Schaeffler Technologies Ag & Co .kg

Carsten Ohr

Brian Thomas Lee

Marion Jack Ince

Ryan Carlino

Jeffrey Hemphill

Guihui Zhong

Philip George

Benjamin J Smith

Philip Wurzberger

Ramon Jurjanz

Scott Hart

George A Spencer

Christian Fuerstenhoefer

Paul McNeill

Peter Eisenhauer

A method of assembling a clutch includes assembling a wedge chain by connecting a plurality of wedges together with links such that the wedges are movable relative to each other, and wrapping the wedge chain around an inner race. The method further includes connecting an end one of the links to an end one of the wedges to secure the chain to the inner race. The may also include installing the inner race into an outer race such that the wedge chain is radially disposed between the inner and outer races.

Methods of assembly for wedge clutch with wedge chain

A powertrain, such as a vehicular electric powertrain, includes a cycloidal speed reducer configured to reduce a speed of an output of a traction motor. The cycloidal speed reducer includes an input member configured to couple with the output of the traction motor. A cycloidal disc has a main body made of a first material and defining a plurality of circumferentially-arranged holes extending through the body. The cycloidal disc has a plurality of inserts each extending through one of the holes. The inserts are made of a second material. A plurality of circumferentially-arranged pins are each disposed in one of the holes and contacting one of the inserts. The inserts provide reinforcement in contact areas between the disc and the pins.

Powertrain with cycloidal mechanism having reinforced contact surfaces

A wedge clutch includes an inner race and an outer race. The outer race defines an inner cam surface. A chain of wedges encircles the inner race and are configured to couple the races when the clutch is engaged. The wedges have outer surfaces that match with sections of the inner cam surface such that the wedges have an outer radial position when in first rotational position relative to the cam surface and have an inner radial position when in a second rotational position to frictionally engage the inner race.

Wedge clutch with wedge chain

A switchable wedge clutch includes an inner race, and an outer race that has an inner surface defining a plurality of tapered regions. A plurality of wedge plate are disposed between the inner and outer races, and are moveable circumferentially about the inner race. Each wedge plate segment has a tapered outer surface configured to engage and slide relative to the tapered regions of the outer race. An actuating ring has a plurality of axially-extending tapered fingers configured to fit between two of the wedge plate segments. The wedge plate segments are wedged between the tapered regions and the inner race to lock the inner and outer race together. Axial movement of the actuating ring forces the wedge plate segments circumferentially against biasing forces of springs to unwedge the wedge plate segments from between the outer race and the inner race and unlock the wedge clutch.

Switchable cylindrical wedge clutch

A wedge plate clutch, including: inner and outer rings; circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments radially disposed between the inner and outer rings; a plurality of snap rings urging the circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments radially outwardly; and a cage. The plurality of snap rings includes: a first snap ring with a first circumferential gap; and a second snap ring with a second circumferential gap. The second circumferential gap is circumferentially off-set from the first circumferential gap. For a disconnect mode for the wedge plate clutch, the inner ring and the outer ring are rotatable with respect to each other. To transition from the disconnect mode to a connect mode for the wedge plate clutch, in which the inner and outer rings are non-rotatably connected, the cage is arranged to displace the circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments.

Wedge plate clutch with off-set snap rings

A cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch, including: an axis of rotation; a carrier ring; a hub; a wedge plate including at least a portion radially disposed between the carrier ring and the hub; and a wedge element displaceable, for first and second locked modes in which the hub and the carrier ring are non-rotatably connected, in a first axial direction to contact the wedge plate and expand the wedge plate radially outwardly, and displaceable, for a free-wheel mode in which the hub and the carrier ring are rotatable with respect to each other, in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction. For the first locked mode, the hub and carrier ring are arranged to rotate in a first circumferential direction. For the second locked mode, the hub and carrier ring are arranged to rotate in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction.

Cylindrical bi-directional wedge clutch

A wedge plate clutch, including: an axis of rotation; a hub; an outer ring located radially outwardly of the hub; a plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments radially disposed between the hub and the outer ring; a cage; and a dual function spring including a first plurality of resilient elements urging the cage in a first axial direction and a second plurality of resilient elements urging the plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments radially inwardly. For a disconnect mode for the wedge plate clutch, the hub and the outer ring are rotatable with respect to each other. To transition from the disconnect mode to a connect mode for the wedge plate clutch, in which the hub and the outer ring are non-rotatably connected, the cage is arranged to displace the first plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments.

