Wedge-type selectable one-way clutches for engine disconnect devices of motor vehicle powertrains

A motor vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body with a plurality of road wheels;
• an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly attached to the vehicle body and including a crankshaft configured to output torque generated by the ICE assembly;
• a multi-speed transmission operable to receive, modify, and transmit torque output by the ICE assembly to one or more of the road wheels to thereby propel the motor vehicle;
• a torque converter (TC) assembly operatively connecting the ICE assembly to the transmission to govern the transfer of torque therebetween;
• and
• an engine disconnect device including:
• an annular outer race rigidly attached to a pump cover of the TC assembly for common rotation therewith, the outer race including an inner diameter (ID) surface with multiple recessed grooves circumferentially spaced from one another;
• an annular inner race concentrically aligned within the outer race and attached to the crankshaft for common rotation therewith, the inner race including an outer diameter (OD) surface with multiple recessed pockets circumferentially spaced from one another;
• and
• an annular wedge plate interposed between the inner and outer races and including multiple ramps circumferentially spaced from one another, each of the ramps having a variable radial width and being slidably mounted within a respective one of the grooves and a respective one of the pockets, the wedge plate being movable between a first position, whereat the ramps frictionally wedge between the ID and OD surfaces to thereby transfer torque between the inner and outer races, and a second position, whereat the ramps unwedge from between the ID and OD surfaces to thereby free the inner race to rotate with respect to the outer race.

A method of assembling an engine disconnect device for operatively disconnecting an engine from a torque converter, the engine having an engine output shaft, and the torque converter having input structure to receive torque output via the engine output shaft, the method comprising:

• attaching an outer race to the input structure of the torque converter for common rotation therewith, the outer race including an inner diameter (ID) surface with a plurality of recessed grooves circumferentially spaced from one another;
• attaching an inner race to the engine output shaft for common rotation therewith, the inner race being concentrically aligned within the outer race and including an outer diameter (OD) surface with a plurality of recessed pockets circumferentially spaced from one another;
• and
• positioning a wedge plate between the inner and outer races, the wedge plate including a plurality of ramps circumferentially spaced from one another, each of the ramps having a variable radial width and being slidably mounted within a respective one of the grooves and a respective one of the pockets, the wedge plate being movable between a first position, whereat the ramps frictionally wedge between the ID and OD surfaces to thereby transfer torque between the inner and outer races, and a second position, whereat the ramps unwedge from between the ID and OD surfaces to thereby free the inner race to rotate with respect to the outer race.