US 12,173,779 B2
Assembly for a differential unit of a vehicle
Thomas Barillot, Mornant (FR); Jean Terrat, Malleval (FR); Bertrand Cauvin, Reyrieux (FR); and Grégory Bouteille, Genilac (FR)
Assigned to Volvo Truck Corporation, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed by Volvo Truck Corporation, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed on Mar. 4, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/594,197.
Claims priority of application No. 23160898 (EP), filed on Mar. 9, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0301943 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. F16H 48/24 (2006.01); B60K 17/16 (2006.01); F16H 48/08 (2006.01); F16H 48/30 (2012.01)
CPC F16H 48/24 (2013.01) [B60K 17/165 (2013.01); F16H 48/08 (2013.01); F16H 48/30 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly for a vehicle differential unit, comprising:
a differential housing having a longitudinal axis, the differential housing being provided with a plurality of through-holes formed therein;
a differential side gear configured to be connected to a drive shaft capable of being connected to a wheel of a vehicle, the differential side gear being located inside the differential housing and being rotatably mounted relative to the differential housing around the longitudinal axis; and
a blocking system for blocking the differential unit operation, comprising:
a blocking member movable between a released position and a blocking position; and
an actuation system for moving the blocking member between said released and blocking positions;
wherein the blocking member is mounted inside the differential housing in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the differential housing, and is configured to slide relative to the differential housing, along the longitudinal axis, between the released position, in which the blocking member is spaced apart from the differential side gear, thus allowing a rotational movement of the differential side gear relative to the differential housing around the longitudinal axis, and the blocking position, in which the blocking member and the differential side gear are rotationally secured to one another by the cooperation between at least one engagement portion of the blocking member and at least one engagement portion of the differential side gear, thus preventing a rotational movement of the differential side gear relative to the differential housing around the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the actuation system comprises:
an actuation ring slidably mounted around a bearing journal of the differential housing, the actuation ring having a grooved portion, which extends at the outer periphery of the actuation ring, and an end flange, which is axially distant from the grooved portion;
a plurality of connecting pins securely connected, at a distal end, to the end flange of the actuation ring and, at a proximal end, to the blocking member, the connecting pins axially extending through the plurality of through-holes of the differential housing; and
a fork-shaped element is configured to slide relative to the differential housing along the longitudinal axis, the fork-shaped element being configured to be at least partially received inside the grooved portion of the actuation ring, thus allowing an axial displacement of the actuation ring via the fork-shaped element.