Patent Application
20190162246
The present disclosure relates to a wedge plate, for a wedge plate clutch, with rotated segments, and to a wedge plate clutch with a wedge plate with rotated segments. The rotated segments increase contact between the wedge plate and inner and outer races for the wedge plate clutch in a locked mode.
In a locked mode for clutch 312, plate 300 and races 314 and 316 are non-rotatably connected. However, only small portions of respective surfaces 306 for three of the five segments 302 are in contact with surface 318. Specifically: each of segments 302A, 302B and 302C have small respective areas of contact 324 between surfaces 306 and 318; and, there is no contact between race 314 and segments 302D and 302E. Further, areas of contact 324 between ramps 322 and ramps 310 are also small. The relatively small extent of areas of contact 324 limits the torque-carrying capacity of clutch 312.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a wedge plate, including: a first plurality of segments including first and second segments and a second plurality of segments. The first segment includes: a first radially outer surface in a shape of a portion of a first circle; and a first radially inner surface including a first ramp extending radially outwardly in a first circumferential direction. The second segment includes: a second radially outer surface in a shape of a portion of a second circle, the second circle non-co-linear with the first circle; and a second radially inner surface including a second ramp extending radially outwardly in the first circumferential direction. Each segment in the second plurality of segments connects a respective pair of circumferentially adjacent segments included in the first plurality of segments.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a wedge plate clutch, including: an axis of rotation; an outer race with a first radially inner surface at a radial distance from the axis of rotation; an inner race; and a wedge plate radially disposed between the inner race and the outer race and including a first plurality of segments. The first plurality of segments includes first and second segments. The first segment includes a first radially outer surface: in contact with the first radially inner surface; and in a shape of a portion of a first circle having a radius equal to the radial distance. The second segment includes a second radially outer surface: in contact with the first radially inner surface; and in a shape of a portion of a second circle having a radius equal to the radial distance.
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method of operating a wedge plate clutch, including: an inner race with a first radially outer surface having a first ramp sloping radially outwardly in a first circumferential direction about an axis of rotation for the wedge plate clutch; an outer race including a first radially inner surface at a uniform radial distance from the axis of rotation; and a wedge plate radially disposed between the inner and outer races, the wedge plate including a first segment with a second radially outer surface in the shape of a portions of a first circle having a radius equal to the uniform radial distance and with a second radially inner surface including a second ramp sloping radially outwardly in the first circumferential direction. The method comprises: contacting the first radially inner surface with the second radially outer surface; contacting the first ramp with the second ramp; rotating the inner race in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction; sliding, in the second circumferential direction, the first ramp along the second ramp; displacing the wedge plate radially outwardly; and non-rotatably connecting the inner race, the wedge plate and the outer race.
Various embodiments are disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the disclosure as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It should be understood that any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the disclosure.
To clarify the spatial terminology, objects 12, 13, and 14 are used. As an example, an axial surface, such as surface 15A of object 12, is formed by a plane co-planar with axis 11. However, any planar surface parallel to axis 11 is an axial surface. For example, surface 15B, parallel to axis 11 also is an axial surface. An axial edge is formed by an edge, such as edge 15C, parallel to axis 11. A radial surface, such as surface 16A of object 13, is formed by a plane orthogonal to axis 11 and co-planar with a radius, for example, radius 17A. A radial edge is co-linear with a radius of axis 11. For example, edge 16B is co-linear with radius 17B. Surface 18 of object 14 forms a circumferential, or cylindrical, surface. For example, circumference 19, defined by radius 20, passes through surface 18.
Axial movement is in axial direction AD1 or AD2. Radial movement is in radial direction RD1 or RD2. Circumferential, or rotational, movement is in circumferential direction CD1 or CD2. The adverbs “axially,” “radially,” and “circumferentially” refer to movement or orientation parallel to axis 11, orthogonal to axis 11, and about axis 11, respectively. For example, an axially disposed surface or edge extends in direction AD1, a radially disposed surface or edge extends in direction RD1, and a circumferentially disposed surface or edge extends in direction CD1.
Each segment 104 connects a respective pair of circumferentially adjacent segments 102. For example, segment 104A connects segments 102A and 102B. Each segment 104 is bounded, at least in part, by a respective slot 106 and a respective slot 108. For example, segment 104A is bounded by slots 106A and 108A.
