Axially oriented linear actuator including single stator coil, and clutch assembly having the actuator

A linear actuator for use in controlling coupling members of a clutch assembly, comprising:

• a stator having a stator coil;
• a translator axially offset from the stator;
• the translator being movable, depending on polarity of electrical current of the stator coil, along an axial direction between a first position adjacent the stator and a second position away from the stator;
• the stator further includes (i) a stator core having the stator coil, (ii) a stator latching plate, and (iii) a stator connector connecting the stator core and the stator latching plate;
• and
• the stator core and the stator latching plate are both ferromagnetic and the stator connector is non-magnetic.

A linear actuator for use in controlling coupling members of a clutch assembly, comprising:

• a stator having a stator coil;
• a translator axially offset from the stator;
• the translator being movable, depending on polarity of electrical current of the stator coil, along an axial direction between a first position adjacent the stator and a second position away from the stator;
• and
• the translator includes radially outer and inner, ferromagnetic, translator rings and a permanent magnet radially extending therebetween.

A clutch assembly comprising:

• first and second coupling members supported for rotation relative to one another about a rotational axis;
• a locking element;
• a linear actuator having a stator, a latching plate, and a translator that are oriented axially, in a direction of the rotational axis, relative to one another, the translator axially movable in the direction of the rotational axis between a position adjacent the stator and a position adjacent the latching plate;
• a stator coil generating a first magnetic loop, the first magnetic loop extending between the stator and the translator in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the rotational axis;
• the translator includes a permanent magnet;
• the translator magnetically latches in the position adjacent the latching plate by a second magnetic loop extending through the latching plate and the permanent magnet;
• and
• the linear actuator causes the locking element to move to a deployed position in which the locking element mechanically couples the first and second coupling members together to prevent relative rotation of the first and second coupling members in at least one direction about the rotational axis.

A system comprising:

• a clutch assembly including (i) first and second coupling members supported for rotation relative to one another about a rotational axis, (ii) a locking element, and (iii) a linear actuator having a stator and a translator that are oriented axially relative to one another, the translator being axially movable relative to the stator in the direction of the rotational axis to a position adjacent the stator and a position away from the stator;
• a stator coil generating a first magnetic loop, the first magnetic loop extending between the stator and the translator in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the rotational axis;
• a stator core;
• the translator includes a permanent magnet;
• and
• the translator magnetically latches in the position adjacent the stator by a second magnetic loop extending through the stator core and the permanent magnet;
• a stator latching plate;
• and
• the translator magnetically latches in the position away from the stator by a third magnetic loop extending through the stator latching plate and the permanent magnet;
• and
• the linear actuator causes the locking element to move to a deployed position in which the first and second coupling members are mechanically coupled together by the locking element and a non-deployed position in which the first and second coupling members are not mechanically coupled together by the locking element;
• and
• first and second power flow components fixedly connected to the first and second coupling members, respectively, whereby torque flow between the first and second power flow components via the first and second coupling members is enabled when the locking element mechanically couples the coupling members together to prevent relative rotation of the coupling members in the at least one direction about the rotational axis and torque flow between the first and second power flow components via the first and second coupling members is disabled when the locking element moves to a non-deployed position in which the first and second coupling members are not mechanically coupled together by the locking element whereby the coupling members may rotate relative to one another in the at least one direction about the rotational axis.