Power-operated clutch actuator for torque couplings
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B60K-023/08
B60K-017/35
출원번호
UP-0489218
(2006-07-19)
등록번호
US-7527133
(2009-07-01)
발명자
/ 주소
Sachsenmaier, Helmuth
Ekonen, Todd
출원인 / 주소
Magna Powertrain USA, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
4인용 특허 :
35
초록▼
A torque transfer mechanism is provided for controlling the magnitude of a clutch engagement force exerted on a multi-plate clutch assembly that is operably disposed between a first rotary and a second rotary member. The torque transfer mechanism includes a power-operated face gear clutch actuator
A torque transfer mechanism is provided for controlling the magnitude of a clutch engagement force exerted on a multi-plate clutch assembly that is operably disposed between a first rotary and a second rotary member. The torque transfer mechanism includes a power-operated face gear clutch actuator for generating and applying a clutch engagement force on the clutch assembly.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A power transmission device comprising: a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a power source; a rotary output member adapted to provide drive torque to an output device; a torque transfer mechanism operable for transferring drive torque from said input me
What is claimed is: 1. A power transmission device comprising: a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a power source; a rotary output member adapted to provide drive torque to an output device; a torque transfer mechanism operable for transferring drive torque from said input member to said output member, said torque transfer mechanism including a clutch assembly operably disposed between said input member and said output member and a clutch actuator assembly for applying a clutch engagement force to said clutch assembly, said clutch actuator assembly including an electric motor driving a geared drive unit for controlling said clutch engagement force applied to said clutch assembly by a clutch apply operator, said geared drive unit includes a pinion gear driven by said electric motor and a face gear in meshed engagement with said pinion gear, said clutch apply operator including a first cam plate fixed against rotation, a second cam plate fixed for rotation with said face gear and rollers engaging a cam surface provided between said first and second cam plates, wherein said face gear includes a ramp angle adapted to accommodate axial movement of said second cam plate relative to said pinion gear; and a control system for actuating said electric motor so as to control the direction and amount of rotation of said face gear which, in turn, controls the direction and amount of translational movement of said second cam plate relative to said clutch assembly. 2. The power transmission device of claim 1 wherein said second cam plate includes a ring segment having a face surface with helical gear teeth formed thereon to define said face gear, and wherein said face surface includes said ramp angle. 3. The power transmission device of claim 1 wherein said pinion gear includes an oblong cross-section sized to accommodate axial movement of said second cam plate relative to said pinion gear. 4. The power transmission device of claim 1 wherein said geared drive unit further includes a worm gear driving said pinion gear and which is meshed with a worm fixed to a motor shaft driven by said electric motor. 5. The power transmission device of claim 4 wherein a rotational axis of said motor shaft is at an angle relative to a rotational axis of said pinion gear. 6. The power transmission device of claim 4 wherein a rotational axis of said motor shaft is a perpendicular to a rotational axis of said pinion gear. 7. The power transmission device of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a controller for receiving input signals from a sensor and generating electric control signals based on said input signals which are supplied to said electric motor for controlling the direction and amount of rotary movement of said face gear. 8. The power transmission device of claim 1 wherein said input member provides drive torque to a first driveline of a motor vehicle, wherein said output member is coupled to a second driveline of the motor vehicle, and wherein said torque transfer mechanism is operable to transfer drive torque from said input member to said output member. 9. The power transmission device of claim 8 defining a transfer case wherein said input member is a first shaft driving the first driveline and said output member is a second shaft coupled to the second driveline, wherein location of said second cam plate in a first position releases engagement of said clutch assembly so as to define a two-wheel drive mode and location of said second cam plate in a second position fully engages said clutch assembly so as to define a part-time four-wheel drive mode, and wherein said control system is operable to control activation of said electric motor for varying the position of said second cam plate between its first and second positions to controllably vary the drive torque transferred from said first shaft to said second shaft so as to define an on-demand four-wheel drive mode. 10. The power transmission device of claim 8 defining a power take-off unit wherein said input member provides drive torque to a first differential associated with the first driveline, and wherein said output member is coupled to a second differential associated with the second driveline. 11. The power transmission device of claim 1 wherein said input member is a propshaft driven by a drivetrain of a motor vehicle and said output member is a pinion shaft driving a differential associated with an axle assembly of the motor vehicle, and wherein said clutch assembly is disposed between said propshaft and said pinion shaft such that actuation of said clutch actuator assembly is operable to transfer drive torque from said propshaft to said pinion shaft. 12. The power transmission device of claim 1 wherein said input member includes a first differential supplying drive torque to a pair of first wheels in a motor vehicle and a transfer shaft driven by said differential, said output member includes a propshaft coupled to a second differential interconnecting a pair of second wheels in the motor vehicle, and wherein said clutch assembly is disposed between said transfer shaft and said propshaft. 13. The power transmission device of claim 1 wherein said input member includes a first shaft supplying drive torque to a second shaft which is coupled to a first differential for driving a pair of first wheels in a motor vehicle, said output member is a third shaft driving a second differential interconnecting a pair of second wheels of the motor vehicle, and wherein said clutch assembly is operably disposed between said first and third shafts. 14. The power transmission device of claim 1 further including an interaxle differential driven by said input member and having a first output driving a first driveline in a motor vehicle and a second output driving a second driveline in the motor vehicle, and wherein said clutch assembly is operably disposed between said first and second outputs of said interaxle differential. 15. A torque transfer mechanism for transferring drive torque from a rotary input member to a rotary output member, comprising: a friction clutch assembly having a drum fixed for rotation with one of the input member and the output member, a hub fixed for rotation with the other of the input member and the output member, a clutch pack operably disposed between said drum and said hub, and an actuator plate moveable between a first position whereat a minimum clutch engagement force is exerted on said clutch pack and a second position whereat a maximum clutch engagement force is exerted on said clutch pack; a clutch actuator assembly for moving said actuator plate between its first and second positions and including an electric motor driving a geared drive unit for controlling movement of a clutch apply operator, said geared drive unit includes a pinion gear driven by said electric motor and a face gear in meshed engagement with said pinion gear so as to cause said face gear to rotate in response to driven rotation of said pinion gear, said clutch apply operator including a first cam plate, a second cam plate fixed for rotation with said face gear and rollers engaging a cam surface between said first and second cam plates, wherein said face gear includes a ramp angle adapted to compensate for axial movement of said second cam plate relative to said pinion gear; and a control system for actuating said electric motor so as to control rotary movement of said face gear relative to said pinion gear between a first position and a second position, said first cam plate being located in a first axial position when said face gear is in its first position so as to cause said actuator plate to be located in its first position, and said first cam plate is located in a second axial position when said first face gear is rotated to its second position so as to cause said actuator plate to move to its second position. 16. The torque transfer mechanism of claim 15 wherein said second cam plate includes a hub segment rotatably supported about a rotary axis and a ring segment having gear teeth of said face gear formed on a face surface, and wherein said face surface includes said ramp angle. 17. The torque transfer mechanism of claim 15 wherein said pinion gear includes an oblong cross-section to compensate for movement of said second cam plate relative to said pinion gear, and wherein teeth of said pinion gear are at varying distances from a rotational axis of said pinion gear. 18. The torque transfer mechanism of claim 15 further comprising a worm gear driving said pinion gear and which is meshed with a worm that is fixed to a shaft driven by said electric motor. 19. The torque transfer mechanism of claim 18 wherein a rotational axis of said shaft is at an angle relative to a rotational axis of said pinion gear. 20. The torque transfer mechanism of claim 18 wherein a rotational axis of said shaft is a perpendicular to a rotational axis of said pinion gear. 21. The torque transfer mechanism of claim 15 defining a transfer case wherein said input member is a first shaft driving a first driveline and the output member is a second shaft coupled to a second driveline, wherein location of said second cam plate in a first position releases engagement of said clutch assembly so as to define a two-wheel drive mode and location of said second cam plate in a second position fully engages said clutch assembly so as to define a part-time four-wheel drive mode, and wherein said control system is operable to control activation of said electric motor for varying the position of said second cam plate between said first and second positions to controllably vary the drive torque transferred from said first shaft to said second shaft so as to define an on-demand four-wheel drive mode. 22. The torque transfer mechanism of claim 21 wherein said control system includes a controller for receiving input signals from a sensor and generating electric control signals based on said input signals which are supplied to said electric motor for controlling the direction and amount of rotary movement of said pinion gear. 23. The torque transfer mechanism of claim 15 defining a power take-off unit wherein the input member provides drive torque to a first differential associated with a first driveline, and wherein the output member is coupled to a second differential associated with a second driveline. 24. The torque transfer mechanism of claim 15 wherein the input member is a propshaft driven by a drivetrain of a motor vehicle and the output member is a pinion shaft driving a differential associated with an axle assembly of the motor vehicle, and wherein said clutch assembly is disposed between said propshaft and said pinion shaft such that actuation of said clutch actuator assembly is operable to transfer drive torque from said propshaft to said pinion shaft. 25. The torque transfer mechanism of claim 15 wherein the input member includes a first differential supplying drive torque to a pair of first wheels in a motor vehicle, and a transfer shaft driven by said first differential, the output member includes a propshaft coupled to a second differential interconnecting a pair of second wheels in the motor vehicle, and wherein said clutch assembly is disposed between said transfer shaft and said propshaft. 26. The power transmission device of claim 15 wherein the input member includes a first shaft supplying drive torque to a second shaft which is coupled to a first differential for driving a pair of first wheels in a motor vehicle and the output member is a third shaft driving a second differential interconnecting a pair of second wheels of the motor vehicle, and wherein said clutch assembly is operably disposed between said first and third shafts. 27. A power transmission device, comprising: a rotary input shaft adapted to receive drive torque from a power source; a rotary output shaft adapted to provide drive torque to an output device; a friction clutch operably disposed between said rotary input and output shafts; a clutch actuator for generating and applying a clutch engagement force to said friction clutch, said clutch actuator including an electric motor, a geared drive unit driven by said electric motor and a clutch operator actuated by said geared drive unit, said geared drive unit including a worm driven by said electric motor, a compound gear having a worm gear meshed with said worm and a pinion gear, and a face gear meshed with said pinion gear, said clutch operator including a first cam member, a second cam member fixed for rotation with said face gear and adapted to move axially in response to rotation relative to said first cam member for controllably varying the magnitude of said clutch engagement force applied to said friction clutch; and a control system for actuating said electric motor for causing said geared drive unit to control the direction and amount of rotation of said face gear.
Watson Will (Southfield MI) Miller Alan L. (Ithaca NY) Sundquist Drew A. (Canton MI) Simpson Roger T. (Ithaca NY) Ducklow Diane K. (Farmington MI) Beckerman Joseph W. (Livonia MI) Showalter Dan J. (P, On demand vehicle drive system.
Wilson Robert J. (Warners NY) Sperduti David (Auburn NY) Eastman Richard E. (Central Square NY) Divecha Neville K. (Camillus NY) Winks Joseph A. (West Monroe NY), Rotary actuation mechanism for torque modulated transfer case.
Bansbach, Eric A.; Mueller, Joseph G.; Brissenden, James; Zalewski, John D.; Mohan, Sankar K.; Mizon, Richard; Ronk, Aaron; Mozaffar, Khazaee, Torque transfer clutch with linear piston hydraulic clutch actuator.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.