Transmission With High Speed Clutch Hub

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016298697-A1
Application number	US-201514684549-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 13, 2015
Priority date	Apr 13, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A clutch hub is selectively held against rotation by a brake and selectively coupled to an input shaft by a clutch. The clutch pack for the brake is splined to the outside of the clutch hub while the clutch pack for the clutch is splined to the inside. To reduce axial length, the clutch packs are packaged radially outside of a gear set, increasing the diameter of the clutch hub. When the clutch hub is subjected to high rotational speeds, high centrifugal stresses result. These stresses are reduced by openings in the spline teeth and in the recesses between the spline teeth. Fluid flow to the outer clutch pack is controlled by openings in a clutch housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A transmission comprising:
a clutch hub having a first annular section with a first nominal diameter, the first annular section defining a plurality of external teeth extending outside the first nominal diameter and separated by a first plurality of recesses not extending outside the first nominal diameter, a majority of the teeth and a majority of the recesses defining openings to reduce centrifugal loading on the clutch hub.

2 . The transmission of claim 1 further comprising:
a transmission case; and
a first clutch pack including a first plurality of separator plates splined to the transmission case and at least one first friction plate interspersed with the first plurality of separator plates and splined to the clutch hub via the plurality of external teeth.

3 . The transmission of claim 2 further comprising:
a planetary gear set having a sun gear fixedly coupled to the clutch hub, a carrier, a ring gear, and a plurality of planet gears supported for rotation with respect to the carrier and meshing with both the sun gear and the ring gear.

4 . The transmission of claim 3 wherein:
the clutch hub includes a second annular section having a second nominal diameter, the second annular section defining a plurality of internal teeth extending inside the second nominal diameter and separated by a second plurality of recesses not extending inside the second nominal diameter.

5 . The transmission of claim 4 wherein a majority of the internal teeth defines openings.

6 . The transmission of claim 5 wherein a majority of the second plurality of recesses defines openings.

7 . The transmission of claim 4 wherein a majority of the second plurality of recesses defines openings.

8 . The transmission of claim 4 further comprising:
a clutch housing; and
a second clutch pack including a second plurality of separator plates splined to the clutch housing and at least one second friction plate interspersed with the second plurality of separator plates and splined to the clutch hub via the plurality of internal teeth.

9 . The transmission of claim 8 further comprising:
a third clutch pack including a third plurality of separator plates splined to the clutch housing and at least one third friction plate interspersed with the third plurality of separator plates and splined to the ring gear.

10 . The transmission of claim 8 wherein the clutch housing defines a plurality of holes configured to regulate a flow of fluid to the first clutch pack.

11 . The transmission of claim 8 wherein the clutch housing is fixedly coupled to a gearbox input shaft.

12 . A clutch hub comprising:
a first annular section having a first nominal diameter, the first annular section defining a plurality of external teeth extending outside the first nominal diameter and separated by a first plurality of recesses not extending outside the first nominal diameter, a majority of the teeth and a majority of the recesses defining openings to reduce centrifugal loading on the clutch hub.

13 . The clutch hub of claim 12 further comprising:
a second annular section having a second nominal diameter, the second annular section defining a plurality of internal teeth extending inside the second nominal diameter and separated by a second plurality of recesses not extending inside the second nominal diameter.

14 . The clutch hub of claim 13 wherein a majority of the internal teeth defines openings to further reduce centrifugal loading on the clutch hub.

15 . The clutch hub of claim 14 wherein a majority of the second plurality of recesses defines openings to further reduce centrifugal loading on the clutch hub.

16 . The clutch hub of claim 13 wherein a majority of the second plurality of recesses defines openings to further reduce centrifugal loading on the clutch hub.

17 . A clutch hub comprising:
a first annular section having a first nominal diameter, the first annular section defining a plurality of external teeth extending outside the first nominal diameter and separated by a first plurality of recesses not extending outside the first nominal diameter, a majority of the first plurality of recesses defining openings; and a second annular section having a second nominal diameter, the second annular section defining a plurality of internal teeth extending inside the second nominal diameter and separated by a second plurality of recesses not extending inside the second nominal diameter, a majority of the internal teeth defining openings.

18 . The clutch hub of claim 17 wherein a majority of the external teeth defines openings.

19 . The clutch hub of claim 18 wherein a majority of the second plurality of recesses defines openings.

20 . The clutch hub of claim 17 wherein a majority of the second plurality of recesses defines openings.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Deutsch Laurence Andrew
• Goleski Gregory Daniel

Classifications

• F16D11/00 Primary

  Clutches in which the members have interengaging parts (arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02) · CPC title

• F16D21/00

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

• F16D13/00

  Friction clutches (arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02) · CPC title

• F16H3/48 Primary

  with single orbital gears or pairs of rigidly-connected orbital gears · CPC title

• F16D25/123

  in view of cooling and lubrication · CPC title