Rotating e-clutch assembly providing four operating modes

A bi-directional clutch assembly comprising:

• a first rotary member;
• a second rotary member;
• an inner race fixed for rotation with the first rotary member and defining ratchet teeth;
• an outer race fixed for rotation with the second rotary member;
• a first selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) having a first coil unit fixed to a stationary member, a first active strut mounted to the outer race and supported for pivotal movement between a non-deployed position disengaged from the ratchet teeth and a deployed position engaged with the ratchet teeth, and an axially shiftable first actuator fixed for rotation with the outer race and being axially moveable between a non-actuated position and an actuated position in response to energization of the first coil unit, and a first strut engagement feature extending from the first actuator and configured to move the first active strut from its deployed position to its non-deployed position in response to movement of the first actuator form its non-actuated position to its actuated position;
• and
• a second selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) having a second coil unit fixed to the stationary member, a second active strut mounted to the outer race and supported for pivotal movement between a non-deployed position disengaged from the ratchet teeth and a deployed position engaged with the ratchet teeth, and an axially shiftable second actuator fixed for rotation with the outer race and being axially moveable between a non-actuated position and an actuated position in response to energization of the second coil unit, and a second strut engagement feature extending from the second actuator and configured to move the second active strut from its deployed position to its non-deployed position in response to movement of the second actuator from its non-actuated position to its actuated position.

A method of controlling a bi-directional clutch assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

• rotating a first rotary member;
• selectively transferring torque from the first rotary member to a second rotary member;
• wherein an inner race is fixed for rotation with the first rotary member and defines ratchet teeth;
• wherein an outer race is fixed for rotation with the second rotary member;
• energizing a first coil unit fixed to a stationary member;
• axially shifting a first actuator fixed for rotation with the outer race between a non-actuated position and an actuated position in response to energization of the first coil unit, the first actuator having a first strut engagement feature projecting therefrom;
• in response to shifting the first actuator to the actuated position, contacting a first active strut with the first strut engagement feature, wherein the first active strut is mounted to the outer race and supported for pivotal movement between a non-deployed position disengaged from the ratchet teeth and a deployed position engaged with the ratchet teeth;
• in response to contacting the first active strut with the first strut engagement feature, pivoting the first active strut from its deployed position to its non-deployed position;
• energizing a second coil unit fixed to a stationary member;
• axially shifting a second actuator fixed for rotation with the outer race between a non-actuated position and an actuated position in response to energization of the second coil unit, the second actuator having a second strut engagement feature projecting therefrom;
• in response to shifting the second actuator to the actuated position, contacting a second active strut with the second strut engagement feature, wherein the second active strut is mounted to the outer race and supported for pivotal movement between a non-deployed position disengaged from the ratchet teeth and a deployed position engaged with the ratchet teeth;
• in response to contacting the second active strut with the second strut engagement feature, pivoting the second active strut from its deployed position to its non-deployed position;
• wherein the first and second rotary members are rotationally decoupled when the first and second active struts are in the non-deployed position;
• wherein the first and second rotary members transfer torque in a first rotary direction when one of the first and second active struts are in the deployed position and the other of the first and second active struts are in the non-deployed position;
• wherein the first and second rotary members transfer torque in the first rotary direction and a second rotary direction when both the first and second active struts are in the deployed position.