Transmission clutch control system

• US 7,189,182 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Wittkopp, Scott H, Stevenson, Paul D, Winship, Richard A
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; David D.
• Application Number:
  US10/880,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20040231945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 475/275, 475/276, 475/278, 475/281, 475/292, 192/38, 192/48.3, 192/48.4, 192/48.6, 192/48.92, 192/44, 192/12.B, 192/35, 188/71.5, 188/77.R, 188/77.W
• US Class Current: 475/292
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0052 the gear ratios comprising six forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2007 with two sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/201 with three sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2097 comprising an orbital gear set member permanently connected to the housing, e.g. a sun wheel permanently connected to the housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/66 composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/666 with compound planetary gear units, e.g. two intermeshing orbital gears F16H3/663 takes precedence

Abstract

A power transmission includes a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a source of torque, a rotary output member and a torque transmitting mechanism selectively operable to transfer drive torque between the input member and the output member. The torque transmitting member includes a selectively operable one-way clutch including a rotatable member for switching the one-way clutch between a released mode and a locked mode. The torque transmitting mechanism also includes a friction clutch and an actuator. The friction clutch is operable to transmit torque to the rotatable member and control the mode of operation of the one-way clutch. The actuator is operable to apply a clutch and brake engagement force to the friction clutch.

Claims

1. A power transmission comprising:

a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a source of torque;

a rotary output member; and

a torque transmitting mechanism selectively operable to transfer drive torque between said input member and said output member, said torque transmitting mechanism including;

a selectively operable one-way clutch including a rotatable member for switching said one-way clutch between a released mode and a locked mode;

a friction clutch operable to transmit torque to said rotatable member and control the mode of operation of said one-way clutch;

an actuator operable to apply a clutch engagement force to said friction clutch, wherein said friction clutch includes a first clutch plate fixed for rotation with said input member and a second clutch plate fixed for rotation with said rotatable member; and

a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively operable to operatively couple said output member to a non-rotatable member for braking rotation of said output member.

2. The power transmission of claim 1 wherein said rotatable member is biased toward a position to place said one-way clutch in said released mode.

3. The power transmission of claim 1 wherein said one-way clutch is a bi-directional one-way clutch.

4. The power transmission of claim 3 wherein said one-way clutch includes a plurality of rollers retained by said rotatable member.

5. The power transmission of claim 4 wherein one of said input member and said output member includes a plurality of recesses in receipt of said plurality of rollers.

6. A power transmission comprising:

a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a source of torque;

a rotary output member; and

a torque transmitting mechanism selectively operable to transfer drive torque between said input member and said output member, said torque transmitting mechanism including;

a selectively operable one-way clutch including a rotatable member for switching said one-way clutch between a released mode and a locked mode;

a friction clutch operable to transmit torque to said rotatable member and control the mode of operation of said one-way clutch;

an actuator operable to apply a clutch engagement force to said friction clutch, wherein said friction clutch includes a first clutch plate fixed for rotation with said input member and a second clutch plate fixed for rotation with said rotatable member;

a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively operable for braking rotation of said output member by operatively coupling said output member to a non-rotatable member; and

a second actuator operable to independently apply a clutch engagement force to said second friction clutch.

7. A power transmission comprising:

a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a source of torque;

a rotary output member; and

a torque transmitting mechanism selectively operable to transfer drive torque between said input member and said output member, said torque transmitting mechanism including;

a selectively operable one-way clutch including a rotatable member for switching said one-way clutch between a released mode and a locked mode;

a friction clutch operable to transmit torque to said rotatable member and control the mode of operation of said one-way clutch;

an actuator operable to apply a clutch engagement force to said friction clutch, wherein said friction clutch includes a first clutch plate fixed for rotation with said input member and a second clutch plate fixed for rotation with said rotatable member; and

a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively operable for braking rotation of said output member by operatively coupling said output member to a non-rotatable member, wherein said one-way clutch and said second torque transmitting mechanism are coupled in series.

8. The power transmission of claim 7 wherein said second torque transmitting mechanism is a second friction clutch.

9. A power transmission comprising:

a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a source of torque;

a rotary output member; and

a torque transmitting mechanism selectively operable to transfer drive torque between said input member and said output member, said torque transmitting mechanism including;

a selectively operable one-way clutch including a rotatable member for switching said one-way clutch between a released mode and a locked mode;

a friction clutch operable to transmit torque to said rotatable member and control the mode of operation of said one-way clutch;

an actuator operable to apply a clutch engagement force to said friction clutch, wherein said friction clutch includes a first clutch plate fixed for rotation with said input member and a second clutch plate fixed for rotation with said rotatable member;

a second torque transmitting mechanism selectively operable for braking rotation of said output member, wherein said actuator includes a sub-piston to apply said clutch engagement force to said friction clutch and a main piston to apply said clutch engagement force to said second torque transmitting mechanism, wherein said sub-piston is slidably positioned within a cavity formed in said main piston.

