Electronic, high-efficiency vehicular transmission, overrunning, non-friction coupling and control assembly and switchable linear actuator device for use therein

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9874252-B2
Application number	US-201414487322-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2014
Priority date	Dec 10, 2010
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

An electronic, high-efficiency vehicular transmission, an overrunning, non-friction coupling and control assembly and switchable linear actuator device for use in the assembly and the transmission are provided. The device controls the operating mode of at least one non-friction coupling assembly. The device has a plurality of magnetic sources which produce corresponding magnetic fields to create a net translational force. The net translational force comprises a first translational force caused by energization of at least one electromagnetic source and a magnetic latching force based upon linear position of a permanent magnet source along an axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A switchable linear actuator device to control the operating mode of at least one non-friction coupling assembly, the device having a plurality of magnetic sources which produce corresponding magnetic fields to create a net translational force, the device comprising:
a stator structure including at least one electromagnetic source to create an electronically-switched magnetic field; and
a translator structure including a connecting rod and a magnetically-latching, permanent magnet source magnetically coupled to the stator structure across a radial air gap and supported for translational movement relative to the stator structure along an axis between a plurality of predefined, discrete, axial positions which correspond to different operating modes of each coupling assembly, the translator structure translating along the axis between the different positions upon experiencing a net translational force comprising a first translational force caused by energization of the at least one electromagnetic source and a magnetic latching force based upon linear position of the permanent magnet source along the axis.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the structures are substantially circularly symmetric.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the permanent magnet source comprises an annular magnet.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the annular magnet is a rare earth magnet.

5. The device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the annular magnet is axially magnetized.

6. The device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the translator structure includes a pair of field redirection rings and wherein the annular magnet is sandwiched between the field redirection rings.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each coupling assembly is a clutch assembly.

8. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each electromagnetic source includes an annular slot and a coil disposed in the slot, each slot opening to the radial air gap.

9. A reciprocating electromechanical apparatus for controlling the operating modes of a pair of non-friction coupling assemblies, the apparatus comprising:
first and second members including first and second faces, respectively, in close-spaced opposition with one another, the second member being mounted for rotation about an axis and for reciprocating movement along the axis;
magnetic circuit components including first and second magnetic sources, the first magnetic source being supported by the first member at the first face in close-spaced opposition to the second magnetic source which is supported by the second member, the magnetic sources being separated by a radial air gap, wherein the second magnetic source is a magnetically-latching, permanent magnetic source having a permanent magnetic field and the first magnetic source is an electromagnetic source including a coil to create an electronically-switched magnetic field; and
a first connecting rod extending from the second member to connect the second member to a first locking element of a first coupling assembly to transfer the reciprocating movement to the first locking element and a second connecting rod extending from the second member to connect the second member to a second locking element of a second coupling assembly to transfer the reciprocating movement to the second locking element wherein coil energization creates a temporary magnetic field which causes the second member to reciprocate between first and second predefined, discrete positions along the axis and wherein the permanent magnetic field causes the second member to maintain the first and second positions without the need to maintain coil energization thereby providing a magnetic latching effect.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first face has at least one recess in which the coil is located.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein each recess includes an annular recess.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the permanent magnet source is an annular magnet.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein each of the coupling assemblies is a clutch assembly.

14. An overrunning, non-friction coupling and control assembly comprising:
a first pair of coupling members supported for rotation relative to one another about a common rotational axis, and a first locking member for selectively mechanically coupling the first pair of coupling members together to prevent relative rotation of the first pair of coupling members with respect to each other in at least one direction about the axis;
a second pair of coupling members supported for rotation relative to one another about the common rotational axis and a second locking member for selectively mechanically coupling the second pair of coupling members together to prevent relative rotation of the second pair of coupling members with respect to each other in at least one direction about the axis;
a stator subassembly including at least one coil to create an electromagnetically switched magnetic field and to create a magnetic flux when the at least one coil is energized; and
a magnetically-latching actuator subassembly including first and second bi-directionally movable connecting rods, the first connecting rod being coupled to the first locking member and the second connecting rod being coupled to the second locking member for selective, small-displacement locking member movement, the actuator subassembly further including a magnetic actuator coupled to the connecting rods and mounted for controlled reciprocating movement along the rotational axis relative to the first and second pairs of coupling members between a first extended position which corresponds to a first mode of the first pair of coupling members and second extended position which corresponds to a second mode of the second pair of coupling members, the first connecting rod actuating the first locking member and the second connecting rod actuating the second locking member in the extended positions, respectively, so that the first locking member couples the first pair of coupling members for rotation with each other in at least one direction about the rotational axis and the second locking member couples the second pair of coupling members for rotation with each other in at least one direction about the rotational axis, the magnetic actuator completing a path of the magnetic flux to magnetically latch in the first and second extended positions, wherein a control force caused by the magnetic flux is applied to linearly move the magnetic actuator between the first and second extended positions along the rotational axis.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the magnetic actuator includes a permanent magnet source.

16. The assembly as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the assembly is an overrunning clutch and control assembly.

Assignees

• Means Ind Inc

Inventors

• Kimes John W
• Mccleer Patrick J

Classifications

• F16D23/02

  Arrangements for synchronisation, also for power-operated clutches (shape or mounting of interengaging parts of clutch members to facilitate engagement F16D11/08) · CPC title

• F16H63/304

  the final output mechanisms comprising elements moved by electrical or magnetic force (band brake actuating mechanisms F16H63/3003) · CPC title

• F16D41/125 Primary

  the pawl movement having an axial component · CPC title

• F16H2063/3053

  using linear motors · CPC title

• F16D27/108

  with axially movable clutching members · CPC title