Patent Application
20230407924
The present disclosure relates to torque devices, particularly torque devices (e.g., clutch or brake) in transmissions or braking systems.
In a transmission system or a brake system, a piston can be used to engage or clamp the torque device (e.g., clutch or brake) to bring all components to the same rotational speed. Some designs have part deflection which can create high concentrated loading on the friction material. Such deflection may also lead to high localized temperatures during engagement.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,167,903 (“the '903 patent”) describes a dual clutch. The '903 patent describes that the dual clutch can include a first partial clutch for coupling a drive shaft to a first transmission input shaft, and a second partial clutch to couple the drive shaft to a second transmission input shaft. According to the '903 patent, a first actuating cup displaces a first compression plate of the first partial clutch and a second actuating cup displaces a second compression plate of the second partial clutch.
According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a torque device assembly is disclosed or can be provided or implemented. The torque device assembly can comprise: at least one plate having a first face and a second face opposite the first face; and a piston to slidingly engage and disengage with the first face of the at least one plate. A face of the piston can selectively engage the first face of the at least one plate. The face of the piston can have a first portion that faces the first face of the at least one plate and that contacts the first face of the at least one plate in a case where the piston engages the at least one plate. The face of the piston can have a second portion that faces the first face of the at least one plate and that does not contact the first face of the at least one plate in the case where the piston engages the at least one plate. The first portion of the face of the piston that contacts the first face of the at least one plate in the case where the piston engages the at least one plate can be at a tip of the piston.
According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed or can be implemented. The method can comprise: providing a clutch pack; and providing a piston relative to a first end of the clutch pack to selectively engage and disengage the clutch pack. The clutch pack can be compressible responsive to engagement of the piston against an end plate of the clutch pack. A first face of the piston can be selectively engageable with a contact face of the end plate of the clutch pack that faces the first face of the piston. The first face of the piston can have a first portion that faces the contact face of the end plate of the clutch pack and that can contact the contact face of the end plate of the clutch pack when the piston engages the clutch pack. The first face of the piston can have a second portion that faces the contact face of the end plate and that does not contact the contact face of the end plate of the clutch pack when the piston engages the clutch pack. The first portion of the first face of the piston that contacts the contact face of the end plate when the piston engages the clutch pack can be at a tip of the piston.
According to yet one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a system for selectively engaging and disengaging a clutch is disclose or can be provided or implemented. The system can comprise: a clutch pack comprised of a plurality of alternating friction discs and plates and in a clutch drum; and a piston to selectively engage and disengage the clutch pack. The clutch pack can be compressible at a first end toward a second stationary end opposite the first end responsive to engagement of the piston against an end plate of the clutch pack. A first face of the piston can selectively engage a contact face of the end plate of the clutch pack that faces the first face of the piston. The first face of the piston can have a first portion that faces the contact face of the end plate and that can contact the contact face of the end plate when the piston engages the clutch pack. The first face of the piston can have a second portion that faces the contact face of the end plate and that does not contact the contact face of the end plate when the piston engages the clutch pack. The first portion of the first face of the piston that contacts the contact face of the end plate when the piston engages the clutch pack can be at a tip of the piston.
The present disclosure relates to torque devices, particularly torque devices (e.g., clutch or brake) in transmissions or braking systems.
In
The engine 138 may be an internal combustion engine such as a reciprocating piston engine or a gas turbine engine. In an embodiment, the engine 138 can be a spark ignition engine or a compression ignition engine. The compression ignition engine can be a diesel engine, a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine, or a reactivity-controlled compression ignition engine, as examples.
As seen in
Referring now to
A portion of the clutch 136c in
The piston 112 can be connected to a clutch fluid passage 114 to receive clutch fluid. The clutch fluid can aid in actuating the piston 112 to engage or disengage the clutch pack 110. That is, as pressure of the clutch fluid is increased, the piston 112 can move toward and engage the clutch pack 110. Similarly, as the pressure of the clutch fluid is decreased, the piston 112 can move away from and disengage the clutch pack 110. In an embodiment, the clutch fluid can comprise clutch oil. According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the piston 112 can directly contact the clutch pack 110 when engaged. The foregoing describes a pressure applied/spring retracted piston setup. However, embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are not so limited. Rather, embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can also involve or include a spring applied/pressure released piston setup.
According to one or more embodiments, the piston 112 can contact a piston plate 116, for instance, in continuous contact with the piston plate 116 when the piston 112 is engaged and disengaged with/from the clutch pack 110. The piston plate 116 can be biased towards the piston 112 by a piston retraction spring 118, and the piston plate 116 can transfer force from the piston 112 to a slider valve 120 when the piston 112 engages the clutch pack 110. The slider valve 120 can be infinitely moveable between an open position and a closed position. The slider valve 120 can also be in fluid communication with a lube oil passage 124 and the clutch fluid passage 114. In
In this example, the slider valve 120 can also define an aperture 122, which can be at least partially aligned with the lube oil passage 124 when the slider valve 120 is in the open position. In such a case, the lube oil from the lube oil passage 124 can flow through the aperture 122. Subsequently, the lube oil can flow through apertures 128 defined by a hub 140 onto the clutch pack 110. The hub 140 can partially enclose the slider valve retraction spring 126 and the slider valve 120.
