Bi-directional overrunning clutch with automatic backdrive

A bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly comprising:

• a differential housing;
• a pinion input shaft having an end rotatably disposed within the differential housing;
• a clutch housing disposed within the differential housing and rotatably connected to the pinion input shaft, the clutch housing having an inner surface;
• at least one race disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the clutch housing;
• a cage disposed between the at least one race and the inner surface of the clutch housing, the cage having a plurality of slots formed in and spaced circumferentially about the cage, each slot having a roll located therein, the cage being adjustable with respect to the clutch housing and the at least one race;
• an armature plate located adjacent to and adapted to engage with the cage;
• an indexing device mounted within the differential housing adjacent to the armature plate, the indexing device adapted to engage the armature plate when activated to hinder rotation of the armature plate and cause the cage to move to a first position with respect to the clutch housing, the first position of the cage locating the rolls so as to be adapted to wedge between the inner surface and the at least one race when the clutch housing is rotating faster than the at least one race;
• and
• an electrohydraulic device mounted within the differential housing, the electrohydraulic device including a device housing attached to the clutch housing and adapted to rotate in combination with the clutch housing, at least one drive plate adapted to rotate in combination with the output hub, and a hydraulic piston adapted to engage the drive plate with the device housing when actuated.

A bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly comprising:

• a differential housing;
• a pinion input shaft having an end rotatably disposed within the differential housing;
• a clutch housing disposed within the differential housing and rotatably connected to the pinion input shaft, the clutch housing having an inner surface;
• at least one race disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the clutch housing;
• a cage disposed between the at least one race and the inner surface of the clutch housing, the cage having a plurality of slots formed in and spaced circumferentially about the cage, each slot having a roll located therein, the cage being adjustable with respect to the clutch housing and the at least one race;
• an armature plate located adjacent to and adapted to engage with the cage;
• an indexing device mounted within the differential housing adjacent to the armature plate, the indexing device adapted to engage the armature plate when activated to hinder rotation of the armature plate and cause the cage to move to a first position with respect to the clutch housing, the first position of the cage locating the rolls so as to be adapted to wedge between the inner surface and the at least one race when the clutch housing is rotating faster than the at least one race;
• and
• an electrohydraulic device mounted within the differential housing, the electrohydraulic device including a device housing attached to the clutch housing and adapted to rotate in combination with the clutch housing, at least one drive plate adapted to rotate in combination with the output hub, and a hydraulic piston adapted to engage the drive plate with the device housing when actuated;
• wherein each roll is biased into a neutral position by springs located on either side, and wherein each spring is engaged to a spring in an adjacent slot by a bridge, the bridge supporting the springs within the slots.

An overrunning clutch assembly comprising:

• a differential housing;
• a pinion input shaft having an end rotatably disposed within the differential housing;
• a clutch housing disposed within the differential housing and rotatably connected to the pinion input shaft, the clutch housing having an inner surface;
• a first race located adjacent to a portion of the inner surface of the clutch housing, the first race being located on a first output hub;
• a second race disposed adjacent to a portion of the inner surface of the clutch housing, the second race being located on a second output hub, the second output hub being axially aligned with the first output hub;
• a cage disposed between the first and second races and the inner surface of the clutch housing, the cage having a two sets of slots formed in and spaced circumferentially about the cage, each slot having a roll located therein such that there are two sets of rolls in the cage, one set of rolls being disposed about each race, the cage being adjustable with respect to the clutch housing and the races;
• an armature plate located adjacent to and adapted to engage with the cage;
• an indexing device mounted within the differential housing adjacent to the armature plate, the indexing device adapted to engage the armature plate when activated to hinder rotation of the armature plate and cause the cage to move to a first position with respect to the clutch housing, the first position of the cage locating both sets of rolls such that each set of rolls is independently adapted to wedge between the inner surface and an associated race when the clutch housing is rotating faster than the associated race;
• a first electrohydraulic device mounted within the differential housing, the first electrohydraulic device including a first device housing attached to the clutch housing and adapted to rotate in combination with the clutch housing, at least one drive plate adapted to rotate in combination with the first output hub, and a hydraulic piston adapted to engage the drive plate with the first device housing when actuated;
• and
• a second electrohydraulic device mounted within the differential housing on the opposite side of the clutch housing from the first electrohydraulic device, the second electrohydraulic device including a second device housing attached to the clutch housing and adapted to rotate in combination with the clutch housing, at least one drive plate adapted to rotate in combination with the second output hub, and a hydraulic piston adapted to engage the drive plate with the second device housing when actuated.

