Solenoid actuated mechanical clutch
AssigneeRegal-Beloit Corporation
InventorsKeith O. Moore, Diederik G. F. Berghauser-Pont
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solenoid operated actuator mechanism for positioning a shift fork in a double clutch arrangement for use in a transmission includes a pair of solenoid actuators operatively connected to a shaft that is fixed to the shift fork for positioning the shift fork in a neutral position when the solenoid actuators are de-energized and for positioning the shaft and shift fork selectively in a forward or reverse location if one or the other of the solenoids are energized. The invention includes a first embodiment where the shaft is fixed to the shift fork and to one end of a solenoid core element and wherein the forward and reverse solenoid assemblies are located on one side of the shaft; a second embodiment includes a shaft having end portions forming solenoid core elements.
Claims28
A clutching arrangement for use in a transmission having a transmission housing, an input shaft and an output shaft and at least one clutching device therebetween for actuation of the output shaft and a shift collar encompassing the output shaft for selectively positioning the clutching device to couple the output shaft to the input shaft, the shift collar encompassing the output shaft and rotatable therewith and having a groove formed therein, the improvement comprising;
- a selector shaft;
- a shift fork having a segment located in said groove and relatively rotatable therein;
- said shift fork including a head portion operatively connected to said selector shaft;
- a solenoid coaxially arranged with respect to said selector shaft and selectively operatively connected to said selector shaft for shifting said shift fork with respect to said transmission housing for moving said shift collar to selectively operate said clutching device for actuation of the output shaft.
A clutching arrangement for use in a transmission having forward and reverse gears, wherein the transmission includes a transmission housing, an input shaft, an output shaft, axially spaced first forward and reverse gears mounted for rotation with the input shaft, axially spaced second forward and reverse gears mounted for rotation on the output shaft,
- said forward gears on the two shafts being in meshing engagement, an idler shaft carrying an idler gear in meshing engagement with the reverse gears on the two shafts, and a clutching device encompassing the output shaft for actuation of the output shaft in either the forward or reverse direction, a shift collar encompassing the output shaft and a pair of opposed clutch devices forming a first clutch between the shift collar and the second forward gear and a second clutch between the shift collar and the second reverse gear,
- the shift collar being a unitary member having an inner cylindrical sleeve portion and an outer cylindrical sleeve portion joined by a radial flange;
- the inner sleeve portion encompassing the output shaft and the outer sleeve portion having a groove formed therein, the improvement comprising;
- an selector shaft;
- a shift fork supported on said outer cylindrical sleeve portion;
- said shift fork having a semi-circular segment and including a head portion connected to said selector shaft for movement therewith;
- a reverse solenoid and a forward solenoid selectively operatively connected to said selector shaft for shifting said selector shaft with respect to the transmission housing for moving said shift collar for selectively operating said clutching devices for actuation of the output shaft in either the forward or reverse direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.