Power distribution device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019316655-A1
Application number	US-201916358291-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 19, 2019
Priority date	Apr 12, 2018
Publication date	Oct 17, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A planetary gear mechanism has a first planetary gear train that includes a ring gear to which power from a main power source is input, a planetary carrier that is connected to a first output shaft, a first planetary pinion that is turnably supported by the planetary carrier, and a first sun gear that is connected to a distribution electric motor. The planetary gear mechanism also has a second planetary gear train that includes the ring gear, the planetary carrier, the first planetary pinion, a second planetary pinion that is turnably supported by the planetary carrier, and a second sun gear that is connected to a second output shaft.

First claim

1 . A power distribution device for splitting power input from a main power source between a first output shaft and a second output shaft, the power distribution device having a variable torque distribution ratio and comprising:
a planetary gear mechanism including:
a ring gear to which the power from the main power source is input;
a planetary carrier that is connected to the first output shaft;
a first planetary pinion that is turnably supported by the planetary carrier and meshes with the ring gear;
a second planetary pinion that is turnably supported by the planetary carrier and meshes with the first planetary pinion;
a first sun gear that meshes with the first planetary pinion; and
a second sun gear that is connected to the second output shaft and meshes with the second planetary pinion; and
a distribution electric motor that is connected to the first sun gear, and from which torque for changing the torque distribution ratio is input to the planetary gear mechanism.

2 . The power distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein the first sun gear is attached on a first sun gear shaft that is a hollow shaft having a space through which the second output shaft extends, and a rotor of the distribution electric motor is joined to the first sun gear shaft.

3 . The power distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein the first sun gear is attached on a first sun gear shaft that is a hollow shaft having a space through which the second output shaft extends, and the first sun gear shaft is connected to a rotor of the distribution electric motor via a reduction gear pair that slows down turning of the distribution electric motor and transfers it to the first sun gear shaft.

4 . The power distribution device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first output shaft is connected to the planetary carrier via a first intermediate shaft joined to the planetary carrier and a first reduction gear pair that slows down turning of the first intermediate shaft and transfers it to the first output shaft; the second output shaft is connected to the second sun gear via a second intermediate shaft joined to the second sun gear and a second reduction gear pair that slows down turning of the second intermediate shaft and transfers it to the second output shaft; and the second intermediate shaft is a hollow shaft having a space through which a first sun gear shaft extends, the first sun gear shaft joining together the distribution electric motor and the first sun gear.

Assignees

• Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho Kk

Inventors

• Osada Yasumitsu
• Nakazawa Teruhiko
• Suzuki Atsushi
• Nishizawa Hiroyuki
• Torii Yasuhiro

Classifications

• F16H48/11

  having intermeshing planet gears · CPC title

• F16H2048/106

  characterised by two sun gears · CPC title

• F16H48/10

  with orbital spur gears · CPC title

• B60K17/165 Primary

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

• B60Y2400/73

  Planetary gearings · CPC title