Magnetic system for controlling the operating mode of an overrunning coupling assembly and overrunning coupling and magnetic control assembly having same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9234552-B2
Application number	US-201414288819-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2014
Priority date	Dec 10, 2010
Publication date	Jan 12, 2016
Grant date	Jan 12, 2016

Abstract

A magnetic system for controlling the operating mode of an overrunning coupling assembly is provided. The system includes a ferromagnetic or magnetic element received within a pocket in an uncoupling position and is movable outwardly from the pocket to a coupling position. The element controls the operating mode of the coupling assembly. An armature is connected to the element to move the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions. A magnetic field sensor is disposed adjacent and stationary with respect to the element for sensing magnetic flux to produce an output signal which is based on the position of the element. A variable magnetic field is generated in response to movement of the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetic system for controlling the operating mode of an overrunning coupling assembly including a coupling member having a first coupling face and a coupling subassembly having a second coupling face with a pocket defining a load-bearing shoulder, the coupling faces being in close-spaced opposition with one another, at least one of the coupling member and the coupling subassembly being mounted for rotation about a rotary axis, the system comprising:
a ferromagnetic or magnetic element received within the pocket in an uncoupling position and movable outwardly from the pocket to a coupling position characterized by abutting engagement of the element with the load-bearing shoulder; the element controlling the operating mode of the coupling assembly;
an electromagnetic source including at least one excitation coil;
a reciprocating armature arranged concentrically relative to the at least one excitation coil and being axially movable when the at least one excitation coil is supplied with current, the armature being connected to the element to move the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions; and
a magnetic field sensor disposed adjacent and stationary with respect to the element for sensing magnetic flux to produce an output signal which is based on the position of the element wherein a variable magnetic field is generated in response to movement of the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a magnetic field sensing element.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is back-biased and wherein the element is a ferromagnetic element.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the element is a locking element which controls the operating mode of the coupling assembly.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the locking element is an injection molded strut.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a return biasing member to urge the armature to a return position which corresponds to the uncoupling position of the element.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the coupling faces are oriented to face axially.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pocket has a T-shape.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the element includes at least one projecting leg portion which provides an attachment location for a leading end of the armature.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein each leg portion has an aperture, wherein the system further comprises a pivot pin received within each aperture to allow rotational movement of the element in response to reciprocating movement of the armature and wherein the leading end of the armature is connected to the element via the pivot pin.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein each aperture is an oblong aperture to receive the pivot pin to allow both rotation and translational movement of the element in response to reciprocating movement of the armature.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the coupling assembly is a clutch assembly and the coupling faces are clutch faces.

13. An overrunning coupling and magnetic control assembly comprising:
a coupling member having a first coupling face and a coupling subassembly having a second coupling face with a pocket defining a load-bearing shoulder, the coupling faces being in close-spaced opposition with one another, at least one of the coupling member and the coupling subassembly being mounted for rotation about a rotary axis;
a ferromagnetic or magnetic element received within the pocket in an uncoupling position and movable outwardly from the pocket to a coupling position characterized by abutting engagement of the element with the load-bearing shoulder; the element controlling the operating mode of the coupling assembly;
an electromagnetic source including at least one excitation coil;
a reciprocating armature arranged concentrically relative to the at least one excitation coil and being axially movable when the at least one excitation coil is supplied with current, the armature being connected to the element to move the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions; and
a magnetic field sensor disposed adjacent and stationary with respect to the element for sensing magnetic flux to produce an output signal which is based on the position of the element wherein a variable magnetic field is generated in response to movement of the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the sensor includes a magnetic field sensing element.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the sensor is back-biased and wherein the element is a ferromagnetic element.

16. The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the element is a locking element.

17. The assembly as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the locking element is an injection molded strut.

18. The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a return biasing member to urge the armature to a return position which corresponds to the uncoupling position of the element.

19. The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the coupling faces are oriented to face axially.

20. The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the pocket has a T-shape.

21. The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the element includes at least one projecting leg portion which provides an attachment location for a leading end of the armature.

22. The assembly as claimed in claim 21 , wherein each leg portion has an aperture, wherein the assembly further comprises a pivot pin received within each aperture to allow rotational movement of the element in response to reciprocating movement of the armature and wherein the leading end of the armature is connected to the element via the pivot pin.

23. The assembly as claimed in claim 22 , wherein each aperture is an oblong aperture to receive the pivot pin to allow both rotation and translational movement of the element in response to reciprocating movement of the armature.

24. The assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the coupling member is a clutch member and the coupling faces are clutch faces.

25. An electromechanical apparatus for use in a controllable coupling assembly, the apparatus comprising:
a housing part having a closed axial end including an end wall having an outer coupling face with a single pocket defining a load-bearing shoulder in communication with an inner face of the end wall;
an electromagnetic source including at least one excitation coil at least partially surrounded by the housing part;
an element received within the pocket in an uncoupling position and movable outwardly from the pocket to a coupling position characterized by abutting engagement of the element with the load-bearing shoulder; and
a spring-loaded reciprocating armature arranged concentrically relative to the at least one excitation coil and being axially movable when the at least one excitation coil is supplied with current, the armature being connected to the element to move the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the element is a locking element which controls the operating mode of the coupling assembly.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the element is an impact energy storage element

Assignees

• Means Ind Inc

Inventors

• Kimes John W

Classifications

• F16D41/00

  Freewheels or freewheel clutches (cycle brakes controlled by back-pedalling B62L5/00 {; one-way linear clutches F16B7/16}) · CPC title

• F16D27/09 Primary

  and with interengaging jaws or gear-teeth · CPC title

• F16D27/00 Primary

  Magnetically- {or electrically-} actuated clutches; Control or electric circuits therefor (clutches with magnetisable particles F16D37/02; {with electro-rheological fluids F16D37/008}) · CPC title

• F16D2300/18

  Sensors; Details or arrangements thereof · CPC title

• F16D41/125

  the pawl movement having an axial component · CPC title