US-20260126086-A1 - INTEGRATED ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY FOR DISCONNECTOR DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL DEVICE

US20260126086A1US 20260126086 A1US20260126086 A1US 20260126086A1US-20260126086-A1

Abstract

An integrated actuator assembly for a disconnector device and an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) device includes a driving motor, a shift fork sliding in an axial direction of an output shaft of the disconnector device according to a fastened state of the disconnector device in which an outer case and an inner case of the disconnector device are fastened, a piston unit including a piston pressing a multi-plate clutch in the axial direction of the output shaft so that the eLSD device is in an operation state in which the multi-plate clutch of the eLSD device is operated, and a ball ramp operation unit sliding the shift fork and the piston unit to operate in a direction away from each other as rotated by the driving motor.

Inventors

Young-Bae Ryu
Kang-Soo Seo
Jin-Seung Lim
Jae-Weon Jun
Sang-Bum Baek

Assignees

HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
KIA CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20250411
Priority Date: 20241105

Claims (20)

1 . An integrated actuator assembly for a disconnector device and an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) device, the integrated actuator assembly comprising: a driving motor; a shift fork configured to slide into a fastened state of the disconnector device in which an outer case and an inner case of the disconnector device are fastened in an axial direction of an output shaft; a piston unit including a piston configured to press a multi-plate clutch of the eLSD device in the axial direction of the output shaft so that the eLSD device is in an operation state in which the multi-plate clutch is operated; and a ball ramp operation unit configured to slide the shift fork and the piston unit to operate in a direction away from each other as rotated by the driving motor; wherein the ball ramp operation unit allows the eLSD device to be in the operation state after rotating at a predetermined angle after the disconnector device has been fastened, wherein the ball ramp operation unit includes: a fixed ramp configured to be rotated by the driving motor; a shift guide having a slot having a predetermined profile along a circumference formed within the shift guide, connected to the fixed ramp to change a rotation motion to a linear motion of the fixed ramp, and configured to slide the shift fork; wherein an extension extending toward the shift guide is formed on one side surface of the fixed ramp, and a finger including an end portion inserted into the slot is formed on the extension; and wherein, when the fixed ramp rotates, the finger is configured to slide the shift guide while rotating inside the slot.
2 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ball ramp operation unit further includes: a movable ramp configured to slide by rotation of the fixed ramp and configured to slide the piston unit; and a ball positioned between the fixed ramp and the movable ramp, and configured to push the movable ramp to the multi-plate clutch by rotation of the fixed ramp.
3 . (canceled)
4 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 31 , wherein the predetermined profile of the slot of the shift guide includes: a first rotation section formed at a predetermined angle in a circumferential direction of the shift guide; an inclined section connected to the first rotation section; and a second rotation section connected to the inclined section, and formed in the circumferential direction of the shift guide and positioned closer to the fixed ramp than the first rotation section.
5 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 4 , wherein: when the finger of the fixed ramp is positioned in the first rotation section, the disconnector device is in a non-fastened state and the eLSD device is in a non-operation state; when the finger of the fixed ramp enters the inclined section from the first rotation section and passes through the inclined section, the disconnector device is changed to a fastened state and the eLSD device is in the non-operation state; and when the finger of the fixed ramp is positioned in the second rotation section, the disconnector device maintains the fastened state and the eLSD device is changed to the operation state.
6 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second rotation section is longer than the first rotation section, and while the fixed ramp rotates in a state in which the finger is positioned in the second rotation section, the fixed ramp pushes the movable ramp.
7 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 31 , wherein the slot comprises a plurality of slots positioned in a circumferential direction of the shift guide, and each of the plurality of slots has a same predetermined profile.
8 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the disconnector device has a sleeve connected to the shift fork configured to slide along the output shaft so that the outer case and the inner case are fastened.
9 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 2 , wherein a ball accommodation groove having a predetermined depth from a side surface of the fixed ramp, and accommodating the ball at a predetermined angle in a rotation direction of the fixed ramp is formed on the other side surface of the fixed ramp.
10 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 9 , wherein, when the fixed ramp rotates and the ball is positioned between two adjacent ball accommodation grooves, the movable ramp is pushed toward the multi-plate clutch.
11 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 9 , wherein the ball comprises a plurality of balls positioned at predetermined intervals in the rotation direction of the fixed ramp, and the plurality of balls are connected by a cage.
12 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the piston unit includes a piston protruding toward the multi-plate clutch along a circumference of the piston unit.
13 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 2 , wherein a gear unit is formed on a circumference of the fixed ramp, and the gear unit is engaged with a driving gear positioned on an output shaft of the driving motor.
14 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 13 , wherein the gear unit is formed at a predetermined angle along a circumferential direction of the fixed ramp.
15 . The integrated actuator assembly of claim 2 , wherein a side surface of the piston unit includes a return spring elastically supporting the piston unit in a direction away from the multi-plate clutch.