The slider valve 120 can also comprise a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The aperture 122 can be located at or near the first end of the slider valve 120, while the slider valve retraction spring 126 can contact the slider valve 120 at or near the second end of the slider valve 120. Furthermore, the aperture 122 can face a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the slider valve 120 slides.
The slider valve 120 can also define a slot 142 and a slot 144. In an embodiment, the slots 142 and 144 can each comprise an annulus. The slider valve retraction spring 126 can contact the slider valve 120 at the slot 142. A seal 146 can be located within the slot 144. The seal 146 can prevent clutch fluid from the clutch fluid passage 114 from entering past the seal 146. The seal 146 can comprise a rubber seal, which can move along with the slider valve 120.
When the slider valve 120 is in the closed position, the aperture 122 may not be aligned with the lube oil passage 124. In such a case, the slider valve 120 can prevent the lube oil from the lube oil passage 124 from flowing to the clutch pack 110. In addition to the pressure supplied by the piston 112 and the piston plate 116, the slider valve 120 can also be in an open or closed position based on the pressure by the clutch fluid. The pressure by the clutch fluid can be controlled by the ECU 106. For example, the ECU 106 can increase or decrease pressure by the clutch fluid. Referring now to
Referring still to
The clutch pack 110 may be provided in a clutch drum 115. According to one or more embodiments, a retaining ring 117 can retain (or assist in retaining) the clutch pack 110 in the clutch drum 115. As shown in
A plate 111 of the clutch pack 110 closest to the piston 112 can be referred to or characterized as an end plate (of the clutch pack 110). The plate 111 closest to the piston 112 can have a face or side 162 that faces the piston 112 and another face or side opposite the face 162 (see
Referring now specifically to
As can be seen from
According to one or more embodiments, the face 162 of the plate 111 can be planar from an outer edge or outer diameter (OD) of the plate 111 to an inner edge or inner diameter (ID) of the plate 111, such as shown in
When the piston 112 engages the clutch pack 110, the first portion 174 of the face 172 of the piston 112 can contact the face 162 of the plate 111 radially inward of a center line 200 extending longitudinally through the clutch pack 110, such as shown in
The present disclosure relates to torque devices, particularly torque devices (e.g., clutch or brake) in transmissions or braking systems.
Torque devices, upon engagement by a piston, can have a part that deflects. For instance, in the case of a clutch the clutch pack can deflect upon engagement by the piston. Such deflection can create a relatively high concentrated load on the friction material engaged by the piston. The deflection can also result relatively in high localized temperatures during engagement.
Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can involve a so-called pivot piston in a torque device (e.g., clutch or brake). Generally, a pivot piston can operate by allowing a clamping surface to rotate about a radius when the part is deflected by relatively high forces. Only a projecting portion on the face of the piston, which can be at the tip or end portion of the piston, can contact the reaction plate. Such specific contact can reduce the contact pressure, for instance, compared to a flat faced piston, and, furthermore, can reduce localized high temperatures by applying load uniformly. This can result in lower temperature when the piston is engaged.
At 302, the method 300 can provide at least one plate, which can be rotatable. As noted above, the plate can be in the context of a torque device in the form of a clutch pack of a transmission, such as clutch pack 110, or a disc of a brake (e.g., a single- or multiple-disc brake) of a braking system, such as the braking system 150. At 304, the method 300 can provide a piston, such as piston 112. At 306, the method 300 can selectively engage the piston against the plate. The piston can be selectively engageable to slow down, stop, or prevent rotation of the plate, depending upon the type of torque device. In the context of the clutch pack, the piston can engage an end plate to press the discs of the clutch pack together to rotationally lock the discs. In the context of a disc brake, the piston can engage the plate/disc to slow down, stop, or prevent rotation of the plate/disc.
As noted above, engagement of the piston 112 against the plate 111 can be such that when the piston 112 engages the clutch pack 110, the first portion 174 of the face 172 of the piston 112 can contact the plate 111 and such that the second portion 177 does not contact the plate 111.
It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. That is, unless clearly specified otherwise, as used herein the words “a” and “an” and the like carry the meaning of “one or more.” The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B” or one or more of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B; A, A and B; A, B and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Similarly, as used herein, the word “or” refers to any possible permutation of a set of items. For example, the phrase “A, B, or C” refers to at least one of A, B, C, or any combination thereof, such as any of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C; or multiple of any item such as A and A; B, B, and C; A, A, B, C, and C; etc.
Additionally, it is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer,” and the like that may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not necessarily limit embodiments of the disclosed subject matter to any particular orientation or configuration. Furthermore, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., merely identify one of a number of portions, components, points of reference, operations and/or functions as described herein, and likewise do not necessarily limit embodiments of the disclosed subject matter to any particular configuration or orientation.
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, assemblies, systems, and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
