Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7896120?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-09-17 10:17:44
Document Index: 499827784

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 3', 'art 6', 'art 3', 'art 6', 'art 3', 'art 6']

Patent US7896120 - Small-sized vehicle with improved drivetrain - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA small-sized vehicle (SSV) capable of inhibiting a differential unit from becoming large in a vertical direction includes an engine, a rear output shaft portion arranged to extend rearwardly of the engine and serving to transmit a driving force of the engine rearward, an intermediate shaft portion rotated...http://www.google.com/patents/US7896120?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7896120 - Small-sized vehicle with improved drivetrainAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7896120 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/060,974Publication dateMar 1, 2011Filing dateApr 2, 2008Priority dateApr 2, 2008Also published asCN101559722A, CN101559722B, US20090250284Publication number060974, 12060974, US 7896120 B2, US 7896120B2, US-B2-7896120, US7896120 B2, US7896120B2InventorsShigehiro Mochizuki, Kazuhiko IzumiOriginal AssigneeYamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (12), Referenced by (1), Classifications (9), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSmall-sized vehicle with improved drivetrainUS 7896120 B2Abstract A small-sized vehicle (SSV) capable of inhibiting a differential unit from becoming large in a vertical direction includes an engine, a rear output shaft portion arranged to extend rearwardly of the engine and serving to transmit a driving force of the engine rearward, an intermediate shaft portion rotated by the rear output shaft portion and extended in a vehicle width direction, a rear-wheel differential unit rotated by the intermediate shaft portion and serving for differential movements of a pair of rear-wheel axle shafts connected to a pair of rear wheels.
1. A small-sized vehicle comprising:
a rear output shaft portion arranged to transmit a driving force of the engine rearward;
an intermediate shaft portion in communication with the rear output shaft portion arranged to rotate about an axis aligned in a vehicle width direction; and
a rear-wheel differential unit arranged to be rotated by the intermediate shaft portion and to provide differential movements of a pair of rear-wheel axle shafts connected to a pair of rear wheels; wherein
a center of rotation of the rear-wheel differential unit is positioned above a center of rotation of the intermediate shaft portion as viewed laterally of the vehicle; and
the rear output shaft portion is inclined rearwardly downward.
6. The small-sized vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising:
a front output shaft portion arranged to extend forwardly of the engine and to transmit a driving force of the engine forward, and
a front-wheel differential unit rotated by the front output shaft portion and to provide differential movements of a pair of front-wheel axle shafts connected to a pair of front wheels, wherein
the front-wheel differential unit is arranged to be switched between a differential state and a differential locked state and a driving force is intermittently transferred to the pair of front-wheel axle shafts.
7. The small-sized vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising:
a front actuator arranged to switch the front-wheel differential unit between a differential state and a differential locked state and to cause a driving force to be intermittently transferred to the pair of front-wheel axle shafts wherein
wherein the rear output shaft portion and the front output shaft portion are arranged on one side of a vehicle center line, which extends longitudinally as viewed from above the vehicle, and
the front actuator and the rear actuator, respectively, are arranged on a side of the rear output shaft portion and the front output shaft portion toward the vehicle center line as viewed from above the vehicle.
11. The small-sized vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:
a front row seat, and
a rear row seat arranged rearwardly of the front row seat, wherein
the rear-wheel differential unit is arranged below the rear row seat.
