Externally actuated torque coupling for drivetrain
AssigneeDana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
InventorJun Yoshioka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque-coupling device comprising a hydraulically actuated friction clutch pack and a gerotor pump provided for generating hydraulic pressure actuating the friction clutch pack. The gerotor pump is selectively actuated by a device external to the gerotor pump and the friction clutch pack, such as an electric motor, friction brake, electro-magnetic clutch, friction mechanism utilizing a magneto-rheological fluid, electro-magnetic brake, etc. The externally driven gerotor pump may be further provided with torque-multiplication gearing, and/or an electronic controller to modulate the actuation of the pump in order to provide flexible control of the hydraulic pressure generated by the gerotor pump.
Claims15
A torque coupling unit comprising:
- an input member and at least one output member;
- a clutch assembly for selectively coupling said input member with said at least one output member;
- a normally deactivated hydraulic pump provided to generate a hydraulic pressure to frictionally load said clutch assembly;
- and
- a pump actuator for selectively actuating said hydraulic pump, said pump actuator disposed externally to said clutch assembly;
- said hydraulic pump being drivingly disconnected from said at least one output member both when actuated and deactivated by said pump actuator.
A torque coupling unit comprising:
- an input member and at least one output member;
- a clutch assembly for selectively coupling said input member with said at least one output member;
- a normally deactivated hydraulic pump provided to generate a hydraulic pressure to frictionally load said clutch assembly;
- and
- a pump actuator for selectively actuating said hydraulic pump, said pump actuator disposed externally to said clutch assembly;
- said clutch assembly and said hydraulic pump being disposed within a rotating case and said pump actuator is disposed outside said rotating case;
- said hydraulic pump comprising a rotor and a stator, and wherein said stator being drivingly coupled to said rotating case and said rotor being drivingly coupled to said pump actuator disposed outside said rotating case.
A torque transmission coupling for an axle of a four-wheel-drive vehicle, said torque transmission coupling comprising:
- a two-part casing having a first housing and a second housing;
- a ring gear secured to and transmitting an input torque to said first housing;
- at least one pinion and side gear assembly secured to and receiving an output torque from said second housing;
- a multi-disc clutch mechanism adapted to transmit torque from said first housing to said second housing when said multi-disc clutch mechanism is in an engaged position, a first set of clutch plates being secured to said first housing and a second set of clutch plates being secured to said second housing;
- a hydraulic pump provided to generate a hydraulic pressure to frictionally load said clutch mechanism;
- a pump actuator for selectively actuating said hydraulic pump, said pump actuator disposed externally to said first and second housings;
- wherein both said hydraulic pump and said clutch mechanism are disposed between said first and second housings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.