10. The power transmission of claim 9 wherein said actuator includes a spring biasing said sub-piston away from said friction clutch.

11. A power transmission comprising:

a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a source of torque;

a rotary output member; and

a torque transmitting mechanism selectively operable to transfer drive torque between said input member and said output member, said torque transmitting mechanism including;

a selectively operable one-way clutch including a rotatable member for switching said one-way clutch between a released mode and a locked mode;

a friction clutch operable to transmit torque to said rotatable member and control the mode of operation of said one-way clutch; and

an actuator operable to apply a clutch engagement force to said friction clutch, wherein said friction clutch includes a first clutch plate fixed for rotation with said input member and a second clutch plate fixed for rotation with said rotatable member wherein said actuator includes a piston axially moveable by fluid pressure.

12. A power transmission comprising:

a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a source of torque;

a rotary output member;

a first torque transmitting mechanism operable to transfer torque between said input member and said output member;

a second torque transmitting mechanism operable to selectively restrict rotation of said output member by operatively coupling said output member to a non-rotatable member, wherein said first torque transmitting mechanism includes a friction clutch for controlling operation of a one-way clutch in one of a torque transmitting mode and a released mode, said friction clutch including a rotatable member engaging said one-way clutch wherein the position of said rotatable member determines the operating mode of said one-way clutch.

13. The power transmission of claim 12 further including an actuator operable to apply a clutch engagement force to said friction clutch.

14. The power transmission of claim 12 wherein said one-way clutch is a bi-directional one-way clutch.

15. The power transmission of claim 12 wherein said second torque transmitting mechanism and said one-way clutch are coupled in a series connection.

16. A power transmission comprising:

a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a source of torque;

a rotary output member;

a first torque transmitting mechanism operable to transfer torque between said input member and said output member;

a second torque transmitting mechanism operable to selectively brake rotation of said output member, wherein said first torque transmitting mechanism includes a friction clutch for controlling operation of a one-way clutch in one of a torque transmitting mode and a released mode, said friction clutch including a rotatable member engaging said one-way clutch wherein the position of said rotatable member determines the operating mode of said one-way clutch; and

an actuator operable to apply a clutch engagement force to said friction clutch, wherein said actuator includes a first hydraulically actuatable piston for supplying said clutch engagement force to said friction clutch.

17. The power transmission of claim 16 wherein said second torque transmitting mechanism is a second friction clutch selectively engaged by a second hydraulically actuatable piston.

18. The power transmission of claim 17 wherein said first piston is slidably positioned within said second piston.

19. A power transmission comprising:

a rotary input member adapted to receive drive torque from a source of torque;

a rotary output member;

a first torque transmitting mechanism operable to transfer torque between said input member and said output member;

a second torque transmitting mechanism operable to selectively brake rotation of said output member, wherein said first torque transmitting mechanism includes a friction clutch for controlling operation of a one-way clutch in one of a torque transmitting mode and a released mode, said friction clutch including a rotatable member engaging said one-way clutch wherein the position of said rotatable member determines the operating mode of said one-way clutch, wherein said second torque transmitting mechanism circumscribes said first torque transmitting mechanism.

20. The power transmission of claim 19 further including an actuator operable to apply a clutch engagement force to said friction clutch.

21. A power transmission comprising:

a housing;

a rotary input member being at least partially positioned within said housing and adapted to receive drive torque from a source of torque;

a rotary output member being at least partially positioned within said housing;

a first torque transmitting mechanism being positioned within said housing and operable to transfer torque between said input member and said output member; and

a second torque transmitting mechanism being positioned within said housing and operable to selectively brake rotation of said output member by coupling said output member to said housing, wherein said first torque transmitting mechanism includes a friction clutch for controlling operation of a one-way clutch in one of a torque transmitting mode and a released mode, said friction clutch including a rotatable member engaging said one-way clutch wherein the position of said rotatable member determines the operating mode of said one-way clutch.

22. The power transmission of claim 21 further including an actuator operable to apply a clutch engagement force to said friction clutch.