13. A drive train system for a small-sized vehicle, the drive train system comprising:
a rear output shaft portion arranged to extend rearwardly of the engine and to transmit a driving force of the engine rearward,
said rear output shaft portion arranged to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle,
an intermediate shaft portion in communication with said rear output shaft portion and arranged to rotate about a lateral axis of the vehicle, and
a rear-wheel differential unit arranged to be rotated by the intermediate shaft portion and to provide differential movements of a pair of rear-wheel axle shafts connected to a pair of rear wheels, wherein
said rear-wheel differential unit is arranged to rotate about an axis which is non-planar with the longitudinal axis of rotation of said rear output shaft,
a center of rotation of the rear-wheel differential unit is positioned above a center of rotation of the intermediate shaft portion as viewed laterally of the vehicle, and
17. The drive train system according to claim 13, further comprising:
a front-wheel differential unit arranged to be rotated by the front output shaft portion and to provide differential movements of a pair of front-wheel axle shafts adapted for connection to a pair of front wheels, wherein
18. The drive train system according to claim 17, further comprising
a front actuator arranged to switch the front-wheel differential unit between a differential state and a differential locked state and to cause a driving force to be intermittently transferred to the pair of front-wheel axle shafts, wherein
the rear output shaft portion and the front output shaft portion are arranged on one side of a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, and
the front actuator and the rear actuator, respectively, are arranged such that at least one of said front or rear actuators resides on the opposite side of said vehicle centerline as said rear and front output shaft portions reside.
22. A small-sized vehicle comprising:
a rear output shaft portion arranged to transmit a driving force of the engine rearward,
an intermediate shaft portion in communication with the rear output shaft portion and arranged to rotate about an axis aligned in a vehicle width direction,
a rear-wheel differential unit arranged to be rotated by the intermediate shaft portion and to provide differential movements of a pair of rear-wheel axle shafts connected to a pair of rear wheels,
a rear actuator arranged to switch the rear-wheel differential unit between a differential state and a differential locked state,
a front output shaft portion arranged to extend forwardly of the engine and to transmit a driving force of the engine forward,
the front-wheel differential unit is arranged to be switched between a differential state and a differential locked state and a driving force is intermittently transferred to the pair of front-wheel axle shafts,
a front actuator is arranged to switch the front-wheel differential unit between a differential state and a differential locked state and to cause a driving force to be intermittently transferred to the pair of front-wheel axle shafts,
said rear output shaft portion and the front output shaft portion are arranged on one side of a vehicle center line, which extends longitudinally as viewed from above the vehicle,
at least one switch arranged to control the positions of said front and rear actuators to determine the differential operations of said front and rear differentials,
23. The small-sized vehicle according to claim 22, further comprising an output gear arranged to rotate about an axis of the rear output shaft portion, wherein the intermediate shaft portion includes a single intermediate shaft portion arranged between the rear output shaft portion and the rear-wheel differential unit, and the single intermediate shaft portion includes a first intermediate gear arranged to directly engage the output gear and a second intermediate gear arranged to directly engage a gear of the rear-wheel differential unit. Description
SUMMARY It is an object of the present invention to provide a small-sized vehicle with a differential unit of reduced height.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view showing the whole construction of SSV (Side by Side Vehicle) according to an embodiment of the invention.
In SSV according to one embodiment of the invention, a main frame 2 is arranged to extend to the rear from the front of a vehicle body as shown in FIG. 1. A front frame part 3 is fixed to a front end of the main frame 2. The front frame part 3 comprises a front frame 3 a, an upper frame 3, and a stay 3 c and forms a front frame structure of SSV. Also, an upper frame part 6 is provided on a rear portion of the front frame part 3 in a manner to cover front row seats 4 and rear row seats 5. The upper frame part 6 is fixed to the main frame 2 and connected to a rear portion of the upper frame 3 b of the front frame part 3. Also, a center pillar 7 is connected between an upper portion of the upper frame part 6 and the main frame 2. In addition, the front row seats 4 and the rear row seats 5, respectively, are arranged two by two in a vehicle width direction and SSV according to the embodiment is a four-passenger SSV.
An engine 20 is arranged below and between the two front row seats 4. The engine 20 is mainly composed of a crank case portion 20 a, a cylinder portion 20, a cylinder head portion 20 c, and a cylinder head cover 20 d. A transmission mechanism (not shown), an output shaft 21 (see FIG. 2) described later, etc. are arranged in the crank case portion 20 a. Also, an intake pipe (not shown) and an exhaust pipe 22 are connected to the cylinder head portion 20 c. As shown in FIG. 2, an output shaft 21 is arranged in the crank case portion 20 a of the engine 20 to extend in the vehicle width direction (an arrow X1 direction and an arrow X2 direction). The output shaft 21 mounts to one side thereof an input gear 21 a comprising a spur gear, to which a driving force is transmitted from a transmission mechanism (not shown) and mounts to the other side thereof an output gear 21 b comprising a helical gear. Also, an input gear 23 comprising a helical gear meshes with the output gear 21 h of the output shaft 21 and a front end 24 a of a longitudinally extending output shaft 24 is fitted into a rear end 23 a of the input gear 23. Also, a front end 23 b of the input gear 23 is structured to enable mounting to a front shaft 30 described later and a rear end 24 b of the output shaft 24 is structured to enable mounting to a rear shaft 80 described later.
