The present invention relates to a clutch for a vehicle having primary driven axles and secondary driven axles. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrically actuated bi-directional roller clutch for controlling overriding engagement of the secondary driven axles.
In a four wheel drive system for an all terrain vehicle, overrunning clutches allow a secondary driven axle to freewheel when the primary axle wheels have good traction and drive when the primary axle wheels slip. However, the overrunning clutches freewheel in downhill operation. It is advantageous for the auxiliary axle to also contribute to engine braking or negative drive torque. U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,123 with reissue RE38,012 deals with this situation by having two or more coils or actuators to control an overrunning clutch.
The present invention provides an overrunning clutch assembly that includes a single actuator capable of controlling the overrunning clutch both to engage the secondary axles during wheel slip at the primary axles, and to engage the secondary axles to contribute to engine braking. By incorporating a single actuator, the design of the overrunning clutch assembly is simplified and the overall cost is reduced.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a clutch assembly for a vehicle having at least one primary driven axle supporting a first wheel and at least one secondary driven axle supporting a second wheel. The at least one primary driven axle is driven by a vehicle transmission. The clutch assembly includes a clutch movable between a first position, wherein the transmission engages the at least one secondary driven axle when the first wheel slips and disengages the at least one secondary driven axle when the first wheel does not slip, and a second position, wherein the at least one secondary driven axle engages the transmission to provide engine braking. A single actuator is operable to move the clutch between the first and second positions.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a clutch assembly for a vehicle having at least one primary driven axle supporting a first wheel and at least one secondary driven axle supporting a second wheel. The at least one primary driven axle is driven by a vehicle transmission. The clutch assembly includes a clutch movable between a first position, wherein the transmission engages the at least one secondary driven axle when the first wheel slips and disengages the at least one secondary driven axle when the first wheel does not slip, and a second position, wherein the at least one secondary driven axle engages the transmission to provide engine braking. The clutch assembly further includes an actuator having first and second conditions. The actuator has a plate coupled with the at least one secondary driven axle. The plate is free to rotate with the at least one secondary driven axle to move the clutch to one of the first and second positions when the actuator is in the first condition, and the plate is substantially prevented from rotating with the at least one secondary driven axle to move the clutch to the other of the first and second positions when the actuator is in the second condition.
In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a clutch assembly for a vehicle having at least one primary driven axle and at least one secondary driven axle with the at least one primary driven axle driven by a vehicle transmission. The clutch assembly comprises a drive sleeve having an inner surface engaging the secondary driven axle and an outer surface supporting a clutch inner race. A carrier associated with and driven by the vehicle transmission has an inner surface supporting a clutch outer race aligned with the clutch inner race. The clutch outer race has spaced apart inwardly extending ridges that define a series of roller pockets. A plurality of rollers are positioned in respective ones of the roller pockets between the clutch inner and outer races. A cage rotationally supported between the clutch inner and outer races includes a plurality of fingers extending between the clutch inner and outer races such that at least one finger extends between each pair of adjacent rollers. A brake plate is rotationally supported by the drive sleeve and a solenoid armature selectively engages the brake plate to prevent rotation thereof. A friction plate is rotationally supported by the drive sleeve and rotationally engages the cage. The friction plate has a first friction pad of a first diameter engaging the clutch inner race and a second friction pad of a second diameter larger than the first diameter engaging the brake plate.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing figures wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout. Certain terminology, for example, “top”, “bottom”, “right”, “left”, “front”, “frontward”, “forward”, “back”, “rear” and “rearward”, is used in the following description for relative descriptive clarity only and is not intended to be limiting.
Referring to
The drive system also includes a secondary drive shaft 124 which is rotatably connected to the bidirectional overrunning clutch assembly 100 through any conventional means known to those skilled in the art, such as a splined connection. The overrunning clutch assembly 100, in turn, rotatably drives two secondary driven shafts 126, 128 which are attached to wheels 130. The overrunning clutch assembly 100 includes a housing 1 supported by the vehicle.
The details of the bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly 100 will now be described with respect to
The drive sleeve 3 is radially supported by a bushing 7 and a roller bearing 8. Into the inner periphery of the carrier 2 is fit a clutch outer race 4. Onto the outer periphery of the drive sleeve 3 is fit a clutch inner race 5. Onto the inner periphery of the outer race 4 is formed a multiplicity of longitudinal ridges 16 which form pockets into which rollers 6 are placed. Between each roller 6 is located the spring finger 17 of the cage 14. A friction plate 13 rotatably supported by the drive sleeve 3 has a small diameter, generally annular friction pad 18 in contact with a flange 19 on the inner race 5, a large diameter, generally annular friction pad 20 in contact with the brake plate 12, and a projection 21 which rotationally engages the cage 14.
Referring to
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Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/564,046 filed Apr. 21, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60564046 | Apr 2004 | US |