Multi-plate friction clutch having center lubricant feed and lubricant evacuation capabilities

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9902263-B2
Application number	US-201514950317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2015
Priority date	Nov 24, 2015
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A clutched device can include a differential and first and second conduits. The differential can transmit differential power to first and second outputs. Clutch plates can rotate through a clutch cavity and transmit power between the second output and a third output. An outer carrier and an inner carrier can be coupled for rotation with the second and third outputs, respectively. The first conduit can be open to a first peripheral region of the clutch cavity and fluidly couples the first region to a cavity separate from the clutch cavity. The second conduit can be open to a second peripheral region that is circumferentially spaced apart from the first region. The second conduit can fluidly couple the second region to a central region of the clutch cavity. Rotation of the outer carrier in opposite rotational directions slings lubricant to the first and second conduits, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clutched device comprising:
an input member configured to receive rotational power and rotate about a first axis;
a first output member, a second output member, and a third output member, the first, second, and third output members configured to rotate about a second axis;
a differential including a differential case and a differential gearset, the differential case being drivingly coupled to the input member, the differential gearset being configured to transmit rotary power between the differential case and the first and second output members;
a housing having an inner wall disposed about the second axis and an end wall, the housing defining a first cavity, the end wall and the inner wall defining a clutch cavity, the end wall separating the clutch cavity from the first cavity;
a lubricant fluid received in the clutch cavity;
a clutch assembly including an inner carrier, an outer carrier, a plurality of first clutch plates, and a plurality of second clutch plates interleaved with the first clutch plates, the outer carrier being coupled for rotation with the second output member and configured to rotate in a first rotational direction and in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction, the inner carrier being coupled for rotation with the third output member;
a first conduit having a first inlet and a first outlet, the first inlet being open to the clutch cavity through a first region of the inner wall, the first outlet being open to the first cavity, the first conduit coupling the clutch cavity to the first cavity for fluid communication from the clutch cavity to the first cavity; and
a second conduit having a second inlet and a second outlet, the second inlet being open to the clutch cavity through a second region of the inner wall that is circumferentially spaced apart from the first region, the second outlet being open to the clutch cavity and radially inward of the first and second clutch plates;
wherein the outer carrier is configured to sling a first amount of the lubricant fluid from the clutch cavity through the first inlet when rotating in the first rotational direction; and
wherein the outer carrier is configured to sling a second amount of the lubricant fluid from the clutch cavity through the second inlet when rotating in the second rotational direction.

2. The clutched device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second inlets are disposed above a center line of the clutch cavity.

3. The clutched device of claim 1 , wherein the second outlet is in fluid communication with a central region of the clutch cavity that is radially inward of the first and second clutch plates, and wherein the inner carrier defines a plurality of apertures that extend radially outward from the central region to fluidly couple the central region with the first and second clutch plates.

4. The clutched device of claim 1 , wherein the second axis is transverse to the first axis.

5. The clutched device of claim 4 , wherein the differential includes a ring gear coupled to the differential case for common rotation and the input member includes a pinion gear meshingly engaged with the ring gear, the ring gear and the pinion gear being disposed within the first cavity.

6. The clutched device of claim 1 , wherein the differential is an open differential.

7. The clutched device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second inlets are diametrically opposed about the second axis.

8. The clutched device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second conduits are defined by the housing.

9. A clutched device comprising:
an input member configured to receive rotational power and rotate about a first axis;
a first output member, a second output member, and a third output member, the first, second, and third output members configured to rotate about a second axis;
a differential including a differential case and a differential gearset, the differential case being drivingly coupled to the input member, the differential gearset being configured to transmit rotary power between the differential case and the first and second output members;
a housing having an inner wall disposed about the second axis, the housing defining a first cavity, a clutch cavity, a first fluid pathway, and a second fluid pathway, the clutch cavity being separate from the first cavity, the first fluid pathway having a first inlet and a first outlet, the first inlet being open through the inner wall to a first peripheral region of the clutch cavity, the first outlet being open to the first cavity to permit fluid communication from the clutch cavity to the first cavity through the first fluid pathway, the second fluid pathway having a second inlet and a second outlet, the second inlet being open through the inner wall to a second peripheral region of the clutch cavity that is circumferentially spaced apart from the first peripheral region, the second outlet being open to a central region of the clutch cavity that is radially inward of the second aperture to permit fluid communication from the second peripheral region to the central region through the second fluid pathway;
a lubricant fluid received in the clutch cavity; and
a clutch assembly including an inner carrier, an outer carrier, a plurality of first clutch plates, and a plurality of second clutch plates interleaved with the first clutch plates, the outer carrier being coupled for rotation with the second output member, the inner carrier being coupled for rotation with the third output member, the outer carrier being configured to rotate through the clutch cavity in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction;
wherein the outer carrier is configured to sling a first amount of the lubricant fluid from the clutch cavity through the first inlet when rotating in the first rotational direction; and
wherein the outer carrier is configured to sling a second amount of the lubricant fluid from the clutch cavity through the second inlet when rotating in the second rotational direction.

10. The clutched device of claim 9 , wherein the first and second inlets are disposed on opposite sides of the clutch cavity.

11. The clutched device of claim 10 , wherein the first and second inlets are above a center line of the clutch cavity.

12. The clutched device of claim 9 , wherein the central region of the clutch cavity is radially inward of the first and second clutch plates.

13. The clutched device of claim 12 , wherein the inner carrier defines a plurality of apertures that extend radially outward from the central region of the clutch cavity to fluidly couple the central region with the first and second clutch plates.

14. The clutched device of claim 9 , wherein the second axis is transverse to the first axis.

15. The clutched device of claim 14 , wherein the differential includes a ring gear coupled to the differential case for common rotation and the input member includes a pinion gear meshingly engaged with the ring gear, the ring gear and the pinion gear being disposed within the first cavity.

16. A clutched device comprising:
an input pinion configured to receive rotational power and rotate about a first axis;
a first output member, a second output member, and a third output member, the first, second, and third output members configured to rotate about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis;
a differential including a ring gear, a differential case, and a differential gearset, the ring gear being meshingly engaged to the input pinion and coupled to the differential case for

Assignees

• American Axle & Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Pump Christopher D

Classifications

• F16D25/082

  the line of action of the fluid-actuated members co-inciding with the axis of rotation · CPC title

• F16D13/52

  Clutches with multiple lamellae {; Clutches in which three or more axially moveable members are fixed alternately to the shafts to be coupled and are pressed from one side towards an axially-located member (F16D13/385 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16H57/0483

  Axle or inter-axle differentials · CPC title

• F16D2300/0214

  Oil or fluid cooling · CPC title

• F16D25/0638

  with more than two discs, e.g. multiple lamellae · CPC title