Differential device and vehicle having said differential device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11092222-B2
Application number	US-201716347700-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2017
Priority date	Nov 7, 2016
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A differential 1 includes a differential spider 5 and a differential housing 3 . The differential spider 5 includes a bolt body 6 with four bolt sections 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, 7 d and four bevel gears 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, 8 d . The bevel gears 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, 8 d are mounted on the bolt sections 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, 7 d . The differential spider 5 is arranged in the differential housing 3 . The differential housing 3 defines an axis of rotation R. The bolt body 6 includes a main differential bolt 10 including two bolt sections 7 c, 7 d and two differential bolts 9 a, 9 b , each of which includes a bolt section 7 a, 7 b . The main differential bolt 10 includes a locating section 11 . The differential bolts 9 a, 9 b are accommodated in the locating section 11.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A differential ( 1 ), comprising:
a differential spider ( 5 ) that comprises a bolt body ( 6 ) with four bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ) and four bevel gears ( 8 a , 8 b , 8 c , 8 d ), the bevel gears ( 8 a , 8 b , 8 c , 8 d ) mounted to the bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ); and
a differential housing ( 3 ), the differential spider ( 5 ) arranged in the differential housing ( 3 ), the differential housing ( 3 ) defining an axis of rotation (R),
wherein the bolt body ( 6 ) further comprises a main differential bolt ( 10 ) and two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ), the main differential bolt ( 10 ) including two bolt sections ( 7 c , 7 d ) of the four bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ), each of the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) including a respective bolt section of the other two bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b ) of the four bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ), and
wherein the main differential bolt ( 10 ) comprises a locating section ( 11 ), and the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are accommodated in the locating section ( 11 ),
wherein the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are positioned against each other in the locating section ( 11 ),
wherein an end of each of the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) positioned within the locating section ( 11 ) is locked to the main differential bolt ( 10 ) at the locating section ( 11 ) such that the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are rotationally fixed relative to the main differential bolt ( 10 ) at the locating section ( 11 ), and
wherein the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are connected to one or more of the differential housing ( 3 ), the main differential bolt ( 10 ), and each other via at least one bolting means ( 18 a , 19 ).

2. The differential ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the main differential bolt ( 10 ) is a continuous and/or one-piece bolt.

3. The differential ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) each comprise a fixing section ( 12 ) at axial ends of the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ); and
each of the fixing sections ( 12 ) of the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) is a passage opening along a longitudinal axis of the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ), and the bolting means ( 18 a ) is guided through the fixing sections ( 12 ) of the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) and connects the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) to each other.

4. The differential ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein:
the differential housing ( 1 ) comprises at least one fastening section ( 15 ) on a radial outer side of the differential housing ( 1 ) with respect to the axis of rotation (R);
the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) each comprise a fixing section ( 12 ) at axial ends of the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b );
the fastening section ( 15 ) of the differential housing ( 1 ) is a first opening extending in parallel to the axis of rotation (R);
each of the fixing sections ( 12 ) of the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) is a second opening extending in parallel to the axis of rotation (R);
the bolting means ( 19 ) is guided through one or more of the fixing sections ( 12 ) of the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) and the fastening section ( 15 ) of the differential housing ( 1 ); and
one or more of the fastening section ( 15 ) of the differential housing ( 1 ) and the fixing sections ( 12 ) of the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) include an internal thread, and the bolting means ( 19 ) is engaged with the internal thread.

5. A vehicle comprising the differential ( 1 ) of claim 1 .

6. The differential ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the main differential bolt ( 10 ) is not secured to the differential housing ( 1 ) by a securing means.

7. A differential ( 1 ), comprising:
a differential spider ( 5 ) that comprises a bolt body ( 6 ) with four bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ) and four bevel gears ( 8 a , 8 b , 8 c , 8 d ), the bevel gears ( 8 a , 8 b , 8 c , 8 d ) mounted to the bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ); and
a differential housing ( 3 ), the differential spider ( 5 ) arranged in the differential housing ( 3 ), the differential housing ( 3 ) defining an axis of rotation (R),
wherein the bolt body ( 6 ) further comprises a main differential bolt ( 10 ) and two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ), the main differential bolt ( 10 ) including two bolt sections ( 7 c , 7 d ) of the four bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ), each of the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) including a respective bolt section of the other two bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b ) of the four bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ), and
wherein the main differential bolt ( 10 ) comprises a locating section ( 11 ), and the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are accommodated in the locating section ( 11 ),
wherein the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are positioned against each other in the locating section ( 11 ),
wherein an end of each of the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) positioned within the locating section ( 11 ) is locked to the main differential bolt ( 10 ) at the locating section ( 11 ) such that the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are rotationally fixed relative to the main differential bolt ( 10 ) at the locating section ( 11 ), and
wherein the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are connected to one or more of the differential housing ( 3 ), the main differential bolt ( 10 ), and each other via at least one interference fit.

8. A differential ( 1 ), comprising:
a differential spider ( 5 ) that comprises a bolt body ( 6 ) with four bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ) and four bevel gears ( 8 a , 8 b , 8 c , 8 d ), the bevel gears ( 8 a , 8 b , 8 c , 8 d ) mounted to the bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ); and
a differential housing ( 3 ), the differential spider ( 5 ) arranged in the differential housing ( 3 ), the differential housing ( 3 ) defining an axis of rotation (R),
wherein the bolt body ( 6 ) further comprises a main differential bolt ( 10 ) and two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ), the main differential bolt ( 10 ) including two bolt sections ( 7 c , 7 d ) of the four bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ), each of the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) including a respective bolt section of the other two bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b ) of the four bolt sections ( 7 a , 7 b , 7 c , 7 d ), and
wherein the main differential bolt ( 10 ) comprises a locating section ( 11 ), and the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are accommodated in the locating section ( 11 ),
wherein the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are positioned against each other in the locating section ( 11 ),
wherein an end of each of the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) positioned within the locating section ( 11 ) is locked to the main differential bolt ( 10 ) at the locating section ( 11 ) such that the differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are rotationally fixed relative to the main differential bolt ( 10 ) at the locating section ( 11 ),
wherein the two differential bolts ( 9 a , 9 b ) are connected to one or more of the differential housing ( 3 ), the main differential bolt ( 10 ), and each other via at least one securing means,
wherein the differential housing ( 1 ) comprises at least one fastening section ( 15 ) on a radial outer side of the differential housing ( 1 ) with respect to the axis of rotation (R),
wherein the two differential bolts

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Lang Martin
• Auer Thomas

Classifications

• F16H2048/085

  characterised by shafts or gear carriers for orbital gears · CPC title

• F16H48/08 Primary

  comprising bevel gears · CPC title