Clutch

• US 8,443,954 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2009
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Powertrian AG & Co., KG
• Original Assignee: Magna Powertrain AG & Company KG (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Quehenberger, Johannes, Kaimer, Simon, Eder, Klaus, Ekonen, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Lorence, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US12/577,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20100089685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 192/84.6, 192/90
• US Class Current: 192/84.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/35 including arrangements for suppressing or influencing the power transfer, e.g. viscous clutches differential gearing with locking devices F16H48/20
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 27/118 with interengaging jaws or gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19116 Vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a clutch having two clutch parts which can be brought into engagement in form fitted manner for the torque transfer; and a shift member which is movable in a first direction to bring the clutch parts out of engagement and is movable in a second direction to bring the clutch parts into engagement. A motor is provided for the movement of the shift member in the first direction and a spring element is provided for the movement of the shift member in the second direction.

Claims

1. A clutch comprising:

two clutch parts which can be brought into engagement in form fitted manner for the torque transfer; and

a shift member which is movable in a first direction to bring the clutch parts out of engagement and is movable in a second direction to bring the clutch parts into engagement,

wherein a motor is provided for the movement of the shift member in the first direction and a spring element is provided for the movement of the shift member in the second direction, and wherein a triggering of the spring element takes place by an actuation of the motor in the same direction of rotation which previously effects a tensioning of the spring element.

2. The clutch in accordance with claim 1, wherein movement of the shift member in the first direction effects a tensioning of the spring element.

3. The clutch in accordance with claim 1, wherein a ramp mechanism arranged between the motor and the shift member includes at least one actuating ramp or actuating projection and at least one counter-element which is movable relative to the actuating ramp or to the actuating projection and which cooperates with the actuating ramp or with the actuating projection such that the shift member is moved in the first direction on a running of the counter-element onto the actuating ramp or onto the actuating projection against the restoring force of the spring element.

4. The clutch in accordance with claim 3, wherein that the actuating ramp or the actuating projection is formed at the shift member.

5. The clutch in accordance with claim 3, wherein the shift member is provided with a latch recess for engaging the counter-element, or wherein the counter-element is provided with a latch recess for engaging the actuating ramp or the actuating projection.

6. The clutch in accordance with claim 3, wherein the counter-element is movable by actuation of the motor along the actuating ramp.

7. The clutch in accordance with claim 3, wherein the shift member is made in ring shape or in sleeve shape, wherein the shift member surrounds a shaft and is displaceable with respect to it, and wherein the actuating ramp or the actuating projection is made at an end face side of the shift member facing the counter-element.

8. The clutch in accordance with claim 3, wherein the spring element is arranged between an end face side of the shift member remote from the actuating ramp or from the actuating projection and an abutment.

9. The clutch in accordance with claim 3, wherein the counter-element includes a pin which projects radially from an actuating shaft which is rotatable by the motor relative to the shift member.

10. The clutch in accordance with claim 3, wherein the counter-element includes a counter-ramp which is formed at an end face side facing the shift member of a counter-gear surrounding the shaft, and wherein the counter-gear includes a worm wheel which surrounds the shaft and which is preferably in engagement with a worm driven by the motor.

11. The clutch in accordance with claim 10, wherein at least two actuating ramps or actuating projections and at least two counter-ramps are provided.

12. The clutch in accordance with claim 10, wherein the counter-gear surrounds a selector sleeve seated on the shaft, coupled to the shift member and displaceable by it relative to the shaft.

13. The clutch in accordance with claim 3, wherein the counter-element includes a counter-ramp which has a first ramp section and a second ramp section, and wherein the second ramp section drops steeply or is made in step form and includes a steeper first region, a flatter second region and a steeper third region.

14. The clutch in accordance with claim 13, wherein the first ramp section rises in a flat, and in particular linear, manner.

15. The clutch in accordance with claim 13, wherein the first ramp section rises in a non-linear manner, with the gradient of the first ramp section reducing in the direction of the highest point of the counter-ramp.

16. The clutch in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shift member is moved in the first direction only by the motor and in the second direction only by the spring element.

17. A powertrain for a motor vehicle having a permanently driven primary axle, comprising:

a drive unit for the generation of a drive torque;

a first clutch for the transfer of a variable portion of the drive torque to a secondary axle of the motor vehicle;

a second clutch for the deactuation of a torque transfer section of the powertrain arranged between the first clutch and the second clutch, when the first clutch is opened; and

a control unit for the automatic control of the first clutch, with the control unit being connected to at least one sensor for the detection of a wheel slip at the primary axle,

wherein the second clutch includes a clutch having

two clutch parts which can be brought into engagement in form fitted manner for the torque transfer;

a shift member which is movable in a first direction to bring the clutch parts out of engagement and is movable in a second direction to bring the clutch parts into engagement, and

wherein a motor is provided for the movement of the shift member in the first direction and a spring element is provided for the movement of the shift member in the second direction, and wherein a triggering of the spring element takes place by actuation of the motor in the same direction of rotation which effects a tensioning of the spring element.

18. The powertrain in accordance with claim 17, wherein the control unit is made, starting from a deactuated state of the torque transfer section, to close the second clutch in dependence on a detected wheel slip at the primary axle.

19. A clutch comprising:

two clutch parts which can be brought into engagement in form fitted manner for the transfer of torque;

a shift member which is moveable in a first direction to bring the clutch parts out of engagement and is movable in a second direction to bring the clutch parts into engagement;

a motor for moving the shift member in the first direction;

a spring element for moving the shift member in the second direction; and

a ramp mechanism arranged between the motor and the shift member, the ramp mechanism includes at least one actuating ramp or actuating projection and at least one counter-element which is movable relative to the actuating ramp or to the actuating projection and which cooperates with the actuating ramp or with the actuating projection such that the shift member is moved in the first direction on a running of the counter-element onto the actuating ramp or onto the actuating projection against the restoring force of the spring element.

20. A clutch comprising:

two clutch parts which can be brought into engagement for the transfer of torque;

a shift member which is moveable in a first direction to bring the clutch parts out of engagement and in a second direction to bring the clutch parts into engagement;

a motor for moving the shift member in the first direction;

a spring element for moving the shift member in the second direction, wherein a triggering of the spring element takes place by actuation of the motor in a direction of rotation reversed with respect to the direction which previously effects a tensioning of the spring element; and

a return mechanism arranged between the motor and the shift member which includes a driver device which can be brought into engagement with the shift member to draw the shift member in the first direction against the restoring force of the spring element, wherein the driver device includes a spindle driven by the motor and a spindle nut seated on the spindle, the spindle nut having a driver flange which can be brought into engagement with a projection on the shift member by rotation of the spindle nut in one direction and can be released from engagement with the projection by rotation of the spindle nut in the opposite direction.