US 9,249,873 B2Granted

Power transmitting component with torque transfer device configured with drag reduction system

AssigneeAmerican Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

InventorsChristopher D. Pump, Charles G. Stuart, John C. Hibbler, James P. Downs, Shawn S. Proctor, Robert J. DeGowske, Adrian M. Lenczewski, Firoz Ali S. Jafri, Paul J. Valente, Brian McCormick, Thomas C. Bowen, Paul W. Kornosky

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Abstract

The present teachings provide for a power transmitting component including a housing, a clutch, a vent, and a dam. The vent can fluidly couple a first and second cavity. The dam can include a door member. Rotation of the outer carrier through a fluid in the second cavity can sling a portion of the fluid toward the vent to cause the portion of the fluid to be transferred from the second cavity, through the vent, and to the first cavity. When the piston is in a first position, the door member can be in a closed position to limit fluid flow from the first cavity to the second cavity. When the piston is in a second position, the door member can be in an open position to allow fluid to flow from the first cavity to the second cavity.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A power transmitting component comprising:

a first output member and a second output member;
a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity;
an input member configured to receive rotational power and rotate about a first axis;
a differential including a differential case and a differential gearset, the differential gearset being configured to transmit rotary power between the differential case and the first and second output members;
a clutch assembly including an inner carrier, an outer carrier, a plurality of first clutch plates, a plurality of second clutch plates, and a piston, the inner carrier being coupled for rotation with the input member, the outer carrier being coupled for rotation with the differential case, the first clutch plates being coupled for rotation with the inner carrier, the second clutch plates being interleaved with the first clutch plates and coupled for rotation with the outer carrier, and the piston being configured to move between a first position and a second position;
a fluid received in the first and second cavities;
a vent fluidly coupling the first and second cavities;
and
a dam having a door member that is movable between an open position and a closed position;
wherein rotation of the outer carrier relative to the housing in a predetermined rotational direction through the fluid in the second cavity slings a portion of the fluid toward the vent to cause the portion of the fluid to be transferred from the second cavity, through the vent, and to the first cavity;
and
wherein when the piston is in the second position, the door member is in the open position to allow fluid to flow from the first cavity to the second cavity, and when the piston is in the first position, the door member is in the closed position to limit fluid flow from the first cavity to the second cavity.

9 more elements

A power transmitting component comprising:

a first output member and a second output member;
an input pinion configured for rotation about a first axis;
a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity;
an input member received in the first cavity and configured for rotation about a second axis, the input member having a first face and a second face, the first face being configured to meshingly engage the input pinion;
a differential including a differential case and a differential gearset, the differential gearset being configured to transmit rotary power between the differential case and the first and second output members;
a clutch assembly being received in the second cavity and including a plurality of first clutch plates, and a plurality of second clutch plates, the plurality of first clutch plates being coupled for rotation with the input member, and the plurality of second clutch plates being interleaved with the first clutch plates and coupled for rotation with the differential case;
a first fluid passageway fluidly coupling the first and second cavities;
and
a wiper member disposed within the first cavity and configured to direct a fluid from the second face of the input member to the first fluid passageway when the input member rotates relative to the housing about the second axis in a predetermined rotational direction.

6 more elements

A power transmitting component comprising:

a first output member and a second output member;
a housing defining a first cavity and a first reservoir, the first reservoir being in fluid communication with the first cavity;
an input pinion configured for rotation about a first axis;
an input member received in the first cavity and configured for rotation about a second axis, the input member configured to meshingly engage the input pinion;
a differential including a differential case and a differential gearset, the differential gearset being configured to transmit rotary power between the differential case and the first and second output members;
a clutch assembly including a plurality of first clutch plates, a plurality of second clutch plates, and a piston, the plurality of first clutch plates being coupled for rotation with the input member, the plurality of second clutch plates being interleaved with the first clutch plates and coupled for rotation with the differential case, the piston being configured to translate within a piston chamber in the housing between a first position and a second position;
a second reservoir fluidly coupled to the first reservoir;
and
a pump configured to selectively pump a fluid from the second reservoir to the piston chamber to move the piston from the first position to the second position;
wherein the first reservoir is configured to catch fluid thrown by centrifugal force from the input member when the input member rotates relative to the housing in a predetermined rotational direction;
and
wherein the second reservoir is separate from the first reservoir and is configured to hold a volume of fluid that is employed to move the piston from the first position to the second position.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/464,029Filed 20 Aug 2014 · us provisional application
Priority: 23 Aug 2013
Published: US 2015/0057125 A126 Feb 2015
Granted: 2 Feb 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

F16H 48/22
Arrangements for suppressing or influencing the differential action, e.g. locking devices: using friction clutches or brakes
F16H 48/06
Differential gearings: with gears having orbital motion
F16H 48/08
With gears having orbital motion: comprising bevel gears
F16H 57/0409
Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heating: characterised by increasing efficiency, e.g. by reducing splash losses