POWER TRANSMITTING COMPONENT WITH TWIN-FORK ACTUATOR
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power transmitting component comprising:
- an actuator housing;
a motor coupled to the actuator housing;
a transmission driven by the motor, the transmission being at least partially housed in the actuator housing;
a lead screw that is rotatable about a first axis, the lead screw being driven by the transmission;
a first rail extending along a second axis that is generally parallel to the first axis;
a second rail extending along a third axis that is generally parallel to the first axis;
a cradle assembly driven by the lead screw axially along the first axis, the cradle assembly comprising a cradle having a first cradle yoke, which is slidably received on the first rail, and a second cradle yoke that is slidably received on the second rail;
a first clutch fork slidably mounted on the first rail; and
a second clutch fork slidably mounted on the second rail;
wherein movement of the cradle along the first rail coordinates movement of the first clutch fork along the second axis and movement of the second clutch fork along the third axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power transmitting component having a actuator with a lead screw, which is driven by a motor and a transmission, a pusher assembly driven by the lead screw, and first and second clutch forks. Translation of the pusher coordinates movement of the first and second clutch forks along respective axes.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A power transmitting component comprising:
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an actuator housing; a motor coupled to the actuator housing; a transmission driven by the motor, the transmission being at least partially housed in the actuator housing; a lead screw that is rotatable about a first axis, the lead screw being driven by the transmission; a first rail extending along a second axis that is generally parallel to the first axis; a second rail extending along a third axis that is generally parallel to the first axis; a cradle assembly driven by the lead screw axially along the first axis, the cradle assembly comprising a cradle having a first cradle yoke, which is slidably received on the first rail, and a second cradle yoke that is slidably received on the second rail; a first clutch fork slidably mounted on the first rail; and a second clutch fork slidably mounted on the second rail; wherein movement of the cradle along the first rail coordinates movement of the first clutch fork along the second axis and movement of the second clutch fork along the third axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for operating a power transmitting component, the power transmitting component having a first power transmitting member, a second power transmitting member and a collar, the first and second power transmitting members being rotatable along an axis, the collar being rotatably and slidably mounted to the first power transmitting member, the collar being axially movable along the axis between a fully disengaged position, in which the collar is disengaged from the second power transmitting member, and a fully engaged position, the method comprising:
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providing an actuator with an electric motor and a clutch fork that is driven by the electric motor, the clutch fork being engaged to the collar; translating the collar to the fully disengaged position; generating a command to move the clutch fork to the engaged position and responsively operating the electric motor to cause the clutch fork to move the collar toward the fully engaged position; determining a position of the collar along the axis after the electric motor has halted operation; and limiting rotary power transmitted through the collar if the collar is not located in the fully engaged but is nevertheless engaged to the second power transmitting member to at least a predetermined extent. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A power transmitting component comprising:
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a power take-off unit having a mode clutch and a multi-speed transmission, the mode clutch having a mode member that is axially movable along a transmission axis between a first mode position, in which no rotary power is transmitted through the mode clutch, and a second mode position in which rotary power is transmitted through the mode clutch, the multi-speed transmission having a transmission member that is movable along the transmission axis between a first transmission position, in which the transmission operates in a first gear ratio, and a second transmission position in which the transmission operates in a second, different gear ratio; and an actuator having an actuator housing, a motor coupled to the actuator housing, an actuator transmission, a lead screw, a first rail, a second rail, a cradle assembly, a first clutch fork, a second clutch fork, a first fork spring and a second fork spring, the actuator transmission being driven by the motor and at least partially housed in the actuator housing, the lead screw being driven by the actuator transmission for rotation about a first axis, the first rail extending along a second axis that is generally parallel to the first axis, the second rail extending along a third axis that is generally parallel to the first axis, the cradle assembly comprising a cradle, a cradle body, and a cradle spring, the cradle defining a first cradle yoke, which is slidably mounted on the first rail, a second cradle yoke, which is slidably mounted on the second rail, a first drive lug and a pair of arms, the cradle body being threadably coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes corresponding axial movement of the cradle body along the first axis, the cradle spring being configured to center the cradle body between the arms of the cradle and to permit movement of the cradle body relative to the cradle along the first axis, the first clutch fork having a first clutch fork yoke, which is slidably mounted on the first rail, and a second drive lug, the first clutch fork being engaged to one of the mode member and the transmission member such that movement of the first clutch fork along the second axis causes corresponding movement of the one of the mode member and the transmission member along the transmission axis, the second clutch fork having a second clutch fork yoke, which is slidably mounted on the second rail, and a third drive lug, the second clutch fork being engaged to the other one of the mode member and the transmission member such that movement of the second clutch fork along the third axis causes corresponding movement of the other one of the mode member and the transmission member along the transmission axis, the first fork spring being received on the first rail and biasing the first clutch fork and the first cradle yoke apart from one another, the second fork spring being received on the second rail and biasing the second clutch fork and the second cradle yoke apart from one another; wherein the first clutch fork is movable between a first fork position and a second fork position, wherein the second clutch fork is movable between a third fork position and a fourth fork position, wherein the first and second drive lugs contact one another over at least a portion of the travel of the first clutch fork when the first clutch fork is moved from the first fork position to the second fork position, and wherein the third drive lug contacts the actuator housing when the second clutch fork is in the fourth fork position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification