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US 6,808,037 B1Granted
On-demand transfer case
AssigneeNew Venture Gear, Inc.
InventorJoseph G. Mueller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque transfer mechanism is provided for controlling the magnitude of a clutch engagement force exerted on a multi-plate clutch assembly that is operably disposed between a first rotary and a second rotary member. The torque transfer mechanism includes a clutch actuator for generating and applying a clutch engagement force on the clutch assembly.
Claims35
A power transmission device comprising:
- a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a power source;
- a rotary output member adapted to provide drive torque to an output device;
- a torque transfer mechanism operable for transferring drive torque from said input member to said output member, said torque transfer mechanism including a friction clutch assembly operably disposed between said input member and said output member and a clutch actuator assembly for applying a clutch engagement force to said friction clutch assembly, said clutch actuator assembly including a rotary drive member having a hub segment with rollers and a toothed sector segment, a non-rotary cam member having a tapered drive surface in engagement with said rollers, a thrust member in engagement with said cam member and said friction clutch assembly, a reduction gearset having an input gear and an output gear that is meshed with said toothed sector segment of said drive member, and an electric motor for driving said input gear;
- and
- a control system for actuating said electric motor so as to control the direction and amount of rotary movement of said drive member which, in turn, controls the direction and amount of translational movement of said cam member, such movement of said cam member causes concurrent movement of said thrust member relative to said friction clutch assembly so as to vary the clutch engagement force exerted by said thrust member on said friction clutch assembly.
2 more elements
A torque transfer mechanism for transferring drive torque from a rotary input member to a rotary output member, comprising:
- a friction clutch assembly having a drum fixed for rotation with the input member, a hub fixed for rotation with the output member, a clutch pack operably disposed between said drum and said hub, and a pressure plate moveable between a first position whereat a minimum clutch engagement force is exerted on said clutch pack and a second position whereat a maximum clutch engagement force is exerted on said clutch pack;
- a clutch actuator assembly for moving said pressure plate between its first and second positions and including an electric motor, a gear reduction unit and a clutch apply operator, said apply operator including a rotary drive member having rollers and a gear segment, a non-rotary cam member having a tapered surface engaging said rollers, and a thrust member operably disposed between said pressure plate and said cam member for moving said pressure plate between its first and second positions in response to corresponding movement of said cam member between first and second positions, said gear reduction unit having an input gear driven by said electric motor and an output gear meshed with said gear segment of said drive member;
- and
- a control system for actuating said electric motor so as to control rotary movement of said drive member between a first rotary position and a second rotary position, said cam member being located in its first position when said drive member is in its first position so as to cause said pressure plate to be located in its first position, and said cam member is located in its second position when said drive member is rotated to its second position so as to cause said pressure plate to move to its second position.
1 more element
A transfer case for use in a four-wheel drive vehicle having a powertrain and first and second drivelines, comprising:
- a first shaft driven by the powertrain and adapted for connection to the first driveline;
- a second shaft adapted for connection to the second driveline;
- a friction clutch assembly operably disposed between said first shaft and said second shaft;
- a clutch actuator for generating a clutch engagement force to be applied to said friction clutch assembly, said clutch actuator including a rotary drive member having a hub segment with rollers and a toothed sector segment, a non-rotary cam member having a tapered drive surface in engagement with said rollers, a thrust member in engagement with said cam member and said friction clutch assembly, a reduction gearset having an input gear and an output gear that is meshed with said toothed sector segment of said drive member, and an electric motor driving said input gear;
- and
- a control system for actuating said electric motor so as to control the direction and amount of rotary movement of said drive member which, in turn, controls the direction and amount of translational movement of said cam member, such movement of said cam member causes concurrent movement of said thrust member relative to said friction clutch assembly so as to vary the clutch engagement force exerted by said thrust member on said friction clutch assembly.
3 more elements
A transfer case for use in a four-wheel drive vehicle having a powertrain and first and second drivelines, comprising:
- a differential having an input driven by the powertrain and first and second outputs driving the first and second drivelines;
- a friction clutch assembly operably disposed between any two of said input and said first and second outputs of said differential;
- a clutch actuator for generating a clutch engagement force to be applied to said friction clutch assembly, said clutch actuator including a rotary drive member having a hub segment with rollers and a toothed sector segment, a non-rotary cam member having a tapered drive surface in engagement with said rollers, a thrust member in engagement with said cam member and said friction clutch assembly, a reduction gearset having an input gear and an output gear that is meshed with said toothed sector segment of said drive member, and an electric motor driving said input gear;
- and
- a controller for actuating said electric motor to control bi-directional rotation of said drive member and corresponding bi-directional translational movement of said cam member which, in tum, causes sliding movement of said thrust member for applying said clutch engagement force to said friction clutch assembly.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.