Driving torque distribution apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12152659-B2
Application number	US-202318388754-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2023
Priority date	Dec 28, 2022
Publication date	Nov 26, 2024
Grant date	Nov 26, 2024

Abstract

A driving torque distribution apparatus has a rapid response speed by applying a ball ramp device including a ball which is rolling-supported between a worm wheel rotated by a worm gear and a cam ring fixed in a rotation direction, and configured to generate an axial directional pressurizing force in conjunction with the rotation of the worm wheel, as first and second operation units to control first and second clutch units, and is configured so that an axial directional load due to pressurizing forces of the first and second operation units is canceled within each drum by a snap ring and a spacer fixed to internal and external sides of each drum of the first and second clutch units, preventing an interface between axial directional loads acting on the first and second clutch units.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A driving torque distribution apparatus, comprising:
a first clutch unit including a first drum;
a second clutch unit; and
first and second operation units; and
a drive gear, a worm wheel, a worm gear, and a cam ring,
wherein the first and second clutch units are configured on axes of first and second driveshafts within a case of an axle of a vehicle, wherein the first and second clutch units are controlled by the first and second operation units, respectively, to independently distribute a driving torque transmitted through the drive gear to the first and second driveshafts,
wherein, in the first clutch unit, the drive gear is spline-coupled to a frontal end portion of the first drum through an extension end portion formed outward in an axial direction thereof to be movable in the axial direction, and
wherein the first and second operation units further includes:
a ball ramp device including a plurality of grooves having inclined depths in opposite directions on corresponding cross-sections of the worm wheel rotated by the worm gear and the cam ring fixed in a rotation direction, the ball ramp device configured to generate an axial directional pressurizing force in conjunction with rotation of the worm wheel as a corresponding ball is rolling-supported by the grooves between the worm wheel and the cam ring.

2. The driving torque distribution apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the first clutch unit further includes a first hub spline-coupled to the first driveshaft, and
wherein the second clutch unit further includes a second drum and a second hub spline-coupled to the second driveshaft,
wherein the first and second drums are interconnected through a drum connector.

3. The driving torque distribution apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the drum connector is spline-coupled to an external circumference of each internal end portion of the first and second drums.

4. The driving torque distribution apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the first and second clutch units further include first and second separating plates supported on an internal circumference of each internal side of the first drum and a second drum of the second clutch to support pressurizing force of the first and second operation units.

5. The driving torque distribution apparatus of claim 4 ,
wherein the first and second separating plates are supported through a snap ring on the internal circumference of each internal side of the first drum and the second drum of the second clutch.

6. The driving torque distribution apparatus of claim 4 ,
wherein the first and second operation units further includes a spacer supported by an external diameter surface of each external side of the first drum and a second drum of the second clutch unit to support the axial directional pressurizing force generated by cam-operation of the ball with respect to the inclined grooves between the worm wheel and the cam ring.

7. The driving torque distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first clutch unit further includes:
the first drum disposed in parallel on an external circumference of the first driveshaft, and spline-coupled to the drive gear through the extension end portion extending in the axial direction at an external frontal end portion;
a first hub spline-coupled to the first driveshaft in an interior of the first drum and including an external frontal end portion rolling-supported by the first drum;
a plurality of first clutch plates spline-coupled to an internal circumference of the first drum;
a plurality of first clutch disks disposed between the plurality of first clutch plates and spline-coupled to an external circumference of the first hub;
a first separating plate corresponding to the second clutch unit, spline-coupled to an internal side of the internal circumference of the first drum to be supported inward in the axial direction, and including a central circumference rolling-supported by an internal surface of the first hub; and
a first pressurizing plate spline-coupled to an external side of the internal circumference of the first drum.

8. The driving torque distribution apparatus of claim 7 ,
wherein the external frontal end portion of the first hub is rolling-supported by the first drum through a bearing, and
wherein the first separating plate is supported inward in the axial direction through a snap ring, and the central circumference of the first separating plate is rolling-supported by the internal surface of the first hub through a bearing.

9. The driving torque distribution apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first operation unit includes:
a spacer corresponding to the first clutch unit, fitted with an external circumference of external to the frontal end portion of the first drum, and supported outward in the axial direction by a catching step;
the worm wheel fitted with an external circumference of the first drum to be engaged with the worm gear configured to transfer a torque of an actuator, and having an external cross-section on which a plurality of grooves having a depth inclined in one direction is formed along a circular arc direction;
the cam ring fixed in the rotation direction and supported by the spacer in a state of being fitted with the external circumference of the first drum together with the worm wheel, and having an internal cross-section facing the worm wheel on which a plurality of grooves having a depth inclined in a direction opposite to the groove on the worm wheel are formed along a circular arc direction;
the ball rolling-supported by each groove between the worm wheel and the cam ring to cam-operate in conjunction with the rotation of the worm wheel;
a push plate fitted with the external circumference of the first drum, having an external cross-section rolling-supported by an internal cross-section of the worm wheel, having an internal cross-section along which a plurality of pushrods are formed to penetrate a side surface of the first drum, and disposed to face the first pressurizing plate; and
a wave spring located between the side surface of the first drum and the push plate and configured to provide restoring force to the push plate.

10. The driving torque distribution apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the external cross-section of the push plate is rolling-supported by the internal cross-section of the worm wheel through a bearing.

11. The driving torque distribution apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a bearing is located between the cam ring and the spacer.

12. The driving torque distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second clutch unit includes:
a second drum disposed in parallel on an external circumference of the second driveshaft, and including an external frontal end portion rolling-supported by an internal surface of a cover;
a second hub spline-coupled to the second driveshaft in an interior of the second drum, and including an external frontal end portion rolling-supported by the second drum;
a plurality of second clutch plates spline-coupled to an internal circumference of the second drum;
a plurality of second clutch disks disposed between the plurality of second clutch plates and spline-coupled to an external circumference of the second hub;
a second separating plate corresponding to the first clutch unit, spline-coupled to an internal side of the internal circumference of the second drum to be supported inward in the axial direction, and including a central circumference rolling-supported by an internal surface of the second hub; and
a second pressurizing plate spline-coupled to an external side of the internal circumference of the second drum.

13. The driving torque distribution apparatus

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Hyundai Wia Corp

Inventors

• Lee Taewoo
• Song Jeong Won
• Lim Sung Keun
• Park Junseok
• Lee Yeong Taek
• Hong Won Hee
• Ryu Ji Seung

Classifications

• F16D2021/0692

  with two clutches arranged axially without radial overlap · CPC title

• F16D21/06

  at least two driving shafts or two driven shafts being concentric · CPC title

• F16D2021/0638

  Electrically actuated multiple lamellae clutches · CPC title

• B60K17/165 Primary

  provided between independent half axles (B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16H48/34

  using electromagnetic or electric actuators · CPC title