Parallel-axis combination differential gear unit

Abstract: One pair of planetary gears 3A,3B are each provided on one end thereof with a long gear portion 31, on the other end with a short gear portion 32 and a neck portion 33 between the long gear portion 31 and the short gear portion 32. The long gear portion 31 of the planetary gear 3A is in engagement with the short gear portion 32 of the other planetary gear 3B at an inner gear portion 31b and with a gear portion 2a of a side gear 2A at an outer gear portion 31b beyond where it engages the short gear portion 32 of the other planetary gear. The long gear portion 31 of the other planetary gear 3B is in engagement with the short gear portion 32 of the planetary gear 3A at the inner gear portion 31b and with a gear portion 2b of a side gear 2B at the outer gear portion 31a beyond where it engages the short gear portion 32 of the first planetary gear.

Description: This invention relates to a parallel-axis combination limited-slip differential gear unit having planetary gears arranged parallel to a rotational axis of its housing. In WO-A-9302301, a parallel-axis combination differential gear unit comprising all the features of the preamble of claims 1 and 5, as shown in present Fig. 8, includes a housing (not shown) driven for rotation about a rotational axis L, a pair of side gears S1, S2 rotatably supported within the housing with their axes aligned with each other and coaxial with the rotational axis L, and at least a pair of planetary gears P1, P2 rotatably disposed within the housing in parallel to the rotational axis L. Each of the planetary gears P1, P2 is provided on one end portion thereof with a long gear portion (first gear portion) Pa, on the other end portion thereof with a short gear portion (second gear portion) Pb, and intermediately with a neck portion Pc having a smaller diameter than the gear portions Pa, Pb. The long gear portion Pa of the planetary gear P1 is in engagement at its inner portion Pa1 with the side gear S1 and at its outer portion Pa2 with the short gear portion Pb of the planetary gear P2. The long gear portion Pa of the planetary gear P2 is in engagement at its inner portion Pa1 with the side gear S2 and at its outer portion Pa2 with the short gear portion Pb of the planetary gear P1, so that a planetary gear straddles a side gear. In some arrangements of the parallel-axis combination differential gear unit, a plurality of washers, spacers or the like are arranged between the side gear S1 and the side gear S2. For example, in an arrangement discussed in US Patent No. 5,389,048, spacer blocks are arranged between a pair of side gears. In such an arrangement, it becomes necessary to enlarge the space between the side gears S1, S2 to the extent occupied by the spacer blocks. To fulfill this requirement, the neck portions Pc of the planetary gears P1, P2 are increased in lengthwise dimension. However, if the lengthwise dimension of the neck portions Pc of the planetary gears P1, P2 is increased, they planetary gears P1, P2 are reduced in physical strength. In particular, the strength of the neck portion Pc in torsion is reduced. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a parallel-axis combination differential gear unit, in which the distance between a pair of side gears can be enlarged without sacrificing the physical strength of the planetary gears so that washers, spacer blocks or the like can be arranged between the side gears. To achieve this object, according to a first aspect of the invention, a parallel-axis combination differential gear unit comprises a housing driven for rotation about a rotational axis, one pair of side gears rotatably supported by the housing with axes thereof aligned with each other and coaxial with the rotational axis, and at least one pair of planetary gears rotatably supported by the housing in parallel relation to the rotational axis, the one pair of planetary gears being each provided on opposite ends thereof with a first and a second gear portion and on an intermediate portion thereof with a neck portion which is smaller in diameter than the first and second gear portions, the first gear portion of each planetary gear being in engagement with gear portions of the one pair of side gears and also with the second gear portion of the other planetary gear, wherein the gear portions of the one pair of side gears are at least partly in engagement with the first and second gear portions at areas thereof located outwardly of an engaging area between the first gear portion and the second gear portion. It is preferred that the whole of the gear portions of each side gear are in engagement with the first gear portion at an area located outwardly of the engaging portion between the first gear portion and the second gear portion. It is also preferred that the second gear portion of each planetary gear is in engagement at an intermediate portion thereof with the first gear portion of the other planetary gear, the one pair of side gears each include an inner gear portion and an outer gear portion on opposite end portions thereof as the gear portions, the inner gear portion is in engagement with the first gear portion at an area located inwardly of an engaging portion between the second gear portion and the first gear portion, and the outer gear portion is in engagement with the first gear portion at an area located outwardly of the engaging portion between the second gear portion and the first gear portion. The one pair of side gears may be same or different in outer diameter. According to a second aspect of the invention, a parallel-axis combination differential gear unit comprises a housing driven for rotation about a rotational axis, one pair of side gears rotatably supported by the housing with axes thereof aligned with each other and coaxial with the rotational axis, and at least one pair of planetary gears rotatably supported by the housing in parallel relation to the rotational axis, the one pair of planetary gears being each provided on opposite ends thereof with a first and a second gear portion and on an intermediate portion thereof with a neck portion which is smaller in diameter than the first and second gear portions, the first gear portion of each planetary gear being in engagement with the one pair of side gears and also with the second gear portion of the other planetary gear, wherein the one pair of side gears are mutually different in outside diameter, the first gear portion of one of the paired side gears is in engagement with the second gear portion of the other planetary gear at an inner end portion thereof and also with the side gear of the paired side gears having an enlarged diameter at the other end which is located outwardly of the inner end portion. It is preferred that the side gear of the paired side gears having a reduced diameter is in engagement with the first gear portion of the other planetary gear at the outer end portion. Features of either of the two aspects of the invention may wherever appropriate be combined with features from the other. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing an essential portion of a second embodiment; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line X-X of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view showing an essential portion of a third embodiment; Fig. 5 is a view when viewed in a direction as indicated by an arrow X of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view showing an essential portion of a fourth embodiment; Fig. 7 is a view showing an essential portion of a fifth embodiment; and Fig. 8 is a view showing an essential portion of one example of the a prior art parallel-axis combination differential gear unit. Several embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. Fig. 1 shows the first embodiment. A parallel-axis combination differential gear unit A of this embodiment is suitably used as a center and rear differential or as a center and front differential of a four-wheel drive vehicle. The differential gear unit A comprises a parallel-axis combination differential gear mechanism portion B and a differential gear mechanism portion C called "open differential" which is disposed within the portion B. The parallel-axis combination differential gear mechanism portion B includes a housing 1 for housing the overall parallel-axis combination differential gear unit A. The housing 1 comprises a cylindrical body portion 11 having a bottom and a closure member 12 for closing an opening portion at one end (left end in Fig. 1) of the body portion 11. The closure member 12 is fixedly bolted (not shown) to the body portion 11. The housing 1 is driven for rotation about a rotational axis L by an engine (not shown). One pair of side gears 2A, 2B are rotatably arranged within the housing 1 at one end portion (left end portion in Fig. 1) and the other end portion, respectively, with their axes aligned with each other and coaxial with the rotational axis L. The side gears 2A, 2B are formed at central portions thereof with through-holes 21, 22, respectively, extending on the rotational axis L. The side gear 2A is provided on its outer end portion with a gear portion 2a and on its inner end portion with a supporting sleeve portion 24 having a circular configuration in section. The side gear 2A is supported by the housing 1 through planetary gears 3A as later described. The side gear 2B is provided on its inner end portion with a gear portion 2b and on its outer end portion with an output sleeve portion 23. The output sleeve portion 23 is rotatably fitted into a support hole 13 formed in the body portion 11, whereby the output sleeve portion 23 is rotatably supported by the housing 1. The output sleeve portion 23 is connected as an input shaft to the rear differential in case the differential gear unit A is used as the center and front differentials, and it is connected as an input shaft to the front differential in case the differential gear unit A is used as the center and rear differentials. Within the housing 1, at least one pair of planetary gears 3A, 3B are arranged. Usually, there are three or four pairs of planetary gears 3A,3B. The differential gear unit A of this embodiment includes three pairs of planetary gears 3A, 3B. Each of the paired planetary gears 3A, 3B includes a long gear portion 31 (first gear portion), a short gear portion (second gear portion) 32 and a neck portion 33 which are formed on its one end portion, the other end portion and its intermediate portion, respectively. The long gear portion 31 of the planetary gear 3A is slightly longer than the total length of the gear portion 2a of the side gear 2A and the short gear portion 32 of the planetary gear 3B. Similarly, the long gear portion 31 of the planetary gear 3B is slightly longer than the total length of the gear portion 2b of the side gear 2B and the short gear portion 32 of the planetary gear 3A. The outside diameter of the neck portion 33 is either equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the dedendum circle of the gear portions 31, 32. The diameters of the gear portions 31,32 are the same as each other. The paired planetary gears 3A, 3B is rotatably