US 11,708,869 B2Granted

Selectable one-way clutches with notch plate inserts for engine disconnect devices of motor vehicle powertrains

AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC

InventorsDerek F. Lahr, Chunhao J. Lee, Farzad Samie, Dongxu Li, Dmitriy Bruder

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Presented are clutch-type engine disconnect devices, methods for making/using such disconnect devices, and motor vehicles equipped with such disconnect devices. An engine disconnect device includes a notch plate, which has multiple notches and attaches to a torque converter, and a pocket plate, which has multiple pockets and attaches to an engine's crankshaft. A pawl is movably mounted within each notch; these pawls selectively engage the notches with the pockets. A notch plate insert is nested within each notch, supporting thereon one of the pawls. A selector plate interposed between the pocket and notch plates moves from a first position, to shift the pawls out of engagement with the pockets, and a second position, to move the notch plate inserts within the notches and allow the pawls to engage the notches with the pockets to thereby lock the notch plate to the pocket plate to rotate in unison with each other.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A hydraulic control circuit for governing operation of a torque converter clutch (TCC) assembly of a torque converter (TC) and an engine disconnect clutch (EDC) device for selectively disconnecting an engine from the torque converter, the hydraulic control circuit comprising:

a TCC control valve including apply and release lines, the apply line configured to fluidly connect the TCC control valve to an apply side of a TCC friction plate of the TCC assembly to feed hydraulic fluid thereto, and the release line configured to fluidly connect the TCC control valve to a release side of the TCC friction plate to feed hydraulic fluid thereto;
a pressure regulator valve including a TC feed line and a blowoff line, the TC feed line fluidly connecting the pressure regulator valve to the TCC control valve to feed hydraulic fluid thereto and thereby control operation thereof, and the blowoff line configured to fluidly connect the pressure regulator valve to a blowoff port operable to exhaust line pressure;
and
a torque converter and transmission (TCT) valve fluidly connected via the blowoff line to the pressure regulator valve to feed hydraulic fluid thereto, the TCT valve including an exhaust line fluidly connecting the TCT valve to the TCC control valve to receive hydraulic fluid therefrom,
wherein the TCT valve governs activation of the TCC control valve to thereby control activation of the TCC friction plate to lockup the TCC assembly based on a pressure difference between line pressures in the TCC apply and release lines, and
wherein the TCT valve governs activation of the TCC control valve to thereby control activation of the EDC to selectively disconnect the engine from the torque converter based on an absolute value of apply pressure in the TCC apply line.

3 more elements

A method of governing operation of a torque converter clutch (TCC) assembly of a torque converter (TC) and an engine disconnect clutch (EDC) device for selectively disconnecting an engine from the torque converter, the method comprising:

fluidly connecting a TCC control valve via an apply line to an apply side of a TCC friction plate of the TCC assembly to feed hydraulic fluid thereto;
fluidly connecting the TCC control valve via a release line to a release side of the TCC friction plate to feed hydraulic fluid thereto;
fluidly connecting a pressure regulator valve via a TC feed line to the TCC control valve to feed hydraulic fluid thereto;
fluidly connecting the pressure regulator valve via a blowoff line to a blowoff port operable to exhaust line pressure of the pressure regulator valve;
fluidly connecting a torque converter and transmission (TCT) valve via the blowoff line to the pressure regulator valve to feed hydraulic fluid thereto;
fluidly connecting the TCT valve via an exhaust line to the TCC control valve to receive hydraulic fluid therefrom;
operating the TCT valve to activate the TCC control valve and thereby control activation of the TCC friction plate to lockup the TCC assembly based on a pressure difference between line pressures in the TCC apply and release lines;
and
operating the TCT valve to activate the TCC control valve and thereby control activation of the EDC to selectively disconnect the engine from the torque converter based on an absolute value of apply pressure in the TCC apply line.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/090,234Filed 5 Nov 2020 · continuation
Priority: 12 Apr 2019
Published: US 2021/0054885 A125 Feb 2021
Granted: 25 Jul 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification23 codes

B60K 6/48
Characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle: parallel type
F16D 41/08
With intermediate wedging coupling members between an inner and an outer surface: with provision for altering the freewheeling action
B60K 6/383
Characterised by the driveline clutches: one-way clutches or freewheel devices
B60K 6/387
Characterised by the driveline clutches: actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means

Family

Application16/382,982Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Apr 2019
US 2021/0054885 A1Pre-grant publication · published 25 Feb 2021
US 10,876,582 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2020/0325970 A1Published application
US 11,708,869 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.