Clamping force generator

• US 8,376,903 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pohl, Brad P, Dawe, Daniel J, Lohr, Charles B, Nichols, Jon M
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, William C
• Application Number:
  US12/514,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20100093485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,932 Days
• Field of Search: 476/36, 476/37, 476/38, 476/45, 476/65, 74/56, 74/57, 74/58
• US Class Current: 476/37
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/28 with external friction surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/52 in which a member of uniform effective diameter mounted on a shaft may co-operate with different parts of another member
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/186 with reciprocation along the axis of oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/664 Friction gearings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18304 Axial cam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18312 Grooved

Abstract

Mechanisms and methods for clamping force generation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a clamping force generator includes a spring coupled to a traction ring and to a load cam roller cage. The traction ring can be provided with a recess to receive the spring. In some embodiments, a relatively short spring is provided. In other embodiments, a spring couples to a wire and the spring-wire combination couples to the traction ring and the load cam roller cage. In some embodiments, the load cam roller cage is provided with tabs adapted to engage the wire and/or the spring. In yet other embodiments, the traction ring is configured to receive a dowel pin for coupling to the spring. One or more of the tabs can include a tab notch that cooperates with a stop pin coupled to the traction ring to provide adjustment of the travel of the load cam roller cage.

Claims

1. A clamping force generator (CFG) for a transmission, the CFG comprising:

a traction ring having a first side, and a second side, wherein the first side comprises a set of ramps, and wherein the second side comprises a traction surface; and

a load cam roller cage adapted to cooperate with the traction ring, the load cam roller cage comprising;

a first slotted ring;

a second slotted ring coupled to the first slotted ring;

a band that fits on an outer periphery of the first and second slotted rings so at to retain the first and second slotted rings;

a plurality of load cam rollers adapted to be retained in the slotted rings; and

a spring adapted to be retained by the first and second slotted rings, wherein the spring comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of the spring is configured to contact the traction ring.

2. The CFG of claim 1, wherein the traction ring comprises a groove adapted to receive the spring.

3. The CFG of claim 2, further comprising a load cam driver in contact with the load cam rollers.

4. The CFG of claim 3, wherein the load cam driver comprises a set of ramps adapted to contact the load cam rollers.

5. The CFG of claim 4, wherein the load cam driver comprises a groove adapted to retain the spring.

6. The CFG of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises a tension or compression coil spring.

7. The CFG of claim 1, wherein the traction ring comprises means for engaging the spring.