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US 10,228,026 B2Granted
Motorized disconnect system and operation methods
AssigneeWarn Automotive, LLC
InventorsBryan Averill, Oliver Heravi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for a motorized disconnect operable to selectively engage and disengage two rotating components of a vehicle drivetrain. As one example, a motorized disconnect system is provided that operates via an electric motor and includes a shifter assembly with an oscillating gear track and cam profile for rotating the shifter assembly while moving it in an axial direction to selectively couple two rotating components.
Claims5
A system, comprising:
- a controller of a motorized disconnect assembly of a vehicle that is operable to:
- activate a motor to rotate a worm gear coupled to the motor in a first direction in order to engage and rotatably couple a first shaft with a second shaft, the worm gear coupled to a gear track of a first gear of a shifter assembly, the gear track including a plurality of teeth and in communication with a clutch ring adapted to engage with the second shaft;
- and
- activate the motor to continue rotating the worm gear in the first direction in order to disengage the clutch ring from the second shaft and decouple the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein the motor turns the worm gear in only the first direction and wherein the plurality of teeth of the gear track are continuous around an outer circumference of the first gear.
1 more element
A system, comprising:
- a controller of a motorized disconnect assembly of a vehicle that is operable to:
- activate a motor to rotate a worm gear coupled to the motor in a first direction in order to engage and rotatably couple a first shaft with a second shaft, the worm gear coupled to a gear track of a first gear of a shifter assembly, the gear track including a plurality of teeth and in communication with a clutch ring adapted to engage with the second shaft;
- and
- activate the motor to continue rotating the worm gear in the first direction in order to disengage the clutch ring from the second shaft and decouple the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein the clutch ring includes an inner surface including a first set of teeth, a second set of teeth, and a non-toothed section separating the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.