Jtekt Corporation

Tadashi Yoshisaka

Yasunori Kamitani

He Jin

Minoru Onitake

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.

Differential device and method of adjusting differential device

A differential device includes: a differential case on which a meshed portion is formed; a tubular slide member that has a meshing portion; a differential gear mechanism disposed inside the slide member; a pinion gear shaft that supports pinion gears of the differential gear mechanism; and an actuator that moves the slide member in the axial direction. The slide member has a cylindrical portion, on one side of which in the axial direction the meshing portion is formed, and a long hole that extends in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion and that opens toward the other side in the axial direction, which is the opposite side from the meshing portion. The pinion gear shaft is fitted with the long hole, and supported by the slide member. A reinforcing ring that suppresses deformation of the slide member is attached to an end portion of the cylindrical portion in which the long hole opens.

Differential device

A differential apparatus includes a differential gear mechanism in which side gears mesh with pinion gears, a pinion shaft that rotatably supports the pinion gear, a slide member that supports the ends of the pinion shaft, and pinion gear washers each disposed between the slide member and a corresponding one of the pinion gears. Movement of each pinion gear washer toward the slide member in the axial direction of the pinion shaft is restricted. When a force of the pinion gear pressing the pinion gear washer toward the slide member is less than a predetermined value, a clearance is formed between the slide member and the pinion gear washer. When the force of the pinion gear pressing the pinion gear washer toward the slide member is greater than the predetermined value, the outer surface of the pinion gear washer abuts the inner surface of the slide member.

Differential apparatus

An interrupter includes: an intermittent member having a meshing tooth meshing with a second rotary member, and moving in an axial direction between a coupled position and an uncoupled position; and an actuator making the intermittent member move in the axial direction. The actuator includes: a coil generating magnetic flux; and a plunger moving with the intermittent member in the axial direction. The plunger is disposed in a manner capable of making relative rotation to one of the first and second rotary members via first and second air gaps. When the coil is energized, the magnetic flux is introduced to the plunger from one of the first and second air gaps, the magnetic flux is led out of the plunger to the other air gap, and the plunger moves in the axial direction so as to reduce at least one air gap of the first and second air gaps.

Interrupter and differential

A differential apparatus includes: a differential mechanism that distributes an input driving force to a pair of side gears so as to allow differential motion therebetween; a differential case that accommodates the differential mechanism; and a clutch mechanism that transmits the driving force between the differential case and pinion shafts of the differential mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes: a slide member that is movable relative to the pinion shafts of the differential mechanism in the axial direction of the differential case and is non-rotatable relative thereto in the differential case; and an actuator that applies an axial moving force to the slide member. The slide member has on one end portion a first meshing portion. The differential case includes a disc-shaped first case member and a bottomed-cylindrical second case member that accommodates the differential mechanism. The second case member has a second meshing portion facing the first meshing portion.

A differential apparatus includes a differential mechanism, a differential case that accommodates the differential mechanism, and a clutch mechanism that transmits a driving force between the differential case and the differential mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes a side member movable inside the differential case in an axial direction and an actuator for moving the slide member to the axial direction. The slide member has a first meshable portion at one end in the axial direction, is allowed to move relative to the differential mechanism, and is prevented from rotating relative to the differential mechanism. The differential case has a second meshable portion facing the first meshable portion in the axial direction. When the slide member moves toward the second meshable portion by actuation of the actuator, the first meshable portion meshes with the second meshable portion so that the differential case and the slide member are coupled to prevent a relative rotation between the differential case and the slide member.

In a differential device, a differential case includes a first engaging part having engaging teeth on a first side wall of the differential case. A clutch member is disposed between the first side wall and a second side wall of the differential case in an axial direction. The clutch member includes a second engaging part. An urging member is disposed between the second side wall and the clutch member such that the urging member is compressed in the axial direction. When an actuator does not generate a pressing force, the first engaging part and the second engaging part are engaged with each other by the urging force of the urging member, and the differential case and the input member are connected together via the clutch member. The first engaging part is disengaged from the second engaging part by the pressing force provided due to actuation of the actuator.

A differential unit includes: a differential case; a differential mechanism; a connecting-disconnecting member that connects the differential case to the differential mechanism; an actuator that generates a moving force for moving the connecting-disconnecting member; a moving-force transmitting member that transmits the moving force generated by the actuator to the connecting-disconnecting member; and a wave washer that urges the connecting-disconnecting member in a direction opposite to a direction in which the connecting-disconnecting member is moved by the actuator. The actuator includes a plunger that moves while compressing the wave washer in the axial direction from a first prescribed length using a magnetic force of an electromagnet. A movement of the plunger in a direction away from the connecting-disconnecting member is restricted by a contacting portion of a restricting member. An axial clearance is formed between the plunger and the contacting portion when the wave washer is at the first prescribed length.

Differential Unit

A differential apparatus includes a differential mechanism, a differential case that accommodates differential mechanism, and a clutch mechanism that transmits a driving force between the differential case and the differential mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes a slide member movable inside the differential case in an axial direction and an actuator for moving the slide member in the axial direction. The actuator is located outside the differential case. The slide member includes a first meshable portion and an engaging portion engaging with a pinion shaft of the differential mechanism. The differential case has a second meshable portion to mesh with the first meshable portion and a wall portion having multiple insertion holes for transmitting a moving force of the actuator to the slide member. The slide member is located between the second meshable portion and the wall portion.

A differential apparatus includes a differential mechanism, a differential case that accommodates the differential mechanism, and a clutch mechanism that transmits a driving force between the differential case and the differential mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes a slide member movable inside the differential case in an axial direction and an actuator. The slide member has a first meshable portion at one end in the axial direction, is allowed move relative to the differential mechanism in the axial direction, and is prevented from rotating relative to the differential mechanism. The differential case includes a first case member and a second case member that are united to form the differential case. The first case member integrally includes a second meshable portion and a flange portion that the ring gear is fastened to. When the actuator is activated the first meshable portion meshes with the second meshable portion so that the differential case and the slide member are coupled to present a relative rotation between the differential case and the slide member.

Growing community of inventors

Kariya, Japan

Tadashi Yoshisaka