Here, according to the embodiment, a rear end 30 a of the front shaft 30 is mounted to the front end 23 b of the input gear 23. In addition, the front shaft 30 is an example of �front output shaft portion� of the invention. The front shaft 30 is arranged in the arrow X1 direction relative to a vehicle center line L1, which extends longitudinally as viewed from above SSV, and inclined rearwardly downward. As shown in FIG. 3, a rear portion of a connecting member 31 is mounted to a front end 30 b of the front shaft 30 and a rotating shaft portion 32 a of an output gear 32 comprising a bevel gear is mounted to a front portion of the connecting member 31. An inner peripheral surface of a bearing 33 is fitted onto the rotating shaft portion 32 a of the output gear 32 and an outer peripheral surface of the bearing 33 is fitted into an insertion hole portion 40 a of a front gear case 40. Gear portion 32 b of the output gear 32 meshes with a ring gear 51 of a front differential unit 50 provided in the front gear case 40. In addition, the front differential unit 50 is an example of �front-wheel differential gear� of the invention.
The ring gear 51 is mounted to a differential case 52. Differential case 52 optionally being constructed for rotation relative to the front gear case 40 as the ring gear 51 rotates. Pinion gear 53 is provided inside the differential case 52. Right differential gear 61 of a right front-wheel axle shaft 60 (described later) and a left differential gear 63 of a left front-wheel axle shaft 62 (described later) mesh with the pinion gear 53. Recess 52 a is formed on the differential case 52 outwardly in the arrow X2 direction and a plurality of spline grooves 52 b are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the recess 52 a. Right differential gear 61 of the right front-wheel axle shaft 60 includes a gear portion 61 a comprising a helical gear, a shaft inserted portion 61 b, and a spline portion 61 c. The gear portion 61 a meshes with the pinion gear 53 and the shaft inserted portion 61 b is arranged so that an inner peripheral surface thereof can idle relative to an outer peripheral surface of the right front-wheel axle shaft 60. Spline portion 61 c is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft inserted portion 61 b. A plurality of spline grooves 60 a are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the right front-wheel axle shaft 60 outwardly in the arrow X2 direction, the plurality of spline grooves 60 a engaging with inner spline grooves 64 a formed on an inner peripheral surface of a holding member 64. Outer spline grooves 64 b are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the holding member 64, the outer spline grooves 64 b engaging slidably with inner spline grooves 73 b of a slide member 73 described later.
According to the preferred embodiment, a servomotor 70 is mounted to the insertion hole portion 40 a of the front gear case 40 in the arrow X2 direction. The servomotor 70 is arranged in the arrow X2 direction (on the other side) relative to the vehicle center line L1. In addition, the servomotor 70 is an example of �front actuator� of the invention. In addition, the servomotor 70 actuates in a position downstream of a driving force relative to the front differential unit 50. Specifically, pinion gear 71 is mounted to the servomotor 70, the pinion gear 71 being enabled by the servomotor 70 to rotate in both directions. Rack 72 meshes with the pinion gear 71, the rack 72 enabling moving in the arrow X1 direction and in the arrow X2 direction as the pinion gear 71 rotates. Also, a projection 72 a projecting forward (an arrow FWD direction) is provided on the rack 72 in the arrow X2 direction, the projection 72 a engaging with an engagement groove portion 73 a of the slide member 73. With the inner spline grooves 73 b of the slide member 73 slidably engaged with the outer spline grooves 64 b of the holding member 64 as described above, the servomotor 70 can move the slide member 73 relative to the holding member 64 in the arrow X1 direction and in the arrow X2 direction.
