HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED CLUTCH ACTUATOR
First Claim
1. A clutched device comprising:
- a vehicle component including;
a first member and a second member that are rotatable about an axis; and
a clutch having a clutch member that is movable along the axis between a first clutch position and a second clutch position, wherein the clutch is configured to transmit rotary power between the first and second members when the clutch member is in the first clutch position, and wherein the clutch is configured to decouple the first and second members when the clutch member is in the second clutch position; and
an actuator including;
a housing;
a piston that is slidably received within the housing and translatable along the axis, the piston having a first piston face, a second piston face, and a third piston face, wherein the first piston face and the housing define a first chamber, wherein the second piston face and the housing define a second chamber and the second piston face has a greater surface area than the first piston face, and wherein the third piston face and the housing define a third chamber that is fluidly isolated from the first and second chambers;
a conduit that fluidly couples the first and second chambers;
a vent coupled for fluid communication with the third chamber;
a reservoir configured to hold a hydraulic fluid;
a pump coupled for fluid communication with the reservoir and the first chamber, and configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to the first chamber;
a valve configured to selectively inhibit fluid communication between the second chamber and the reservoir; and
a shift element coupled to the piston for common translation with the piston, and configured to move the clutch member between the first and second clutch positions.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A clutched device including an actuator and a clutch. The actuator can include a housing and a piston having a first, second, and third face. The first face and the housing can define a first chamber. The second face and the housing can define a second chamber. The second face can have a greater surface area than the first face. The third face and the housing can define a third chamber, isolated from the first and second chambers. A conduit can couple the first and second chambers. A vent can be coupled to the third chamber. A pump can pump fluid from a reservoir to the first chamber. A valve can selectively inhibit fluid communication between the second chamber and the reservoir. A shift element can be coupled to the piston for common translation and can move a clutch member between first and second positions.
5 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A clutched device comprising:
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a vehicle component including; a first member and a second member that are rotatable about an axis; and a clutch having a clutch member that is movable along the axis between a first clutch position and a second clutch position, wherein the clutch is configured to transmit rotary power between the first and second members when the clutch member is in the first clutch position, and wherein the clutch is configured to decouple the first and second members when the clutch member is in the second clutch position; and an actuator including; a housing; a piston that is slidably received within the housing and translatable along the axis, the piston having a first piston face, a second piston face, and a third piston face, wherein the first piston face and the housing define a first chamber, wherein the second piston face and the housing define a second chamber and the second piston face has a greater surface area than the first piston face, and wherein the third piston face and the housing define a third chamber that is fluidly isolated from the first and second chambers; a conduit that fluidly couples the first and second chambers; a vent coupled for fluid communication with the third chamber; a reservoir configured to hold a hydraulic fluid; a pump coupled for fluid communication with the reservoir and the first chamber, and configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to the first chamber; a valve configured to selectively inhibit fluid communication between the second chamber and the reservoir; and a shift element coupled to the piston for common translation with the piston, and configured to move the clutch member between the first and second clutch positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A clutched device comprising:
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a vehicle component including; a first member and a second member that are rotatable about an axis; and a clutch having a clutch member that is movable along the axis between a first clutch position and a second clutch position, wherein the clutch is configured to transmit rotary power between the first and second members when the clutch member is in the first clutch position, and wherein the clutch is configured to decouple the first and second members when the clutch member is in the second clutch position; and an actuator including; a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity that has a larger outer diameter than the first cavity; a piston having an annular shape that is coaxial with the axis and axially translatable within the housing, the piston including a first ring and a second ring, the first ring being slidably received within the first cavity, the second ring extending radially outward from the first ring and being slidably received within the second cavity; a conduit that fluidly couples a portion of the first cavity with a first portion of the second cavity; a vent that is coupled for fluid communication with a second portion of the second cavity, wherein the second portion of the second cavity is isolated from the portion of the first cavity and from the first portion of the second cavity by the piston; a reservoir configured to hold a hydraulic fluid; a pump coupled for fluid communication with the reservoir and the portion of the first cavity, and configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to the portion of the first cavity; a valve configured to selectively inhibit fluid communication between the reservoir and the first portion of the second cavity; and a shift element coupled to the piston for common translation with the piston, and configured to move the clutch member between the first and second clutch positions. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A clutched device comprising:
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a vehicle component having first member, a second member and a clutch, the first and second members being rotatable about an axis, the clutch having a collar that is disposed about the axis and movable along the axis between a first clutch position and a second clutch position, wherein the clutch is configured to transmit rotary power between the first and second members when the collar is in the first clutch position, and wherein the clutch is configured to decouple the first and second members when the collar is in the second clutch position; and an actuator having a housing, a first piston, a second piston, a conduit, a vent, a reservoir, a pump, a valve and a shift element, the housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity that has a larger outer diameter than the first cavity, the first piston being disposed about the axis and axially translatable within the first cavity, the first piston having a first piston face that partially defines a first chamber, the second piston being disposed about the axis and axially translatable within the second cavity, the second piston being coupled to the first piston for common axial translation within the housing, the second piston having a second piston face and a third piston face, the second piston face partially defining a second chamber, and the third piston face partially defining a third chamber that is fluidly isolated from the first and second chambers, the second piston face having a greater surface area than the first piston face, the conduit being configured to fluidly couple the first and second chambers, the vent being coupled in fluid communication with the third chamber, the reservoir being configured to hold a hydraulic fluid, the pump being coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir and the first chamber, and configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to the first chamber, the valve being configured to selectively inhibit fluid communication between the reservoir and the second chamber, the shift element being coupled to the second piston for common translation with the second piston, the shift element being configured to move the collar between the first and second clutch positions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification