TORQUE VECTORING DEVICE

• US 20170241532A1
• Filed: 02/08/2017
• Published: 08/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alchemica Corporation, Alchemical Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alchemica Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: ISONO, Hiroshi, SUGITANI, Nobuyoshi, KUBO, Aizoh
• Granted Patent: US 10,436,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/104 characterised by two ring gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/106 characterised by two sun gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/364 using electric or hydraulic motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/368 using additional orbital gears in combination with clutches or brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/10 with orbital spur gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/36 characterised by intentionally generating speed difference between outputs

Abstract

A torque vectoring device having a downsized brake device for stopping drive wheels is provided. The torque vectoring device comprises: a drive motor; a differential unit including a first planetary gear unit connected a right drive wheels, and a second planetary gear unit connected to a left drive wheel; a differential motor that applies torque to any one of reaction elements; a torque reversing mechanism that transmits torque between the reaction elements while reversing; a rotary shaft connecting input elements; a rotary member that transmits torque of an output shaft of the drive motor; and a brake device that is contacted frictionally to the rotary member to establish a braking force.

Claims

1. A torque vectoring device, comprising:

a drive motor;

a differential unit including

a first planetary gear unit having a first input element to which torque of the drive motor is applied, a first output element connected to one of drive wheels, and a first reaction element which establishes reaction torque to output the torque of first input element from the first output element, and

a second planetary gear unit having a second input element to which torque of the drive motor is applied, a second output element connected to the other drive wheel, and a second reaction element which establishes reaction torque to output the torque of second input element from the second output element;

a differential motor that applies torque to any one of the first reaction element and the second reaction element;

a torque reversing mechanism that transmits the torque of the first reaction element to the second reaction element while reversing a direction;

a rotary shaft connecting the first input element and the second input element; and

a rotary member that transmits torque of an output shaft of the drive motor,

a brake device that is contacted frictionally to the rotary member to establish a braking force.

2. The torque vectoring device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the first planetary gear unit serves as a speed reducer when the first reaction element is rotated slower than the first input element, and

wherein the second planetary gear unit serves as a speed reducer when the second reaction element is rotated slower than the second input element.

3. The torque vectoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brake device is adapted to apply the braking force to the rotary member by frictionally contacting any one of the first reaction element and the first output element to one face of the rotary member, while frictionally contacting any one of the second reaction element and the second output element to the other face of the rotary member.

4. The torque vectoring device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the drive motor is adapted to generate a brake torque to reduce a rotational speed of the output shaft, and

wherein the rotary member is rotated integrally with the output shaft of the drive motor.

5. The torque vectoring device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotary member is fitted onto another rotary shaft other than the rotary shaft.

6. The torque vectoring device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotary member includes an output gear of the drive motor.

7. The torque vectoring device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a first brake gear meshed with any one of the first reaction element and the first output element; and

a second brake gear meshed with any one of the second reaction element and the second output element,

wherein the brake device is adapted to apply the braking force to the rotary member by frictionally contacting first brake gear to one face of the rotary member, while frictionally contacting second brake gear to the other face of the rotary member.

8. The torque vectoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brake device is adapted to electromagnetically control a friction force to be contacted to the rotary member.

9. The torque vectoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brake device includes a wet-type brake device in which oil is interposed between faces frictionally contacted to each other.