Multi-mode clutches for forward/reverse planetary gearset

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016003308-A1
Application number	US-201414770929-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 28, 2014
Priority date	Mar 5, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A forward/reverse planetary gearset ( 412 ) may be adapted to employ multi-mode clutch modules ( 426, 430 ) in lieu of using only traditional friction clutches ( 326, 330 ). Such arrangement may reduce parasitic drag as well as achieve reductions in physical size of the gearset housing ( 408 ). Use of multi-mode clutch modules ( 426, 430 ) may offer either of or both forward and reverse controls of the planetary gearset ( 412 ). Thus, in at least one arrangement a multi-mode clutch ( 426 ) may provide forward clutch control while a friction clutch ( 330 ) provides reverse clutch control. In another arrangement the friction clutch ( 326 ) may provide the forward clutch control, while the multi-mode clutch ( 430 ) provides the reverse clutch control for the gearset ( 412 ). Finally, both forward and reverse controls of the gearset ( 412 ) may be provided via multi-mode clutches ( 426, 430 ), thus entirely avoiding use of any friction clutches ( 326, 330 ) for forward or reverse control functions of the planetary gearset ( 412 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A planetary gearset system ( 110 ) comprising at least a pair of clutches ( 126 , 200 ) adapted to facilitate forward and reverse directional control, at least one of the clutches being a multi-mode clutch module ( 200 ), wherein the clutch module is defined by a plurality of races ( 220 , 222 ) having elements ( 230 ) interposed between the races, the elements adapted to selectively lock the races together.

2 . The planetary gearset system ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein one of the clutches is a multi-mode clutch ( 200 ), and wherein another of the pair of clutches is a friction clutch ( 126 ).

3 . The planetary gearset system ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein the pair of clutches comprise clutch modules ( 126 , 200 ) that are radially nested with respect to each other, such that one module defines a radially outer clutch module ( 200 ), and the other defines a radially inner clutch module ( 126 ).

4 . Clutch modules ( 126 , 200 ) for a planetary gearset ( 112 ), at least one of the modules ( 126 , 200 ) being a multi-mode clutch module ( 200 ), the gearset ( 112 ) including a sun gear ( 114 ), planetary gears ( 120 ), a planet carrier ( 118 ) adapted to support the planetary gears for rotation about the sun gear, and a ring gear ( 122 ) within which the sun, the planetary gears, and the carrier are each adapted to rotate at different rotational speeds; the clutch modules ( 126 , 200 ) comprising:
a first clutch module ( 126 ) configured to control forward directional control of the planetary gearset ( 112 ), and a second clutch module ( 200 ) configured to control reverse directional control of the planetary gearset ( 112 ); the multi-mode clutch module ( 200 ) being defined by a plurality of races ( 220 , 222 ) having elements ( 230 ) interposed between the races, the elements adapted to selectively lock the races together.

5 . The clutch modules ( 126 , 200 ) of claim 4 , wherein one of the first or second clutch modules is a radially inner clutch module ( 126 ) and the other is a radially outer clutch module ( 200 ).

6 . The clutch modules ( 126 , 200 ) of claim 5 , wherein the radially inner clutch module ( 126 ) is a forward clutch module, and wherein the radially outer clutch module ( 200 ) is a reverse clutch module.

7 . The clutch modules ( 126 , 200 ) of claim 4 , wherein each of the clutch modules is operably engaged with at least one of the planetary gearset elements ( 114 , 118 , 122 ).

8 . The clutch modules ( 126 , 200 ) of claim 6 , wherein the reverse clutch module ( 200 ) engages the ring gear ( 122 ) of the planetary gearset ( 112 ).

9 . The clutch modules ( 126 , 200 ) of claim 6 , wherein the forward clutch module ( 126 ) engages the carrier ( 118 ) of the planetary gearset ( 112 ).

10 . The clutch modules ( 126 , 200 ) of claim 6 , wherein the reverse clutch module ( 200 ) engages the carrier ( 118 ) of the planetary gearset ( 112 ).

11 . The clutch modules ( 126 , 200 ) of claim 6 , wherein the forward clutch module ( 126 ) engages the ring gear ( 122 ) of the planetary gearset ( 112 ).

12 . A planetary gearset system ( 410 ), comprising:
a planetary gearset ( 412 ) having operable elements including a sun gear ( 414 ), planetary gears ( 420 ), a planetary carrier ( 418 ) supporting the planetary gears for rotation about the sun gear, and a ring gear ( 422 ) within which the sun, planetary gears, and carrier are supported, each operable element ( 414 , 418 , 422 ) adapted to rotate at a different rotational speed; a pair of clutches ( 426 , 430 ) configured to control forward and reverse directional rotation of the planetary gearset ( 412 ), the pair of clutches ( 426 , 430 ) each defined by a multi-mode clutch module ( 426 ), one of the modules being adapted to control forward directional control of the planetary gearset ( 412 ), the other of the modules ( 430 ) being adapted to control reverse directional control.

13 . The planetary gearset system ( 410 ) of claim 12 , wherein each of the clutch modules ( 426 , 430 ) is engaged with at least one of the operable elements ( 414 , 418 , 422 ) of the planetary gearset ( 412 ).

14 . The planetary gearset system ( 410 ) of claim 12 , wherein one of the pair of clutch modules ( 426 , 430 ) is a radially inner clutch module ( 426 ) and the other is a radially outer clutch module ( 430 ).

15 . The planetary gearset system ( 410 ) of claim 14 , wherein the radially inner clutch module ( 426 ) is a forward clutch module, and the radially outer clutch module ( 430 ) is a reverse clutch module.

16 . The planetary gearset system ( 410 ) of claim 15 , wherein the reverse clutch module ( 430 ) engages the ring gear ( 422 ) of the planetary gearset ( 412 ).

17 . The planetary gearset system ( 410 ) of claim 15 , wherein the forward clutch module ( 426 ) engages the carrier ( 418 ) of the planetary gearset ( 412 ).

18 . The planetary gearset system ( 410 ) of claim 15 , wherein the reverse clutch module ( 430 ) engages the carrier ( 418 ) of the planetary gearset ( 412 ).

19 . The planetary gearset system ( 410 ) of claim 15 , wherein the forward clutch module ( 426 ) engages the ring gear ( 422 ) of the planetary gearset ( 412 ).

20 . The planetary gearset system ( 410 ) of claim 15 , wherein the radially inner clutch module ( 426 ) is radially nested within the radially outer clutch module ( 430 ).

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc

Inventors

• Lee Brett J
• Blair Christopher E
• Spangler Christopher A
• Ishihara Mitsuru

Classifications

• F16D21/00 Primary

  Systems comprising a plurality of actuated clutches (for synchronisation F16D23/04) · CPC title

• F16H57/08 Primary

  of gearings with members having orbital motion · CPC title

• F16D25/061

  the clutch having interengaging clutch members · CPC title

• F16D25/0638

  with more than two discs, e.g. multiple lamellae · CPC title

• F16D13/52

  Clutches with multiple lamellae {; Clutches in which three or more axially moveable members are fixed alternately to the shafts to be coupled and are pressed from one side towards an axially-located member (F16D13/385 takes precedence)} · CPC title