Variable two-way over-running clutch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9933024-B2
Application number	US-201514690672-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2015
Priority date	Sep 5, 2014
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A clutch assembly is provided that includes a first shaft, a second shaft, a housing, a two-way over-running clutch, and a friction clutch assembly. The two-way over-running clutch includes an inner race and an outer race. At least one torque transmitting member is disposed between the inner race and the outer race that selectively transfers torque from the inner race to the outer race. The inner race defines at least one cam that receives the torque transmitting member. An inner race actuator selectively controls lock-up of the two-way over-running clutch by moving the inner race relative to the first shaft and the outer race between a concentric position and at least one eccentric position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clutch assembly, comprising:
a first shaft;
an inner race rotatably coupled to said first shaft;
an outer race disposed annularly about said inner race;
at least one torque transmitting member disposed between said inner race and said outer race that selectively engages at least one of said inner race and said outer race to transfer torque between said inner race and said outer race;
said inner race being moveable in a radial direction; and
an actuator coupled to said at least one of said inner race and said outer race and controlling radial movement of said at least one of said inner race and said outer race in said radial direction to provide selective lock-up of said inner race and said outer race,
wherein said actuator is coupled to said inner race and moves said inner race in said radial direction between a concentric position where said inner race is concentrically aligned with said first shaft and at least one eccentric position where said inner race is eccentrically aligned with said first shaft.

2. The clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said actuator provides selective lock-up of said inner race and said outer race by adjusting relative spacing of said inner race and said outer race at a location adjacent said at least one torque transmitting member.

3. The clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said outer race is concentrically aligned with said first shaft.

4. The clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said inner race and said outer race defines at least one cam that receives said at least one torque transmitting member, said at least one cam having a ramped surface that contacts said at least one torque transmitting member at an angle of incidence.

5. The clutch assembly of claim 4 , wherein said first shaft has an exterior surface and said inner race has an interior surface that is disposed about and faces said exterior surface of said first shaft, wherein said actuator includes an actuator member that extends radially with respect to said first shaft and said inner race, and wherein said inner race includes an actuator cavity disposed along said interior surface of said inner race that receives said actuator member.

6. The clutch assembly of claim 5 , wherein said actuator member is fixed to said first shaft and extends radially outwardly from said exterior surface of said first shaft into said actuator cavity in said inner race such that said actuator member rotatably couples said first shaft and said inner race.

7. The clutch assembly of claim 5 , wherein said first shaft includes a recess disposed along said exterior surface of said first shaft, said recess in said first shaft permanently receiving said actuator member and said actuator member extending radially outwardly from said recess into said actuator cavity in said inner race such that said actuator member rotatably couples said first shaft and said inner race.

8. The clutch assembly of claim 5 , wherein said first shaft includes a plurality of recesses that are circumferentially spaced about said exterior surface of said first shaft, each recess of said plurality of recesses being sized and shaped to receiving said actuator member.

9. The clutch assembly of claim 8 , wherein said actuator selectively controls which recess of said plurality of recesses said actuator member is extended into to vary an angular position of said inner race relative to said first shaft, change said angle of incidence of said ramped surface of said at least one cam with respect to said at least one torque transmitting member, and adjust lock-up sensitivity between said inner race and said outer race.

10. The clutch assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a controller in communication with said actuator that provides active control of said actuator.

11. The clutch assembly of claim 10 , wherein said actuator is a solenoid including a coil that receives electricity from said controller and drives said actuator member between a retracted position and an extended position in response to electricity flow through said coil.

12. The clutch assembly of claim 10 , wherein said actuator is a hydraulic actuator where said actuator cavity receives fluid from said controller to drive said actuator member between a retracted position and an extended position in response to fluid pressure within said actuator cavity.

13. The clutch assembly of claim 4 , wherein said at least one cam includes at least one bi-directional cam disposed along said inner race with said ramped surface defining a valley between two opposing inclines, said two opposing inclines including a first incline that forces said at least one torque transmitting member to resist counter-clockwise rotation of said outer race with respect to said inner race and a second incline that forces said at least one torque transmitting member to resist clockwise rotation of said outer race with respect to said inner race.

14. The clutch assembly of claim 4 , wherein said at least one cam includes at least a first directional cam and a second directional cam that are circumferentially spaced about said inner race with said first directional cam defining a first incline that forces said at least one torque transmitting member to resist counter-clockwise rotation of said outer race with respect to said inner race and said second directional cam defining a second incline that forces said at least one torque transmitting member to resist clockwise rotation of said outer race with respect to said inner race.

15. The clutch assembly of claim 14 , wherein said at least one eccentric position includes a first eccentric position and a second eccentric position and wherein said actuator controls a lock-up direction of said inner race and said outer race by moving said inner race relative to said outer race between said first eccentric position where said first directional cam is moved toward said outer race and said second eccentric position where said second directional cam is moved toward said outer race.

16. The clutch assembly of claim 4 , wherein said at least one torque transmitting member is a ball that moves along said ramped surface of said at least one cam between a free position where said ball is free to spin with respect to said outer race and said inner race, a sliding position where said ball is transmitting torque to said outer race by frictional sliding, and a locked position where said ball is squeezed between said ramped surface and said outer race to prevent said outer race from rotating in a direction opposite from a rotating direction of said inner race.

17. The clutch assembly of claim 4 , wherein said at least one torque transmitting member is a cylindrical roller that moves along said ramped surface of said at least one cam between a free position where said cylindrical roller is free to spin with respect to said outer race and said inner race, a sliding position where said cylindrical roller is transmitting torque to said outer race by frictional sliding, and a locked position where said cylindrical roller is squeezed between said ramped surface and said outer race to prevent said outer race from rotating in a direction opposite from a rotating direction of said inner race.

18. The clutch assembly of claim 4 , wherein said at least one torque transmitting member is a ratchet assembly including a ratchet arm pivotally connected to said outer race and a resilient member that biases said ratchet arm toward said inner race, said ratchet arm having a shape that freely slides over said ramped surface of said at least one cam wh

Assignees

• Avl Powertrain Engineering Inc

Inventors

• Mordukhovich Gregory
• Kozan Michael

Classifications

• F16D25/062

  the clutch having friction surfaces · CPC title

• F16D41/16

  the action being reversible · CPC title

• F16D25/0635

  with flat friction surfaces, e.g. discs · CPC title

• F16D2300/18

  Sensors; Details or arrangements thereof · CPC title

• F16D25/065

  with clutching members having a movement which has at least a radial component · CPC title