Electromagnetic switchable clutch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12486875-B2
Application number	US-202418588165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2024
Priority date	Aug 17, 2023
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

An electromagnetic switchable clutch includes a dog clutch, a one-way clutch and a coil assembly. The dog clutch includes a dog clutch hub with a first outer spline and first pockets, a dog clutch disc with a second outer spline and a dog clutch sleeve with an inner spline, complementary to the first outer spline and the second outer spline. The inner spline is drivingly engaged with the first outer spline and axially displaceable to engage the second outer spline. The one-way clutch includes a cam ring and pawls. The cam ring includes second pockets. The pawls are disposed the first pockets or the second pockets and arranged to engage the other of the first pockets or the second pockets to rotationally lock the cam ring to the dog clutch hub in a single rotational direction. The coil assembly is arranged to axially displace the dog clutch sleeve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electromagnetic switchable clutch, comprising:
a dog clutch comprising:
a dog clutch hub comprising:
a first outer spline; and
a plurality of first pockets;

a dog clutch disc comprising a second outer spline; and
a dog clutch sleeve comprising an inner spline, complementary to the first outer spline and the second outer spline, the inner spline drivingly engaged with the first outer spline and axially displaceable to engage the second outer spline;
a one-way clutch comprising:
a cam ring rotationally fixed to the dog clutch disc and comprising a plurality of second pockets; and
a plurality of pawls disposed in respective ones of one of the plurality of first pockets or the plurality of second pockets and arranged to engage the other one of the plurality of first pockets or the plurality of second pockets to rotationally lock the cam ring to the dog clutch hub in a single rotational direction;
a coil assembly arranged to axially displace the dog clutch sleeve; and a detent arranged to retain the dog clutch sleeve in a first axial position assigned to a one-way clutch mode.

2 . The electromagnetic switchable clutch of claim 1 wherein the one-way clutch further comprises a plurality of pawl springs arranged to pivot the plurality of pawls into engagement with the other one of the plurality of first pockets or the plurality of second pockets.

3 . The electromagnetic switchable clutch of claim 1 wherein:
the dog clutch sleeve comprises a first groove;
the dog clutch hub comprises a second groove; and
the detent is a radially compressible ring disposed in the second groove and arranged to engage the first groove.

4 . The electromagnetic switchable clutch of claim 3 wherein:
the dog clutch sleeve comprises a third groove; and
the radially compressible ring is arranged to engage the third groove to retain the dog clutch sleeve in a second axial position assigned to a freewheel mode.

5 . The electromagnetic switchable clutch of claim 1 wherein:
the coil assembly comprises a first coil arranged to displace the dog clutch sleeve axially towards the dog clutch disc to engage the inner spline with the second outer spline in a dog clutch mode.

6 . The electromagnetic switchable clutch of claim 1 wherein:
the coil assembly comprises a second coil arranged to displace the dog clutch sleeve axially away from the dog clutch disc to pivot the plurality of pawls in a freewheel mode.

7 . The electromagnetic switchable clutch of claim 6 wherein:
the one-way clutch further comprises a cage, the cage comprising:
a ring portion arranged for pivoting the plurality of pawls; and
a radially-outwardly extending tab; and

the dog clutch sleeve comprises a radially-inwardly extending tab arranged to axially displace the radially-outwardly extending tab in a second axial position assigned to the freewheel mode.

8 . The electromagnetic switchable clutch of claim 7 wherein:
the dog clutch hub comprises a notch; and
the radially-inwardly extending tab and the radially-outwardly extending tab are disposed in the notch.

9 . The electromagnetic switchable clutch of claim 1 wherein the coil assembly comprises:
a first cylindrical coil;
a second cylindrical coil; and
a coil housing comprising an annular portion extending axially between the first cylindrical coil and the second cylindrical coil.

10 . The electromagnetic switchable clutch of claim 9 wherein:
the dog clutch sleeve comprises an armature portion axially aligned with the coil assembly; and
the armature portion comprises a groove aligned with the annular portion.

11 . The electromagnetic switchable clutch of claim 10 wherein:
the coil housing comprises:
a first end portion comprising a first conical face; and
a second end portion comprising a second conical face; and

the armature portion comprises:
a third conical face disposed proximate the first conical face in a dog clutch mode; and
a fourth conical face disposed proximate the second conical face in a freewheel mode.

12 . An electromagnetic switchable clutch, comprising:
a dog clutch comprising:
a dog clutch hub comprising:
a first outer spline; and
a plurality of first pockets;

a dog clutch disc comprising a second outer spline; and
a dog clutch sleeve comprising:
an inner spline, complementary to the first outer spline and the second outer spline, the inner spline drivingly engaged with the first outer spline and axially displaceable to engage the second outer spline; and
a radially-inwardly extending tab;

a one-way clutch comprising:
a cam ring rotationally fixed to the dog clutch disc and comprising a plurality of second pockets;
a plurality of pawls disposed in respective ones of one of the plurality of first pockets or the plurality of second pockets and arranged to engage the other one of the plurality of first pockets or the plurality of second pockets to rotationally lock the cam ring to the dog clutch hub in a single rotational direction; and
a cage comprising:
a ring portion arranged for pivoting the plurality of pawls; and
a radially-outwardly extending tab; and

a coil assembly arranged to axially displace the dog clutch sleeve, the coil assembly comprising a coil arranged to displace the dog clutch sleeve axially away from the dog clutch disc to pivot the plurality of pawls in a freewheel mode, wherein the radially-inwardly extending tab is arranged to axially displace the radially-outwardly extending tab in a second axial position assigned to the freewheel mode.

13 . The electromagnetic switchable clutch of claim 12 wherein:
the dog clutch hub comprises a notch; and
the radially-inwardly extending tab and the radially-outwardly extending tab are disposed in the notch.

14 . An electromagnetic switchable clutch, comprising:
a dog clutch comprising:
a dog clutch hub comprising:
a first outer spline; and
a plurality of first pockets;

a dog clutch disc comprising a second outer spline; and
a dog clutch sleeve comprising:
an inner spline, complementary to the first outer spline and the second outer spline, the inner spline drivingly engaged with the first outer spline and axially displaceable to engage the second outer spline; and
an armature portion comprising a groove;

a one-way clutch comprising:
a cam ring rotationally fixed to the dog clutch disc and comprising a plurality of second pockets;
a plurality of pawls disposed in respective ones of one of the plurality of first pockets or the plurality of second pockets and arranged to engage the other one of the plurality of first pockets or the plurality of second pockets to rotationally lock the cam ring to the dog clutch hub in a single rotational direction; and
a coil assembly, axially aligned with the armature portion and arranged to axially displace the dog clutch sleeve, the coil assembly comprising:
a first cylindrical coil;
a second cylindrical coil; and
a coil housing comprising:
an annular portion, aligned with the groove and extending axially between the first cylindrical coil and the second cylindrical coil;
a first end portion comprising a first conical face; and
a second end portion comprising a second conical face, wherein the armature portion further comprises:

a third conical face disposed proximate the first conical face in a dog clutch mode; and
a fourth conical face disposed proximate the second conical face in a freewheel mode.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Burke Peter
• Hodge Michael
• Lee Brian

Classifications

• F16D41/125 Primary

  the pawl movement having an axial component · CPC title

• F16D2121/20

  using electromagnets · CPC title

• F16D41/16

  the action being reversible · CPC title

• F16D2011/002

  using an external and axially slidable sleeve for coupling the teeth of both coupling components together · CPC title

• F16D41/04

  combined with a clutch for locking the driving and driven members (F16D41/02, F16D41/24 take precedence) · CPC title