초록 ▼

An electromagnetic clutch assembly having a solenoid activated ball ramp operator provides reduced power consumption and improved control. The electromagnetic clutch assembly includes a primary or pilot friction clutch pack and a secondary or main friction clutch pack. An annular solenoid coil coope

An electromagnetic clutch assembly having a solenoid activated ball ramp operator provides reduced power consumption and improved control. The electromagnetic clutch assembly includes a primary or pilot friction clutch pack and a secondary or main friction clutch pack. An annular solenoid coil cooperates with an annular operator or plunger. When the coil is energized, the annular plunger translates and compresses the primary or pilot friction clutch pack. Activation of the pilot clutch pack retards motion of one of the members of the ball ramp operator which, in turn, compresses a secondary or main friction clutch pack disposed across the input and output members.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An electromagnetic solenoid type clutch assembly comprising, in combination,an input member and a coaxially disposed output member, a camming operator having a first member having a plurality of camming surfaces, a second member adjacent said first member having a like plurality of camming surfac

1. An electromagnetic solenoid type clutch assembly comprising, in combination,an input member and a coaxially disposed output member, a camming operator having a first member having a plurality of camming surfaces, a second member adjacent said first member having a like plurality of camming surfaces and coupled to said output member for rotation therewith, a first clutch pack having a first plurality of first clutch plates splined to said first member and a second plurality of first clutch plates splined to said input member and interleaved with said first plurality of first clutch plates, a solenoid coil, an annular plunger at least partially surrounding said solenoid coil and an annular apply plate coupled to said annular plunger and adapted to compress said first clutch pack, a second clutch pack having a first plurality of second clutch plates splined to said input member and a second plurality of second clutch plates splined to said output member and interleaved with said first plurality of second clutch plates. 2. The electromagnetic solenoid type clutch assembly of claim 1 wherein said solenoid coil includes a housing and said housing and said annular plunger include complementary, opposed, oblique surfaces.3. The electromagnetic solenoid type clutch assembly of claim 1 further including an outer housing adapted to receive said input member and an anti-friction bearing for rotatably supporting said input member within said outer housing.4. The electromagnetic solenoid type clutch assembly of claim 3 wherein said outer housing includes a mounting flange including a plurality of axial openings adapted to receive fasteners.5. The electromagnetic solenoid type clutch assembly of claim 1 wherein said camming operator further includes a plurality of load transferring members disposed on said camming surfaces.6. The electromagnetic solenoid type clutch assembly of claim 1 wherein said second member is a pressure plate disposed adjacent said second clutch pack.7. The electromagnetic solenoid type clutch assembly of claim 1 further including a plurality of seals for sealing an interior region of said clutch assembly containing said first and said second clutch packs and wherein said interior region contains clutch fluid.8. The electromagnetic solenoid type clutch assembly of claim 1 further including a plurality of studs extending between said annular plunger and said annular apply plate.9. A torque transfer device having a solenoid operator comprising, in combination,a rotatable input member, a rotatable output member, a cam operator having first and second members defining opposing cam surfaces, said first cam member coupled to said output member for rotation therewith, a main clutch having a first plurality of main clutch plates coupled to said input member and a second plurality of main clutch plates interleaved with said first plurality of clutch plates and coupled to said output member, a solenoid assembly having an annular coil, an annular plunger radially adjacent said annular coil and an apply plate coupled to said annular plunger, and a pilot clutch having a first plurality of pilot clutch plates couple to said input member and a second plurality of pilot clutch plates interleaved with said first plurality of pilot clutch plates, said apply plate disposed adjacent said pilot clutch, whereby energization of said annular coil translates said plunger and compresses said pilot clutch. 10. The torque transfer device of claim 9 wherein said annular coil is disposed in a housing and said housing and said annular plunger include complementary, opposed, oblique surfaces.11. The torque transfer device of claim 9 further including an outer housing assembly adapted to receive said input member and in anti-friction bearing for rotatably supporting said input member in said outer housing.12. The torque transfer device of claim 9 wherein said output member defines a splined, internal passageway.13. The torque transfer device of claim 9 further including a plurality of studs extending between said annular plunger and said annular apply plate.14. The torque transfer device of claim 9 further including a plurality of seals for sealing an interior region of said clutch assembly containing said first and said second clutch packs.15. A solenoid activated clutch assembly comprising, in combination,an input member and a coaxially disposed output member, an annular solenoid coil, an annular plunger disposed at least partially radially adjacent said solenoid coil, a first cam member disposed about said output member, a second cam member splined to said output member for rotation therewith, said cam members including means for axially separating said cam members upon relative rotation, a primary friction clutch having a first plurality of primary clutch plates splined to said first cam member and a second, interleaved plurality of primary clutch plates splined to said input member, an apply plate coupled to said annular plunger and adapted to compress said primary friction clutch, and a secondary friction clutch having a first plurality of secondary clutch plates splined to said input member and a second, interleaved plurality of secondary clutch plates splined to said output member. 16. The solenoid activated clutch assembly of claim 15 further including an outer housing adapted to receive said input member and an anti-friction bearing assembly for rotatably supporting said input member with in said outer housing.17. The solenoid activated clutch assembly of claim 15 wherein said output member defines a splined bore.18. The solenoid activated clutch assembly of claim 15 wherein said friction clutches are wet clutches.19. The solenoid activated clutch assembly of claim 15 further including a plurality of studs extending between said annular plunger and said annular apply plate.20. The solenoid activated clutch assembly of claim 15 further including a plurality of seals for sealing an interior region of said clutch assembly containing said primary and said secondary friction clutches.