16 . An electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) device comprising: a disconnector device having integrated actuator assembly, the integrated actuator assembly comprising: a driving motor; a shift fork configured to fasten an outer case of the disconnector device to an inner case of the disconnector device in an axial direction of an output shaft; a piston unit including a piston configured to operate a multi-plate clutch of the eLSD device in the axial direction of the output shaft; and a ball ramp operation unit configured to operate the shift fork and the piston unit in a direction away from each other as rotated by the driving motor; wherein the ball ramp operation unit is configured to operate the eLSD device after rotating at a predetermined angle after the disconnector device has been fastened, wherein the ball ramp operation unit includes: a fixed ramp configured to be rotated by the driving motor; a shift guide having a slot formed along a circumference of the shift guide, the shift guide being connected to the fixed ramp and configured to change a rotation motion to a linear motion of the fixed ramp, and configured to operate the shift fork; wherein an extension extending toward the shift guide is formed on one side surface of the fixed ramp, and a finger including an end portion inserted into the slot is formed on the extension, and when the fixed ramp rotates, the finger is configured to slide the shift guide while rotating inside the slot.
17 . The electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) device of claim 16 , wherein the ball ramp operation unit further includes: a movable ramp configured to slide by rotation of the fixed ramp and configured to operate the piston unit; and a ball positioned between the fixed ramp and the movable ramp, and configured to push the movable ramp to the multi-plate clutch by rotation of the fixed ramp.
18 . The electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) device of claim 17 , wherein the slot of the shift guide includes: a first rotation section formed at a predetermined angle in a circumferential direction of the shift guide; an inclined section connected to the first rotation section; and a second rotation section connected to the inclined section and formed in the circumferential direction of the shift guide, wherein the second rotation section is positioned closer to the fixed ramp than the first rotation section.
19 . The electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) device of claim 18 , wherein the slot comprises a plurality of slots positioned in a circumferential direction of the shift guide, and each of the plurality of slots includes the first rotation section, the inclined section, and the second rotation section.
20 . The electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) device of claim 17 , wherein the disconnector device includes a sleeve connected to the shift fork, the sleeve being configured to slide along the output shaft to fasten the outer case to the inner case.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0155325, filed on Nov. 5, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure The present disclosure relates to an integrated actuator assembly for a disconnector device and an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) device, which may sequentially operate the disconnector device and eLSD for a vehicle using one actuator. Description of Related Art Since four-wheel drive electric vehicles experience drag loss in a non-driven wheel when two wheels are driven or during coasting traveling, a disconnector device for mechanically blocking connection between the non-driven wheel and a motor and a reducer is provided. The disconnector device allows an electric vehicle to selectively travel using four wheels and two wheels to reduce no-load drag loss. In addition, a separate electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) device is installed to improve the traveling performance of the vehicle and compensate for the loss of a driving force due to wheel slip, etc. When the eLSD device is provided, handling performance and starting performance are improved. Both the disconnector device and the eLSD device need to be provided in the vehicle, which increases the production cost and weight of the vehicle. In particular, when the disconnector device and the eLSD device are installed inside the vehicle, a large amount of space, such as a space in which the disconnector device and the eLSD device are installed and a space in which an actuator for operating the disconnector device and the eLSD device is installed, is required. Since the actuator is mounted outside the reducer, the actuator needs to have little space for mounting, and application of an actuator (e.g., a hydraulic actuator or a dedicated motor for an eLSD device) for operating a wet multi-plate clutch of the above eLSD device is ideal. However, since the actuator is installed outside the disconnector or the eLSD device, a large amount of space is inevitably needed to install the actuator. SUMMARY The present disclosure is provided to solve the above problems and is directed to providing an integrated actuator assembly for a disconnector device and an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) device, which can minimize a space required for installation and operation by sequentially operating a disconnector device and an eLSD device using one driving motor. To achieve the above object, an integrated actuator assembly for a disconnector device and an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) device according to the present disclosure includes a driving motor, a shift fork sliding a fastened state of the disconnector device in which an outer case and an inner case of the disconnector device are fastened in an axial direction of an output shaft, a piston unit including a piston pressing a multi-plate clutch of the eLSD device in the axial direction of the output shaft so that the eLSD device is in an operation state in which the multi-plate clutch is operated, and a ball ramp operation unit sliding the shift fork and the piston unit to operate in a direction away from each other as rotated by the driving motor, wherein the ball ramp operation unit allows the eLSD device to be in the operation state after rotating at a predetermined angle since the disconnector device has been fastened. The ball ramp operation unit includes a fixed ramp rotated by the driving motor, a shift guide having a slot having a predetermined profile along circumference thereof formed therein, connected to the fixed ramp to change a rotation motion to a linear motion of the fixed ramp, and sliding the shift fork, a movable ramp slid by the rotation of the fixed ramp and sliding the piston unit, and a ball disposed between the fixed ramp and the movable ramp and pushing the movable ramp to the multi-plate clutch by the rotation of the fixed ramp. An extension extending toward the shift guide is formed on one side surface of the fixed ramp, and a finger of which an end portion is inserted into the slot is formed on the extension, and when the fixed ramp rotates, the finger slides the shift guide while rotating inside the slot. The slot of the shift guide has a first rotation section at a predetermined angle in a circumferential direction of the shift guide, an inclined section connected to the first rotation section, and a second rotation section connected to the inclined section and formed in the circumferential direction of the shift guide to be positioned closer to the fixed ramp than the first rotation section. When the finger of the fixed ramp is positioned in the first rotation section, the disconnector device is in a non-fastened state and the eLSD device is in a non-operation state, when the finger of the fixed ramp enters the inclined section from the first rotation section and passes through the inclined section, the disco