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US 6,595,338 B2Granted
Torque transfer clutch with linear piston hydraulic clutch actuator
AssigneeNew Venture Gear, Inc.
InventorsEric A. Bansbach, Joseph G. Mueller, James Brissenden, John D. Zalewski, Sankar K. Mohan, Richard Mizon, Aaron Ronk, Khazaee Mozaffar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power transfer system is provided and equipped with a torque transfer coupling which includes a clutch and a ball-screw actuator. The ball-screw actuator functions to axially translate an apply plate via a closed hydraulic system to operatively engage the clutch and vary the frictional engagement thereof.
Claims14
A power transfer system comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a transfer clutch adapted to transmit drive torque from said input shaft to said output shaft, said transfer clutch having a first clutch plate fixed for movement with said input shaft and a second clutch plate fixed for movement with said output shaft;
- an apply plate that is axially moveable relative to said transfer clutch between a first position for generating a minimum clutch engagement force and a second position for generating a maximum clutch engagement force;
- a transfer plate rotatably coupled to one of said input shaft and said output shaft, said transfer plate being axially moveable relative to said apply plate to selectively transmit a force thereto;
- and
- an axially moveable apply piston operably coupled to said transfer plate to selectively translate said apply plate in response to a hydraulic force from a control piston.
4 more elements
A power transfer system for a motor vehicle having a power source and first and second sets of wheels, comprising:
- a transfer mechanism adapted to transmit drive torque from said power source to said first set of wheels and selectively transmit drive torque to said second set of wheels through a transfer clutch capable of varying the drive torque transmitted therethrough by varying a clutch engagement force;
- an apply plate that is axially moveable relative to said transfer clutch between a first position for generating a minimum clutch engagement force and a second position for generating maximum clutch engagement force;
- a transfer plate axially moveable and operably coupled to said apply plate;
- an axially moveable apply piston operably coupled to said transfer plate to transmit a linear motion to said transfer plate;
- a ball screw assembly having a threaded linearly moveable member operably coupled to a piston, said threaded linearly moveable member exerting a linearly directed output force via said piston on a closed hydraulic system acting on said apply piston;
- and
- an electric motor having a rotary output operably coupled to a threaded rotary member of said ball screw assembly.
4 more elements
A power transfer system comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a transfer clutch adapted to transmit drive torque from said input shaft to said output shaft, said transfer clutch having a first clutch plate fixed for movement with said input shaft and a second clutch plate fixed for movement with said output shaft;
- an apply plate that is axially moveable relative to said transfer clutch between a first position for generating a minimum clutch engagement force and a second position for generating a maximum clutch engagement force;
- a ball screw assembly;
- and
- a closed hydraulic system including an axially moveable control piston and a plurality of axially moveable apply pistons, said ball screw assembly being drivingly coupled to said control piston to supply pressurized fluid to said plurality of apply pistons and axially translate said apply plate.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.