Powertrain interface module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11441639-B2
Application number	US-201816763858-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2018
Priority date	Nov 14, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

Vehicles that are relatively heavy and/or configured to transport heavy loads may utilize a powertrain comprising an electric machine capable of operating at high speeds and a multispeed transmission to propel the vehicle. An interface module is configured to modulate torque between the electric machine and the multispeed transmission allowing the electric machine to smoothly match speed as the multispeed transmission shifts between gears. The interface module facilitates efficient, predictable, and reliable modulation of torque between an input and an output of the powertrain of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An interface module for use in a vehicle powertrain for modulating torque between an input and an output, said interface module comprising:
an input drum defining an interior and a rotational axis with said input drum having a drive hub facing said interior, said input drum configured for receiving torque from the input and for rotating about said rotational axis when torque is received;
an output shaft extending along said rotational axis and at least partially disposed in said interior of said input drum for transferring torque to the output and rotating about said rotational axis when torque is received; and
a torsional damper assembly disposed in said interior of said input drum about said rotational axis and operatively arranged between said input drum and said output shaft, said torsional damper assembly comprising:
an input-side damper body rotatable about said rotational axis and having a first ramp arrangement;
an overload clutch having an inner clutch plate mounted to said drive hub and an outer clutch plate mounted to said input-side damper body with said inner and outer clutch plates rotatable relative to each other when said input-side damper body rotates relative to said drive hub;
an output-side damper body coupled to said output shaft and having a second ramp arrangement disposed in resilient engagement with said first ramp arrangement, said output-side damper body rotatable about said rotational axis and arranged to move axially along said rotational axis between a first engagement position and a second engagement-position with said first and second ramp arrangements abutting each other when in both of said first and second engagement positions and said second engagement position defined by a predetermined torque differential between said input drum and said output shaft; and a damper preload member abutting said output-side damper body to urge said output-side damper body into said first engagement position;
wherein said input drum defines a bore with said output-side damper body of said torsional damper assembly disposed in said bore.

2. The interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first ramp arrangement and said second ramp arrangement are configured such that said predetermined torque differential occurring between said input drum and said output shaft moves said second ramp arrangement away from said first ramp arrangement axially along said rotational axis and toward said second engagement position.

3. The interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said drive hub is arranged radially inward of said overload clutch and a portion of said input-side damper body.

4. The interface module as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a damper cover disposed in said bore and abutting said damper preload member.

5. The interface module as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said output-side damper body defines a pocket facing said damper cover with said damper preload member disposed in said pocket and abutting said damper cover.

6. The interface module as set forth in claim 4 , further comprising an input drum cover coupled to said input drum and abutting said input-side damper body, said input drum and said damper cover cooperating to limit said axial movement of said output-side damper body along said rotational axis.

7. The interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said overload clutch includes a clutch biasing member with said overload clutch being operable between a first mode rotatably coupling said input drum and said input-side damper body and a second mode permitting said relative rotation of said inner and outer clutch plates to decouple said input drum and said input-side damper body with said clutch biasing member urging said overload clutch into said first mode.

8. The interface module as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said clutch biasing member comprises at least one disc spring.

9. The interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said damper preload member comprises at least one disc spring.

10. The interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first engagement position of said output-side damper body is defined by said second ramp arrangement fully engaging said first ramp arrangement, and said second engagement position is defined by said second ramp arrangement partially engaging said first ramp arrangement.

11. The interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first ramp arrangement comprises an input lobe and said second ramp arrangement comprises an output lobe configured for complementary engagement with said input lobe.

12. The interface module as set forth in claim 11 , wherein each of said input lobe and said output lobe define a ramp angle with said ramp angle being between 35 degrees and 45 degrees.

13. The interface module as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said input lobe is further defined as a plurality of input lobes and said output lobe is further defined as a plurality of output lobes.

14. The interface module as set forth in claim 13 , wherein a valley is defined between each adjacent input lobe and each adjacent output lobe with each of said input lobes and said output lobes having a crest, and wherein said first engagement position of said output-side damper body is defined when said crests and said valleys of said second ramp arrangement nest with said crests and said valleys of said first ramp arrangement.

15. The interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said overload clutch is further defined as a friction clutch;
wherein said inner clutch plate is further defined as a plurality of inner clutch plates; and wherein said outer clutch plate is further defined as a plurality of outer clutch plates.

16. An interface module for use in a vehicle powertrain for modulating torque between an input and an output, said interface module comprising:
an input drum defining an interior and a rotational axis with said input drum having a drive hub facing said interior, said input drum configured for receiving torque from the input and for rotating about said rotational axis when torque is received;
an output shaft extending along said rotational axis and at least partially disposed in said interior of said input drum for transferring torque to the output and rotating about said rotational axis when torque is received; and
a torsional damper assembly disposed in said interior of said input drum about said rotational axis and operatively arranged between said input drum and said output shaft, said torsional damper assembly comprising:
an input-side damper body rotatable about said rotational axis and having a first ramp arrangement;
an overload clutch having an inner clutch plate mounted to said drive hub and an outer clutch plate mounted to said input-side damper body with said inner and outer clutch plates rotatable relative to each other when said input-side damper body rotates relative to said drive hub;

an output-side damper body coupled to said output shaft and having a second ramp arrangement disposed in resilient engagement with said first ramp arrangement, said output-side damper body rotatable about said rotational axis and arranged to move axially along said rotational axis between a first engagement position and a second engagement-position with said first and second ramp arrangements abutting each other when in both of said first and second engagement positions and said second engagement position defined by a predetermined torque differential between said input drum and said output shaft and a damper preload member abutting said output-side damper body to urge sai

Assignees

• Allison Transm Inc

Inventors

• Mepham Shaun

Classifications

• F16D43/21

  with friction members {(slip couplings of the friction type F16D7/02)} · CPC title

• F16D7/027

  with multiple lamellae · CPC title

• F16F15/1295 Primary

  characterised by means for interconnecting driven plates and retainer, cover plates · CPC title

• F16D43/216

  with multiple lamellae · CPC title

• F16F15/1297

  Overload protection, i.e. means for limiting torque · CPC title