Drive train of a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9669710-B2
Application number	US-201414909406-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Priority date	Aug 2, 2013
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

A drive train of a motor vehicle between a drive unit and a first wheel axle and a second wheel axle is disclosed, the second wheel axle consisting at least of a first sub-axle and a second sub-axle, and the first and the second sub-axle being connected to a differential for torque distribution. The differential is an individual differential which is operatively connected to the drive unit via a drive shaft and which can optionally be operatively connected to the first wheel axle for torque distribution.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drive train of a motor vehicle arranged between a drive unit and a first wheel axle and a second wheel axle, said second wheel axle comprising at least one first sub-axle and at least one second sub-axle, said drive train comprising:
an individual differential constructed as a planetary gear differential and comprising a sun gear, a ring gear and a planet carrier, said planet carrier having planet gears meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear, said individual differential being operatively connected with the drive unit via a drive shaft and with the first and second sub-axle for torque distribution between the first and second sub-axle and being operatively connectable to the first wheel axle for torque distribution between the first wheel axle and the second wheel axle;
a first connecting shaft and a second connecting shaft, said ring gear operatively connected with the drive shaft, said sun gear operatively connected with one of the first and the second connecting shaft, said planetary carrier operatively connected with the other one of the first and second connecting shaft; and
two separately shiftable clutches, with a respective one of the two clutches being arranged between each of the first and second connecting shaft and the first wheel axle.

2. The drive train of claim 1 , wherein the individual differential is connected with the first and the second sub-axle by a first and a second connecting shaft for distribution of the torque, and wherein the differential is configured so as to be selectively operatively connectable with the first wheel axle via one or both of the connecting shafts and an output shaft for torque distribution between the first wheel axle and the second wheel axle.

3. The drive train of claim 1 , wherein the planet carrier has at least one outer-planetary gear and at least one inner-planetary gear, which mesh with each other, wherein the outer planet-gear meshes with the ring gear and the inner-planet gear meshes with the sun gear.

4. The drive train of claim 1 , wherein one of the two clutches is arranged between the output shaft and the one of the first and second connecting shafts or an element of the individual differential operatively connected with the one of the first and second connecting shafts, and wherein the other one of the two clutches is arranged between the output shaft and the other one of the first and second connecting shafts or another element of the individual differential operatively connected with other one of the first and second connecting shafts.

5. The drive train of claim 1 , wherein the respective two clutches are arranged between each of the two sub-axles and the first wheel axle.

6. The drive train of claim 5 , wherein one of the two clutches is arranged between the output shaft and the first sub-axle and an element of the differential, which is operatively connected with the first sub-axle in fixed rotative relationship, and wherein the other one of the two clutches is arranged between the output shaft and the second sub-axle and another element of the differential, which is operatively connected with the second sub-axle.

7. The drive train of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second connecting shaft or the output shaft are constructed as cardanic shafts.

8. The drive train of claim 1 , further comprising a first bevel gear transmission operatively connecting the first connecting shaft with the first sub-axle and a second bevel gear transmission connecting the second connecting shaft with the second sub-axle, wherein the first and second connecting shafts are arranged coaxial relative to each other and wherein two oppositely acting axial bearings are arranged between the first and the second connecting shaft.

9. The drive train of claim 8 , wherein the first and second bevel gear transmissions each have a crown wheel, wherein a diameter of the crown wheel of the first bevel gear transmission is different from a diameter of the crown wheel of the second bevel gear transmission.

10. The drive train of claim 8 , wherein the crown wheel of one of the first and second bevel gear transmissions is supported via two axial bearings on a support shaft, which is connected with the crown wheel of the other one of the first and second bevel gear transmissions in fixed rotative relationship.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Meixner Christian

Classifications

• B60K17/3462

  with means for changing distribution of torque between front and rear wheels · CPC title

• B60K17/165 Primary

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

• B60K23/0808

  for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch · CPC title

• F16H48/11

  having intermeshing planet gears · CPC title

• F16H48/10

  with orbital spur gears · CPC title