Rotary decoupling actuator assembly with integrated spring assistance for blocked engagement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12253164-B2
Application number	US-202218567196-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2022
Priority date	Jun 7, 2021
Publication date	Mar 18, 2025
Grant date	Mar 18, 2025

Abstract

The present teachings generally provide for an actuator assembly to move between a decoupled position, and a coupled position. The actuator assembly includes a shift assembly including a gear connected to the motor, an input member in communication with the gear configured to transition between a first position and a second position; an output member operatively connected to the input member and configured to move a distance defining a stroke length between a disengaged position and an engaged position; and a biasing member connecting the input member to the output member. The input member rotates from the first position to the second position relative to the output member, increasing a tension of the biasing member due to an interference causing a blocked condition. The biasing member rotates the output member in a releasing condition upon clearance of the interference such that the output member rotates through the stroke length.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuator assembly comprising:
a support;
a motor connected to the support;
a shift assembly operatively connected with the motor to move between a decoupled position, and a coupled position with a plurality of intermediate positions between the decoupled position and coupled position, the shift assembly including:
a gear connected to the motor;
an input member in communication with the gear with the input member having a tab with the input member configured to transition between a first position and a second position, the input member being in the first position when the shift assembly is in the decoupled position;
an output member having a stop with the output member operatively connected to the input member and configured to move an angular distance defining a stroke length between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the output member being in the disengaged position when the shift assembly is in the decoupled position; and
a biasing member connecting the input member to the output member wherein the biasing member is held in a pretensioned state when the input member is in the first position and the output member is in the disengaged position such that the stop of the output member engages the tab of the input member;

wherein the input member rotates in a first direction from the first position to the second position relative to the output member, separating the tab of the input member from the stop of the output member and increasing a tension of the biasing member between the input member and the output member, and the output member remains in the disengaged position due to an interference causing a blocked condition;
wherein the biasing member rotates the output member in the first direction relative to the input member in a releasing condition upon clearance of the interference such that the output member rotates through the angular distance from the disengaged position to the engaged position with the stop of the output member re-engaging the tab of the input member while the input member remains in the second position to place the shift assembly in the coupled position; and
wherein the output member is moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position by the input member when the input member is moved in a second direction, moving the input member from the second position to the first position and causing the tab of the input member to engage the stop of the output member and rotate the output member and the input member together in the second direction, placing the actuator assembly back in the decoupled position.

2. The actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member has a first end and a second end, the first end of the biasing member is connected to the input member, and the second end of the biasing member is connected to the output member.

3. The actuator assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the input member includes an opening and the opening surrounds at least a portion of the output member.

4. The actuator assembly of claim 3 , wherein the tab extends into the opening of the input member and the stop extends from the output member, the stop and the tab are complementary.

5. The actuator assembly of claim 4 , wherein the biasing member is pre-tensioned in the disengaged position by the biasing member applying a pre-tensioned force against a basing member mount of the input member and a basing member on the output member causing the tab of the input member and the stop of the output member to apply the pre-tensioned force against one another.

6. The actuator assembly of claim 1 further comprising a controller in communication with the motor and a sensor in communication the controller, the controller configured to actuate the motor and to determine the position of the shift assembly.

7. The actuator assembly of claim 6 , wherein the sensor comprises an emitter and a receiver, with one of the emitter and the receiver operatively connected with the output member, and the other of the emitter and receiver operatively connected with the controller.

8. The actuator assembly of claim 7 further comprises a sensor gear in communication with the gear, the sensor gear having a sensor gear emitter and a sensor gear receiver, with one of the sensor gear emitter and the sensor gear receiver operatively connected with the sensor gear, and the other of the sensor gear emitter and the sensor gear receiver operatively connected with the controller.

9. The actuator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the sensor gear and the input member are both rotated when the motor is actuated.

10. The actuator assembly of claim 7 , wherein the emitter in communication with the output member is moved when the output member is moved and the controller is configured to determine whether the output member is in the disengaged position or the engaged position by monitoring the emitter on the output member relative to the position of the sensor gear.

11. A method of operating an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly comprising a support, a motor connected to the support, a shift assembly operatively connected with the motor to move between a decoupled position, and a coupled position with a plurality of intermediate positions between the decoupled and coupled positions, the shift assembly including: a gear connected to the motor, an input member in communication with the gear with the input member having a tab with the input member configured to transition between a first position and a second position, the input member being in the first position when the shift assembly is in the decoupled position, an output member having a stop with the output member operatively connected to the input member and configured to rotate an angular distance corresponding to a stroke length between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the output member being in the disengaged position when the shift assembly is in the decoupled position, and a biasing member connecting the input member to the output member wherein the biasing member is held in a pretensioned state when the input member is in the first position and the output member is in the disengaged position such that the stop of the output member engages the tab of the input member, the method comprising:
actuating the motor in a first direction to rotate the gear and the input member from the first position to the second position;
increasing tension of the biasing member between the input member and the output member, separating the tab of the input member from the stop of the output member, the output member remaining in the disengaged position when an interference is present causing a blocked condition;
clearing the blocked condition;
releasing the tension of the biasing member and rotating the output member through the angular distance from the disengaged position to the engaged position in the first direction;
re-engaging the stop of the output member with the tab of the input member while the input member remains in the second position to place the shift assembly in the coupled position;
wherein the output member is moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position by the input member when the input member is moved in a second direction, moving the input member from the second position to the first position and causing the tab of the input member to engage the stop of the output member and rotate the output member and the input member together in the second direction, placing the actuator assembly back in the decoupled position.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
moving the input member from the second position towards the first position in the second di

Assignees

• Ka Group Ag

Inventors

• Insanic Jasmin
• Bergvad Jonas

Classifications

• F16H2061/2892

  other gears, e.g. worm gears, for transmitting rotary motion to the output mechanism · CPC title

• F16H2061/047

  by preventing or solving a tooth butt situation upon engagement failure due to misalignment of teeth · CPC title

• F16H61/32

  Electric motors  {, actuators or related electrical control means}  therefor · CPC title

• F16H61/04 Primary

  Smoothing ratio shift · CPC title

• F16H61/00 Primary

  Control functions within {control units of} change-speed- or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion {; Control of exclusively fluid gearing, friction gearing, gearings with endless flexible members or other particular types of gearing} · CPC title