Latching clutch having a ball detent latching device requiring a reduced amount of hydraulic pressure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10364851-B2
Application number	US-201515505323-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2015
Priority date	Aug 25, 2014
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

A power-transmitting device (10) and a method of assembling a power-transmitting device (10) secures and releases driving continuity between driving and driven parts (22, 62) through at least one clutch assembly (26, 66). The power-transmitting device (10) includes an apply plate (36) axially moveable with respect to the clutch assembly (26, 66) for engaging and disengaging the clutch assembly (26, 66). A return spring (34) acting on the apply plate (36) and an apply spring (32) having a higher compression force than the return spring (34) can be located between the apply plate (36) and the clutch assembly (26, 66). A ball (38) can be engageable with a portion of the apply plate (36) for locking the apply plate (36) in engagement with the clutch assembly (26, 66) during a steady state condition and a piston (40) can drive the ball (38) into engagement with the apply plate (36) in response to application of fluid under pressure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. In a power-transmitting device ( 10 ) for securing and releasing driving continuity between driving and driven parts ( 22 , 62 ) through a clutch assembly having at least one disk stack ( 26 , 66 ), the power-transmitting device ( 10 ) having an apply plate ( 36 ) axially moveable with respect to the at least one disk stack ( 26 , 66 ) for engaging and disengaging the clutch assembly, the improvement comprising:
a return spring ( 34 ) acting on the apply plate ( 36 ), wherein the apply plate ( 36 ) directly contacts the return spring ( 34 );
an apply spring ( 32 ) having a higher compression force than the return spring ( 34 ), the apply spring ( 32 ) and the return spring ( 34 ) located between the apply plate ( 36 ) and at least one disk stack ( 26 , 66 );
at least one ball ( 38 ) engageable with a portion of the apply plate ( 36 ) for locking the apply plate ( 36 ) in engagement with the at least one disk stack ( 26 , 66 ) during a steady state condition; and
a piston ( 40 ) for driving the at least one ball ( 38 ) into engagement with the apply plate ( 36 ) in response to application of fluid under pressure.

2. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising:
a normal mode of operation, wherein the apply plate ( 36 ) compresses the return spring ( 34 ) in response to application of an intermediate compressive force applied by a fluid under pressure to transition into a state providing driving continuity between the driving and driven parts ( 22 , 62 ).

3. The improvement of claim 1 , wherein the apply plate ( 36 ) includes at least one groove ( 39 ) formed therein for receiving the at least one ball ( 38 ).

4. The improvement of claim 3 further comprising:
a locked mode of operation, wherein the apply plate ( 36 ) compresses the return spring ( 34 ) and the apply spring ( 32 ) allowing the ball ( 38 ) to engage within the groove ( 39 ) of the apply plate ( 36 ) in response to application of a higher compressive force applied by fluid under pressure to the apply plate ( 36 ) and to the piston ( 40 ), such that the apply plate ( 36 ) is locked in a state providing driving continuity between the driving and driven parts ( 22 , 62 ), while allowing discontinuation of application of the higher compressive force applied by the fluid under pressure to the apply plate ( 36 ).

5. The improvement of claim 4 , wherein application of a minimal compressive force applied by fluid under a decreased pilot pressure to the piston ( 40 ) maintains the ball ( 38 ) within the groove ( 39 ) of the apply plate ( 36 ).

6. The improvement of claim 5 , wherein interruption of the decreased pilot pressure to the piston ( 40 ) allows the return spring ( 34 ) to disengage the ball ( 38 ) from within the groove ( 39 ) of the apply plate ( 36 ) allowing a transition into a state out of driving continuity between the driving and driven parts ( 22 , 62 ).

7. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising:
a lost motion retainer ( 56 ) enclosing the apply spring ( 32 ) and the return spring ( 34 ).

8. The improvement of claim 7 , wherein the power-transmitting device ( 10 ) includes a pair of transmission shafts ( 22 , 62 ) and a first disk stack ( 26 ) and a second disk stack ( 66 ), each of the first and second disk stack ( 26 , 66 ) associated with one of the pair of transmission shafts ( 22 , 62 ), the first disk stack ( 26 ) associated with the lost motion retainer ( 56 ).