supported within the housing 1 in parallel relation to the rotational axis L. The planetary gear 3A is arranged such that the long gear portion 31 is located on the side of the side gear 2A, while the other planetary gear 3B is arranged such that the long gear portion 31 is located on the side of the side gear 2B. The neck portions 33, 33 of the paired planetary gears 3A, 3B are in the same location in the direction of the rotational axis L. The long gear portion 31 of the planetary gear 3A is in engagement at its outer portion 31a with the gear portion 2a of the side gear 2A and at its inner portion 31b with the short gear portion 32 of the other planetary gear 3B. The long gear portion 31 of the other planetary gear 3B is in engagement at its outer portion 31a with the gear portion 2b of the side gear 2B and at its inner portion 31b with the short gear portion 32 of the planetary gear 3A. Accordingly, the planetary gears 3A, 3B interconnect the side gears 2A, 2B as a gear train. The differential gear mechanism C will be described next. The supporting sleeve portion 24 of the side gear 2A is coaxial with the rotational axis L. Between a distal end face of the supporting sleeve portion 24 and the side gear 2B, a spacer 73 is arranged. By this spacer 73, the side gears 2A, 2B are correctly positioned in the direction of the rotational axis L. A casing 4 is disposed within the supporting sleeve portion 24. This casing 4 comprises a hollow ball portion 41 and sleeve portions 42, 42 integral with one and the other ends of the ball portion 41. The sleeve portions 42, 42 are located on a straight line passing through the center of the ball portion 41. The casing 4 is arranged such that the axes of the sleeve portions 42, 42 are coaxial with the rotational axis L. One of the sleeve portions 42, 42 extends through the through-hole of the side gear 2A so as to be rotatably supported by a support hole 14 formed in a central portion of the closure member 12 through a bush 71. The other sleeve portion 42 is rotatably fitted into the through-hole 22 of the side gear 2B through a bush 72 and rotatably supported by the housing 1 through the side gear 2B. A support shaft 5 extending orthogonal to the rotational axis L is disposed on a central portion of the ball portion 41 of the casing 4. Opposite end portions of the support shaft 5 extend through the ball portion 41 so as to be connected to the supporting sleeve portion 24. Accordingly, the support shaft 5 and the casing 4 are rotatable in unison with the side gear 2A. Two pairs of bevel gears 6A, 6B; 6C, 6D are arranged within the casing 4. The paired bevel gears 6A, 6B are rotatably supported on one and the other ends of the support shaft 5, respectively. The other paired bevel gears 6C, 6D are rotatably arranged such that the axes thereof are coaxial with the rotational axis L. The paired bevel gears 6A, 6B are in engagement with the other paired bevel gears 6C, 6D. That is, the bevel gear 6A is in engagement with the bevel gears 6C, 6D, and the bevel gear 6B is also in engagement with the bevel gears 6C, 6D. Output shafts 61, 62 extending on the rotational axis L are formed on rear surface portions of the bevel gears 6C, 6D, respectively. The output shaft 61 of the bevel gear 6C extends outwardly through the sleeve portion 42 and the support hole 14. In case the differential gear unit A is used as a center and a front differential, the output shaft 61 is connected to one of the front wheels. In case the differential gear unit A is used as a center and a rear differential, the output shaft 61 is connected to one of the rear wheels. The output shaft 62 of the bevel gear 6D extends outwardly through the output sleeve portion 23 and connected to the other front or rear wheel. In the parallel-axis combination differential gear unit A thus constructed, the gear portions 2a, 2b of the side gears 2A, 2B are in engagement with the outer portions 31a, 31a of the long gear portions 31, 31, i.e., the gear portions 2a, 2b of the side gears 2A, 2B are in engagement with those areas of the long gear portions 31, 31 which are located outwardly of the inner portions 31b, 31b with which the short gear portions 32, 32 are in engagement. By virtue of this arrangement, the distance between the side gears 2A and 2B can be increased without increasing the length dimension of the neck portions 33. As a result, it becomes possible that the ball portion 41 of the casing 4 is received between the side gear 2A and the other side gear 2B, and the differential gear mechanism portion C is built in the parallel-axis combination gear unit A, so that a single differential gear unit A serves as a center and front differential or a center and rear differential. If the parallel-axis differential gear unit A is used as a center and front differential, when the housing 1 is driven for rotation, the drive force of the engine is transmitted to the front wheels through the output shafts 61, 62 and further to the rear differential through the output sleeve portion 23. When the average speed of rotation of the front wheels is different from the average speed of rotation of the rear wheels, torque is transmitted from the high-speed rotation side to the low-speed rotation side in accordance with a predetermined torque bias ratio. This is also applicable to the case where the differential gear unit A is used as a center and rear differential. It should be noted that in the embodiments to follow, only those parts of the construction different from the first are described. Also, features which are the same as in known parallel-axis combination differential gear unit are not described. Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate a second embodiment. In this second embodiment, a plurality of circular friction plates 8A, 8B called "center washers" are arranged an enlarged space between one pair of side gears 2A, 2B. The friction plate 8A is able to rotate in unison with the housing 1 with a projection 81 formed on its outer peripheral surface, inserted between neck portions 33, 33 of one pair of planetary gears 3A, 3B. The other friction plate 8B is disposed between the friction plates 8A, 8B and non- rotatably connected to the side gears 2A, 2B. Accordingly, when the side gears 2A, 2B rotate relative to the housing 1, friction resistance occurs between the friction plate 8A and the side gears 2A, 2B and between the friction plates 8A, 8B, whereby a large torque bias ratio can be obtained. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a third embodiment. In this embodiment, the side gears are mutually different in the number of teeth, twist angle, amount of addendum modification, etc., so that they are mutually different in outside diameter. It should be noted that although the outside diameter of the side gear 2A is larger than the outside diameter of the other side gear 2B in this embodiment, the outside diameter of the former may be larger than that of the latter. By designing the paired side gears 2A, 2B to have a mutually different outside diameter, torque to be transmitted from the housing 1 to the side gears 2A, 2B can be made different in magnitude. In Fig. 4, only for the sake of convenience of illustration and explanation, the rotational axis L is divided into two parallel lines and one pair of side gears 2A, 2B are shown on the parallel lines, respectively. The same is applicable to Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 6 illustrates the fourth embodiment . In this embodiment, the side gear 2A comprises an inner gear portion (gear portion) 21 formed on an end portion on the inner side (on the side of the side gear 2B) of the housing 1, an outer gear portion (gear portion )22 formed on an end portion on the outer side of the housing 1, and a reduced-diameter portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the dedendum circle of the gear portions 21, 22 and formed on an intermediate portion therebetween. The inner gear portion 21 and the outer gear portion 22 of the side gear 2A are in engagement with the long gear portion 31 of the planetary gear 3A at opposite end portions thereof. The other side gear 2B likewise comprises an inner gear portion 21, an outer gear portion 22 and a reduced-diameter portion 23. The inner gear portion 21 and the outer gear portion 22 are in engagement with the long gear portion 31 of the planetary gear 3B at opposite end portions thereof. The short gear portions 32, 32 of the planetary gears 3A, 3B are in an engagement with the long gear portions 31, 31 of the paired planetary gears 3B, 3A at an intermediate portion thereof. In this engaging state, the short gear portions 32, 32 are faced with the side gears 2A, 2B at intermediate portions thereof. However, since the reduced diameter portion 23 is formed on the intermediate portion of the side gears 2A, 2B, the short gear portions 33, 33 never interfere with the side gears 2A, 2B. In this fourth embodiment, the distance between the side gears 2A, 2B can be increased to the extent that the outer gear portion 22 is in engagement with the longer portion 31 at an area located outwardly of the engaging portion between the short gear portion 32 and the long gear portion 31, when compared with the case where the inner and outer gear portions 21, 22 continuous with each other are in engagement with the long gear portion 31 at an area inwardly of the engaging portion between the short gear portion 32 and the long gear portion 31. Fig. 7 illustrates a fifth embodiment. In this embodiment, the side gears 2A, 2B are different in the number of teeth, twist angle, amount of addendum modification, etc. By virtue of this arrangement, the side gears 2A, 2B are mutually different in outside diameter. In this embodiment, the side gear 2B is smaller in diameter than the other side gear 2A, and particularly, the same or smaller than the diameter of the dedendum circle of the side gear 2A. A second gear portion 32 having the same length dimension as the long gear portion (first gear portion) of the planetary gear 3B, instead of the short gear portion 32 of the above embodiment, is formed on the planetary gear 3A. The side gear 2A of larger diameter is in engagement with the long gear portion (first gear portion) 31 of the planetary gear 3A at an outer portion 31a thereof, while the side gear 2B of lesser diameter is in engagement with the long gear portion 31 of the planetary gear portion 31 on an outer end portion thereof. The short gear portion (second gear portion) 32 of the planetary gear 3B is in engagement with an inner portion 31b of the long gear portion 31 of the planetary gear 3A. The long gear portion 31 of the planetary gear 3A and the gear portion 32 of the planetary gear 3B are in engagement with each other over their entire area. It should be noted that the diameter of the side gear 2A may be smaller than that of the dedendum circle of the side gear 2B, and the second gear portion 32 of the planetary gear 3A may be the same in length dimension as the long gear portion 31 of the planetary gear 3B. As indicated by an imaginary line in Fig. 7, the side gear 2B may be in engagement with the long gear portion 31 of the planetary gear 3B over entire area thereof.

