Differential with disconnect clutch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10471827-B2
Application number	US-201715694197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2017
Priority date	Sep 1, 2017
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

A differential arrangement including a wedge clutch assembly is provided. The wedge clutch assembly includes a cage with a first plurality of tapered crossbars to at least partially define a plurality of tapered wedge pockets. A plurality of wedges are each arranged within a respective one of the plurality of wedge pockets and within a circumferential groove of an input drive gear or a differential assembly. An actuator assembly is configured to move the cage in at least one of a first axial direction or a second axial direction. Movement of the first plurality of tapered crossbars in one of the first axial direction or the second axial direction circumferentially drives the plurality of wedges into contact with the circumferential groove such that the input drive gear drives the differential assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A differential arrangement comprising:
an input drive gear;
a differential assembly adapted to be selectively driven by the input drive gear;
a first one of the input drive gear or the differential assembly includes a plurality of ramps, and a second one of the input drive gear or the differential assembly includes a circumferential groove;
a wedge clutch assembly including a cage having a first plurality of tapered crossbars that at least partially define a plurality of tapered wedge pockets, and a plurality of wedges each arranged within a respective one of the plurality of wedge pockets and within the circumferential groove of the second one of the input drive gear or the differential assembly, the plurality of wedges each including a ramped surface facing a corresponding one of the plurality of ramps;
an actuator assembly configured to move the cage in at least one of a first axial direction or a second axial direction; and
movement of the first plurality of tapered crossbars in one of the first axial direction or the second axial direction circumferentially drives the plurality of wedges into contact with the circumferential groove such that the input drive gear drives the differential assembly.

2. The differential arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element configured to move the cage in the second axial direction.

3. The differential arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the actuator assembly includes an actuator plate with axially extending hooks that engage the cage.

4. The differential arrangement of claim 3 , further comprising a support plate including openings, and the hooks of the actuator plate extend through the openings to engage the cage.

5. The differential arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the biasing element is positioned between the support plate and the actuator plate.

6. The differential arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the support plate includes a pocket for receiving the biasing element.

7. The differential arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the biasing element is a coil spring.

8. The differential arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the cage includes a second plurality of tapered crossbars having a taper direction opposite to a taper direction of the first plurality of tapered crossbars, and movement in the other of the first direction or the second direction drives the plurality of wedges out of contact with the circumferential groove such that the input drive gear freely rotates with respect to the differential assembly.

9. The differential arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ramps each define a first profile, and the ramped surfaces of the plurality of wedges each define a second profile that is complementary to the first profile.

10. The differential arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly is an electromagnetic actuator or a hydraulic actuator.

11. The differential arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the cage includes a first radial flange and a second radial flange with the first plurality of crossbars extending therebetween.

12. A method of driving a differential assembly, the method comprising:
providing a differential arrangement including:
an input drive gear;
a differential assembly adapted to be selectively driven by the input drive gear;
a first one of the input drive gear or the differential assembly includes a plurality of ramps, and a second one of the input drive gear or the differential assembly includes a circumferential groove;
a wedge clutch assembly including a cage having a first plurality of tapered crossbars that at least partially define a plurality of tapered wedge pockets, and a plurality of wedges each arranged within a respective one of the plurality of wedge pockets and within the circumferential groove of the second one of the input drive gear or the differential assembly, the plurality of wedges each including a ramped surface facing a corresponding one of the plurality of ramps;
an actuator assembly configured to move the cage in at least one of a first axial direction or a second axial direction; and

driving the first plurality of tapered crossbars in one of the first axial direction or the second axial direction to circumferentially drive the plurality of wedges into contact with the circumferential groove such that the input drive gear drives the differential assembly.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a biasing element configured to move the cage in the second axial direction.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the biasing element is a coil spring.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the actuator assembly includes an actuator plate with axially extending hooks that engage the cage.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising a support plate including openings, and the hooks of the actuator plate extend through the openings to engage the cage.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the biasing element is positioned between the support plate and the actuator plate.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the support plate includes a pocket for receiving the biasing element.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Lee Brian
• Smetana Tomas
• Hemphill Jeffrey

Classifications

• F16H2048/106

  characterised by two sun gears · CPC title

• B60K2001/001

  one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle · CPC title

• B60K17/165

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

• B60K23/08

  for changing number of driven wheels {, for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles (B60K17/3515 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60K2023/0858

  with electric means, e.g. electro-hydraulic means · CPC title