Power transmitting component with torque transfer device configured with drag reduction system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9249873-B2
Application number	US-201414464029-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2014
Priority date	Aug 23, 2013
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

The present teachings provide for a power transmitting component including a housing, a clutch, a vent, and a dam. The vent can fluidly couple a first and second cavity. The dam can include a door member. Rotation of the outer carrier through a fluid in the second cavity can sling a portion of the fluid toward the vent to cause the portion of the fluid to be transferred from the second cavity, through the vent, and to the first cavity. When the piston is in a first position, the door member can be in a closed position to limit fluid flow from the first cavity to the second cavity. When the piston is in a second position, the door member can be in an open position to allow fluid to flow from the first cavity to the second cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power transmitting component comprising:
a first output member and a second output member;
a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity;
an input member configured to receive rotational power and rotate about a first axis;
a differential including a differential case and a differential gearset, the differential gearset being configured to transmit rotary power between the differential case and the first and second output members;
a clutch assembly including an inner carrier, an outer carrier, a plurality of first clutch plates, a plurality of second clutch plates, and a piston, the inner carrier being coupled for rotation with the input member, the outer carrier being coupled for rotation with the differential case, the first clutch plates being coupled for rotation with the inner carrier, the second clutch plates being interleaved with the first clutch plates and coupled for rotation with the outer carrier, and the piston being configured to move between a first position and a second position;
a fluid received in the first and second cavities;
a vent fluidly coupling the first and second cavities; and
a dam having a door member that is movable between an open position and a closed position;
wherein rotation of the outer carrier relative to the housing in a predetermined rotational direction through the fluid in the second cavity slings a portion of the fluid toward the vent to cause the portion of the fluid to be transferred from the second cavity, through the vent, and to the first cavity; and
wherein when the piston is in the second position, the door member is in the open position to allow fluid to flow from the first cavity to the second cavity, and when the piston is in the first position, the door member is in the closed position to limit fluid flow from the first cavity to the second cavity.

2. The power transmitting component of claim 1 , wherein the door member is coupled for axial translation with the piston.

3. The power transmitting component of claim 1 , further comprising a first flow path, the first flow path being radially inward of the piston and fluidly coupling the first and second cavities, wherein the dam limits flow through the first flow path when the door member is in the closed position.

4. The power transmitting component of claim 3 , wherein the input member is received in the first cavity and configured to be lubricated by the fluid in the first cavity.

5. The power transmitting component of claim 4 , further comprising a bearing configured to support the input member for rotation within the housing, the bearing being disposed within the first flow path and configured to allow the fluid to flow through the bearing.

6. The power transmitting component of claim 5 , wherein the bearing is configured to pump the fluid from the first cavity toward the dam.

7. The power transmitting component of claim 1 , wherein the vent is located above a static fluid level of the second cavity and proximate to an outer radial periphery of the second cavity.

8. The power transmitting component of claim 1 , wherein the dam includes a pivot member and a link member, the door member being configured to pivot about the pivot member between the open and closed positions, the link member being coupled to the piston and configured to pivot the door member between the open and closed positions.

9. The power transmitting component of claim 8 , wherein the dam includes a biasing member configured to bias the door member toward the closed position.

10. The power transmitting component of claim 9 , wherein the biasing member is a torsion spring.

11. The power transmitting component of claim 1 , wherein the first and second clutch plates are axially between first cavity and the input member.

12. The power transmitting component of claim 1 , further comprising a pump, and a conduit, wherein the piston is slidably received within a piston chamber in the housing and is movable to an intermediate position between the first and second positions, wherein the pump is configured to selectively provide fluid to the piston chamber, and the conduit is configured to transmit fluid in a fluid path that extends from the pump or the piston chamber to the second cavity between the first and second clutch plates when the piston is disposed between the first position and the intermediate position.

13. The power transmitting component of claim 12 , further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the conduit, wherein the piston is configured to move from the intermediate position to the second position when the pressure of the fluid in the piston chamber exceeds a first threshold pressure, wherein the valve includes a valve body, a valve element, and a valve element actuator, the valve element being received in the valve body and movable between a first valve element position, which permits fluid communication through the valve body, and a second valve element position that inhibits fluid communication through the valve body, the valve element actuator being configured to position the valve element in the second valve element position when the pressure of the fluid in the piston chamber exceeds the first threshold pressure, and to position the valve element in the first valve element position when the pressure of the fluid in the piston chamber is less than the first threshold pressure.

14. The power transmitting component of claim 13 , wherein the piston is configured to move from the first position to the intermediate position when the pressure in the piston chamber exceeds a second threshold pressure, wherein the valve element actuator is configured to position the valve element in the second valve element position when the pressure in the piston chamber exceeds the second threshold pressure, and to position the valve element in the first valve element position when the pressure in the piston chamber is less than the second threshold pressure.

15. The power transmitting component of claim 12 , wherein the conduit includes an inlet in an outer radial surface of the piston chamber and an outlet to the second cavity proximate to the first and second clutch plates, wherein the piston closes the outlet when the piston is between the intermediate and second positions, and wherein the outlet is open when the piston is between the first and intermediate positions.

16. The power transmitting component of claim 15 , wherein the piston closes the inlet when the piston is in the first position, and wherein the inlet is open when the piston is between the first and intermediate positions.

17. The power transmitting component of claim 12 , further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the conduit, wherein the valve includes valve body, and a valve element, the valve element being received in the valve body and movable between a first valve element position, which permits fluid communication through the valve body, and a second valve element position that inhibits fluid communication through the valve body, wherein the valve element is configured to be in the first valve element position when the piston is between the first and intermediate positions and configured to be in the second valve element position when the piston is between the intermediate and second positions.

18. The power transmitting component of claim 17 , wherein the conduit is at least partly defined by the piston.

19. The power transmitting component of claim 18 , wherein the valve includes a valve element actuator, the valve element actuator being mounted to on

Assignees

• American Axle & Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Pump Christopher D
• Stuart Charles G
• Hibbler John C
• Downs James P
• Proctor Shawn S
• Degowske Robert J
• Lenczewski Adrian M
• Jafri Firoz Ali S
• Valente Paul J
• Mccormick Brian
• Bowen Thomas C
• Kornosky Paul W

Classifications

• F16H57/0409 Primary

  characterised by increasing efficiency, e.g. by reducing splash losses · CPC title

• F16H57/0483

  Axle or inter-axle differentials · CPC title

• F16H57/0473

  Friction devices, e.g. clutches or brakes · CPC title

• F16H57/045

  Lubricant storage reservoirs, e.g. reservoirs in addition to a gear sump for collecting lubricant in the upper part of a gear case · CPC title

• F16H48/08

  comprising bevel gears · CPC title