Abstract:
A differential ( 2 ) for a vehicle is proposed for the apportionment of a drive torque conducted via a drive shaft on a crown gear ( 7 ). The drive torque is engendered by a motor ( 1 ) onto two output shafts ( 3, 4 ) and differential is to serve for the compensation of a difference in speed of rotation between the two output shafts ( 3, 4 ). The crown gear ( 7 ) is located in an area between the motor ( 1 ) and a drive wheel ( 6 ) of a vehicle ( 29 ) while a semi-independent suspension assembly ( 10 ) is to be found between the output shafts ( 3, 4 ) in the area between the motor ( 1 ) and the other drive wheel ( 5 ) of the vehicle, whereby the crown gear ( 7 ) and the semi-independent suspension assembly ( 10 ) are bound together via a shaft ( 8 ).

Description:
This application claims priority from German Application Serial No. 103 50 870.8 filed Oct. 31, 2003. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention concerns a differential for a vehicle. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In practice, in a known way with regard to vehicles, a torque generated by a motor is necessarily conducted through a succession of gear trains to driven wheels. If vehicles, such as 4-wheel drive passenger cars or 4-wheel drive trucks are made with a plurality of driven axles, then the torque from the motor must be apportioned in a special gear assembly in the vehicles to the respective drive axles. 
   For this load apportionment, differential gear trains (hereinafter referred to as “differential(s)”) are installed, whereby a center differential, when seen in the direction of travel, compensates for longitudinal axle spacing (front to back) in apportioning the torque for a plurality of driven vehicle axles. Transverse differentials, i.e., compensating gear trains, are used in regard to the relationship of the direction of travel (curving) of a vehicle to a transverse apportionment of the torque delivered to the driven wheels on a vehicle axle. 
   Differentials conventionally employed in practice are, among other types, bevel gear differentials, spur gear differentials in planet gear techniques or even worm gear differentials. Especially because of the possibility for non-symmetrical torque distribution, spur gear differentials are mostly installed as central differentials. Bevel gear differentials present, generally, a standard for transverse compensation and worm gear differentials are installed both for length apportionment was well as for transverse load dividing. 
   The torque produced by the motor is, in the case of a bevel gear differential, introduced into the differential on a worm or hypoid toothed bevel gear, for example, and then transmitted by means of a differential cage onto free pinion gears, which act in the manner of a balance-beam and continually create torque compensation between two output shafts of the bevel gears of the bevel gear differential. In the case of straight line forward travel of a vehicle equipped with the bevel gear differential, then, the differential cage and the pinion, which are bound with rotational capability to the bevel gears, as well as the pinions within a differential cage, all run together as one unit whereby differential bolts and the thereon placed differential pinions contribute or receive no relative motion. 
   In curve travel operation, a requirement is that a bevel gear shaft, where the bevel gear is on a first output shaft of a differential and which is bound to that axle of a wheel of the vehicle, which is on the outside of the curve, must rotate at a higher speed than that axle shaft, i.e., a second output drive shaft of the differential, which is bound that axle of a wheel on the inner circumference of the curve, whereby the bevel gears and the differential pinions, in a known way and manner, so rotate in relation to one another, that a compensation of the different speeds of rotation is established between the two wheels of a vehicle. 
   A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the differentials known in conventional practice, which are normally transverse differentials between the motor and wheels, possess such an outer dimensioning that in the relevant installation position, the space available in the presence of a crown gear assembly is not sufficient to also accommodate a conventional differential. In such a case, it becomes necessary to place the differential on that side of the motor which is remote from the crown gear assembly. When this is done, then it becomes necessary that torque from a transmission with an output on the same side of the motor as the crown gear assembly, is conducted by means of an additional torque transfer device to that side of the motor which is remote from the steering gear assembly and to a crown gear of the differential. 
   Accordingly, the present invention has the purpose of making such a differential available, wherein the introduction of torque into a differential can be conducted on the same side of a motor on which the output of a transmission is located and wherein a crown gear assembly of a differential is also present. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In the case of the invented differential for a vehicle for the apportionment of motor generated torque, which has been introduced to a differential crown gear by one drive shaft and then split onto two output shafts for the stated compensation of a difference in the speed of rotation between the two output shafts, there exists a possibility that torque from a transmission output can be introduced by means of a more compact assembly onto the same side of the motor of an input gear train into that differential, upon which the transmission output of the transmission is expected. 
   This is enabled, in that the differential crown gear can be placed in an area between the motor and a drive gear of a vehicle axle and before an shaft coupling assembly, which assembly is between the output shafts of the differential and the other drive gear of the axle. Further, the crown gear and the shaft coupling assembly are are united by a shaft. 
   With this background, it is possible for the differential crown gear, which is inherently thin and consequently requires very small axial space, can be placed on that side of the motor which is remote from the differential, where both the transmission output and also access to a crown gear assembly of the differential are located. 
