Transaxle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10583733-B2
Application number	US-201715805543-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2017
Priority date	Nov 10, 2016
Publication date	Mar 10, 2020
Grant date	Mar 10, 2020

Abstract

A transaxle includes: an axle housing in which an input gear is rotatably supported; a differential casing that is contained in the axle housing while being rotatably supported relative to the axle housing; first and second side gears as a pair of spur gears that are contained in the differential casing, coaxially arranged, relatively rotatable with each other, and rotatable relative to the differential casing; a group of pinions as spur gears that are rotatably supported, in the differential casing, by rotational shafts that are in parallel with axes of the first and the second side gears in the differential casing, the group of pinions transmitting power between the first side gear and the second side gear; and a final gear having a ring shape that is contained in the axle housing, meshes with the input gear, incorporates the differential casing, and is relatively unrotatably coupled to the differential casing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transaxle comprising: an axle housing in which an input gear is rotatably supported;
a differential casing that is contained in the axle housing while being rotatably supported relative to the axle housing;
first and second side gears as a pair of spur gears that are contained in the differential casing, coaxially arranged, relatively rotatable with each other, and rotatable relative to the differential casing;
a group of pinions as spur gears that are rotatably supported, in the differential casing, by rotational shafts that are in parallel with axes of the first and the second side gears in the differential casing, the group of pinions transmitting power between the first side gear and the second side gear; and
a final gear having a ring shape that is contained in the axle housing, meshes with the input gear, incorporates the differential casing, and is relatively unrotatably coupled to the differential casing.

2. The transaxle according to claim 1 , wherein first and second bearings that respectively support a first end side boss portion and a second end side boss portion of the differential casing are disposed in the axle housing,
wherein a first cylindrical portion extending in a direction opposite to the second side gear in an axial direction is formed on the first side gear,
wherein a second cylindrical portion extending in a direction opposite to the first side gear in the axial direction is formed on the second side gear, and
wherein the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion are relatively rotatably supported respectively on inner circumference sides of the first end side boss portion and the second end side boss portion.

3. The transaxle according to claim 2 , wherein the axle housing has first and second end portions facing sides opposite to each other in the axial direction of the first and the second side gears,
wherein a first insertion hole in which the first cylindrical portion is inserted is formed in the first end portion,
wherein a second insertion hole in which the second cylindrical portion is inserted is formed in the second end portion,
wherein in the axle housing, a first oil seal is disposed between an inner circumference surface of the first insertion hole and an outer circumference surface of the first cylindrical portion, and a second oil seal is disposed between an inner circumference surface of the second insertion hole and an outer circumference surface of the second cylindrical portion, and
wherein at least one of the first and the second end portions of the axle housing is recessed inward in the axial direction of the first and the second side gears so that at least one of the first and the second oil seals is disposed on an inner side of the first and the second bearings in a radial direction.

4. The transaxle according to claim 2 , wherein the axle housing incorporates a differential lock slider that is unrotatable relative to the differential casing and one of the first and the second side gears and is slidable in the axial direction, and
wherein the differential lock slider is disposed on an inner side of at least one of the first and the second bearings in the radial direction, and has a distal end that is able to protrude toward an inner side of a casing through the differential casing and one of the first and the second side gears to mesh with one of the first and the second side gears.

5. The transaxle according to claim 4 , wherein a fork fits with the differential lock slider, and
wherein the fork has a portion disposed on an inner side of at least one of the first and the second bearings in the radial direction.

6. The transaxle according to claim 1 , wherein the group of pinions include six sets of first and second pinions along an outer circumference end portion of the first and the second side gears, the first pinions meshing with a radial direction outer end portion of the first side gear, the second pinions meshing with a radial direction outer end portion of the second side gear and meshing with the first pinion.

7. A transaxle comprising: an axle housing in which an input gear is rotatably supported;
a differential casing that is contained in the axle housing while being rotatably supported relative to the axle housing;
first and second side gears as a pair of spur gears that are contained in the differential casing, coaxially arranged, relatively rotatable with each other, and rotatable relative to the differential casing;
a group of pinions as spur gears that are rotatably supported, in the differential casing, by rotational shafts that are in parallel with axes of the first and the second side gears in the differential casing, the group of pinions transmitting power between the first side gear and the second side gear; and
a final gear that is meshing with the input gear,
wherein the differential casing is consisted of at least two parts joining each other in such a manner as to be separable in an axial direction, and
wherein the final gear incorporates at least one of the parts of the differential casing inside, and being integrally provided to an outer circumference portion of the one of the parts of the differential casing.

8. The transaxle according to claim 7 , wherein first and second bearings that respectively support a first end side boss portion and a second end side boss portion on another side of the differential casing are disposed in the axle housing,
wherein a first cylindrical portion extending in a direction opposite to the second side gear in an axial direction is formed on the first side gear,
wherein a second cylindrical portion extending in a direction opposite to the first side gear in the axial direction is formed on the second side gear, and
wherein the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion are relatively rotatably supported respectively on inner circumference sides of the first end side boss portion and the second end side boss portion.

9. The transaxle according to claim 8 , wherein the axle housing has first and second end portions facing sides opposite to each other in the axial direction of the first and the second side gears,
wherein a first insertion hole in which the first cylindrical portion is inserted is formed in the first end portion,
wherein a second insertion hole in which the second cylindrical portion is inserted is formed in the second end portion,
wherein in the axle housing, a first oil seal is disposed between an inner circumference surface of the first insertion hole and an outer circumference surface of the first cylindrical portion, and a second oil seal is disposed between an inner circumference surface of the second insertion hole and an outer circumference surface of the second cylindrical portion, and
wherein at least one of the first and the second end portions of the axle housing is recessed inward in the axial direction of the first and the second side gears so that at least one of the first and the second oil seals is disposed on an inner side of the first and the second bearings in a radial direction.

10. The transaxle according to claim 8 , wherein the axle housing incorporates a differential lock slider that is unrotatable relative to the differential casing and one of the first and the second side gears and is slidable in the axial direction, and
wherein the differential lock slider is disposed on an inner side of at least one of the first and the second bearings in the radial direction, and has a distal end that is able to protrude toward an inner side of a casing through the differential casing and one of the first and the second side gears to mesh with one of the first and the second side gears.

Assignees

• Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tsukamoto Michio

Classifications

• F16H2048/305

  using manual actuators · CPC title

• F16H48/30

  using externally-actuatable means · CPC title

• F16H48/05

  Multiple interconnected differential sets · CPC title

• F16H2048/106

  characterised by two sun gears · CPC title

• F16H48/24

  using positive clutches or brakes · CPC title