Selectable clutch module actuator using a single hydraulic feed to achieve three or more modes

An actuating mechanism for a selectable clutch, the actuating mechanism comprising:

• an actuator housing defining an actuator chamber;
• a first piston and a second piston disposed within the actuator chamber, the first piston and the second piston slidably engaged with a first lateral sidewall and a second lateral sidewall of the actuator housing, the first piston configured to move along the first and second lateral sidewalls between at least a first piston first position and a first piston second position, and the second piston configured to move in an opposite direction as the first piston along the first lateral sidewall and the second lateral sidewall between at least a second piston first position and a second piston second position;
• a first armature fixedly attached to a first surface of the first piston such that the first armature is configured to respond to a movement of the first piston;
• a second armature fixedly attached to a first surface of the second piston such that the second armature is configured to respond to a movement of the second piston;
• a first cam operatively associated with the first armature and a second cam operatively associated with the second armature;
• a first actuator spring disposed within the actuator chamber, the first actuator spring positioned between the first surface of the first piston and a first axial end of the actuator housing;
• a second actuator spring disposed within the actuator chamber, the second actuator spring positioned between the first surface of the second piston and a second axial end of the actuator housing;
• a hydraulic opening formed in the actuator housing, the hydraulic opening extending through the actuator housing into the actuator chamber and the hydraulic opening positioned between the first piston and the second piston;
• and
• a hydraulic pressure being supplied to the actuator chamber through the hydraulic opening, the hydraulic pressure is configured to act on a second surface of the first piston and a second surface of the second piston to move each of the first piston and the second piston.

A selectable clutch having a plurality of operational modes, the selectable clutch comprising:

• an actuating mechanism configured to selectably actuate the selectable clutch between the plurality of operational modes, the actuating mechanism comprising:
• an actuator housing defining an actuator chamber;
• a piston disposed within the actuator chamber, the piston slidably engaged with a first lateral sidewall and a second lateral sidewall of the actuator housing such that the piston is configured to move along the first lateral sidewall and the second lateral sidewall between at least a first piston position and a second piston position;
• an armature fixedly attached to a first surface of the piston such that the armature is configured to respond to a movement of the piston;
• an actuator spring disposed within the actuator chamber, the actuator spring positioned between the first surface of the piston and a first axial end of the actuator housing;
• a hydraulic opening formed in the actuator housing, the hydraulic opening extending through the actuator housing into the actuator chamber and the hydraulic opening positioned at a second axial end of the actuator housing and,
• a hydraulic pressure being supplied to the actuating mechanism through the hydraulic opening, the hydraulic pressure configured to act on a second surface of the piston to move the piston between the at least first piston position and the second piston position;
• a cam having a cam profile, the cam operably coupled to the armature wherein the cam is actuated based on a movement of the piston;
• and
• at least one pair of opposing pawls, wherein the at least one pair of opposing pawls being able to rotate according to a position of the cam profile and the actuating mechanism configured to selectively actuate the cam to control the selectable clutch between the plurality of operational modes.