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US 6,888,273 B2Granted
Integrated motor and clutch assembly
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsDouglas A. Hughes, James K. Spring
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated motor and clutch assembly is provided, which includes a housing that rotatably supports an input shaft and an output shaft. A selectively engageable friction clutch is disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft for transferring torque therebetween. The friction clutch includes an outer hub connected for rotation with the output shaft. The integrated motor and clutch assembly also includes a motor having a rotor non-rotatably connected to the outer hub of the friction clutch and disposed coaxial with the input and output shafts. The motor also includes a stator secured to the housing and disposed concentric with the rotor.
Claims21
An integrated motor and clutch assembly comprising:
- a housing that supports an input shaft and an output shaft for rotation therein;
- a selectively engageable friction clutch disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft for transferring torque therebetween, the friction clutch including an outer hub attached to the output shaft;
- and
- a motor comprising a rotor connected to the outer hub of the friction clutch and disposed coaxial with the input and output shafts, and a stator secured to the housing and disposed concentric with the rotor.
1 more element
An integrated motor and clutch assembly comprising:
- a housing that supports an input shaft and an output shaft for rotation therein;
- a selectively engageable clutch disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft for transferring torque therebetween, the clutch comprising a ball ramp mechanism for generating a clamping force comprising;
- an annular control plate having an axis of rotation, the control plate having a plurality of circumferential control ramps formed in a face of the control plate, the control ramps varying in axial depth, an equivalent number of rolling elements one occupying each of the control ramps, an activation plate mounted to the output shaft through a first one-way clutch having an axis of rotation coaxial with the axis of rotation of the control plate, the activation plate having a plurality of activation ramps substantially identical in number, shape and radial position to the control ramps where the activation ramps at least partially oppose the control ramps and where each of the rolling elements is contained between one of the activation ramps and a respective control ramp, the control plate being axially and rotationally moveably disposed relative to the activation plate, the control plate having an annular control extension radially extending therefrom and the activation plate having an annular activation extension radially extending therefrom, an annular intermediate plate nonrotatably connected to the output shaft and disposed between the control extension and the activation extension;
- a coil for creating an electromagnetic field in a coil armature upon introduction of an electrical current in the coil where the coil armature is mounted to the input shaft through a second one-way clutch;
- a clutch pack for frictionally and rotatably connecting the input shaft to the output shaft upon application of the clamp load generated by the ball ramp mechanism;
- wherein upon introduction of an electrical current in the coil an electromagnetic field is generated to rotationally couple the coil armature to the control extension and the control extension to the intermediate plate and the intermediate plate to the activation extension;
- and
- a motor comprising a rotor connected to the outer hub of the clutch and disposed coaxial with the input and output shafts, and a stator secured to the housing and disposed concentric with the rotor.
5 more elements
An integrated motor and clutch assembly comprising:
- a housing that supports an input shaft and an output shaft for rotation therein;
- a selectively engageable friction clutch disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft for transferring torque therebetween, the friction clutch including an outer hub connected for rotation with the output shaft;
- a motor comprising a rotor connected to the outer hub of the friction clutch and disposed coaxial with the input and output shafts, and a stator secured to the housing and disposed concentric with the rotor;
- and
- wherein the friction clutch includes a clutch pack for frictionally and rotatably connecting the input and the output shafts and a ball ramp mechanism for loading the clutch pack, whereby the load on the clutch pack is maintained regardless of the direction of torque flow through the integrated motor and clutch assembly, the ball ramp mechanism including an annular control plate having an axis of rotation, the control plate including a plurality of circumferential control ramps formed in a face of the control plate, the control ramps varying in axial depth;
- an equivalent number of rolling elements one occupying each of the control ramps;
- an activation plate having an axis of rotation coaxial with the axis of rotation of the control plate, the activation plate having a plurality of activation ramps that at least partially oppose the control ramps, such that each of the rolling elements is contained between one of the activation ramps and a respective control ramp, the control plate being connected to a control extension and the activation plate is connected to an activation extension;
- and at least one slip joint interposed between the control plate and the control extension to nonrotatably couple the control plate to the control extension while allowing relative axial movement between the control plate and the control extension.
5 more elements
An integrated motor and clutch assembly comprising:
- a housing that supports an input shaft and an output shaft for rotation therein;
- a selectively engageable friction clutch disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft for transferring torque therebetween, the friction clutch including an outer hub connected for rotation with the output shaft;
- a motor comprising a rotor connected to the outer hub of the friction clutch and disposed coaxial with the input and output shafts, and a stator secured to the housing and disposed concentric with the rotor;
- and
- wherein the friction clutch includes a clutch pack for frictionally and rotatably connecting the input and the output shafts and a ball ramp mechanism for loading the clutch pack, whereby the load on the clutch pack is maintained regardless of the direction of torque flow through the integrated motor and clutch assembly, the ball ramp mechanism including an annular control plate having an axis of rotation, the control plate including a plurality of circumferential control ramps formed in a face of the control plate, the control ramps varying in axial depth;
- an equivalent number of rolling elements one occupying each of the control ramps;
- an activation plate having an axis of rotation coaxial with the axis of rotation of the control plate, the activation plate having a plurality of activation ramps that at least partially oppose the control ramps, such that each of the rolling elements is contained between one of the activation ramps and a respective control ramp, the control plate being connected to a control extension and the activation plate is connected to an activation extension;
- and at least one slip joint interposed between the activation plate and the activation extension to nonrotatably couple the activation plate to the activation extension while allowing relative axial movement between the activation plate and the activation extension.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.