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US 12,716,477 B2Granted
Systems and methods for coupling a lock plate and actuator
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsMatthew Fox, John Allen Grogg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lockable differential assembly includes a lock plate that is rotatable about a rotational axis. The differential assembly also includes actuator assembly having a stator and an armature, the actuator assembly being switchable between energized and de-energized states. A slip ring assembly configured to axially translate based on the locked state or the unlocked state of the differential assembly is provided, including a slip ring that interfaces with the armature at a slip surface, and one or more pins rotationally coupling the slip ring to the lock plate. The slip ring assembly is configured to transmit an axial locking force and an axial return force between the actuator assembly and the lock plate.
Claims18
A lockable differential assembly comprising:
- a lock plate rotatable about a rotational axis, wherein the differential assembly is configured to be in a locked state or an unlocked state based on a selective axial engagement of the lock plate relative to a lock gear;
- an actuator assembly comprising a stator and an armature, the actuator assembly configured to be switchable between an energized state and a de-energized state;
- and
- a slip ring assembly configured to axially translate corresponding to the locked state or the unlocked state of the differential assembly, the slip ring assembly comprising:
- a slip ring interfacing with the armature at a slip surface configured to permit relative rotation between the slip ring and the armature;
- and
- one or more pins rotationally coupling the slip ring to the lock plate,
- wherein the stator and the armature are each radially supported directly on the slip ring so as to radially align the stator and the armature relative to the rotational axis,
- wherein the slip ring assembly is configured to transmit an axial locking force from the actuator assembly to the lock plate when the actuator assembly is energized, and
- wherein the slip ring assembly is configured to transmit an axial return force from the lock plate to the actuator assembly when the actuator assembly is de-energized.
7 more elements
An electronically lockable differential assembly capable of lock detection, the differential assembly comprising:
- a differential casing;
- a lock gear rotatably provided within the differential casing;
- a lock plate rotatable about a rotational axis, wherein the differential assembly is configured to be in a locked state or an unlocked state based on a selective axial engagement of the lock plate relative to the lock gear;
- a biasing member configured to axially bias the lock plate away from the lock gear;
- an actuator assembly comprising a stator and an armature, the actuator assembly configured to be switchable between an energized state and a de-energized state;
- a lock detection sensor assembly comprising a sensor and a target, the lock detection sensor assembly configured to detect a magnetic field strength indicative of an axial distance between the stator and the armature so as to determine an axial position of the lock plate relative to the lock gear;
- and
- a slip ring assembly configured to axially translate corresponding to the locked state or the unlocked state of the differential assembly, the slip ring assembly comprising:
- a slip ring interfacing with the armature at a slip surface configured to permit relative rotation between the slip ring and the armature;
- and
- one or more pins rotationally coupling the slip ring to the lock plate,
- wherein the slip ring assembly is configured to transmit an axial locking force from the actuator assembly to the lock plate when the actuator assembly is energized, and
- wherein the slip ring assembly is configured to transmit an axial return force from the lock plate to the actuator assembly when the actuator assembly is de-energized.
10 more elements
A method of assembling a lockable differential assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a lock gear and a lock plate within a differential casing, the lock gear and the lock plate selectively engageable by relative axial translation, the lock gear and the lock plate axially biased apart by a biasing member and rotatable about a rotational axis;
- rotationally coupling the lock plate with a slip ring via one or more pins, a slip ring assembly comprising the slip ring and the one or more pins;
- providing an actuator assembly comprising a stator and an armature, the slip ring axially coupled with the armature, a slip interface between the slip ring and the armature configured to permit relative rotation therebetween, wherein the armature is configured to axially translate toward the stator based on energizing the actuator assembly;
- and
- providing a lock detection sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor component respectively coupled to each of the armature and the stator, the lock detection sensor assembly configured to detect a magnetic field strength indicative of an axial distance between the stator and the armature so as to determine an axial position of the lock plate relative to the lock gear,
- wherein the slip ring assembly is configured to transmit an axial locking force from the actuator assembly to the lock plate when the actuator assembly is energized, and
- wherein the slip ring assembly is configured to transmit an axial return force from the lock plate to the actuator assembly when the actuator assembly is de-energized.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.