Claims: A parallel-axis combination differential gear unit comprising a housing (1) driven for rotation about a rotational axis (L), one pair of side gears (2A, 2B) rotatably supported by said housing (1) with axes thereof aligned with each other and coaxial with the rotational axis (L), and at least one pair of planetary gears (3A, 3B) rotatably supported by said housing (1) in parallel relation to the rotational axis (L), said one pair of planetary gears (3A, 3B) being each provided on opposite ends thereof with a first and a second gear portion (31, 32; 31, 32) and on an intermediate portion thereof with a neck portion (33,33) which is equal to or smaller in diameter than said first and second gear portions (31,32), said first gear portion (31,31) of each planetary gear (3A, 3B) being in engagement with a gear portion (2a, 2b) of a respective gear of said one pair of side gears (2A, 2B) and also with said second gear portion (32, 32) of the other planetary gear (3B, 3A), CHARACTERIZED in that said gear portion (2a, 2b) of said one pair of side gears (2A, 2B) are at least partly in engagement with said first gear portion (31) at an area thereof located outwardly of an engaging area between said first gear portion (31) and said second gear portion (32). A parallel-axis combination differential gear unit according to claim 1, wherein the whole of said gear portions (2a,2b) of each side gear (2A,2B) are in engagement with said first gear portion (31) at an area thereof located outwardly of the engaging portion between said first gear portion (31) and said second gear portion (32). A parallel-axis combination differential gear unit according to claim 1, wherein said second gear portion (32, 32) of each planetary gear (3A, 3B) is in engagement at an intermediate portion thereof with said first gear portion (31, 31) of the other planetary gear (3B, 3A), said one pair of side gears (2A, 2B) each include an inner gear portion (21, 21) and an outer gear portion (22, 22) on opposite end portions thereof as said gear portions, said inner gear portion (21, 21) is in engagement with said first gear portion (31) at an area located inwardly of an engaging portion between said second gear portion (32) and said first gear portion (31), and said outer gear portion (22) is in engagement with said first gear portion (31) at an area located outwardly of the engaging portion between said second gear portion (32) and said first gear portion (31). A parallel-axis combination differential gear unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said one pair of side gears (2A, 2B) are different in outer diameter. A parallel-axis combination differential gear unit comprising a housing (1) driven for rotation about a rotational axis (L), one pair of side gears (2A, 2B) rotatably supported by said housing (1) with axes thereof aligned with each other and coaxial with the rotational axis (L), and at least one pair of planetary gears (3A, 3B) rotatably supported by said housing (1) in parallel relation to the rotational axis (L), said one pair of planetary gears (3A, 3B) being each provided on opposite ends thereof with a first and a second gear portion (31, 32;31, 32) and on an intermediate portion thereof with a neck portion (33, 33) which is smaller in diameter than said first and second gear portions (31, 32), said first gear portion (31, 31) of each planetary gear (3A, 3B) being in engagement with a gear portion (2a, 2b) of a respective gear of said one pair of side gears (2A, 2B) and also with said second gear portion (32, 32) of the other planetary gear (3B, 3A), CHARACTERIZED in that said one pair of side gears (2A, 2B) are mutually different in outside diameter, said first gear portion (31) of one (3A) of said paired planetary gears (3A, 3B) is in engagement with said second gear portion (32) of the other planetary gear (3B) at an inner end portion thereof and also with said side gear (2A) of the paired side gears (2A, 2B) having an enlarged diameter at the other end which is located outwardly of said inner end portion. A parallel-axis combination differential gear unit according to claim 5, wherein said side gear (2B) of said paired side gears (2A, 2B) having a reduced diameter is in engagement with said first gear portion (31) of the other planetary gear (3B) at the outer end portion.

Inventors: NISHIJI MAKOTO, NISHIJI, MAKOTO, Nishiji, Makoto, c/o ZEXEL TORSEN S.A.
Applicants: BOSCH AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CORP, BOSCH AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Application year: 1999
Main classification: F16H48
IPC codes: F16H48