Clutch pack pre-build fixture and installation tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11446800-B2
Application number	US-202117465009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2021
Priority date	Nov 6, 2019
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A method and tool system coaxially orients inner clutch plates with outer clutch plates on a tool. The tool includes a plurality of guide members circumferentially spaced apart, each guide member matingly engages a toothed portion of each inner clutch plate to position the inner clutch plates coaxially. A pre-build fixture includes a plurality of alignment pillars, at least one support block, and an alignment member. The alignment pillars are circumferentially spaced apart about a fixture axis. Each alignment pillar has a curved inner face that faces radially inward and has an arclength that is configured to coincide with and fit within a corresponding gap between radially outward facing teeth of each outer clutch plate. The support block supports the tool coaxially with the fixture. The alignment member engages the tool to inhibit rotation of the tool when the tool is supported coaxially with the fixture by the support block.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool system for coaxially orienting a plurality of inner clutch plates with a plurality of outer clutch plates of a clutch pack, the tool system comprising:
a clutch pack tool including a plurality of guide members spaced apart in a circumferential direction about a tool axis, each guide member being configured to matingly engage a toothed portion of each inner clutch plate of the plurality of inner clutch plates to position the inner clutch plates coaxially with the tool axis; and
a pre-build fixture comprising:
a plurality of alignment pillars spaced apart in a circumferential direction about a fixture axis, each alignment pillar having a curved inner face that faces radially inward toward the fixture axis and has an arclength in the circumferential direction about the fixture axis that is configured to coincide with and fit within a corresponding gap between radially outward facing teeth of each outer clutch plate of the plurality of outer clutch plates;
at least one support block configured to support the clutch pack tool coaxially with the fixture axis; and
an alignment member configured to engage the clutch pack tool to inhibit rotation of the clutch pack tool about the fixture axis when the clutch pack tool is supported coaxially with the fixture axis by the at least one support block.

2. The tool system according to claim 1 , wherein the clutch pack tool includes a release mechanism including at least one finger and a release member configured to move the at least one finger between a first position and a second position, wherein when the at least one finger is in the first position, the at least one finger supports the inner clutch plates and the outer clutch plates about the tool axis, wherein movement of the at least one finger from the first position to the second position releases the inner clutch plates and the outer clutch plates to permit the inner clutch plates and the outer clutch plates to drop from a bottom of the clutch pack tool, wherein each support block of the at least one support block has a top surface that is configured to contact and support the clutch pack tool such that the release member is positioned below the top surface.

3. The tool system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one support block includes a plurality of support blocks spaced circumferentially about the fixture axis.

4. The tool system according to claim 3 , wherein each alignment pillar of the plurality of alignment pillars extends from a corresponding one of the plurality of support blocks.

5. The tool system according to claim 1 , wherein the clutch pack tool defines a notch and the alignment member is configured to be received in the notch when the clutch pack tool is supported by the at least one support block coaxially with the fixture axis and in a predetermined rotational position relative to the fixture axis.

6. The tool system according to claim 1 , wherein the pre-build fixture further comprises a sensor configured to detect a rotational orientation of components of the clutch pack.

7. The tool system according to claim 1 , wherein the curved inner faces of the alignment pillars have different arclengths.

8. The tool system according to claim 1 , wherein the pre-build fixture further comprises a base, wherein the at least one support block is coupled to the base and extends axially from the base to support the clutch pack tool above the base.

9. A tool system for coaxially orienting a plurality of inner clutch plates with a plurality of outer clutch plates of a clutch pack on a clutch pack tool, the clutch pack tool including a plurality of guide members spaced apart in a circumferential direction about a tool axis, each guide member being configured to matingly engage a toothed portion of each inner clutch plate of the plurality of inner clutch plates to position the inner clutch plates coaxially with the tool axis, the tool system comprising:
a pre-build fixture comprising:
a plurality of alignment pillars spaced apart in a circumferential direction about a fixture axis, each alignment pillar having a curved inner face that faces radially inward toward the fixture axis and has an arclength in the circumferential direction about the fixture axis that is configured to coincide with and fit within a corresponding gap between radially outward facing teeth of each outer clutch plate of the plurality of outer clutch plates;
at least one support block configured to support the clutch pack tool coaxially with the fixture axis; and
an alignment member configured to engage the clutch pack tool to inhibit rotation of the clutch pack tool about the fixture axis when the clutch pack tool is supported coaxially with the fixture axis by the at least one support block,
wherein the curved inner face of a first one of the alignment pillars has a different arclength than the curved inner face of a second one of the alignment pillars.

10. The tool system according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one support block includes a plurality of support blocks spaced circumferentially about the fixture axis.

11. The tool system according to claim 10 , wherein each alignment pillar of the plurality of alignment pillars extends from a corresponding one of the plurality of support blocks.

12. The tool system according to claim 9 , wherein the pre-build fixture further comprises a sensor configured to detect a rotational orientation of components of the clutch pack.

13. The tool system according to claim 9 , wherein the pre-build fixture further comprises a base, wherein the at least one support block is coupled to the base and extends axially from the base to support the clutch pack tool above the base.

14. The tool system according to claim 9 , further comprising the clutch pack tool.

15. The tool system according to claim 9 , wherein the curved inner face of each alignment pillar is a different arclength.

16. A method of assembling a clutch, the clutch including a clutch pack including a plurality of inner clutch plates and a plurality of outer clutch plates, the method comprising:
supporting the clutch pack tool of claim 1 coaxially on the pre-build fixture of claim 1 ;
loading the clutch pack coaxially onto the clutch pack tool such that the inner face of each alignment pillar is disposed within a corresponding gap between radially outward facing teeth of each outer clutch plate of the plurality of clutch plates and a plurality of alignment faces of the clutch pack tool engage the plurality of inner clutch plates to rotationally align each inner clutch plate about the fixture axis;
removing the loaded clutch pack tool from the pre-build fixture;
positioning the loaded clutch pack tool within a housing of a clutch; and
releasing the clutch pack from the clutch pack tool into the housing of the clutch.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein releasing the clutch pack from the clutch pack tool includes lowering the clutch pack tool until a release mechanism of the clutch pack tool engages the housing and permits the clutch pack to move past a bottom of the clutch pack tool into the housing.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the release mechanism includes at least one finger and a counter weight, the counter weight movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the counter weight holds the at least one finger in an extended position in which the at least one finger supports the clutch pack on the clutch pack tool, wherein in the second position the at least one finger is permitte

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Wilson Brandon Paul
• Kadykowski Zachary James
• Ajami Nabil
• Westhoff Zachary Alan

Classifications

• F16D2250/0084

  Assembly or disassembly · CPC title

• B25B27/0064 Primary

  for assembling or disassembling clutches · CPC title

• F16D65/16

  arranged in or on the brake · CPC title

• F16D55/38 Primary

  mechanically actuated · CPC title

• F16F15/28

  Counterweights, {i.e. additional weights counterbalancing inertia forces induced by the reciprocating movement of masses in the system, e.g. of pistons attached to an engine crankshaft (rotating balancer shafts F16F15/264; correcting-weights for balancing rotating bodies F16F15/32)}; Attaching or mounting same · CPC title