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US 8,474,349 B2Granted
Idle-able auxiliary drive system
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsJohn Allen Grogg, Mark James Shewchuck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power transfer unit (PTU) for a motive device includes an outer housing and a torque transferring clutch. The PTU also includes a piston housing located between the outer housing and the torque transferring clutch, and a piston in the piston housing. The piston is arranged to provide actuation forces to the torque transferring clutch, and to restrict reaction forces back to the piston housing.
Claims20
A power transfer unit for a motive device, comprising:
- an outer housing;
- a torque transferring clutch;
- a piston housing located between the outer housing and the torque transferring clutch;
- a piston in the piston housing;
- a collar located between the outer housing and the piston housing;
- and
- a bearing located between the collar and the piston housing.
4 more elements
A power transfer unit for a motive device, comprising:
- an outer housing;
- a torque transferring clutch configured to rotate in the outer housing;
- a piston housing located between the outer housing and the torque transferring clutch;
- a piston in the piston housing;
- and
- a bearing in the piston housing between the piston and the torque transferring clutch,
- wherein the piston housing does not abut the outer housing, and
- wherein, when the torque transferring clutch rotates, the piston pilots on the torque transferring clutch but does not rotate.
5 more elements
A torque transferring system comprising:
- a motor for supplying torque;
- a transmission operatively coupled to the motor;
- a primary drive axle operatively coupled to the transmission;
- a power transfer unit operatively coupled to the primary drive axle, the power transfer unit comprising:
- an outer housing,
- a pressure-activated torque transferring clutch,
- a piston housing located between the outer housing and the torque transferring clutch;
- a piston in the piston housing;
- a collar located between the outer housing and the piston housing;
- a bearing located between the collar and the piston housing;
- first coupling members selectively operatively coupled to the piston, the torque transferring clutch selectively operatively coupled to the first coupling members;
- and
- second coupling members selectively operatively coupled to the torque transferring clutch;
- a pinion gear operatively coupled to the second coupling members;
- a drive shaft operatively coupled to the pinion gear;
- and
- a secondary drive axle operatively coupled to the drive shaft,
- wherein:
- the piston is configured to provide variable actuation forces to the first coupling members to selectively pressure-activate the torque transferring clutch,
- the torque transferring clutch is configured to transfer torque from the primary drive axle to the pinion gear by variably engaging the second coupling members in response to the variable actuation forces provided by the piston, and
- torque is supplied to the secondary drive axle from the pinion gear through the drive shaft.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.