In the preferred embodiment, the inner spline grooves 73 b can engage with the spline portion 61 c of the right differential gear 61 when the slide member 73 slides in the arrow X1 direction. That is, the inner spline grooves 73 b engages with the outer spline grooves 64 of the holding member 64 and the spline portion 61 c of the right differential gear G1 at a time to enable inhibiting the right differential gear 61 from idling relative to the right front-wheel axle shaft 60. Thereby, a driving force of the right differential gear 61 transmitted from the pinion gear 53 can be transmitted to the right front-wheel axle shaft 60 through the holding member 64.
In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of outer spline grooves 73 c may be formed on an outer peripheral surface of the slide member 73 toward the differential case 52. The plurality of outer spline grooves 73 c can engage with the plurality of spline grooves 52 b formed on an inner peripheral surface of the recess 52 a of the differential case 52. There y, it becomes possible to rotate the differential case 52 through the slide member 73 together with the right front-wheel axle shaft 60.
Also, in the preferred embodiment, the left differential gear 63 of the left front-wheel axle shaft 62 includes a gear portion 63 a comprising a helical gear, and a shaft inserted portion 63 b. The gear portion 63 a meshes with the pinion gear 53 and an inner peripheral surface of the shaft inserted portion 63 b is spline-fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of the left front-wheel axle shaft 2. That is, the left differential gear 63 rotates together with the left front-wheel axle shaft 62. Also, the left front-wheel axle shaft 62 is arranged to enable idling relative to the differential case 52. Therefore, the left front-wheel axle shaft 62 can rotate upon rotation of the pinion gear 53.
In this manner, with the front differential unit 50 mounted on SSV according to the preferred embodiment, the inner spline grooves 73 b of the slide member 73 are arranged most in the arrow X2 direction without engaging with the spline portion 61 c of the right differential gear 1, whereby a driving force of the engine 20 is released to the right differential gear 61, which can idle relative to the right front-wheel axle shaft 60. Therefore, SSV according to the embodiment is put in a state, in which the driving force of the engine 20 is not transmitted to the right pair of front wheels 65.
Also, the inner spline grooves 73 b of the slide member 73 are caused to engage with the spline portion 61 c of the right differential gear 51, whereby the pinion gear 53 of the differential case 52 enables the right front-wheel axle shaft 50 and the left front-wheel axle shaft S2 to rotate in a state independent from each other. Thereby, the front wheels 65 (see FIG. 1) of SSV according to the embodiment are put in a differential-free state (differential state) since the driving force of the engine 20 is appropriately distributed to the right front-wheel axle shaft 60 and the left front-wheel axle shaft 62.
Also, the plurality of outer spline grooves 73 c on the slide member 73 are caused to engage with the plurality of spline grooves 52 b on the differential case 52 whereby the differential case 52 can rotate together with the right front-wheel axle shaft 60. Thereby, since the pinion gear 53 of the differential case 52 does not rotate, the left front-wheel axle shaft 62 rotates together with the right front-wheel axle shaft 60. That is, the front wheels 65 (see FIG. 1) of SSV according to the embodiment are put in a differential-lock state (differential locked state) since the driving force of the engine 20 is transmitted directly to the right front-wheel axle shaft 60 and the left front-wheel axle shaft 62.
Also, as shown in FIG. 2, according to the preferred embodiment, front end 80 a of rear shaft 80 is mounted to the rear end 23 a of the input gear 23. In addition, the rear shaft 80 is an example of �rear output shaft portion� of the invention. The rear shaft 80 is arranged in the arrow X1 direction relative to the vehicle center line L1, which extends longitudinally as viewed from above SSV, and inclined rearwardly downward (see FIG. 1). Also, a front portion of a connecting member 82 together with a parking brake disk 81 a is mounted to a rear end 80 b of the rear shaft 80.
