module is connected to the stationary differential housing, wherein the first shaft of the second drive module is connected in a rotationally fixed way to the other one of the two sideshaft gears and wherein the second shaft of the second drive module is connected in a rotationally fixed way to the differential carrier.

A motor vehicle comprising two driven axles with a central differential for variably distributing the torque to the two driven axles,

• wherein the central differential comprises a differential carrier rotatably supported in a stationary housing, two axle shaft gears rotatably supported in the differential carrier, and a plurality of differential gears engaging the axle shaft gears,
• the vehicle further comprising, at the central differential, a first drive module for a variable torque distribution in the driveline of a motor vehicle, comprising:
• a first shaft which is rotatably supported around an axis of rotation (B) relative to a stationary housing;
• a second shaft which is coaxially arranged relative thereto and which is drivingly connected to the first shaft;
• a transmission stage arranged in a torque flow between the first shaft and the second shaft, said transmission stage having a carrier element which carries at least one planetary gear and which is able to rotate around the axis of rotation (B);
• a coupling supported in the housing and selectively coupling the carrier element relative to the housing, such that, when coupled, torque is transmitted from one of the first or the second shaft to the other one of the first or the second shaft;
• wherein the housing, the first shaft, the second shaft, the transmission stage and the coupling form part of a unit, and wherein an attaching mechanism is provided at the housing for attaching the unit to a drive;
• wherein the housing of said drive module is connected to the stationary differential housing, wherein the first shaft of the first drive module is connected in a rotationally fixed way to one of the two axle shaft gears and wherein the second shaft of the first drive module is connected in a rotationally fixed way to the differential carrier.