# US 9,518,643 B2 · Axle differential transmission for an engageably driven vehicle of a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,643 B2 - Document ID: US9518643B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/803,720 - Filed: 2015-07-20 - Published: 2016-01-14 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-09 - Assignees: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Applicants: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Inventors: Ralph Schimpf; Franz Kurth; Thorsten Biermann; Brian Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518643B2 ## CPC - F16H 48/22: using friction clutches or brakes - B60K 17/165: {provided between independent half axles (B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence)} - B60K 17/344: having a transfer gear - B60K 23/08: for changing number of driven wheels {, for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles (B60K17/3515 takes precedence)} - F16D 15/00: Clutches with wedging balls or rollers or with other wedgeable separate clutching members (freewheels, freewheel clutches F16D41/00) - F16H 48/295: using multiple means for force boosting - F16H 48/11: having intermeshing planet gears - F16H 2048/106: {characterised by two sun gears} - F16H 2048/343: {using a rotary motor} - F16H: GEARING - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract An axle differential transmission, including: a housing; a differential stage including at least one planetary gear assembly; an input shaft connected to the at least one planetary gear assembly; and a clutch assembly including an actuator, at least one first clutch plate non-rotatably connected to the input shaft, at least one second clutch plate non-rotatably connected to the housing, and a one-way clutch including at least one wedge clutch plate. For a initial drive mode, the actuator is arranged to compress the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate to non-rotatably connect the housing and the input shaft. For a final drive mode, relative rotation between the housing and the input shaft in a first circumferential direction is arranged to non-rotatably connect the housing, the input shaft, and the at least one wedge plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An axle differential transmission for an engageably driven vehicle axle, comprising: an axis of rotation; a housing; a differential stage including at least one planetary gear assembly; an input shaft connected to the at least one planetary gear assembly; and, a clutch assembly including: an actuator; at least one first clutch plate non-rotatably connected to the input shaft; at least one second clutch plate non-rotatably connected to the housing; and, a one-way clutch including at least one wedge clutch plate, wherein: for a initial drive mode, the actuator is arranged to compress the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate to non-rotatably connect the housing and the input shaft; and, for a final drive mode, relative rotation between the housing and the input shaft in a first circumferential direction is arranged to non-rotatably connect the housing, the input shaft, and the at least one wedge plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The axle differential transmission of claim 1, wherein: for the initial drive mode, the actuator is arranged to axially compress the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate to non-rotatably connect the housing and the input shaft up to a predetermined amount of torque transmitted by the housing; and, for the final drive mode and the predetermined amount of torque, the actuator is arranged to release axial compression of the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The axle differential transmission of claim 1, wherein: for the initial drive mode, a portion of the actuator is arranged to displace in a first axial direction, parallel to the axis of rotation, to displace the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate in the first axial direction; and, for the final drive mode, the portion of the actuator is arranged to displace in a second direction, opposite the first axial direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The axle differential transmission of claim 1, wherein: for the initial drive mode, the actuator is arranged apply pressure, in a first axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, to the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate; and, for the final drive mode, the actuator is arranged to remove the axial pressure from the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The axle differential transmission of claim 1, wherein for the final drive mode, torque from the housing is transmitted to the input shaft solely by the at least one wedge plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The axle differential transmission of claim 1, wherein for the final drive mode, the housing is arranged to rotate in a circumferential direction associated with forward travel for the engageably driven vehicle axle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The axle differential transmission of claim 1, wherein to initiate the final drive mode, a portion of the actuator is arranged to displace to enable relative rotation between: the at least one clutch wedge plate; and, one of the at least one first clutch plate or the at least one second clutch plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The axle differential transmission of claim 1, wherein: for relative rotation between the housing and the input shaft in the second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction, the one-way clutch is arranged to operate in a free-wheel mode; and, in the free wheel mode, the housing is rotatable with respect to the input shaft and the at least one clutch wedge plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The axle differential transmission of claim 1, wherein for a reverse mode and relative rotation between the housing and the input shaft in the second circumferential direction, the actuator is arranged to compress the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate to non-rotatably connect the housing and the input shaft. ### Claim 10 An axle differential transmission for an engageably driven vehicle axle, comprising: an axis of rotation; a housing; a differential stage including at least one planetary gear assembly; an input shaft connected to the at least one planetary gear assembly; and, a clutch assembly including: a mechanical ramp actuator; at least one first clutch plate non-rotatably connected to the input shaft; at least one second clutch plate non-rotatably connected to the housing; and, a one-way clutch including at least one wedge clutch plate, wherein: for a initial drive mode, the actuator is arranged to compress the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate to non-rotatably connect the housing and the input shaft; and, for a final drive mode, relative rotation between the housing and the input shaft in a first circumferential direction is arranged to non-rotatably connect the housing, the input shaft, and the at least one wedge plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The axle differential transmission of claim 10, wherein: the actuator includes first and second actuator shafts; and, the first and second actuator shaft are respective hollow shafts arranged coaxially to the input shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The axle differential transmission of claim 10, wherein: the at least one planetary gear assembly includes first and second output sun gears; and, the first and second output sun gears are coupled by a −1 gear ratio. ### Claim 13 An axle differential transmission for an engageably driven vehicle axle, comprising: a housing; an input shaft; and, a clutch assembly including: an actuator; at least one first clutch plate non-rotatably connected to the input shaft; at least one second clutch plate non-rotatably connected to the housing; and, a one-way clutch including at least one wedge clutch plate, wherein: for a initial drive mode, the actuator is arranged to compress the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate to non-rotatably connect the housing and the input shaft up to a predetermined amount of torque transmitted by the housing; and, for a final drive mode and the predetermined amount of torque, relative rotation between the housing and the input shaft in a first circumferential direction is arranged to non-rotatably connect the housing, the input shaft, and the at least one wedge plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The axle differential transmission of claim 13, wherein for the final drive mode and the predetermined amount of torque, the actuator is arranged to release axial compression of the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The axle differential transmission of claim 13, wherein: for the initial drive mode, a portion of the actuator is arranged to displace in a first axial direction, parallel to the axis of rotation, to displace the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate in the first axial direction; and, for the final drive mode, the portion of the actuator is arranged to displace in a second direction, opposite the first axial direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The axle differential transmission of claim 13, wherein for the final drive mode, torque from the housing is transmitted to the input shaft solely by the at least one wedge plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The axle differential transmission of claim 13, wherein for the final drive mode, the housing is arranged to rotate in a circumferential direction associated with forward travel for the engageably driven vehicle axle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The axle differential transmission of claim 13, wherein to initiate the final drive mode, a portion of the actuator is arranged to displace to enable relative rotation between: the at least one clutch wedge plate; and, one of the at least one first clutch plate or the at least one second clutch plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The axle differential transmission of claim 13, wherein: for relative rotation between the housing and the input shaft in the second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction, the one-way clutch is arranged to operate in a free-wheel mode; and, in the free wheel mode, the housing is rotatable with respect to the input shaft and the at least one clutch wedge plate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The axle differential transmission of claim 13, wherein for a reverse mode and relative rotation between the housing and the input shaft in the second circumferential direction, the actuator is arranged to compress the at least one first clutch plate, the at least one second clutch plate, and the at least one wedge clutch plate to non-rotatably connect the housing and the input shaft.