Rotary coupling for an all-wheel drive vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9850962-B2
Application number	US-201514934960-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2015
Priority date	Jan 6, 2015
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A rotary coupling ( 200 ) for an all-wheel drive vehicle includes a housing ( 210 ), an input part ( 212 ), an output part ( 214 ), and a clutch ( 220 ) disposed within a clutch area ( 222 ) of the housing ( 210 ) and is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position to change an amount of torque transferred from the input part ( 212 ) to the output part ( 214 ). A fluid reservoir ( 260 ) is defined in the housing ( 210 ). A lubrication valve ( 250 ) is movable between an open position and a closed position for controlling supply of a fluid from the fluid reservoir ( 260 ) to the clutch area ( 222 ) of the housing ( 210 ). An actuator ( 238 ) is connected to the clutch ( 220 ) to move the clutch ( 220 ) between the engaged position and the disengaged position and connected to the lubrication valve ( 250 ) to move the lubrication valve ( 250 ) between the open position and the closed position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rotary coupling ( 200 ) for an all-wheel drive vehicle, comprising:
a housing ( 210 );
an input part ( 212 );
an output part ( 214 );
a clutch ( 220 ) that is disposed within a clutch area ( 222 ) of the housing ( 210 ) and is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position to change an amount of torque transferred from the input part ( 212 ) to the output part ( 214 );
a fluid reservoir ( 260 ) defined in the housing ( 210 );
a lubrication valve ( 250 ) that is movable between an open position and a closed position for controlling supply of a fluid from the fluid reservoir ( 260 ) to the clutch area ( 222 ) of the housing ( 210 ); and
an actuator ( 238 ) that is connected to the clutch ( 220 ) to move the clutch ( 220 ) between the engaged position and the disengaged position and connected to the lubrication valve ( 250 ) to move the lubrication valve ( 250 ) between the open position and the closed position.

2. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first pumping mechanism that pumps the fluid from the clutch area ( 222 ) of the housing ( 210 ) into the clutch ( 220 ).

3. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 2 , wherein the first pumping mechanism includes a plurality of channels ( 282 ) formed on the clutch ( 220 ) that extend inward from an outer periphery of the clutch ( 220 ) at an angle with respect to a radial direction of the clutch ( 220 ).

4. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of channels ( 282 ) rotates in unison with the input part ( 212 ).

5. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 4 , wherein the clutch ( 220 ) includes an apply plate ( 230 ), and the plurality of channels ( 282 ) is formed in the apply plate ( 230 ).

6. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second pumping mechanism that pumps the fluid from the clutch area ( 222 ) of the housing ( 210 ) to the fluid reservoir ( 260 ).

7. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 6 , wherein the second pumping mechanism includes a plurality of features formed on the clutch ( 220 ) and positioned closely to an interior wall of the clutch area ( 222 ) of the housing ( 210 ).

8. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of features rotates in unison with the output part ( 214 ).

9. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 8 , wherein the clutch ( 220 ) includes the clutch ( 220 ) drum, and the plurality of features is formed on the clutch ( 220 ) drum.

10. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 9 , wherein each feature of the plurality of features is an axially extending ridge that is formed on a radial wall ( 226 ) of the clutch ( 220 ) drum.

11. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 1 , wherein the lubrication valve ( 250 ) includes a first passage ( 252 ), and a first fluid supply path ( 270 ) is defined in the housing ( 210 ), wherein the lubrication valve ( 250 ) blocks fluid flow from the fluid reservoir ( 260 ) to the first fluid supply path ( 270 ) in the closed position, and the lubrication valve ( 250 ) permits fluid flow from the fluid reservoir ( 260 ) to the first fluid supply path ( 270 ) via the first passage ( 252 ) when the lubrication valve ( 250 ) is in the open position.

12. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 11 , wherein the first fluid supply path ( 270 ) extends from the lubrication valve ( 250 ) to the clutch area ( 222 ) of the housing ( 210 ) adjacent to a first pumping mechanism.

13. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 11 , wherein the lubrication valve ( 250 ) includes a second passage ( 254 ), and a second fluid supply path ( 272 ) is defined in the housing ( 210 ), wherein the lubrication valve ( 250 ) blocks fluid flow from the fluid reservoir ( 260 ) to the second fluid supply path ( 272 ) in the closed position, and the lubrication valve ( 250 ) permits fluid flow from the fluid reservoir ( 260 ) to the second fluid supply path ( 272 ) via the second passage ( 254 ) when the lubrication valve ( 250 ) is in the open position.

14. The rotary coupling ( 200 ) of claim 13 , wherein the first fluid supply path ( 270 ) extends from the lubrication valve ( 250 ) to the clutch area ( 222 ) of the housing ( 210 ) adjacent to a second pumping mechanism.

15. A drivetrain ( 100 ) for an all-wheel drive vehicle, comprising:
an engine ( 110 );
a transmission ( 112 );
at least a first wheel; and
a rotary coupling ( 200 ) that is operable to selectively deliver driving power to the first wheel, the rotary coupling ( 200 ) including:
a housing ( 210 ),
an input part ( 212 ),
an output part ( 214 ),
a clutch ( 220 ) that is disposed within a clutch area ( 222 ) of the housing ( 210 ) and is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position to change an amount of torque transferred from the input part ( 212 ) to the output part ( 214 ),
a fluid reservoir ( 260 ) defined in the housing ( 210 ),
a lubrication valve ( 250 ) that is movable between an open position and a closed position for controlling supply of a fluid from the fluid reservoir ( 260 ) to the clutch area ( 222 ) of the housing ( 210 ), and
an actuator ( 238 ) that is connected to the clutch ( 220 ) to move the clutch ( 220 ) between the engaged position and the disengaged position and connected to the lubrication valve ( 250 ) to move the lubrication valve ( 250 ) between the open position and the closed position.

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc

Inventors

• Pritchard Larry A

Classifications

• F16D2300/06

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

• B60K17/34

  for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles · CPC title

• F16D25/123 Primary

  in view of cooling and lubrication · CPC title

• B60K17/02

  characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch · CPC title

• F16D2300/26

  Cover or bell housings; Details or arrangements thereof · CPC title