Multi-level torque clutch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9920795-B2
Application number	US-201514956861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2015
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A clutch assembly is disclosed having a clutch housing and a shaft. A clutch pack selectively couples rotation of the clutch housing and the shaft. The clutch pack includes a primary backing plate, a reaction plate, first and second friction plates disposed between the backing plate and the reaction plate, and a secondary backing plate disposed between the first and second friction plates. A first actuator selectively applies pressure to the reaction plate to move the reaction plate toward the primary backing plate. A second actuator controls movement of the secondary backing plate to switch the clutch pack between a low torque state and a high torque state. In the low torque state, the secondary backing plate cannot move longitudinally toward the primary backing plate beyond a locked position. In the high torque state, the secondary backing plate can move beyond the locked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-level torque clutch assembly comprising:
a clutch housing having an internal surface that defines an inner cavity within said clutch housing;
a shaft disposed within said inner cavity of said clutch housing, said shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and having an outer surface;
a clutch pack disposed radially between said clutch housing and said shaft that selectively couples rotation of said clutch housing and said shaft;
said clutch pack including a first end and a second end opposite said first end that is longitudinally spaced from said first end;
a first actuator that selectively applies pressure to said first end of said clutch pack to force said first end toward said second end and longitudinally compress said clutch pack;
said clutch pack including a primary backing plate disposed at said second end of said clutch pack, wherein said primary backing plate is retained on one of said clutch housing and said shaft such that said primary backing plate cannot move longitudinally relative to said clutch housing and said shaft beyond a predetermined limit;
said clutch pack including a reaction plate disposed at said first end of said clutch pack that operably receives pressure from said first actuator and that is moveable along said longitudinal axis relative to said clutch housing and said shaft;
said clutch pack including a first friction plate and a second friction plate disposed adjacent one another and between said primary backing plate and said reaction plate, said first and second friction plates being moveable along said longitudinal axis relative to said clutch housing and said shaft;
said clutch pack including a secondary backing plate disposed between said first and second friction plates; and
a second actuator controlling movement of said secondary backing plate to selectively switch said clutch pack between a low torque state and a high torque state, wherein said second actuator prevents said secondary backing plate from moving longitudinally toward said primary backing plate beyond a locked position when said clutch pack is in said low torque state, and wherein said second actuator permits longitudinal movement of said secondary backing plate toward said primary backing plate beyond said locked position when said clutch pack is in said high torque state.

2. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second actuator includes a locking member that selectively moves between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein said locking member moves to said retracted position when said second actuator switches said clutch pack to said high torque state, and said locking member moves to said extended position when said second actuator switches said clutch pack to said low torque state.

3. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said locking member of said second actuator extends into said inner cavity in said extended position to engage said secondary backing plate and prevent said secondary backing plate from moving longitudinally toward said primary backing plate beyond said locked position.

4. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking member of said second actuator does not extend into said inner cavity in said retracted position such that said secondary backing plate is free to move longitudinally toward said primary backing plate beyond said locked position in response to said first actuator applying pressure to said reaction plate.

5. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second actuator is disposed in said clutch housing such that said locking member projects from said internal surface of said clutch housing in said extended position and is retracted within said clutch housing in said retracted position.

6. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second actuator is disposed in said shaft such that said locking member projects from said outer surface of said shaft in said extended position and is retracted within said shaft in said retracted position.

7. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said secondary backing plate has a recess that operably receives said locking member when said second actuator moves said locking member to said extended position to longitudinally fix said secondary backing plate in place relative to said primary backing plate.

8. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said locking member is disposed to one side of said secondary backing plate when said second actuator moves said locking member to said extended position such that said locking member acts as a stop to maintain a predetermined distance between said secondary backing plate and said primary backing plate when said second actuator switches said clutch pack to said low torque state and said first actuator applies pressure to said reaction plate.

9. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said secondary backing plate does not press said second friction plate against said primary backing plate when said second actuator switches said clutch pack to said low torque state and said first actuator applies pressure to said reaction plate.

10. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first actuator is disposed adjacent said clutch pack and operably switches said clutch pack between an open state and a closed state, wherein said clutch pack moves to said open state when said first actuator does not apply pressure to said reaction plate, and said clutch pack moves to said closed state when said first actuator applies pressure to said reaction plate to force said reaction plate toward said primary backing plate.

11. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reaction plate moves longitudinally toward said primary backing plate in response to said first actuator applying pressure to said reaction plate.

12. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein, when said clutch pack is in said high torque state, said first and second friction plates move longitudinally toward said primary backing plate in response to said reaction plate moving toward primary backing plate such that said first and second friction plates are squeezed between said reaction plate and said primary backing plate as said clutch pack is compressed by said first actuator.

13. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said primary backing plate and said reaction plate are rotatably coupled with said clutch housing such that said primary backing plate and said reaction plate rotate with said clutch housing.

14. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first and second friction plates are rotatably coupled with said shaft such that said first and second friction plates rotate with said shaft.

15. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said primary backing plate and said reaction plate are rotatably coupled with said shaft such that said primary backing plate and said reaction plate rotate with said shaft.

16. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first and second friction plates are rotatably coupled with said clutch housing such that said first and second friction plates rotate with said clutch housing.

17. The multi-level torque clutch assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each o

Assignees

• Avl Powertrain Engineering Inc

Inventors

• Mordukhovich Gregory
• Kozan Michael

Classifications

• F16D25/0638

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

• F16D13/70 Primary

  Pressure members, e.g. pressure plates, for clutch-plates or lamellae; Guiding arrangements for pressure members {(clutch flywheels comprising two or more masses with a rotational damper F16F15/12)} · 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