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US 9,416,827 B1Granted
Clutch assembly with dual actuation piston
AssigneeLogan Clutch Corporation
InventorsW. Andrew Logan, Michael S. Vining, Robert S. Tekesky, Robert M. Kalinsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A clutch assembly includes a fluid-actuated piston that allows clutch usage in both high pressure and low pressure applications. The configuration of the clutch assembly is usable with both hydraulic and pneumatic pressure actuation. Seal configurations create differently sized internal piston surface areas against which inlet pressure applied at hydraulic or pneumatic fluid inlet ports act to move the piston. The utilization of differently sized piston surface areas allows the piston to apply essentially the same clutch engaging compression force in both high pressure hydraulic actuation and lower pressure pneumatic actuation applications.
Claims19
An apparatus comprising:
- a clutch,
- wherein the clutch includes a housing,
- wherein the housing includes at least two fluid inlet ports, including
- at least one first fluid inlet port configured to receive hydraulic fluid, and
- at least one second fluid inlet port configured to receive pneumatic fluid,
- wherein the clutch includes a plurality of discs that are rotatable about an axis,
- wherein the discs include at least one separator disc and at least one friction disc,
- wherein the clutch includes a fluid pressure movable piston, wherein the piston is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- wherein the piston and housing are in operative connection with a plurality of annular resilient seals,
- wherein the plurality of annular seals include at least one radially outer seal, at least one radially intermediate seal and at least one radially inner seal,
- wherein the piston, housing and plurality of annular seals bound a plurality of generally radially extending axially expandable piston cavities, including
- a generally annular outer piston cavity and a generally annular inner piston cavity,
- wherein the outer piston cavity is fluidly bounded by the at least one outer seal and the at least one intermediate seal, and extends radially outward relative to the inner piston cavity,
- wherein the outer piston cavity is in fluid communication with the at least one second fluid port,
- wherein the inner piston cavity is fluidly bounded by the at least one intermediate seal and the at least one inner seal and is in fluid communication with the at least one first fluid inlet port,
- wherein the piston is configured to axially move relative to the housing while the outer piston cavity and the inner piston cavity remain in sealed engagement with the housing,
- such that the piston is axially movable in a first axial direction relative to the housing responsive to pressure received through either of the at least one first fluid inlet port or the at least one second fluid inlet port,
- wherein movement of the piston in the first axial direction is operative to impart an axially directed compressive engagement force to the plurality of discs
- wherein application of a relatively high hydraulic fluid pressure at the at least one first fluid inlet port is operative to cause:
- the high hydraulic fluid pressure to be in fluid communication with the generally annular inner piston cavity but not the generally annular outer piston cavity, and
- the piston to move in the first axial direction and apply a first compressive force to the plurality of discs to cause the clutch to be engaged,
- wherein application of a relatively low pneumatic fluid pressure at the at least one second fluid inlet port is operative to cause:
- the low pneumatic fluid pressure to be in fluid communication with the generally annular outer piston cavity but not the generally annular inner piston cavity, and
- the piston to move in the first axial direction and apply a second compressive force to the plurality of discs to cause the clutch to be engaged,
- wherein the second compressive force is substantially equal to the first compressive force.
22 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a clutch including
- a housing,
- wherein the housing includes
- a first fluid port configured to have hydraulic fluid at a high fluid pressure applied thereto,
- a second fluid port configured to have air pressure at a relatively lower pressure than the high hydraulic fluid pressure applied thereto,
- a piston area,
- a disc pack including a plurality of alternative friction discs and separator discs, wherein the discs are configured to be rotatable about an axis and wherein axial compression of the discs in the disc pack is operative to cause clutch engagement,
- a piston, wherein the piston is configured to be axially movable within the piston area of the housing in movable sealed engagement,
- a plurality of resilient seals, wherein the seals extend between the piston and the housing,
- wherein the seals are operative to fluidly separate an axially expandable first piston cavity and an axially expandable second piston cavity within the piston area,
- wherein the first piston cavity is bounded by a first radially extending area of the piston,
- wherein the first piston cavity is in fluid connection with the first fluid port,
- wherein the second piston cavity is bounded by a second radially extending area of the piston,
- wherein the second radially extending area is larger than the first radially extending area,
- wherein the second piston cavity is in fluid connection with the second fluid port,
- wherein application of either or both of
- high hydraulic fluid pressure to the first fluid port, and
- relatively lower pneumatic pressure to the second fluid port,
- is operative to cause the piston to move in the axial direction and compress the plurality of discs in the disc pack to engage the clutch.
16 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a clutch,
- wherein the clutch includes a housing,
- wherein the housing includes at least two fluid inlet ports, including
- at least one first fluid inlet port configured to receive hydraulic fluid, and
- at least one second fluid inlet port configured to receive pneumatic fluid,
- wherein the clutch includes a plurality of discs that are rotatable about an axis,
- wherein the discs include at least one separator disc and at least one friction disc,
- wherein the clutch includes a fluid pressure movable piston, wherein the piston is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- wherein the piston and housing are in operative connection with a plurality of annular resilient seals,
- wherein the plurality of annular seals include at least one radially outer seal, at least one radially intermediate seal and at least one radially inner seal,
- wherein the piston, housing and plurality of annular seals bound a plurality of generally radially extending axially expandable piston cavities, including
- a generally annular outer piston cavity and a generally annular inner piston cavity,
- wherein the outer piston cavity is fluidly bounded by the at least one outer seal and the at least one intermediate seal, and extends radially outward relative to the inner piston cavity,
- wherein the outer piston cavity is in fluid communication with the at least one second fluid port,
- wherein the inner piston cavity is fluidly bounded by the at least one intermediate seal and the at least one inner seal and is in fluid communication with the at least one first fluid inlet port,
- wherein the piston is configured to axially move relative to the housing while the outer piston cavity and the inner piston cavity remain in sealed engagement with the housing,
- such that the piston is axially movable in a first axial direction relative to the housing responsive to pressure received through either of the at least one first fluid inlet port or the at least one second fluid inlet port,
- wherein movement of the piston in the first axial direction is operative to impart an axially directed compressive engagement force to the plurality of discs,
- wherein application of either a relatively high hydraulic fluid pressure at the at least one first fluid inlet port or application of a relatively low pneumatic fluid pressure at the at least one second fluid inlet port is operative to cause the piston to move in the first axial direction and compress the plurality of discs to engage the clutch.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.