Strut-type selectable clutch with hydraulic deployment prevention features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10533617-B2
Application number	US-201715683086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2017
Priority date	Sep 1, 2016
Publication date	Jan 14, 2020
Grant date	Jan 14, 2020

Abstract

A one-way clutch having an anti-deployment feature operable to counteract hydraulic forces acting on the strut so as to assist in maintaining the strut in a non-deployed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A one-way clutch for use in a power transmission device having hydraulic fluid, the one-way clutch comprising:
a clutch module having a first member and a second member rotatable relative to the first member, the second member having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and
a strut module having a strut supported by the first member for movement between a first position displaced from engagement with the the ratchet teeth defining a freewheel mode and a second position engaged with at least one of the ratchet teeth defining a locked mode,
wherein at least one of the first member and the strut has at least one anti-deployment feature configured to assist in holding the strut in its first position during rotation of the second member relative to the first member by counteracting hydraulic forces applied by the hydraulic fluid to the strut;
wherein the at least one anti-deployment feature includes at least one of a ramp defined along the first member and circumferentially spaced from the strut or a flow channel defined by the first member.

2. The one-way clutch of claim 1 , wherein the first member presents a radially inner wall surface, and wherein the at least one anti-deployment feature includes a flow channel defined in the first member at a location between the ratchet teeth on the second member and the strut, and located radially inwardly of the radially inner wall surface of the first member.

3. The one-way clutch of claim 1 , wherein the anti-deployment feature further includes at least one flow channel formed at an edge surface of the strut.

4. The one-way clutch of claim 1 , wherein the first member presents a radially inner wall surface, and wherein the anti-deployment feature is a ramp formed on the radially inner wall surface and configured to direct the hydraulic fluid to act on the strut so as to forcibly urge the strut towards its first position.

5. The one-way clutch of claim 1 , wherein the anti-deployment feature includes a first anti-deployment feature and a second anti-deployment feature cooperating to direct the hydraulic fluid to flow over the strut and urge the strut toward its first position.

6. The one-way clutch of claim 5 , wherein the first member presents a radially inner wall surface, and wherein the first anti-deployment feature is a flow channel formed in the first member at a location between the ratchet teeth on the second member and the strut, and located radially inwardly of the radially inner wall surface of the first member, and wherein the second anti-deployment feature is a ramp formed on the radially inner wall surface and configured to direct hydraulic fluid to act on an end portion of the strut.

7. The one-way clutch of claim 6 , wherein the anti-deployment feature further includes a third anti-deployment feature cooperating with the second anti-deployment feature to direct fluid to act on the end portion of the strut.

8. The one-way clutch of claim 7 , wherein the third anti-deployment feature is configured to include at least one flow channel formed in the end portion of the strut.

9. The one-way clutch of claim 8 wherein the anti-deployment feature includes a fourth anti-deployment feature cooperating with the third anti-deployment feature.

10. The one-way clutch of claim 9 , wherein the fourth anti-deployment feature is configured to include at least one flow channel formed in the ramp on the first member and which is arranged to direct fluid to the at least one flow channel formed in the end portion of the strut.

11. The one-way clutch of claim 10 , wherein a pair of the flow channels are formed in the first member and are aligned with a pair of the flow channels formed in the end portion of the strut.

12. A one-way clutch for use in a power transmission device having a stationary component, a rotary component, and hydraulic fluid, the one-way clutch comprising:
a clutch module having a first clutch member fixed to the stationary component and a second clutch member fixed to the rotary component for rotation relative to the first clutch member, the second clutch member formed to include ratchet teeth; and
an actuation module having a strut supported on the first clutch member for pivotal movement between a first position whereat an engagement end portion of the strut is displaced from engagement with the ratchet teeth to define a clutch freewheel mode and a second position whereat the engagement with the engagement end portion of the strut is lockingly engaged with one of the ratchet teeth to define a clutch locked mode, and a strut biasing spring operable to bias the strut toward its first position,
wherein at least one of the first clutch member and the strut includes an anti-deployment feature configured to assist the strut biasing spring in locating the strut in its first position during rotation of the second clutch member relative to the first clutch member by directing a flow of the hydraulic fluid so as to counteract hydraulic forces applied to the strut by the hydraulic fluid,
wherein the at least one anti-deployment feature includes at least one of a ramp defined along the first clutch member and circumferentially spaced from the strut, a flow channel defined by the first clutch member, or a flow channel defined in the strut for diverting hydraulic fluid to urge the strut toward its first position.

13. The one-way clutch of claim 12 , wherein the actuation module further includes a power-operated actuator for selectively moving the strut from its first position to its second position in opposition to the biasing of the strut biasing spring.

14. The one-way clutch of claim 12 , wherein the anti-deployment feature is at least one of a flow channel formed in the first clutch member and located between the ratchet teeth on the second clutch member and the engagement end portion of the strut, and a flow channel in the engagement end portion of the strut.

15. The one-way clutch of claim 14 , wherein the anti-deployment feature further includes a flow channel formed in the ramp on the first clutch member and which is aligned with the flow channel formed in the engagement end portion of the strut.

16. The one-way clutch of claim 15 , wherein the hydraulic fluid flows in the flow channel formed in the ramp and is directed into the flow channel formed in the engagement end of the strut to hold the strut in its first position.

17. A one-way clutch assembly, comprising: an outer race having a strut pocket and an actuator pocket; an inner race arranged to rotate relative to the outer race and having ratchet teeth; a strut supported in the strut pocket of the outer race for pivotal movement between a non-deployed position whereat an engagement end portion of the strut is displaced from the ratchet teeth and a deployed position whereat the engagement end portion of the strut is lockingly engaged with one of the ratchet teeth, the strut being biased toward its non-deployed position; and a power-operated actuator retained in the actuator pocket of the outer race and operable for causing the strut to move from its non-deployed position into its deployed position, wherein at least one of the outer race and the strut includes a fluid diverting anti-deployment feature configured to divert the hydraulic fluid disposed between the outer race and the inner race to flow over the engagement end portion of the strut and apply a hydraulic force on the strut for assisting in holding the strut in its non-deployed position; wherein the at least one anti-deployment feature includes a flow channel defined in the strut for diverting hydraulic fluid to

Assignees

• Magna Powertrain Usa Inc

Inventors

• Uppal Ranjit
• Steele Sean
• Passos Alberto
• Milacic Dusan

Classifications

• F16D41/084

  the intermediate coupling members wedging by pivoting or rocking · CPC title

• F16D27/102

  with radially movable clutching members (F16D27/105 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16D2041/0603

  Sprag details · CPC title

• F16D41/125 Primary

  the pawl movement having an axial component · CPC title

• F16D25/12

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