9. The improvement of claim 7 further comprising:
the at least one disk stack ( 26 ) engaging with the lost motion retainer ( 56 ) and the apply plate ( 36 ); and
an actuating device moveable between a normal mode of operation wherein the at least one disk stack ( 26 ) moves to compress the return spring ( 34 ), and a locked mode of operation wherein the at least one disk stack ( 26 ) allows movement that compresses both the apply spring ( 32 ) and the return spring ( 34 ).

10. A method of assembling a power-transmitting device ( 10 ) for securing and releasing driving continuity between driving and driven parts ( 22 , 62 ) through a clutch assembly having at least one disk stack ( 26 , 66 ), the power-transmitting device ( 10 ) having an apply plate ( 36 ) axially moveable with respect to the at least one disk stack ( 26 , 66 ) for engaging and disengaging the clutch assembly, the method comprising:
positioning a return spring ( 34 ) to act on the apply plate ( 36 ), wherein the apply plate ( 36 ) directly contacts the return spring ( 34 );
assembling an apply spring ( 32 ) having a higher compression force than the return spring ( 34 ), the apply spring ( 32 ) and the return spring ( 34 ) located between the apply plate ( 36 ) and at least one disk stack ( 26 , 66 );
engaging at least one ball ( 38 ) with a portion of the apply plate ( 36 ) for locking the apply plate ( 36 ) in engagement with the at least one disk stack ( 26 , 66 ) during a steady state condition; and
positioning a piston ( 40 ) for driving the at least one ball ( 38 ) into engagement with the apply plate ( 36 ) in response to application of a higher compressive force applied by a fluid under pressure.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
operating in a normal mode of operation with the apply plate ( 36 ) compressing the return spring ( 34 ) in response to application of an intermediate compressive force applied by the fluid under pressure to transition into a state providing driving continuity between the driving and driven parts ( 22 , 62 ).

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
operating in a locked mode of operation with the apply plate ( 36 ) compressing the return spring ( 34 ) and the apply spring ( 32 ) allowing the ball ( 38 ) to engage within a groove ( 39 ) of the apply plate ( 36 ) in response to application of the higher compressive force applied by the fluid under pressure to the apply plate ( 36 ) and to the piston ( 40 ), such that the apply plate ( 36 ) is locked in a state providing driving continuity between the driving and driven parts ( 22 , 62 ), while allowing discontinuation of application of the higher compressive force applied by the fluid under pressure to the apply plate ( 36 ).

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
maintaining the ball ( 38 ) within a groove ( 39 ) of the apply plate ( 36 ) in response to a minimal compressive force applied by the fluid under a decreased pilot pressure to the piston ( 40 ).

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
disengaging the ball ( 38 ) from within the groove ( 39 ) of the apply plate ( 36 ) by interrupting the decreased pilot pressure to the piston ( 40 ) allowing a transition into a state out of driving continuity between the driving and driven parts ( 22 , 62 ).

15. A power-transmitting device ( 10 ) using friction for securing and releasing driving continuity as between driving and driven parts ( 22 , 62 ), and including an actuating device for transitioning the power-transmitting device ( 10 ) into or out of a state providing driving continuity between the driving and driven parts ( 22 , 62 ), the actuating device powered by action of a fluid under pressure, where the actuating device includes an enclosure and an apply plate ( 36 ) slidably received in sealing engagement with the enclosure, fluid being admitted into the enclosure to apply a force to the enclosure and the apply plate ( 36 ), one of the enclosure and the apply plate ( 36 ) being connected to and rotating integrally with the driving or driven part ( 22 , 62 ), relative displacement of the enclosure and apply plate ( 36 ) due to the force applied by the fluid contributing to

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc

Inventors

• Showalter Dan Joseph

Classifications

• F16D2021/0661

  Hydraulically actuated multiple lamellae clutches · CPC title

• F16D13/54

  with means for increasing the effective force between the actuating sleeve or equivalent member and the pressure member · CPC title

• F16D25/12

  Details not specific to one of the before-mentioned types · CPC title

• F16D21/06

  at least two driving shafts or two driven shafts being concentric · CPC title

• F16D25/02 Primary

  with means for actuating or keeping engaged by a force derived at least partially from one of the shafts to be connected · CPC title