As shown in FIG. 4, a rotating shaft portion 83 a of an output gear 83 comprising a bevel gear is mounted to a rear portion of the connecting member 82. Also, the rotating shaft portion 83 a of the output gear 83 is supported by bearings 84 a, 84 b, the bearings 84 a, 84 b, respectively, being arranged inside a rear gear case 90.
Also, as shown in FIG. 4, a gear portion 83 b of the output gear 83 meshes with a first intermediate gear 85 provided in the rear gear case 90. The first intermediate gear 85 is supported by bearings 86 a, 86 b and mounted to an intermediate shaft 87 extending in the vehicle width direction (an arrow X1 direction and an arrow X2 direction). That is, the intermediate shaft 87 can be rotated by the rear shaft 80. In addition, the intermediate shaft 87 is an example of �intermediate shaft portion� of the invention. Also, a second intermediate gear 88 is formed on the intermediate shaft 87 to be made integral with the intermediate shaft 87, the second intermediate gear 88 meshing with a ring gear 101 of a rear differential unit 100. The rear differential unit 100 is an example of �rear-wheel differential unit� of the invention.
Ring gear 101 is mounted to differential case 102, the differential case 102 being constructed to be able to rotate relative to the rear gear case 90 as the ring gear 101 rotates. Also, a pair of pinion gears 103 are provided inside the differential case 102, and a right differential gear 111 of a right rear-wheel axle shaft 110, described later, and a left differential gear 113 of a left rear-wheel axle shaft 112, described later, mesh with the pair of pinion gears 103. In addition, the right rear-wheel axle shaft 110 and the left rear-wheel axle shaft 112 are an example of �a pair of rear-wheel axle shafts� of the invention. Also, an opening 102 a is formed on the differential case 102 outwardly in the arrow X2 direction and a plurality of spline grooves 1021 are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the opening 102 a. The right differential gear 111 of the right rear-wheel axle shaft 110 includes a gear portion 111 a comprising a bevel gear, a shaft inserted portion 111 b and a spline portion 111 c. The gear portion 111 a meshes with the pinion gear 103 described above and the shaft inserted portion 111 b is arranged so that an inner peripheral surface thereof can idle relative to an outer peripheral surface of the right rear-wheel axle shaft 110. Also, the spline portion 111 c is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft inserted portion 111 b, the spline portion 111 c engaging slidably with inner spline grooves 123 b of a slide member 123 described later.
A plurality of spline grooves 110 a are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the right rear-wheel axle shaft 110 in the arrow X2 direction, the plurality of spline grooves 110 a engaging with inner spline grooves 114 a formed on an inner peripheral surface of a holding member 114. Outer spline grooves 114 b are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the holding member 114, the outer spline grooves 114 b engaging slidably with the inner spline grooves 123 b of the slide member 123 described later.
According to the preferred embodiment, a servomotor 120 is mounted outside the rear gear case 90 and adjacent to a region, in which the intermediate shaft 87 is arranged, in the arrow X2 direction (on one side in the vehicle width direction). The servomotor 120 is arranged on the same side (on a side in the arrow FW direction) as that of the intermediate shaft 87 relative to a center of rotation (axis of rotation L2) of the rear differential unit 100 as viewed from laterally of SSV. Specifically, the servomotor 120 is arranged to overlap the intermediate shaft 87 as viewed laterally. Also, the servomotor 120 is arranged in the arrow X2 direction (on the other side) relative to the vehicle center line L1. In addition, the servomotor 120 is an example of �rear actuator� of the invention.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the servomotor 120 actuates in a position downstream of a driving force relative to the rear differential unit 100. Specifically, a pinion gear 121 is mounted to the servomotor 120. The pinion gear 121 being enabled by the servomotor 120 to rotate in both a clockwise and counter clockwise direction. Also, rack 122 meshes with the pinion gear 121. Rack 122 being allowed to make in the arrow X1 direction and in the arrow X2 direction as the pinion gear 121 rotates as shown on FIGS. 5 and 6. Projection 122 a projecting rearward is provided on the rack 122 in the arrow X2 direction. Projection 122 a engaging with an engagement groove portion 123 a of the slide member 123. Thereby, since the inner spline grooves 123 b of the slide member 123 engage slidably with the outer spine grooves 114 b of the holding member 114 as described above, the servomotor 120 can move the slide member 123 relative to the holding member 114 in the arrow X1 direction and in the arrow X2 direction.