   Torque has been delivered from a transmission output. By means of a lateral shaft, which runs in the direction of the vehicle&#39;s longitudinal direction and sideways along the motor, the torque is conducted to the differential crown gear. This shaft runs transversely across the vehicle and advantageously finds itself in the area of a second shaft running likewise transversely between the shaft coupling assembly and the differential. Further, the drive gear provided for the front axle of the vehicle is mounted on that side of the motor which is remote from the differential. Comparing the above to the methods known in the practice, less construction space in the area of the motor of a vehicle is necessary. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the improvement of a general all-encompassing view in the description of the various embodiments for components of construction and function, the same reference numbers have been used. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a motor with components of a vehicle front axle, wherein a torque is apportioned between two vehicle sides by means of the invented differential; 
       FIG. 2  is a presentation based on  FIG. 1 , whereby an axle displacement between the drive gears and the differential is respectively bridged over by means of a pairing of spur gears; and 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional presentation of an invented and completed differential shown free of other components. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In  FIG. 1 , in a highly schematic presentation shows several components of a vehicle front axle  29  along with a motor  1 . In the shown arrangement, the motor  1  generated torque is first conducted to a transmission (not shown), wherein any one of several speed ratios can be selected. The transmission can be of conventional construction. The torque, now communicates with a differential gear  2 , which is present as a cross-apportioning gear train. Further, the value of the torque now exists as a result of the ratio selected by the transmission and is split in the differential gear  2  into two front wheel drive shafts  3  and  4 . Therefrom it is respectively conducted to drive wheels  5  and  6  which are bound to a front axle  29 . 
   The differential gear  2  serves two purposes. The first of these purposes is to fulfill the function of a transverse divider of the delivered torque into two branches transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, namely, between two front drive wheels on the now empowered right and left axles. The second purpose is to differentiate the effective wheel separating distance (wheel base) for the compensated splitting of the torque between the two axles. To accomplish these two goals, the differential can be based on bevel gears, spur gears or crown wheel gears. 
   The introduction of the transmission output torque of the transmission into the differential  2  is carried out by means of a bevel gear  30 , which meshes with a crown gear  7  of the differential  2 . The bevel gear  30  rotates in common with a side located shaft (not further defined), which is connected with the output gearing of the transmission. The crown gear is present between the motor  1  and the respective drive wheel  6 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a more detailed differential cage  9 , as well as a shaft coupling assembly  10 . This differential cage  9  is placed between the two front drive wheels  5 ,  6  of the front axle  29 . In order that the torque, delivered by the transmission, can be conducted from the crown gear  7  to the two output shafts  3 ,  4  (notably the axle connections), and the crown gear  7  are connected to the differential cage  9  of the differential  2 . This connection is made by an hollow shaft  8 , which is shown in cross-hatched section in  FIG. 3  and is of a conventional design. The differential cage  9  circumferentially encapsulates the shaft coupling assembly  10 , which is between the two drive shafts  3 ,  4 . 
   The torque output drive shaft  4  runs as initiated by the shaft coupling assembly  10  by means of the hollow shaft  8  in the direction of the drive wheel  6 . Conversely, the output drive shaft  3 , in accordance with the shaft coupling assembly  10 , leads directly to the drive wheel  5 , the wheel  5  being proximal to the differential  2 . The two output shafts  3 ,  4  exist as jointed shafts, in order to cope with and compensate for the varying elevations experienced separately by the two wheels  5 ,  6  while in operation. 
   The output shaft  4  is a combination of a transverse shaft  4 A penetrating through the internal gear  8  and the therewith connected jointed shaft  4 B. Accordingly, dependent upon the respective actual application case, the hollow shaft  8  and the transverse shaft  4 A assembly can be conducted, as seen in  FIG. 1 , directly through the housing of the motor  1  which would be through the oil pan of the motor. Another embodiment would place the gear and shaft, as seen in the direction of travel, in front of the motor  1 . Alternately also, the gear and shaft can be positioned underneath the motor  1  in the direction of the drive wheel  6 , which is on the other side of the motor  1  than is the shaft coupling assembly  10 . 
   Thus, the above positions, advantageously provide the possibility that the torque transfer from the output of the transmission, which outlet is placed at the side of the motor  1 , also in  FIG. 1 , where likewise the crown gear assembly (not shown) of the vehicle is located, can be carried out in a space saving manner. The reason for this is, that principally, the crown gear  7 , which makes little claim to space in the axial direction of the front axle  29 , is placed on this side of the motor  1  and the torque from the transmission is successively conducted from the crown gear  7 , through the hollow shaft  8  in the direction of the shaft coupling assembly  10  of the differential  2  and does this with little requirement for useable space and in an advantageous way. 
   That part of the differential  2 , in which the shaft coupling assembly  10  is positioned between the two drive shafts  3  and  4  as well as the crown gear  7 , is rotatably fastened to the motor  1 . On this account, alternately, the crown gear  7  and the therewith connected hollow shaft  8  can be also placed on the steering mechanism of the of the vehicle thereby the steering mechanism becomes included in the power path. 