Wedge plate clutch with dual function spring

A clutch for selectively coupling first and second rotational members includes a hub rotatable about an axis and connectable to the first rotational member, and a carrier rotatable about the axis and connectable to the second rotational member. One of the hub and the carrier defines an annular groove and the other of the hub and the carrier defines a ramped surface. A wedge plate of the clutch has a first edge disposed on the ramped surface, a second edge disposed in the annular groove, and a face extending between the edges and defining an annular shoulder. An annular resilient member is seated against the shoulder.

Segmented wedge clutch with spring clips

A clutch includes a carrier defining an annular groove and a hub coaxial with the carrier and defining an outer surface. The hub is axially movable relative to the carrier between at least a first position and a second position. A wedge disk has a first edge disposed on the outer surface, a second edge disposed in the annular groove, and a face extending between the edges and defining an annular shoulder. The disk engages between the carrier and the hub when the hub is in the first position to lock the clutch, and the carrier and the hub are rotatable relative to each other when the hub is in the second position. An annular retainer is configured to prevent radial expansion of the disk when the hub is in the second position and to permit radial expansion of the disk when the hub is in the first position.

Wedge clutch with anti-expansion retainer

A clutch includes a pair of concentric races rotatable about an axis and a disk radially disposed between the races. The disk has edges each engageable with one of the races and has opposing first and second opposing faces extending between the edges. An annular resilient member has a first segment adjacent to the first face and a second segment adjacent to the second face.

Segmented wedge clutch with stepped retaining spring

A clutch includes a hub, a carrier defining a circular groove, and a wedge disk defining apertures and having a first edge disposed on the hub and a second edge disposed in the groove. The clutch further includes a breaker ring encircling the hub and having projections that are each received in one of the apertures. The breaker ring is slidably connected to the hub and is configured to rotate the wedge disk relative to the hub, via engagement between the projections and the apertures, in response to the breaker ring sliding towards the wedge disk.

Wedge clutch with breaker ring

A clutch includes a hub and a carrier that is concentric with the hub. The carrier has a first portion and a second portion that cooperate to define an annular groove. The first and second portions are axially movable relative to each other to change a width of the groove. A wedge disk has a first edge disposed on the hub and a second edge disposed in the groove. The wedge disk is configured to couple the hub to the carrier when the clutch is locked. An actuator is configured to urge the first and second portions together to lock the clutch.

Split groove wedge clutch

A clutch includes a hub and a carrier concentric with the hub. One of the hub and the carrier defines a circular groove and the other of the hub and the carrier defines a tapered surface. A plurality of arcuate segments collectively define a ring that has a first edge disposed on the tapered surface and a second edge disposed in the groove. Each of the segments defines a first locating feature. An annular resilient member is seated on each of the segments and includes second locating features each connecting with one of the first locating features to secure the segments in a desired circumferential position relative to each other.

Wedge clutch with retaining ring

A wedge clutch, including: a first hub; a second hub; an outer ring located radially outward of the first and second hubs; a first wedge plate radially disposed between the first hub and the outer ring; a second wedge plate radially disposed between the second hub and the outer ring; and a displacement element disposed between the first and second hubs and arranged to for a connect mode, in which the first and second hubs are non-rotatably connected to the outer ring, block axial displacement of the first and second hubs with respect to each other, and for a disconnect mode, axially displace the first and second hubs with respect to each other to enable rotation between the outer ring and the first and second hubs.

Wedge clutch with opposing thrust forces

A wedge clutch assembly for selectively engaging or disengaging an inner and outer hub including first and second wedge plate segments arranged radially between the inner and outer hubs, the first wedge plate including a first inner circumferential surface having an increasing radius in a first circumferential direction and the second wedge plate segment including a second inner circumferential surface having a decreasing radius in the first circumferential direction, and, third and fourth wedge plate segments arranged radially between the first and second wedge plate segments and the inner hub, the third wedge plate segment including a first outer circumferential surface in contact with the first inner circumferential surface and the fourth wedge plate segment including a second outer circumferential surface in contact with the second inner circumferential surface.

Growing community of inventors

Herzogenaurach, Germany

Carsten Ohr