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US 11,441,639 B2Granted
Powertrain interface module
AssigneeAllison Transmission, Inc.
InventorShaun Mepham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Vehicles that are relatively heavy and/or configured to transport heavy loads may utilize a powertrain comprising an electric machine capable of operating at high speeds and a multispeed transmission to propel the vehicle. An interface module is configured to modulate torque between the electric machine and the multispeed transmission allowing the electric machine to smoothly match speed as the multispeed transmission shifts between gears. The interface module facilitates efficient, predictable, and reliable modulation of torque between an input and an output of the powertrain of the vehicle.
Claims19
An interface module for use in a vehicle powertrain for modulating torque between an input and an output, said interface module comprising:
- an input drum defining an interior and a rotational axis with said input drum having a drive hub facing said interior, said input drum configured for receiving torque from the input and for rotating about said rotational axis when torque is received;
- an output shaft extending along said rotational axis and at least partially disposed in said interior of said input drum for transferring torque to the output and rotating about said rotational axis when torque is received;
- and
- a torsional damper assembly disposed in said interior of said input drum about said rotational axis and operatively arranged between said input drum and said output shaft, said torsional damper assembly comprising:
- an input-side damper body rotatable about said rotational axis and having a first ramp arrangement;
- an overload clutch having an inner clutch plate mounted to said drive hub and an outer clutch plate mounted to said input-side damper body with said inner and outer clutch plates rotatable relative to each other when said input-side damper body rotates relative to said drive hub;
- an output-side damper body coupled to said output shaft and having a second ramp arrangement disposed in resilient engagement with said first ramp arrangement, said output-side damper body rotatable about said rotational axis and arranged to move axially along said rotational axis between a first engagement position and a second engagement-position with said first and second ramp arrangements abutting each other when in both of said first and second engagement positions and said second engagement position defined by a predetermined torque differential between said input drum and said output shaft;
- and a damper preload member abutting said output-side damper body to urge said output-side damper body into said first engagement position;
- wherein said input drum defines a bore with said output-side damper body of said torsional damper assembly disposed in said bore.
6 more elements
An interface module for use in a vehicle powertrain for modulating torque between an input and an output, said interface module comprising:
- an input drum defining an interior and a rotational axis with said input drum having a drive hub facing said interior, said input drum configured for receiving torque from the input and for rotating about said rotational axis when torque is received;
- an output shaft extending along said rotational axis and at least partially disposed in said interior of said input drum for transferring torque to the output and rotating about said rotational axis when torque is received;
- and
- a torsional damper assembly disposed in said interior of said input drum about said rotational axis and operatively arranged between said input drum and said output shaft, said torsional damper assembly comprising:
- an input-side damper body rotatable about said rotational axis and having a first ramp arrangement;
- an overload clutch having an inner clutch plate mounted to said drive hub and an outer clutch plate mounted to said input-side damper body with said inner and outer clutch plates rotatable relative to each other when said input-side damper body rotates relative to said drive hub;
- an output-side damper body coupled to said output shaft and having a second ramp arrangement disposed in resilient engagement with said first ramp arrangement, said output-side damper body rotatable about said rotational axis and arranged to move axially along said rotational axis between a first engagement position and a second engagement-position with said first and second ramp arrangements abutting each other when in both of said first and second engagement positions and said second engagement position defined by a predetermined torque differential between said input drum and said output shaft and a damper preload member abutting said output-side damper body to urge said output-side damper body into said first engagement position;
- wherein said input-side damper body defines an inner engagement feature and said outer clutch plate defines an outer engagement feature configured for complementary engagement with said inner engagement feature for rotatably coupling said input-side damper body to said outer clutch plate.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.