     FIG. 2  principally shows the vehicle&#39;s front axle  29  and the motor  1 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 , whereby an axle displacement between the output shafts  5 ,  6  and the differential  2  is compensated for by gear pairing  11  or  12 . The gear pairing  12  is between the crown gear  7  and the drive wheel  6  and the similar gear pairing  11  is carried out in that area between the differential  2  and the drive wheel  5 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a possible formation of the differential  2 , as this is presented in the schematic drawing of  FIG. 2 , having an axle displacement compensation, wherein the hollow shaft  8 , in the area of the shaft coupling assembly  10 , is threadedly connected with the differential cage  9 . The gear pairing  11  is carried out by a spur gear toothing  13 , which is cut into an axle bevel gear  14  and a toothed gear, i.e., a spur gear  15 , which meshes with the spur gear toothing  13 . 
   With the invented embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , of a differential having the possibility of axle displacement compensation, it is possible that a particularly critical property of a vehicle has been brought to the lowest possible level. The reason for this is that the motor  1  can be dropped to a very low elevation, due to the vertically aligned output shaft  4  which, in its positional relation to the drive wheels  5 ,  6  contrasts with the known conventional method of the practice. 
   In a deeper location of the motor  1  in the vehicle and when the motor, as seen in forward travel direction, is placed conventionally in front of passenger seat area of the vehicle, then the two drive wheels  5 ,  6  of the front axle  29  need no longer be connected in a direct, straight line with one another nor need their connection cross over through the motor  1 . Because of the penetrating axle displacement compensation with the invented differential  2 , the possibility arises that the two drive wheels  5 ,  6  can be space-savingly bound onto the driving gear string of a vehicle axle installed proximal to the motor  1  without a penetrative passage through the motor. 
   In addition to the spur gear toothing  13 , the bevel gear  14  as well as an additional bevel gear  16  are machined with a bevel gear toothing  17 , so that both bevel gears can engage in the complementary toothing  19 ,  20  of the two pinion gears  21 ,  22 . 
   The axial force which, during the operation of the differential  2  by the gear tooth pairing between the bevel gears  14  and  16  and the pinion gears  21 ,  22 , acts upon the driving bevel gears  14 ,  16  is, contrary to the known bevel gear differential of the practice, not supported on the differential cage  9 . On the other hand, this force is introduced into a bolt  23  which serves as a common axle for the two bevel gears  14 , 16 . On the bolt  23 , the two bevel gears  14 , 16  rotate whereby the two bevel gears  14 ,  16 , by means of the two disklike constructed axial detents  24 ,  25 , which are threadedly engaged with the bolt  23 , the bevel gears  14 ,  16  are held in the axial direction of the bolt  23 . 
   The introduction of the output torque of the transmission into the differential  2  is done by means of the hollow shaft  8  in the differential cage  9 , wherein the torque apportions itself, through the differential bolts  26 ,  27  and the differential bolts  26 ,  27  onto the pinions  21  and  22 . The now split forces resulting from the toothing with the bevel gears  14 ,  16  and which act upon the pinions  21 ,  22  find support by means of the differential cage  9 , which is ring shaped. Further, the toothing forces, which act upon the crown gear  7  and which are introduced into the differential cage  9  by the hollow shaft  8 , are brought into the bolt  23  by the differential bolts  26 ,  27 , whereby these bolts serve as support for the differential pinions  21 ,  22 . 
   The bolt  23  is presently encased in a shell-like component  28 , upon which both bevel gears  14 ,  16  and the pinion gears  21 ,  22  are supported. Into the shell-like component  28 , enter the differential bolts  26 ,  27 , which engage, with their ends which are remote from the cage  9 , both the differential cage  9  and the pinion gears  21 ,  22  for the reason that the toothing force of the crown gear  7 , by the differential bolts  26 ,  27 , is brought by the cross-shaped shell-like bolt  28  into the bolt  23 . 
   The components of the differential  2  are located within a housing of the differential  2  (not shown). This placement can be provided in the area of the bevel gears  14 ,  16  or on an extension of the axial supports  24 ,  25  (not shown). Alternative thereto, the location can be made in the housing of the differential, especially above the differential cage. 
   REFERENCE NUMERALS 
   
       
         1  motor 
         2  differential gear 
         3  output drive shaft 
         4  output drive shaft 
         4 A transverse shaft 
         4 B jointed shaft 
         5  drive gear 
         6  drive gear 
         7  crown gear 
         8  internal gear 
         9  differential cage 
         10  semi-independent suspension 
         11  gear pairing 
         12  gear pairing 
         13  spur gear toothing 
         14  bevel gear 
         15  gear 
         16  bevel gear 
         17  bevel gear toothing 
         18  bevel gear toothing 
         19  bevel gear toothing 
         20  bevel gear toothing 
         21  differential pinion 
         23  bolt 
         24  axial detent support (bolt) 
         25  axial detent support (bolt) 
         26  differential bolt 
         27  differential bolt 
         28  shell-like component 
         29  vehicle front axle 
         30  bevel gear