Differential mechanism for a vehicle

• US 20030116371A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakazaki, Akihiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,851,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/346 the transfer gear being a differential gear
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/0808 for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/727 with at least two dynamo electric machines for creating an electric power path inside the gearing, e.g. using generator and motor for a variable power torque path special adapted for a hybrid electric vehicle B60K6/20
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/909 Gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 with plurality of drive axles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 with transmission for changing gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

A differential mechanism for a vehicle has: a differential for transferring a rotational drive force of an input shaft to two output shafts; an input generator motor for generating electric power using a rotational drive force of the input shaft and/or applying the rotational drive force to the input shaft using electric power supplied thereto; an output generator motor for generating electric power and applying a rotational drive force to the one of the output shafts; and connecting means for electrically connecting the input side generator motor with the output generator motor; switching control unit for switching between an output drive force control for supplying electric power generated by the input generator motor to the output generator motor and the input drive force application control for supplying electric power generated by the output generator motor to the input generator motor.

Claims

1. A differential mechanism for a vehicle comprising:

a differential for transferring a rotational drive force of an input shaft to two output shafts so as to permit a difference in a rotating speed between the two output shafts, the input shaft being connected to a power source;

an input generator motor for generating an electric power by using a rotational drive force of the input shaft and/or applying a rotational drive force to the input shaft by using the electric power supplied thereto;

an output generator motor for generating the electric power by using the rotational drive force of one of the output shafts and applying the rotational drive force to the one of the output shafts by using electric power supplied thereto;

connecting means for electrically connecting the input generator motor with the output generator motor; and

,

a switching control unit for switching between an output drive force control for supplying the electric power generated by the input generator motor to the output generator motor and an input drive force control for supplying the electric power generated by the output generator motor to the input generator motor.

2. The differential mechanism for the vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the power source is an internal combustion engine.

3. The differential mechanism for the vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the input generator motor comprises a rotator provided integrally with a main case body of the differential, and a stator disposed around the case of the differential.

4. The differential mechanism for the vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein the input generator motor comprises a rotator provided integrally with a main case body of the differential, and a stator disposed around the case of the differential.

5. The differential mechanism for the vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the power source comprises an electric power supply unit and the input generator motor, the input generator motor applying the rotational drive force to the input shaft by using the electric power supplied from the electric power supply unit,

wherein the output generator motor is connected to the electric power supply unit, and

wherein the switching control unit switches between an output drive force control for supplying the electric power from the electric power supply unit to the output generator motor and an input drive force control for supplying the electric power generated by the output generator motor to the input generator motor.

6. The differential mechanism for the vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the output generator motor is provided along a front output shaft of the two output shafts.

7. The differential mechanism for the vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein the output generator motor is provided along a front output shaft of the two output shafts.

8. The differential mechanism for the vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein the output generator motor is provided along a front output shaft of the two output shafts.

9. The differential mechanism for the vehicle as set forth in claim 4, wherein the output generator motor is provided along a front output shaft of the two output shafts.

10. The differential mechanism for the vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein the output generator motor is provided along a front output shaft of the two output shafts.

11. A vehicle comprising the differential mechanism as set forth in claim 1.

12. A vehicle comprising the differential mechanism as set forth in claim 5.