Each slot 106: extends radially inwardly from a pair of circumferentially adjacent surfaces 110; and is bounded, at least in part, by a pair of circumferentially adjacent segments 102 in direction CD1 and in direction CD2, opposite direction CD1. For example, slot 106A: extends radially inwardly from surfaces 110A and 110B; and is bounded by segments 102B and 102A in directions CD1 and CD2, respectively.
Each slot 108: extends radially outwardly from a pair of circumferentially adjacent surfaces 112; and is bounded, at least in part, by a pair of circumferentially adjacent segments 102 in directions CD1 and CD2. For example, slot 108A: extends radially inwardly from surfaces 112A and 112B; and is bounded by segments 102B and 102A in directions CD1 and CD2, respectively.
Wedge plate 100 includes: end surface 116; end surface 118; and gap 120 between end surfaces 116 and 118. End surface 116 faces in direction CD1. End surface 118 faces in direction CD2. Wedge plate 100 is circumferentially continuous except at gap 120. Wedge plate 100 is a resilient element and is preloaded with force F resisting displacement of ends 116 and 118 in directions CD1 and CD2, respectively. Thus, wedge plate 100 resists being compressed radially inwardly.
Respective circles for at least a pair, for example a pair of circumferentially adjacent, surfaces 110 are not co-linear. That is, the respective portions for the pair of surfaces 110 are tangentially off-set as explained below. For example in
In the example of
In the example of
In an example embodiment, each surface 110 forms a portion of a circle having radius R1. Radius R1 is equal to distance 208. In an example embodiment, at least one surface 110, but less than every surface 110, forms a portion of a respective circle having a radius R1 equal to distance 208. Radii R1 are measured from axis AR. Inner race 204 includes radially outer surface 210 with ramps 212 extending radially outwardly along circumferential direction CD1.
Wedge plate 100 is radially disposed between races 202 and 204. Each ramp 212 is engaged with ramp 114 for a respective segment 102. For example, ramps 212A and 212B are in contact with ramps 114A and 114B, respectively. In the example of
As is known in the art, from the locked mode for clutch 200 and for relative rotation of inner race 204 with respect to outer race 202 in circumferential direction CD1, wedge plate clutch 200 transitions to an open mode in which outer race 202 and inner race 204 are rotatable with respect to each other. For example, ramps 212 along ramps 114 to radially retract wedge plate 100. In the open mode, there is frictional contact between surfaces 110 and surface 206. For example, for segments 102A and 102B, when wedge plate 100 is installed in clutch 200, force F forces surfaces 110 into contact with surface 206.
As is known in the art, from the open mode and for relative rotation of inner race 204 with respect to outer race in circumferential direction CD2, wedge plate clutch 200 transitions to the locked mode. For example, when inner race 204 rotates in direction CD2 with respect to race 202, the rotation of race 204 urges wedge plate 100 in direction CD2. However, the frictional contact between surfaces 110 and 206 resists the rotation of wedge plate 100 in direction CD2 so that ramps 212 slide along ramps 114 in direction CD2, pushing wedge plate 100 (in particular, surfaces 110) radially outwardly to non-rotatable connect plate 100 to races 202 and 204.
In an example embodiment, in the locked mode for clutch 200, 100 percent of each surface 110 is in contact with surface 206. Therefore, lines 122 and 124, passing through point P1, are co-linear in clutch 200. In an example embodiment, in the locked mode for clutch 200, 75 percent to less than 100 percent of each surface 110 is in contact with surface 206. In an example embodiment, in the locked mode for clutch 200, 50 percent to less than 75 percent each surface 110 is in contact with surface 206. In an example embodiment, in the locked mode for clutch 200, 25 percent to less than 50 percent each surface 110 is in contact with surface 206. In an example embodiment, in the locked mode for clutch 200, 10 percent to less than 25 percent each surface 110 is in contact with surface 206. It should be understood that in the locked mode, other ranges of contact are possible for each surface 110 in contact with surface 206. It should be understood in the locked mode, the percent of each surface 110 in contact with surface 206 can be different for different segments 102 in clutch 200.
In an example embodiment, in the open mode for clutch 200, 100 percent of each surface 110 is in contact with surface 206. In an example embodiment, in the open mode for clutch 200, 75 percent to less than 100 percent of each surface 110 is in contact with surface 206. In an example embodiment, in the open mode for clutch 200, 50 percent to less than 75 percent of each surface 110 is in contact with surface 206. In an example embodiment, in the open mode for clutch 200, 25 percent to less than 50 percent of each surface 110 is in contact with surface 206. In an example embodiment, in the open mode for clutch 200, 10 percent to less than 25 percent of each surface 110 is in contact with surface 206. It should be understood that in the open mode, other ranges of contact between each surface 110 and surface 206 are possible. It should be understood that in the open mode, the percent of each surface 110 in contact with surface 206 can be different for different segments 102 in clutch 200.
