Differential device and method of adjusting differential device

• US 10,641,376 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshisaka, Tadashi, Jin, He, Kamitani, Yasunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, III, Leslie A
• Application Number:
  US16/049,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20190032762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 475230
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/106 characterised by two sun gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/346 using a linear motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/08 comprising bevel gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/24 using positive clutches or brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/34 using electromagnetic or electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/40 characterised by features of the rotating cases

Abstract

A differential device has: a differential case supported so as to be rotatable with respect to a differential carrier fixed to the vehicle body; a differential gear mechanism composed of a plurality of pinion gears and side gears; pinion gear shafts that support the plurality of pinion gears; a tubular slide member that supports the pinion gear shafts in the differential case; an actuator that moves the slide member in the axial direction; and a position sensor that is attached to a sensor attachment member provided to the differential carrier and that is configured to detect an operating state of the actuator.

Claims

1. A differential device comprising:

a differential mechanism that distributes an input drive force to a pair of output members while allowing differential motion;

a moving member that is configured to switch an operation state of the differential mechanism through advancing/retracting movement in an axial direction that is parallel to a rotational axis of the output members;

an actuator that moves the moving member in the axial direction;

a case member that houses the differential mechanism, the moving member, and the actuator; and

a position sensor that is attached to a sensor attachment portion provided to the case member and that is configured to detect an operating state of the actuator, wherein;

the position sensor has an insertion portion, a distal end portion of which is disposed inside the case member, and a flange portion disposed outside the case member;

the sensor attachment portion has a through hole through which the insertion portion of the position sensor is inserted in the axial direction;

the insertion portion is configured to turn about a central axis of the through hole in a state in which the flange portion is not fixed to the sensor attachment portion; and

a position, in the axial direction, of the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the position sensor is varied in accordance with a position of fixation of the flange portion to the sensor attachment portion.

2. The differential device according to claim 1, wherein:

the sensor attachment portion has a long hole that extends arcuately about the central axis of the through hole; and

the flange portion is fixed to the sensor attachment portion by a fixing member in a shaft shape inserted through the long hole.

3. The differential device according to claim 1, wherein:

the sensor attachment portion has an inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a circumferential direction, about the central axis of the through hole; and

the flange portion is fixed to the inclined surface at any position in the circumferential direction.

4. The differential device according to claim 1, wherein:

the sensor attachment portion has a plurality of stepped surfaces in a staircase shape such that the stepped surfaces are located at different positions in the axial direction; and

the flange portion is fixed to any of the stepped surfaces.

5. A method of adjusting the differential device according to claim 1, the method comprising:

fixing the flange portion to the sensor attachment portion at a position of the position sensor in the axial direction at a time when a signal state of the position sensor is switched when the position of the position sensor in the axial direction is varied.