Wedge clutch with opposing thrust forces

A wedge clutch, comprising:

• a first hub;
• a second hub;
• an outer ring located radially outward of the first and second hubs;
• a first wedge plate radially disposed between the first hub and the outer ring;
• a second wedge plate radially disposed between the second hub and the outer ring;
• and,
• a wedge pin including:
• a shaft;
• and,
• an actuation ramp non-rotatably connected to the shaft, the actuation ramp including:
• using the axis of rotation for the wedge pin as a reference, a radially outer surface;
• a first surface connecting the radially outer surface and the shaft;
• and,
• a second surface connecting the radially outer surface and the shaft, wherein:
• to transition to a connect mode, in which the first and second hubs are non-rotatably connected to the outer ring:
• the wedge pin is arranged to rotate in a first rotational direction about the axis of rotation for the wedge pin;
• and,
• the first and second surfaces are arranged to displace the first and second hubs axially away from each other;
• and,
• to transition to a disconnect mode, in which the first and second hubs are rotatable with respect to the outer ring, the wedge pin is arranged to rotate in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, to reduce an axial space between the first and second hubs.

A wedge clutch, comprising:

• a first hub including a first cavity and a first surface disposed at least partially in a radial direction orthogonal to an axis of rotation for the wedge clutch;
• a second hub including a second cavity and a second surface disposed at least partially in the radial direction;
• an outer ring located radially outward of the first and second hubs;
• a first wedge plate radially disposed between the first hub and the outer ring;
• a second wedge plate radially disposed between the second hub and the outer ring;
• and,
• a wedge pin including:
• a shaft;
• and,
• an actuation ramp non-rotatably connected to the shaft, the actuation ramp including:
• a portion disposed in the first and second cavities;
• a first circumferential end having a first extent in an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation for the wedge pin;
• a second circumferential end having a second extent in the axial direction less than the first extent;
• using the axis of rotation for the wedge pin as a reference axis, a radially outer surface;
• a third surface connecting the first and second circumferential ends;
• and,
• a fourth surface connecting the first and second circumferential ends, wherein:
• to transition to a connect mode, in which the first and second hubs are non-rotatably connected to the outer ring:
• the wedge pin is arranged to rotate in a first rotational direction about the axis of rotation for the wedge pin;
• and,
• the third and fourth surfaces are arranged to displace the first and second hubs axially away from each other;
• in the connect mode, the second circumferential end is radially between the axis of rotation for the wedge pin and an axis of rotation for the wedge clutch;
• to transition to a disconnect mode, in which the first and second hubs are rotatable with respect to the outer ring, the wedge pin is arranged to rotate in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction;
• and,
• in the disconnect mode, the first circumferential end is radially between the axis of rotation for the wedge pin and the axis of rotation for the wedge clutch.