IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,655,894
Granted Patent B2
US 12,655,894 · App. 18/967,323 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Differential transmission for a vehicle

Inventors: Philip Dötschel (Friedrichshafen, DE); Tamas Gyarmati (Bermatingen, DE)
Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
F16H48/10B60K1/00F16H48/38B60K2001/001F16H2048/104F16H2048/106
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,655,894
App. No.
18/967,323
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A differential transmission for a vehicle includes a first planet carrier of a first planetary gearset connected with a first output shaft by a torque-proof connection. A second ring gear of a second planetary gearset is torque-proofly connected with a second output shaft. A sun ring gear forms a first ring gear of the first planetary gearset at an inner circumference and a second sun gear of the second planetary gearset at an outer circumference. A second planet carrier of the second planetary gearset is supported at a stationary component. A first planet carrier of the first planetary gearset is rotatably supported at the stationary component by a support. The support of the first planet carrier is arranged opposite the torque-proof connection in an axial direction with respect to a first planet gear.

Claims (38)

1 . A differential transmission ( 3 ) for a vehicle, comprising:

a first output shaft ( 5 );

a second output shaft ( 6 );

a first planetary gearset ( 10 ) comprising a first sun gear ( 11 ), a first planet carrier ( 12 ), a first planet gear ( 13 ), and a first ring gear ( 14 ), the first sun gear ( 11 ) engaged with the first planet gear ( 13 ), the first planet gear ( 13 ) engaged with the first ring gear ( 14 ), the first planet carrier ( 12 ) connected with the first output shaft ( 5 ) by a torque-proof connection ( 30 );

a second planetary gearset ( 20 ) comprising a second sun gear ( 21 ), a second planet carrier ( 22 ), a second planet gear ( 23 ), and a second ring gear ( 24 ), the second sun gear ( 21 ) engaged with the second planet gear ( 23 ), the second planet gear ( 23 ) is engaged with the second ring gear ( 24 ), the second ring gear ( 24 ) connected with the second output shaft ( 6 );

a sun ring gear ( 32 ) forming the first ring gear ( 14 ) at an inner circumference and the second sun gear ( 21 ) at an outer circumference; and

a stationary component ( 31 ),

wherein the second planet carrier ( 22 ) is supported at the stationary component ( 31 ), and the first planet carrier ( 12 ) is rotatably supported at the stationary component ( 31 ) by a support ( 40 ), and

wherein the support ( 40 ) of the first planet carrier ( 12 ) is arranged opposite the torque-proof connection ( 30 ) in an axial direction with respect to the first planet gear ( 13 ), the support ( 40 ) of the first planet carrier ( 12 ) being supported at a cylindrical outer circumference of a section of the stationary component ( 31 ) or at a cylindrical inner circumference of part of the stationary component ( 31 ).

2 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 1 , further comprising an input element ( 4 ) torque-proofly connected to the first sun gear ( 11 ) and rotatably supported at the stationary component ( 31 ) by an additional support ( 43 ).

3 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 2 , wherein the support ( 40 ) of the first planet carrier ( 12 ) is arranged outside the additional support ( 43 ) of the input element ( 4 ) in a radial direction.

4 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 2 , wherein the support ( 40 ) of the first planet carrier ( 12 ) overlaps the additional support ( 43 ) of the input element ( 4 ) in the axial direction.

5 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 2 , wherein the support ( 40 ) of the first planet carrier ( 12 ) is arranged next to the additional support ( 43 ) of the input element ( 4 ) in the axial direction.

6 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first sun gear ( 11 ) is hollow, and the first output shaft ( 5 ) extends through the first sun gear ( 11 ) and coaxially to the first sun gear ( 11 ).

7 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 6 , wherein:

an input element ( 4 ) is torque-proofly connected to the first sun gear ( 11 ) and rotatably supported at the stationary component ( 31 ) by an additional support ( 43 );

the input element ( 4 ) is configured as a hollow shaft; and

the first output shaft ( 5 ) extends through the input element ( 4 ).

8 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 6 , wherein:

an input element ( 4 ) is torque-proofly connected to the first sun gear ( 11 ) and rotatably supported at the stationary component ( 31 ) by an additional support ( 43 ); and

the input element ( 4 ) and the first sun gear ( 11 ) as one piece.

9 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the sun ring gear ( 32 ) is ring-shaped;

the first ring gear ( 14 ) is arranged radially inside the second sun gear ( 21 ); and

the first ring gear ( 14 ) overlaps the second sun gear ( 21 ) in the axial direction.

10 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 1 , wherein the second output shaft ( 6 ) is arranged coaxially to the first output shaft ( 5 ) and opposite the first output shaft ( 5 ) in the axial direction.

11 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 1 , wherein a torque introduced into the first sun gear ( 11 ) is transmittable to the first output shaft ( 5 ) and to the second output shaft ( 6 ).

12 . A drive unit ( 2 ), comprising:

a motor ( 73 ); and

the differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 1 ,

wherein the motor ( 73 ) is coupled to the differential transmission ( 3 ) in order to drive the first sun gear ( 11 ).

13 . A vehicle, comprising:

the drive unit ( 2 ) of claim 12 ; and

drive wheels ( 71 ),

wherein the drive unit ( 2 ) is mounted in the vehicle ( 1 ) in order to drive the drive wheels ( 71 ).

14 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 1 , wherein the support ( 40 ) comprises a bearing.

15 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 14 , wherein the bearing comprises a needle sleeve having needles.

16 . The differential transmission ( 3 ) of claim 1 , wherein the second planetary carrier ( 22 ) is torque-proofly fastened to the stationary component ( 31 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2025
From: DÖTSCHEL, PHILIP; GYARMATI, TAMAS
To: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
Reel/Frame 069851/0469 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 102023212119.0 · Dec 4, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250180104A1 · Jun 5, 2025
References Cited (10)
US 5845732A · Taniguchi · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 8968139B2 · Fukami · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 10300905B2 · Holmes · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 11635131B2 · Beck · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11815169B2 · Reisch · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11846346B2 · Kölbl · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11852224B2 · Brehmer · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11892066B2 · Reisch · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 12025211B2 · Reisch · 2024 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2005120877A1 · 2005 [cited by examiner]