An overrunning clutch assembly comprising:

• a differential housing;
• a pinion input shaft having an end rotatably disposed within the differential housing;
• a clutch housing disposed within the differential housing and rotatably connected to the pinion input shaft, the clutch housing having an inner surface;
• a first race located adjacent to a portion of the inner surface of the clutch housing, the first race being located on a first output hub;
• a second race disposed adjacent to a portion of the inner surface of the clutch housing, the second race being located on a second output hub, the second output hub being axially aligned with the first output hub;
• a cage disposed between the first and second races and the inner surface of the clutch housing, the cage having a two sets of slots formed in and spaced circumferentially about the cage, each slot having a roll located therein such that there are two sets of rolls in the cage, one set of rolls being disposed about each race, the cage being adjustable with respect to the clutch housing and the races;
• an armature plate located adjacent to and adapted to engage with the cage;
• an indexing device mounted within the differential housing adjacent to the armature plate, the indexing device adapted to engage the armature plate when activated to hinder rotation of the armature plate and cause the cage to move to a first position with respect to the clutch housing, the first position of the cage locating both sets of rolls such that each set of rolls is independently adapted to wedge between the inner surface and an associated race when the clutch housing is rotating faster than the associated race;
• a first electrohydraulic device mounted within the differential housing, the first electrohydraulic device including a first device housing attached to the clutch housing and adapted to rotate in combination with the clutch housing, at least one drive plate adapted to rotate in combination with the first output hub, and a hydraulic piston adapted to engage the drive plate with the first device housing when actuated;
• and
• a second electrohydraulic device mounted within the differential housing, the second electrohydraulic device including a second device housing attached to the clutch housing and adapted to rotate in combination with the clutch housing, at least one drive plate adapted to rotate in combination with the second output hub, and a hydraulic piston adapted to engage the drive plate with the second device housing when actuated;
• wherein each roll is biased into a neutral position by springs located on either side, and wherein each spring is engaged to a spring in an adjacent slot by a bridge, the bridge supporting the springs within the slots.

An overrunning clutch assembly comprising:

• a differential housing;
• a pinion input shaft having an end rotatably disposed within the differential housing;
• a clutch housing disposed within the differential housing and rotatably connected to the pinion input shaft, the clutch housing having an inner surface;
• a first race located adjacent to a portion of the inner surface of the clutch housing, the first race being located on a first output hub;
• a second race disposed adjacent to a portion of the inner surface of the clutch housing, the second race being located on a second output hub, the second output hub being axially aligned with the first output hub;
• a cage disposed between the first and second races and the inner surface of the clutch housing, the cage having a two sets of slots formed in and spaced circumferentially about the cage, each slot having a roll located therein such that there are two sets of rolls in the cage, one set of rolls being disposed about each race, the cage being adjustable with respect to the clutch housing and the races;
• an armature plate located adjacent to and adapted to engage with the cage;
• a coil mounted within the differential housing adjacent to the armature plate, the coil adapted when energized to hinder rotation of the armature plate and cause the cage to move to a first position with respect to the clutch housing, the first position of the cage locating both sets of rolls such that each set of rolls is independently adapted to wedge between the inner surface and an associated race when the clutch housing is rotating faster than the associated race;
• a first hydraulic clutch pack mounted within the differential housing, the first hydraulic clutch pack including a first clutch pack housing attached to the clutch housing and adapted to rotate in combination with the clutch housing, a plurality of drive plates engaged with the first output hub, a plurality of friction plates engaged to and adapted to rotate in combination with the first clutch pack housing, the friction plates and drive plates being interweaved with each other, and a hydraulic piston adapted when actuated to urge the drive plates and friction plates into contact with one another for transmitting torque between the plates;
• and
• a second hydraulic clutch pack mounted within the differential housing on the opposite side of the clutch housing from the first hydraulic clutch pack, the second hydraulic clutch pack including a second clutch pack housing attached to the clutch housing and adapted to rotate in combination with the clutch housing, a plurality of drive plates engaged with the second output hub, a plurality of friction plates engaged to and adapted to rotate in combination with the second clutch pack housing, the friction plates and drive plates being interweaved with each other, and a hydraulic piston adapted when actuated to urge the drive plates and friction plates into contact with one another for transmitting torque between the plates.