According to preferred embodiment, a plurality of outer spline grooves 123 c are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the slide member 123 toward the differential case 102. The plurality of outer spline grooves 123 c can engage with the plurality of spline grooves 102 b formed on the inner peripheral surface of the opening 102 a of the differential case 102. Thereby, the differential case 102 can rotate through the slide member 123 together with the right rear-wheel axle shaft 110.
Also, the left differential gear 113 of the left rear-wheel axle shaft 112 includes a gear portion 113 a comprising a bevel gear, and a shaft inserted portion 113. The gear portion 113 a meshes with the pinion gear 103 described above and an inner peripheral surface of the shaft inserted portion 113 b is spline-fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of the left rear-wheel axle shaft 112. That is, the left differential gear 113 rotates together with the left rear-wheel axle shaft 112. Also, the left rear-wheel axle shaft 112 is arranged to enable idling relative to the differential case 102 and the left rear-wheel axle shaft 112 rotates as the pinion gear 103 rotates.
As shown in FIG. 5, in this manner, with the rear differential unit 100 mounted on SSV according to the embodiment, since the inner spline grooves 123 b of the slide member 123 engage with the spline portion 111 c of the right differential gear 111, the pinion gear 103 of the differential case 102 enables the right rear-wheel axle shaft 110 and the left rear-wheel axle shaft 112 to rotate in a state of being independent of each other. Also, since the spline grooves 102 of the differential case 102 and the outer spline grooves 123 c of the slide member 123 do not engage with each other, the differential case 102 and the left rear-wheel axle shaft 112 can rotate in a state of being independent of each other. Thereby, the rear wheels 115 (see FIG. 1) of SSV according to the embodiment are put in a differential-free state (differential state) since the driving force of the engine 20 is appropriately distributed to the right rear-wheel axle shaft 110 and the left rear-wheel axle shaft 112.
As shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of outer spline grooves 123 c of the slide member 123 are caused to engage with the plurality of spline grooves 1021 of the differential case 102 whereby the differential case 102 can rotate together with the right rear-wheel axle shaft 110. Thereby, since the pinion gear 103 of the differential case 102 does not rotate, the left rear-wheel axle shaft 112 rotates together with the right rear-wheel axle shaft 110. That is, the driving force of the engine 20 is transmitted directly to the right rear-wheel axle shaft 110 and the left rear-wheel axle shaft 112 whereby the rear wheels 115 of SSV according to this embodiment are put in a differential-lock state (differential locked state).
Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the exhaust pipe 22 may be connected to the cylinder head portion 20 c and arranged to extend rearward along the rear shaft 80. The exhaust pipe 22 is bent upwardly of the rear gear case 90 from the vicinity of the parking brake disk 81 a and extended to the rear of the rear gear case 90 (the rear differential unit 100).
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, a muffler 25 is connected to a rear end of the exhaust pipe 22. The muffler 25 is arranged to extend in the vehicle width direction (the arrow X1 direction and the arrow X2 direction) and connected to the exhaust pipe 22 rearwardly of the rear gear case 90 (the rear differential unit 100. Also, an exhaust port 25 a is provided on the muffler 25 in the arrow X1 direction, so that combustion gases burnt in the engine 20 are exhausted from the exhaust port 25 a. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, a caliper 81 b capable of braking the parking brake disk 81 a is provided above the parking brake disk 81 a. The caliper 81 b is arranged in a rotating angle position about the rear shaft 80, which position is different from that of the servomotor 120, as viewed from rearwardly of SSV. Specifically, the caliper 81 b is arranged above the rear shaft 80 and the servomotor 120 is arranged on a side of the rear shaft 80 in the arrow X2 direction. In addition, the parking brake disk 81 a and the caliper 81 b constitute parking brake 81.
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