Actuation mechanism
AssigneeMeans Industries, Inc.
InventorsGregory M Eisengruber, Robert B Larimer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch assembly, such as a dynamically controllable clutch (“DCC”), having an actuator for controlling coupling members for engagement and disengagement of power components. The actuator includes a cylindrical cam member with an end face extending transversely to a rotational axis of the cam member. The end face has a first cam surface and a second cam surface. The first cam surface is radially spaced from and adjacent to the second cam surface. A first cam follower follows the first cam surface and a second cam follower follows the second cam surface. A first link extends between the first cam follower and a first coupling member, and a second link extends between the second cam follower and a second coupling member.
Claims19
An actuation mechanism comprising:
- a cam member having an end face extending transversely to a rotational axis of the cam member, the end face having a first cam surface and a second cam surface, the first cam surface radially spaced from and adjacent to the second cam surface;
- a first cam follower, first cam follower following the first cam surface;
- a second cam follower, the second cam follower following the second cam surface;
- a first link between the first cam follower and a first coupling member;
- and
- a second link between the second cam follower and a second coupling member.
An actuator comprising:
- a cam member rotatable about a rotational axis, the cam member having a side surface extending between an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface;
- the side surface of the cam member having a first cam surface and a second cam surface, the first cam surface radially inward of the second cam surface;
- the first cam surface having a cam profile;
- the second cam surface having a cam profile;
- a first cam follower following the cam profile of the first cam surface wherein the first cam follower moves between an extended position and a retracted position based on the cam profile of the first cam surface;
- and
- a second cam follower following the cam profile of the second cam surface, wherein the second cam follower moves between an extended position and a retracted position based on the cam profile of the second cam surface.
A system comprising:
- a first component;
- a second component;
- first and second coupling members supported for rotation relative to one another in first and second directions about a rotational axis, the first coupling member fixed to the first component and the second coupling member fixed to the second component;
- a first locking element movable between a deployed position in which the first locking element mechanically couples the first and second coupling members together and a non-deployed position in which the first and second coupling members are not mechanically coupled together;
- a second locking element movable between a deployed position in which the second locking element mechanically couples the first and second coupling members together and a non-deployed position in which the first and second coupling members are not mechanically coupled together;
- an actuator including a cam member rotatably movable and axially fixed relative to the rotational axis, the cam member having a first cam surface and a second cam surface, the first cam surface radially spaced from the second cam surface;
- a first cam follower rotatably fixed and axially movable relative to the rotational axis, the first cam follower contacting and following the first cam surface;
- a second cam follower rotatably fixed and axially movable relative to the rotational axis, the second cam follower contacting and following the second cam surface;
- and
- the cam member moves the first and second cam followers to a first position wherein both the first and second cam followers are extended, a second position wherein both the first and second cam followers are retracted, and a third position wherein one of the first cam follower and the second cam follower is extended and the other cam follower is retracted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.