A bi-directional overrunning clutch differential or controlling torque transmission between a pinion input shaft and two output hubs, the differential comprising

• a differential housing;
• a pinion input shaft having an end rotatably disposed within the differential housing;
• two output hubs having an end rotatably disposed within the differential housing;
• a clutch disposed within the differential housing and adapted to control torque transmission between the pinion input shaft and the output hubs, the clutch including a clutch housing and a roller cage assembly located within the clutch housing, the roller cage assembly intermittently transmitting torque from the pinion input shaft to the output hubs;
• an electromagnetic indexing device mounted within the differential housing, the electromagnetic device adapted when energized to cause the roller cage assembly to position a set of rollers so as to engage an output hub to the clutch housing when the output hub is rotating above a predetermined speed with respect to the input shaft, the wedging providing torque transmission from the pinion input shaft to the output hub;
• and
• at least two electrohydraulic clutches mounted within the differential housing and adapted to provide torque transmission from the output hubs to the pinion input shaft, each electrohydraulic device including a driven housing attached to the clutch housing and adapted to rotate in combination with the clutch housing, at least one drive plate engaged with one of the output hub for rotating in combination with the output hub, and a hydraulic piston adapted to urge the drive plate into engagement with the device housing when actuated, the engagement between the drive plate and the device housing providing torque transmission from the output hub to the clutch housing when the output hub is rotating above a predetermined speed relative to the input shaft regardless of the engagement of the roller clutch assembly.

A system for controlling torque transmission in a vehicle comprising the steps of:

• providing a throttle in the vehicle for commanding acceleration;
• providing a bi-directional overrunning clutch differential including:
• a differential housing,
• a pinion input shaft having an end rotatably disposed within the differential housing,
• two output hubs having an end rotatably disposed within the differential housing,
• a clutch disposed within the differential housing and adapted to control torque transmission between the pinion input shaft and the output hubs, the clutch including a clutch housing and a roller cage assembly located within the clutch housing, the roller cage assembly intermittently transmitting torque from the pinion input shaft to the output hubs,
• an electromagnetic indexing device mounted within the differential housing, the electromagnetic device adapted when energized to cause the roller cage assembly to position a set of rollers so as to engage an output hub to the clutch housing when the output hub is rotating above a predetermined speed with respect to the input shaft, the wedging providing torque transmission from the pinion input shaft to the output hub, and
• two electrohydraulic clutches mounted within the differential housing and adapted to provide torque transmission from the output hubs to the pinion input shaft, each electrohydraulic device including a driven housing attached to the clutch housing and adapted to rotate in combination with the clutch housing, at least one drive plate engaged with one of the output hub for rotating in combination with the output hub, and a hydraulic piston adapted to urge the drive plate into engagement with the device housing when actuated, the engagement between the drive plate and the device housing providing torque transmission from the output hub to the clutch housing when the output hub is rotating above a predetermined speed with respect to the input shaft regardless of the engagement of the roller clutch assembly;
• activating the electromagnetic indexing device, the activation causing the roller cage assembly to reposition a set of rollers so as to wedge the rollers between an output hub and the clutch housing when the output hub is rotating faster than the clutch housing, the wedging providing torque transmission from the pinion input shaft to the output hub;
• sensing a position of the throttle indicative of a deceleration of the vehicle;
• and
• activating the hydraulic pistons in the electrohydraulic clutches, the activation of each piston urging the associated drive plate into dynamic engagement with the device housing, the dynamic engagement between the drive plate and the device housing permitting slippage between the drive plate and the device housing while providing torque transmission from the output hub to the clutch housing when the output hub is rotating above a predetermined speed relative to the input shaft.