Double clutch reverse and active torque management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12110951-B2
Application number	US-202217861219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2022
Priority date	Jul 12, 2021
Publication date	Oct 8, 2024
Grant date	Oct 8, 2024

Abstract

A double clutch reverse and active torque management system is provided. A forward variable torque limiting clutch selectively couples torque between a driven sheave of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and at least one drive axle of a vehicle when the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction. The forward variable torque limiting clutch is set to transmit less torque than can be transmitted through each of the drive sheave and the driven sheave of the CVT. A reverse variable torque limiting clutch selectively couples torque between the driven sheave and the at least one drive axle of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling in a reverse direction. The reverse variable torque limiting clutch is set to transmit less torque than can be transmitted through each of the drive sheave and driven sheave of the CVT, wherein any slip caused by excessive torque occurs at one of the forward variable torque limiting clutch and the reverse variable torque limiting clutch.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A double clutch reverse and active torque management system, the system comprising:
a forward variable torque limiting clutch selectively coupling torque between a driven sheave of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and at least one drive axle of a vehicle when the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction;
a reverse variable torque limiting clutch selectively coupling torque between the driven sheave and the at least one drive axle of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling in a reverse direction; and
at least one controller configured to vary a torque transfer amount that the forward variable torque limiting clutch and the reverse variable torque limiting clutch can transmit based on operating instructions and sensor information so the torque transfer amount is greater than an output torque of the CVT and less than a transmittable torque of the CVT, wherein any slip caused by excessive torque occurs at one of the forward variable torque limiting clutch and the reverse variable torque limiting clutch.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the forward variable torque limiting clutch and the reverse variable torque limiting clutch are in a nested clutch configuration.

3. The system of claim 2 , further wherein:
the forward variable torque limiting clutch includes a forward clutch pack that selectively couples torque between a sheave shaft of the driven sheave and a clutch basket; and
the reverse variable limiting clutch includes a reverse clutch pack that selectively couples torque between the clutch basket and a retaining member that is coupled to a case.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
an epicyclic gear set configured to couple torque in a reverse direction when the reverse clutch pack is activated and in a forward direction when the forward clutch pack is activated.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the epicyclic gear set comprises:
a planet carrier coupled to the clutch basket;
a sun gear coupled to the sheave shaft; and
a plurality of planet gears engaged between the sun gear, the planet carrier, and a ring gear.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the forward variable torque limiting clutch and the reverse variable torque limiting clutch are in a side-by-side clutch configuration.

7. The system of claim 6 , further wherein:
the forward variable torque limiting clutch includes a forward clutch pack that selectively couples torque between the driven sheave and a forward clutch basket; and
the reverse variable limiting clutch includes a reverse clutch pack that selectively locks torque between a ring gear and reverse clutch basket and a case.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a sun gear on a sheave shaft of the drive sheave; and
a plurality of planet gears engaged between the sun gear and the ring gear and reverse clutch basket.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a differential carrier, the forward variable torque limiting clutch selectively coupling torque between the differential carrier and a sheave shaft of the drive sheave, the reverse variable torque limiting clutch selectively coupling torque between the differential carrier and a case; and
a plurality of planet gears operationally coupled to the differential carrier, at least one planet gear operationally engaged with an input gear on the sheave shaft.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an output shaft including a reverse output gear; and
an idler shaft including an idler gear, wherein the reverse variable torque limiting clutch selectively couples torque between the idler gear and the reverse output gear when activated.

11. A double clutch reverse and active torque management system, the system comprising:
a forward variable torque limiting clutch selectively coupling torque between a driven sheave of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and at least one drive axle of a vehicle when the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction, the forward variable torque limiting clutch including a forward clutch pack;
a forward actuator in operational communication with a forward piston to selectively assert a force on the forward clutch pack to activate the forward variable torque limiting clutch;
a reverse variable torque limiting clutch selectively coupling torque between the driven sheave and the at least one drive axle of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling in a reverse direction, the reverse variable torque limiting clutch including a reverse clutch pack; and
a reverse actuator in operational communication with a reverse piston to selectively assert a force on the reverse clutch pack to activate the reverse variable torque limiting clutch; and
at least one controller configured to vary a torque transfer amount that the forward variable torque limiting clutch and the reverse variable torque limiting clutch can transmit based on operating instructions and sensor information so the torque transfer amount is greater than an output torque of the CVT and less than a transmittable torque of the CVT by controlling the forward actuator and reverse actuator, wherein any slip caused by excessive torque occurs at one of the forward variable torque limiting clutch and the reverse variable torque limiting clutch.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein layouts used with the double clutch reverse and active torque management system include one of an epicyclic reverse containing one or more sets of epicyclic gears, a parallel axis gear reverse, and a spur gear differential used to achieve reverse.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the forward variable torque limiting clutch and the reverse variable torque limiting clutch are in a nested clutch configuration further comprising:
the driven sheave including a sheave shaft;
a clutch basket, the forward clutch pack selectively coupling torque between the sheave shaft and the clutch basket;
a case, the reverse clutch pack selectively coupling torque between the clutch basket and a retaining member that is coupled to the case to selectively lock the clutch basket to the case; and
an epicyclic gear set configured to couple torque in a reverse direction when the reverse clutch pack is activated, the epicyclic gear set including,
a planet carrier coupled to the clutch basket,
a sun gear coupled to the sheave shaft, and
a plurality of planet gears engaged between the sun gear and the planet carrier.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the forward variable torque limiting clutch and the reverse variable torque limiting clutch are in a side-by-side clutch configuration further comprising:
a forward clutch basket, the forward clutch pack selectively coupling torque between the driven sheave and the forward clutch basket;
a ring gear and reverse clutch basket;
a case, the reverse clutch pack selectively locking torque between the ring gear and reverse clutch basket and the case;
a sun gear on a sheave shaft of the drive sheave; and
a plurality of planet gears engaged between the sun gear and the ring gear and reverse clutch basket.

15. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a differential carrier, the forward variable torque limiting clutch selectively coupling torque between the differential carrier and a sheave shaft of the drive sheave, the reverse variable torque limiting clutch selectively coupling torque between the differential carrier and a case; and
a plurality of planet gears operationally coupled to the differential carrier, at least one planet gear operationally engaged with an input gear on the sheave shaft.

16. The system of claim 11 , further comp

Assignees

• Team Ind Inc

Inventors

• Fisk Jordan E
• Lenk Brandon P
• Yudell Alexander C
• Younggren Bruce H

Classifications

• F16H61/662

  with endless flexible members · CPC title

• F16H2061/6608

  Control of clutches, or brakes for forward-reverse shift · CPC title

• F16H2061/661

  Conjoint control of CVT and drive clutch · CPC title

• F16D25/10

  Clutch systems with a plurality of fluid-actuated clutches (arrangements or mounting of clutches in vehicles B60K17/00) · CPC title

• F16H61/66

  specially adapted for continuously variable gearings (control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38) · CPC title