It should be understood that for a particular segment 102, the percent of each surface 110 in contact with surface 206 can be different for the closed and open modes.
In an example embodiment, in the locked mode for clutch 200, 100 percent of each portion 130 is in contact with the respective ramp 212. In an example embodiment, in the locked mode for clutch 200, 75 percent to less than 100 percent of each portion 130 is in contact with the respective ramp 212. In an example embodiment, in the locked mode for clutch 200, 50 percent to less than 75 percent of each portion 130 is in contact with the respective ramp 212. In an example embodiment, in the locked mode for clutch 200, 25 percent to less than 50 percent of each portion 130 is in contact with the respective ramp 212. In an example embodiment, in the locked mode for clutch 200, 10 percent to less than 25 percent of each portion 130 is in contact with the respective ramp 212. It should be understood that in the locked mode, other ranges of contact between portions 130 and ramps 212 are possible. It should be understood that for the locked mode, the percent of portion 130 and ramp 212 in contact can be different for different segments 102 in clutch 200.
In an example embodiment, in the open mode for clutch 200, 100 percent of each portion 130 is in contact with the respective ramp 212. In an example embodiment, in the open mode for clutch 200, 75 percent to less than 100 percent of each portion 130 is in contact with the respective ramp 212. In an example embodiment, in the open mode for clutch 200, 50 percent to less than 75 percent of each portion 130 is in contact with the respective ramp 212. In an example embodiment, in the open mode for clutch 200, 25 percent to less than 50 percent of each portion 130 is in contact with the respective ramp 212. In an example embodiment, in the open mode for clutch 200, 10 percent to less than 25 percent of each portion 130 is in contact with the respective ramp 212. It should be understood that in the open mode, other ranges of contact between portions 130 and ramps 212 are possible. It should be understood that for the open mode, the percent of portion 130 and ramp 212 in contact can be different for different segments 102 in clutch 200.
It should be understood that for a particular segment 102, the percent of portion 130 and ramp 212 in contact can be different for the closed and open modes.
The following should be viewed in light of
In an example embodiment, a seventh step: contacts the first radially inner surface with 100 percent of the second radially outer surface; or contacts the first radially inner surface with 75 percent to less than 100 percent of the second radially outer surface; or contacts the first radially inner surface with 50 percent to less than 75 percent of the second radially outer surface; or contacts the first radially inner surface with 25 percent to less than 50 percent of the second radially outer surface.
In an example embodiment an eighth step: contacts the first ramp with 100 percent of a full extent of the second ramp radially aligned with the first ramp; or contacts the first ramp with 75 percent to less than 100 percent of a full extent of the second ramp radially aligned with the first ramp; or contacts the first ramp with 50 percent to less than 75 percent of a full extent of the second ramp radially aligned with the first ramp; or contacts the first ramp with 25 percent to less than 50 percent of a full extent of the second ramp radially aligned with the first ramp; or contacts the first ramp with 10 percent to less than 25 percent of a full extent of the second ramp radially aligned with the first ramp.
In an example embodiment, the first radially outer surface includes a third ramp sloping radially outwardly in the first circumferential direction, for example ramp 212B, and the wedge plate includes a second segment with a third radially outer surface in the shape of a portion of a second circle having a radius equal to the radial distance and with a third radially inner surface including a fourth ramp sloping radially outwardly in the first circumferential direction, for example segment 102B, surface 110B, and circle C2. A ninth step contacts the first radially inner surface with the third radially outer surface. A tenth step contacts the third ramp with the fourth ramp.
Wedge plate 100 and wedge plate clutch 200 solve the problem noted above regarding limited contact, in a locked mode, between a wedge plate in a wedge plate clutch and the inner and outer races of the clutch. Specifically, in the locked mode, for a wedge plate clutch, such as clutch 200, including plate 100, the area of contact between wedge plate 100 and outer race 202 and between wedge plate 100 and inner race 204 is greatly increased, in comparison to the prior art wedge plate clutch discussed above. Thus, wedge plate clutch 200 has an increased torque-carrying capacity in comparison to known wedge plate clutches having a single similarly sized wedge plate.
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
