MULTI-POSITION ROTARY ACTUATOR WITH CLUTCH

• US 20190316640A1
• Filed: 04/17/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DUS Operating, Inc. (Dura Automotive Topco Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Dura Operating LLC (Dura Automotive Systems)
• Inventors: Jeon, Jinseok, Nofzinger, Aubrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,859,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/066 all members having the same size and only one of the two surfaces being cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/105 the intermediate members being of circular cross-section, of only one size and wedging by rolling movement not having an axial component between inner and outer races, one of which is cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/28 with gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/08 of gearings with members having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/3466 using electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/3491 Emergency release or engagement of parking locks or brakes

Abstract

In at least some implementations, a multiple position actuator, includes a motor, a gearset driven by the motor, an output driven by the gearset between at least two positions, and a clutch arranged between the gearset and the output to permit relative rotation between the output and gearset. The gearset, output and clutch may be coaxially arranged. The clutch may include at least two movable elements that move relative to one or both of the output and gearset to permit relative rotation between the clutch and gearset in two opposed rotational directions. In at least some implementations, the gearset provides a torque to the output that is at least 50 times greater than the torque of the motor.

Claims

1. A multiple position actuator, comprising:

a motor;

a gearset driven by the motor;

an output driven by the gearset between at least two positions; and

a clutch arranged between the gearset and the output to permit relative rotation between the output and gearset.

2. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the gearset, output and clutch are coaxially arranged.

3. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the clutch includes at least two movable elements that move relative to one or both of the output and gearset to permit relative rotation between the clutch and gearset in two opposed rotational directions.

4. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the gearset provides a torque to the output that is at least 50 times greater than the torque of the motor.

5. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the output is driven by the motor from a first position to a second position, and a biasing member acts on the output to move or assist the movement of the output from the second position back to the first position.

6. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the output may be rotated and cause rotation of the gearset without actuation of the motor.

7. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the gearset is an input of the clutch and the output is an output of the clutch.

8. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the gearset includes a sun gear, a ring gear and multiple planet gears engaged with the ring gear, wherein the ring gear is coupled to the clutch and the output is coupled to the clutch.

9. The actuator of claim 8 wherein the ring gear defines at least one of a support surface or a clutch surface, and a gap between the support surface and clutch surface has a circumferentially oriented length and a varying width along the length, and wherein the clutch includes a movable element engaged with both the support surface and clutch surface and a biasing member engaged with the movable element to yieldably bias the movable element toward a narrower portion of the gap.

10. The actuator of claim 9 wherein the clutch includes a clutch set with two opposed movable elements and the gap has a minimum width at a location between the two movable elements and the width of the gap increases from the location of minimum width toward each movable element of the set.

11. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the clutch includes at least one movable member and at least one biasing member that yieldably biases the movable member into engagement with one or both of the output and a gear of the gearset, and wherein the biasing member supports the movable member during backdrive rotation of the output which causes rotation of the gearset.

15. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the output is driven by the motor from a first position to a second position, and a biasing member acts on the output to move or assist the movement of the output from the second position back to the first position.

16. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the output may be rotated and cause rotation of the gearset without actuation of the motor.

17. The actuator of claim 1 wherein a gear of the gearset has an axis of rotation and defines at least one of a support surface or a clutch surface, and a gap between the support surface and clutch surface has a circumferentially oriented length and a radial width that varies along the length, and wherein the movable element is engagable with both the support surface and clutch surface and a biasing member engaged with the movable element yieldably biases the movable element toward a radially narrower portion of the gap.

12. A multiple position actuator, comprising:

a motor;

a gearset including multiple gears driven by the motor, wherein the gears are arranged to rotate about a common axis or parallel axes;

an output driven by the gearset between at least two positions; and

a clutch arranged between the gearset and the output to permit relative rotation between the output and gearset, the clutch including at least one movable element engageable with the output and with at least one of a gear of the gearset or a component that rotates with a gear of the gearset.

13. The actuator of claim 12 wherein the gearset, output and clutch are coaxially arranged.

14. The actuator of claim 12 wherein the clutch includes at least two movable elements that move relative to one or both of the output and gearset to permit relative rotation between the clutch and gearset in two opposed rotational directions.