Clutch brake

• US 7,000,748 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Hornbrook, Michael J., McCutcheon, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lorence, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/760,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20050155832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 192/13.R, 192/18.B, 192/84.2, 188/164
• US Class Current: 192/13.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/20 using electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2123/00 Multiple operation forces
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 67/02 Clutch-brake combinations
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 67/06 electromagnetically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2003/123 using a brake

Abstract

A clutch brake is provided that includes a brake housing adapted to be non-movably secured relative to a driveline master clutch. The brake housing includes a through-hole sized to allow passage of a shaft and at least one source of magnetic flux. The clutch brake also includes an armature secured for rotation with the shaft and positioned axially adjacent the brake housing in a disengaged state. At least a portion of the armature is adapted to move axially on the shaft in the presence of magnetic flux to contact the brake housing in an engaged state and inhibit rotation of the armature and the shaft.

Claims

1. A clutch brake, comprising:

a brake housing adapted to be non-movably secured in an axial direction relative to a driveline master clutch, the brake housing including at least two sources of magnetic flux and a through-hole sized to allow passage of a shaft; and

an armature secured for rotation with the shaft and positioned axially adjacent the brake housing in a disengaged state, at least a portion of the armature adapted to move axially on the shaft in the presence of magnetic flux to contact the brake housing in an engaged state and inhibit rotation of the armature and the shaft, wherein the armature includes a number of slots positioned to separate lines of magnetic flux generated by a first source of magnetic flux from lines of magnetic flux generated by a second source of magnetic flux.

2. The clutch brake of claim 1, wherein the source of magnetic flux includes an electromagnetic coil.

3. The clutch brake of claim 1, wherein the armature includes a shaft collar secured for rotation with the shaft and an armature plate surrounding the shaft collar and movable relative to the shaft and shaft collar in an axial direction.

4. The clutch brake of claim 3, wherein the armature includes a return spring attached to the armature plate and the shaft collar.

5. The clutch brake of claim 4, wherein the armature plate is adapted to move relative to the shaft collar between a first, disengaged position in the disengaged state and a second position engaged with the brake housing in the engaged state.

6. The clutch brake of claim 5, wherein the return spring is adapted to bias the armature plate toward the first, disengaged position when the armature plate is moved toward the second, engaged position.

7. The clutch brake of claim 1, wherein the brake housing is configured to function as a bearing cap.

29. The clutch brake of claim 1, wherein the brake housing is separate from a bearing cap.

8. A driveline clutch assembly, comprising:

a master clutch for transmitting rotational power between a prime mover and a transmission input shaft

a release bearing and a release bearing actuating member adapted to move the release bearing to engage and disengage the master clutch; and

a clutch brake, including;

a brake housing adapted to be non-movably secured in an axial direction relative to the master clutch, the brake housing including at least one source of magnetic flux and a through-hole sized to allow passage of a shaft; and

an armature secured for rotation with the shaft and positioned axially adjacent the brake housing in a disengaged state, at least a portion of the armature adapted to move axially on the input shaft in the presence of magnetic flux to contact the brake housing in an engaged state to inhibit rotation of the armature and the input shaft.

9. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the source of magnetic flux includes an electromagnetic coil.

10. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the armature includes a shaft collar secured for rotation wit the shaft and an armature plate surrounding the shaft collar and movable relative to the input shaft and shaft collar in an axial direction.

11. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the armature includes a return spring attached to the armature plate and the shaft collar.

12. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 11, wherein the armature plate is adapted to move relative to the shaft collar between a first, disengaged position in the disengaged state and a second position engaged with the brake housing in the engaged state.

13. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 12, wherein the return spring is configured to bias the armature plate toward the first, disengaged position when the armature plate is moved toward the second, engaged position.

14. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the brake housing includes at least two sources of magnetic flux.

15. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 14, wherein the armature includes a number of slots positioned to separate lines of magnetic flux generated by a first source of magnetic flux from lines of magnetic flux generated by a second source of magnetic flux.

16. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the brake housing is configured to function as a transmission bearing cap.

17. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the brake housing is adapted to secure a quill to a transmission housing.

18. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the master clutch is provided in communication with a control system adapted to control operation of the clutch brake.

19. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 18, wherein the control system includes a control unit and at least one sensor adapted to determine the position of at least one of the release bearing and the release bearing actuating member and provide an output to the control unit indicative of that position.

20. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 19, wherein the sensor is one of an inductive sensor, a Hall Effect switch and a mechanical switch.

30. The driveline clutch assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a transmission bearing cap; and

wherein the brake housing is physically separated from the transmission bearing cap.

21. A combination brake and bearing cap, comprising:

a brake housing adapted to secure a component of a bearing seal, the brake housing including a bearing seal retaining surface, at least one source of magnetic flux, and a through-hole sized to allow passage of a shaft; and

an armature secured for rotation wit the shaft and positioned axially adjacent the brake housing in a disengaged state, at least a portion of the armature adapted to move axially on the shaft in the presence of magnetic flux to contact the brake housing in an engaged state to inhibit rotation of the armature and the shaft.

22. The combination brake and bearing cap of claim 21, wherein the source of magnetic flux includes an electromagnetic coil.

23. The combination brake and bearing cap of claim 21, wherein the armature includes a shaft collar secured for rotation with the shaft and an armature plate surrounding the shaft collar and movable relative to the shaft and shaft collar in an axial direction.

24. The combination brake and bearing cap of claim 23, wherein the armature includes a return spring attached to the armature plate and the shaft collar.

25. The combination brake and bearing cap of claim 24, wherein the armature plate is adapted to move relative to the shaft collar between a first, disengaged position in the disengaged state and a second position engaged with the brake housing in the engaged state.

26. The combination brake and bearing cap of claim 25, wherein the return spring is configured to bias the armature plate toward the first, disengaged position when the armature plate is moved toward the second, engaged position.

27. The combination brake and bearing cap of claim 21, wherein the brake housing includes at least two sources of magnetic flux.

28. The combination brake and bearing cap of claim 27, wherein the armature includes a number of slots positioned to separate magnetic lines of magnetic flux generated by a first source of magnetic flux from lines of magnetic flux generated by a second source of magnetic flux.