Clutch actuation using differential pressure
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorsCalahan B. Campton, Brett Peglowski, Christopher A. Spangler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuation device having a piston is used to actuate a mechanical or friction clutch by means of differential pressure. Two sides of a piston are pressurized, and the relative pressure between the two sides is decreased or increased to move the piston in either direction. The position of the piston may be determined using position feedback, or with springs of known spring rates, two piston areas, and knowing the pressures of the two areas. The actuation device may be used with a selectable clutch to actuate an actuation cam, and may also have application with other clutches requiring the ability to achieve multiple positions and clutch modes.
Claims14
An actuator device for a selectable clutch having a plurality of mode positions for controlling relative rotation between two components connected by the selectable clutch, the actuator device comprising:
- a piston housing having an exterior surface, a piston housing longitudinal bore extending longitudinally there through, a first fluid passage extending inwardly from the exterior surface and intersecting the piston housing longitudinal bore proximate a first bore end, and a second fluid passage extending inwardly from the exterior surface and intersecting the piston housing longitudinal bore proximate a second bore end;
- and
- a piston having a piston body disposed within the piston housing longitudinal bore for longitudinal motion therein,
- wherein a first pressure force acting on the piston body toward the second bore end is equal to a first pressure supplied at the first fluid passage multiplied by a cross-sectional area of a first side of the piston body,
- wherein a second pressure force acting on the piston body toward the first bore end is equal to a second pressure supplied at the second fluid passage multiplied by a cross-sectional area of a second side of the piston body,
- wherein the piston housing includes a longitudinal slot extending inwardly from the exterior surface and intersecting the piston housing longitudinal bore, and
- wherein the actuator device comprises a cam actuator bar mounted to the piston body and extending through the longitudinal slot so that the cam actuator bar can be operatively connected to an actuator cam of the selectable clutch to move the selectable clutch between the plurality of mode positions as the piston moves longitudinally within the piston housing longitudinal bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.