One-way clutch and off-axis coupling for an engine starting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8943914-B2
Application number	US-201013510782-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2010
Priority date	Nov 19, 2009
Publication date	Feb 3, 2015
Grant date	Feb 3, 2015

Abstract

A starting system for a hybrid vehicle includes a pinion gear driven by a starter motor and a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear. A one-way clutch assembly drivingly interconnects the drive plate and an engine crankshaft and includes an inner race fixed for rotation with the crankshaft, an outer race coupled for rotation with the drive plate and a plurality of rollers positioned radially therebetween. The outer race includes a first set of teeth drivingly engaging a second set of teeth on the drive plate and arranged to allow the outer race to rotate about an axis misaligned with an axis of rotation of the drive plate. A spring engages the drive plate and the outer race to urge the first and second sets of teeth into alignment with one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A starting system for a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft rotatably supported within an engine block, the starting system comprising:
a starter motor;
a pinion gear selectively driven by the starter motor;
a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear;
a one-way clutch assembly for drivingly interconnecting the drive plate and the crankshaft, the clutch assembly including an inner race adapted to be fixed for rotation with the crankshaft, and an outer race coupled for rotation with the drive plate and a plurality of rollers positioned radially therebetween, wherein the outer race includes a groove and a first set of teeth drivingly engaging a second set of teeth on the drive plate and arranged to allow the outer race to rotate about an axis misaligned with an axis of rotation of the drive plate;
a spring received in the groove of the outer race and engaging the drive plate and the outer race to urge the first and second sets of teeth into alignment with one another, wherein the spring is shaped as a ring surrounding the outer race; and
a retaining ring positioned within the groove on the outer race to retain the spring in a compressed state.

2. The starting system of claim 1 wherein the spring dampens vibrations between the outer race and the drive plate.

3. The starting system of claim 1 further including another spring positioned between the outer race and the drive plate acting in opposition to the spring, wherein the springs urge the drive plate toward a centered position.

4. The starting system of claim 3 wherein the springs are shaped as circular rings having convoluted surfaces.

5. The starting system of claim 1 further including a split ring positioned between the inner race and the outer race.

6. The starting system of claim 5 further including a seal engaging an inner surface of the outer race and an outer surface of the inner race, the seal being positioned axially outboard of the rollers.

7. The starting system of claim 6 further including a cage for positioning the rollers in a spaced apart relationship, wherein the rollers, the cage, the split ring and the seal are positioned along substantially the same radius.

8. The starting system of claim 5 further including a plurality of apertures extending through the inner race to allow lubrication to contact the split ring.

9. The starting system of claim 1 wherein the spring includes an elastomeric ring loaded in compression.

10. The starting system of claim 1 wherein the first set of teeth include a spline.

11. A starting system for a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft rotatably supported within an engine block, the starting system comprising:
a starter motor;
a pinion gear driven by the starter motor;
a drive plate having a set of teeth in meshed engagement with the pinion gear;
a one-way clutch assembly for drivingly interconnecting the drive plate and the crankshaft, the clutch assembly including an inner race for rotation with the crankshaft, and an outer race coupled with the drive plate and a plurality of rollers positioned radially therebetween, wherein the outer race includes a first set of teeth drivingly engaging a second set of teeth on the drive plate and arranged to allow the outer race to rotate about an axis misaligned with an axis of rotation of the drive plate;
a spring engaging the drive plate and the outer race to urge the first and second sets of teeth into alignment with one another; and
a split ring positioned within a groove of the inner race and a groove of the outer race.

12. The starting system of claim 11 including a seal engaging an inner surface of the outer race and an outer surface of the inner race, the seal being positioned axially outboard of the rollers.

13. The starting system of claim 12 including a cage for positioning the rollers in a spaced apart relationship, wherein the rollers, the cage, the split ring, and the seal are positioned along substantially the same radius.

14. The starting system of claim 11 including a plurality of apertures extending through the inner race to allow lubrication to contact the split ring.

15. A starting system for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
a starter motor;
a gear driven by the starter motor;
a drive plate engaging the gear and including a plurality of first teeth facing away from the gear and being circumferentially spaced from one another;
an outer race of a one-way clutch assembly, the outer race including a plurality of second teeth circumferentially spaced from one another and facing the first teeth of the drive plate;
a first compression spring and a second compression spring positioned on opposite sides of the drive plate and radially aligned with a portion of the drive plate and the outer race, the compression springs aligning the first teeth of the drive plate with the second teeth of the outer race; and
a cap circumscribing the outer race and sandwiching the first compression springs between the teeth of the drive plate and the cap.

16. The starting system of claim 15 including a retaining ring disposed between the second compression spring and the outer race and being biasedly engaged by the second compression spring.

17. The starting system of claim 15 wherein the cap and the second teeth of the outer race present a space therebetween for retaining the first compression spring.

18. The starting system of claim 15 wherein the outer race includes a groove disposed adjacent the second teeth for retaining the second compression spring.

19. The starting system of claim 15 including an inner race for engaging a crankshaft and being coupled to the outer race.

20. The starting system of claim 19 wherein the inner race includes an oil receiving groove with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots extending radially through the oil receiving groove to an inner surface of the inner race, and the inner race includes an oil catcher groove disposed on the inner surface of the inner race for collecting oil and transferring the oil to the oil receiving groove via the slots.

Assignees

• Steele Sean
• Cioc Adrian
• Magna Powertrain Usa Inc

Inventors

• Steele Sean
• Cioc Adrian

Classifications

• F16D41/067

  and the members being distributed by a separate cage encircling the axis of rotation · CPC title

• F02N11/08

  Circuits specially adapted for starting of engines · CPC title

• F02N15/022 Primary

  the starter comprising an intermediate clutch · CPC title

• F16D2300/06

  Lubrication details not provided for in group F16D13/74 · CPC title

• F02N2250/08

  Lubrication of starters; Sealing means for starters · CPC title