Method and apparatus for controlling a selectable one-way clutch in an electro-mechanical transmission

• US 8,196,724 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Samie, Farzad, Millerman, Alexander, Lee, Chunhao J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BONCK, RODNEY H
• Application Number:
  US12/365,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20090194381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 192/43.1, 192/47, 192/69.1, 192/84.92
• US Class Current: 192/43.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/383 One-way clutches or freewheel devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/125 the pawl movement having an axial component
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/14 the effective stroke of the pawl being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0873 with switching, e.g. to change ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A selectable one-way clutch includes a strut plate co-annular to a slide plate and a notch plate. The selectable one-way clutch is configured to transfer torque between a strut plate and a notch plate in a first direction when a displacement actuator moves a pin and a slide plate to a first position. The selectable one-way clutch is configured to disengage the strut plate from the notch plate when the displacement actuator moves the pin and the slide plate to the second position.

Claims

1. A clutch assembly configured to transfer torque in a transmission, comprising:

a selectable one-way clutch comprising a strut plate co-annular to a slide plate and a notch plate;

the strut plate including a pass-through slot portion and an annular race;

the slide plate configured to slidably move in the annular race of the strut plate and including a pin fixedly connected to and projecting from the slide plate configured to pass through the slot portion of the strut plate, wherein the slidable movement of the slide plate is limited by the pin and the slot portion of the strut plate;

a displacement actuator fixedly connected to the strut plate and configured to selectively move the pin and the slide plate to one of a first position and a second position;

the selectable one-way clutch configured to transfer torque between the strut plate and the notch plate in a first direction when the pin and the slide plate are in the first position;

the selectable one-way clutch configured to disengage the strut plate from the notch plate when the pin and the slide plate are in the second position; and

a control module configured to actuate the displacement actuator to move the pin and the slide plate from the first position to the second position using a first voltage potential, and configured to hold the displacement actuator in the second position using a second voltage potential less than the first voltage potential.

2. The clutch assembly of claim 1, further comprising the selectable one-way clutch configured to disengage the strut plate from the notch plate when the pin and the slide plate are in the first position and torque is applied between the strut plate and the notch plate in a second direction.

3. The clutch assembly of claim 1, wherein the displacement actuator comprises a linear actuator.

4. A clutch assembly configured to transfer torque in a transmission, comprising:

an annular strut plate co-annular to a slide plate and a notch plate;

the strut plate including a pass-through slot portion, an annular race, and a plurality of circumferentially-located retractable struts;

the notch plate including a plurality of circumferentially-disposed notches located co-annular to the retractable struts of the strut plate;

the slide plate configured to slidably move in the annular race of the strut plate and including a pin projecting from a surface of the slide plate configured to pass through the slot portion of the strut plate, wherein the slidable movement of the slide plate is limited by the pin and the slot portion of the strut plate;

the slide plate including a plurality of pass-through notch openings corresponding to the retractable struts and the strut plate;

a linear actuator having a moveable plunger projecting substantially tangential to the annular race wherein a distal end of the moveable plunger comprises a yoke device configured to engage the pin of the slide plate, the linear actuator controllable to move the yoke device to one of a first position and a second position;

the retractable struts configured to engage the co-annular notches of the notch plate when the yoke device is in the first position and the retractable struts configured to retract within the strut plate and disengage the co-annular notches of the notch plate when the yoke device is in the second position; and

a control module configured to actuate the linear actuator to move the pin and the slide plate from the first position to the second position using a first voltage potential, and configured to hold the linear actuator in the second position using a second voltage potential less than the first voltage potential.