Bearing with integrated wedge locking assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10514073-B2
Application number	US-201715690868-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2017
Priority date	Aug 30, 2017
Publication date	Dec 24, 2019
Grant date	Dec 24, 2019

Abstract

A drive assembly including a wedge clutch assembly is disclosed. The wedge clutch assembly includes a first cage having a first plurality of tapered crossbars that 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 one of an outer ring or an inner ring. The plurality of wedges each including a ramped surface facing a corresponding one of a plurality of ramps defined in the outer ring or inner ring. Movement of the first plurality of tapered crossbars in a first axial direction or a second axial direction circumferentially drives the plurality of wedges into contact with the circumferential groove such that an input drive gear drives an output.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bearing assembly comprising:
a first ring defining a first raceway and including a plurality of ramps;
a second ring defining a second raceway and including a circumferential groove;
a plurality of rolling elements supported to run on the first raceway and the second raceway;
a plurality of wedges each arranged within the circumferential groove and including a ramped surface facing a corresponding one of the plurality of ramps; and
a first cage having a first plurality of tapered crossbars that at least partially define a plurality of tapered wedge pockets, and the plurality of wedges are each arranged within a respective one of the plurality of tapered wedge pockets,
wherein the first plurality of crossbars and the plurality of tapered wedge pockets taper in an axial direction.

2. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to selectively move the first cage in at least one of a first axial direction or a second axial direction, wherein 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.

3. A drive assembly comprising:
an input drive gear;
an output adapted to be selectively driven by the input drive gear; and
the bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first one of the first ring or the second ring is arranged on the input drive gear and a second one of the first ring or the second ring is arranged on the output.

4. The drive assembly of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first cage having a first plurality of tapered crossbars that at least partially define a plurality of tapered wedge pockets, the plurality of wedges each arranged within a respective one of the plurality of wedge pockets; and,
an actuator configured to selectively move the first cage in at least one of a first axial direction or a second axial direction, wherein 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 output.

5. A drive assembly comprising:
an input drive gear;
an output adapted to be selectively driven by the input drive gear;
a bearing assembly including an outer ring on the input drive gear defining an outer raceway, an inner ring on the output defining an inner raceway, and a plurality of rolling elements supported to run on the outer raceway and the inner raceway, a first one of the outer ring or the inner ring includes a plurality of ramps, and a second one of the outer ring or the inner ring includes a circumferential groove;
a wedge clutch assembly including a first 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 outer ring or the inner ring, the plurality of wedges each including a ramped surface facing a corresponding one of the plurality of ramps; and
an actuator configured to selectively move the first 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 output.

6. The drive assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a biasing element configured to move the cage in the second axial direction.

7. The drive assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first cage includes a second plurality of tapered crossbars having a taper opposite to a taper of the first plurality of tapered crossbars, and movement in the other of the first axial direction or the second axial 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 output.

8. The drive assembly of claim 5 , 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.

9. The drive assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first one of the outer ring or the inner ring including the plurality of ramps is the outer ring, and the second one of the outer ring or the inner ring including the circumferential groove is the inner ring.

10. The drive assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a second cage supporting the plurality of rolling elements.

11. The drive assembly of claim 5 , wherein the actuator is an electromagnetic actuator or a hydraulic actuator.

12. The drive assembly of claim 6 , wherein the biasing element is a coil spring.

13. The drive assembly of claim 5 , wherein the cage includes a first radial flange and a second radial flange, and the actuator includes an actuator plate including a radially extending body and an axially extending hook that engages the first radial flange of the first cage.

14. A method of driving an output, the method comprising:
providing a drive assembly including:
an input drive gear;
an output adapted to be selectively driven by the input drive gear;
a bearing assembly including an outer ring on the input drive gear defining an outer raceway, an inner ring on the output defining an inner raceway, and a plurality of rolling elements supported to run on the outer raceway and the inner raceway, a first one of the outer ring or the inner ring includes a plurality of ramps, and a second one of the outer ring or the inner ring includes a circumferential groove;
a wedge clutch assembly including a first 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 outer ring or the inner ring, the plurality of wedges each including a ramped surface facing a corresponding one of the plurality of ramps;
a biasing element configured to move the first cage in the second axial direction;
an actuator configured to axially move the first 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 by the actuator or the biasing element to circumferentially drive the plurality of wedges into contact with the circumferential groove such that the input drive gear drives the output.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing a biasing element configured to axially move the first cage in the second axial direction.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first cage includes a second plurality of tapered crossbars having a taper opposite to a taper of the first plurality of tapered crossbars, and movement in the other of the first axial direction or the second axial 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 output.

17. The method of claim 14 , 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 fir

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Lee Brian

Classifications

• F16C2361/41

  Couplings · CPC title

• F16C19/06

  with a single row or balls · CPC title

• F16D2041/0605

  Spring details · CPC title

• F16D41/061 Primary

  the intermediate members wedging by movement having an axial component · CPC title

• F16D27/00

  Magnetically- {or electrically-} actuated clutches; Control or electric circuits therefor (clutches with magnetisable particles F16D37/02; {with electro-rheological fluids F16D37/008}) · CPC title