Torque vectoring gear drive apparatus
First Claim
1. A gear drive apparatus comprising:
- an input shaft;
first and second output shafts;
a planetary differential unit for transmitting torque from said input shaft to said first and second output shafts and allowing said first and second output shafts to rotate differentially with respect to one another;
said planetary differential unit including a planet carrier drivingly coupled to said input shaft and rotatably supporting at least one planet gear, a sun gear drivingly coupled to said at least one planet gear and a ring gear drivingly coupled said first output shaft, said sun gear drivingly coupled to said second output shaft; and
a speed gear assembly provided for overriding said planetary differential unit by selectively coupling said input shaft to said sun gear to define a first drive mode in which said sun gear is driven at a first speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A torque vectoring gear drive apparatus for controlling drive torque distribution. The gear drive apparatus comprises an input shaft, first and second output shafts, a planetary interaxle differential unit for transmitting torque from the input shaft to the first and second output shafts, and a speed gear assembly provided for overriding said planetary interaxle differential unit. The planetary differential unit includes a planet carrier drivingly coupled to the input shaft and rotatably supporting at least one planet gear, a sun gear drivingly coupled to the at least one planet gear and a ring gear drivingly coupled the first output shaft, the sun gear drivingly coupled to the second output shaft. The speed gear assembly selectively couples the input shaft to the sun gear to define a first drive mode in which the sun gear is driven at a first speed.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A gear drive apparatus comprising:
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an input shaft; first and second output shafts; a planetary differential unit for transmitting torque from said input shaft to said first and second output shafts and allowing said first and second output shafts to rotate differentially with respect to one another; said planetary differential unit including a planet carrier drivingly coupled to said input shaft and rotatably supporting at least one planet gear, a sun gear drivingly coupled to said at least one planet gear and a ring gear drivingly coupled said first output shaft, said sun gear drivingly coupled to said second output shaft; and a speed gear assembly provided for overriding said planetary differential unit by selectively coupling said input shaft to said sun gear to define a first drive mode in which said sun gear is driven at a first speed. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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2. A gear drive apparatus as comprising:
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an input shaft; first and second output shafts; a planetary differential unit for transmitting torque from said input shaft to said first and second output shafts and allowing said first and second output shafts to rotate differentially with respect to one another; said planetary differential unit including a planet carrier drivingly coupled to said input shaft and rotatably supporting at least one planet gear, a sun gear drivingly coupled to said at least one planet gear and a ring gear drivingly coupled said first output shaft, said sun gear drivingly coupled to said second output shaft; and a speed gear assembly provided for overriding said planetary differential unit by selectively coupling said input shaft to said sun gear to define a first drive mode in which said sun gear is driven at a first speed and a second drive mode in which said sun gear is driven at a second speed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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19. A transfer case for distributing torque between first and second axles of a motor vehicle, said transfer case comprising:
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an input shaft coupled to a vehicle transmission to be rotatably driven thereby; a first output shaft for transmitting torque to said first drive axle of the vehicle; a second output shaft for transmitting torque to said second drive axle of the vehicle; a planetary interaxle differential unit disposed between said input shaft and said first and second output shafts for transmitting torque from said input shaft to said first and second output shafts and allowing said first and second output shafts to rotate differentially with respect to one another; said planetary differential unit including a planet carrier drivingly coupled to said input shaft and rotatably supporting at least one planet gear, a sun gear drivingly coupled to said at least one planet gear and a ring gear drivingly coupled said first output shaft, said sun gear drivingly coupled to said second output shaft; and a speed gear assembly provided for overriding said planetary interaxle differential unit by selectively coupling said input shaft to said sun gear to define a first drive mode in which said sun gear is driven at a first speed and a second drive mode in which said sun gear is driven at a second speed. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification