Axle center with active torque bias control

• US 20030181278A1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Timken Company
• Original Assignee: The Timken Company
• Inventors: Gradu, Mircea
• Granted Patent: US 6,755,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/154
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/35 including arrangements for suppressing or influencing the power transfer, e.g. viscous clutches differential gearing with locking devices F16H48/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/0808 for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/423 characterised by bearing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/721 with an energy dissipating device, e.g. regulating brake or fluid throttle, in order to vary speed continuously

Abstract

An axle center for delivering engine torque to two axle shafts which in turn transfer the torque to road wheels includes a torque coupling though which the torque is transferred to the axle shafts. The coupling includes a magnetic particle clutch and a planetary set organized about a common axis and coupled together such that two paths—a mechanical path and a clutch path—exist in the coupling for transferring torque through it, with the amount of torque transferred being dependent solely on the current in the magnetic particle clutch. A single torque coupling may be located where torque is delivered to the axle center or two torque couplings may be located at and connected to the two axle shafts, one for each shaft.

Claims

1. In an automotive vehicle having a road wheel on each side of the vehicle and an axle shaft extending to and coupled with each road wheel and also having a motor for producing torque to rotate the road wheels, an improved axle center located between the motor and axle shafts to enable torque produced by the motor to be transferred to the axle shafts and wheels, the axle center comprising:

at least one torque coupling through which torque from the motor passes to at least one of the axle shafts, the coupling including an input torque member to which torque from the motor is delivered and an output torque member through which torque is delivered to at least one of the axle shafts, the coupling further including a planetary set and a clutch connected such that a mechanical path and a clutch path exist through which torque is transferred between the torque members, with the amount of torque transferred through the clutch path in relation to the mechanical path being variable by the clutch.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the clutch and planetary set are organized about a common axis, and the clutch is a magnetic particle clutch.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the clutch has first and second clutch members which are capable of rotating at different angular velocities and the clutch has the capability of transferring torque between the clutch members when the clutch members rotate at different angular velocities, the first clutch member being connected to one of the torque members;

and wherein the planetary set includes first, second, third and fourth elements organized about an axis, the first element being connected to the first clutch member and to said one of the torque members, the second element being connected to the second clutch member, the third element being connected to the other torque member, and the fourth element being connected between the first element and the second element and the third element.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the second element is a sun element which rotates about the axis;

wherein the first element is a ring element located around the axis;

wherein the fourth element is a planetary element located between and engaged with the sun and ring elements; and

wherein the third element is a carrier element which rotates about the axis and on which the planetary elements rotate.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the axle center further includes a pinion connected to the output member of the torque coupling;

a ring gear engaged with the pinion;

a carrier attached to and rotatable with the ring gear, a cross shaft carried by the carrier and oriented generally perpendicular to the axis of the ring gear, first bevel gears on the cross shaft and second level gears engaged with the first bevel gears and connected to the axle shafts.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the axle center has two torque couplings;

and wherein the output members of the torque couplings are connected to the axle shafts.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein the axle center further includes a pinion to which the motor delivers torque, a transfer shaft extended between the input members of the two torque couplings, and a ring gear located around and attached to the transfer shaft, with the ring gear being engaged with the pinion.

8. An axle center comprising:

a pinion rotatable about a first axis, a differential cluster including a ring gear rotatable about a second axis that is at an angle with respect to the first axis, and a torque coupling comprising;

an input torque member adapted to be connected to a source of torque;

an output torque member connected to the pinion;

a clutch having first and second clutch members which rotate about a first axis, the clutch being capable of transferring torque between the clutch members when the clutch members rotate at different angular velocities, the first clutch member being connected to one of the torque members; and

a planetary gear set organized about the first axis and including first, second, third and fourth elements, the first element being connected to the first clutch member and to said one of the torque members, the second element being connected to the second clutch member, the third element being connected to the other torque member, and the fourth element being connected between the first element and the second element and between the second element and the third element.

9. An axle center according to claim 8 wherein the clutch is a magnetic particle clutch.

10. An axle center according to claim 9 wherein the second element of the planetary set for the torque coupling is a sun element which rotates about the first axis;

wherein the first element is a ring element located around the first axis, wherein the fourth element is a planetary element located between and engaged with the sun and ring elements; and

wherein the third element is a carrier element which rotates about the first axis and on which the planetary elements rotate.

11. An axle center comprising:

a pinion adapted to be connected to a source of torque and rotatable about a first axis;

a transfer shaft rotatable about a second axis that is located at an angle with respect to the first axis;

a ring gear carried by the transfer shaft and engaged with the pinion; and

a torque coupling at each end of the transfer shaft, each torque coupling including;

an input torque member connected to the transfer shaft;

an output torque member from which torque is delivered;

a clutch having first and second clutch members which rotate about the second axis, the clutch being capable of transferring torque between the clutch members when the clutch members rotate at different angular velocities, the first clutch member being connected to one of the torque members; and

a planetary gear set organized about the second axis and including first, second, third and fourth elements, the first element being connected to the first clutch member and to said one of the torque members, the second element being connected to the second clutch member, the third element being connected to the other torque member, and the fourth element being connected between the first element and the second element and between the second element and the third element.

12. An axle center according to claim 11 wherein the clutch is a magnetic particle clutch.

13. An axle center according to claim 12 wherein the second element of the planetary set in the torque coupling is a sun element which rotates about the axis;

wherein the first element is a ring element located around the axis;

wherein the fourth element is a planetary element located between and engaged with the sun and ring elements; and

wherein the third element is a carrier element which rotates about the axis and on which the planetary elements rotate.