Dana Corporation

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

David C Reuter

Wesley M Dick

Robert Leeper

Scott E Blackburn

Sunil Palakodati

Ralph W Baxter, Jr

Ramani R Kalpathi

Joseph A Dick

Paul A Larson

Scott Thomas Parkhill

Ning Liu

John S Sewell

An electro-hydraulic power steering system having a motor, a pump, and a control module all formed as an integral unit. The motor is shaft coupled to the pump and the pump housing and the motor housing are sealingly attached to prevent any fluid leakage. The control module is sealingly attached to the pump housing to prevent any fluid leakage. The control module is in electrical communication with the motor in order to drive a motor shaft and operate the hydraulic pump. The entire unit is submersible and can operate when submersed.

Submersible electro-hydraulic powerpack for underhood automotive steering applications

A method for controlling a motor and a circuit for implementing the method are provided. The method includes the steps of providing current to a first phase coil of a motor and measuring the time for the current to rise between two predetermined levels. Because current rise time is proportional to phase inductance, and therefore, rotor position, the measured current rise time can be compared to a desired current rise time to determine whether conduction intervals in the motor phases are in-phase with the position of the rotor or are lagging or leading the position of the rotor. The method finally includes the step of supplying current to one of the first phase coil and a second phase coil responsive to the measured rise time in order to bring subsequent conduction intervals into phase with the position of the rotor.

Sensorless switched reluctance motor control

A clutch actuating device for use in a vehicle drivetrain subassembly having a clutch and a rotatable drive member, comprising a first rotating member which is coupled to the drive member and a second rotating member which is free to rotate relative to the drive member. The first and second rotating members are differentially driven by a gear device and may include first and second ramp surfaces which engage one another so as to permit axial translation of the members relative to one another or alternatively, may comprise threaded screw members which engage one another so as to permit axial translation relative to one another. First and second pilot clutches comprising at least one rotatable plate are provided, with at least one of the pilot clutches being connected to the gear device. Pilot clutch activating devices are provided for selectively activating, and thereby selectively grounding, the first and second pilot clutches, wherein activating one of the first and second pilot clutches causes the second rotating member to translate axially relative to the first rotating member so as to load the drivetrain subassembly clutch, and wherein activating the other of the first and second pilot clutches causes the second rotating member to translate axially relative to the first rotating member so as to unload the drivetrain subassembly clutch.

Clutch actuating device for use in a vehicle drivetrain subassembly

A limited slip differential includes a friction clutch mechanism, a viscous coupling, and a camming mechanism disposed between the friction clutch mechanism and the viscous coupling. The camming mechanism converts shearing forces within the viscous coupling to an axial force applied to engage the clutch mechanism. The camming mechanism includes annular discs having axially inclined ramps, and a roller bearing for movement along the ramps to provide for variable spacing between the annular discs, wherein increased spacing is used to apply the axial force.

Locking differential with clutch activated by electrorheological fluid

The present invention relates to a vehicle four wheel drive torque transfer case having a friction clutch which is selectively engaged when it is desired to place the transfer case in a four wheel drive operating mode. The transfer case includes an input shaft which is connected to supply torque to a rear output shaft. A multi-disc friction clutch is connected between the input shaft and a front output shaft for supplying torque to the front output shaft. A planetary gear assembly includes a sun gear, a carrier a planet carrier connected to the input shaft, and a ring gear coupled to drive the front output shaft. The multi-disc clutch is interposed between the sun gear and the ring gear and is engaged to inhibit any rotation of the planet carrier relative to the ring gear and thereby transfer torque to the front output shaft. The planetary gear assembly functions as a .sctn.'torque multipler' and this reduces the torque capacity requirements for the clutch.

Vehicle torque transfer case

The present invention is directed to an electronic actuator for use in a vehicle transmission such as a four wheel drive transfer case. In one preferred embodiment, the transfer case includes two separate electronic actuators, a range shift actuator which is utilized to effect shifting of the transfer case between high range, neutral, and low range drive positions, and a clutch actuator which is utilized to control engagement of a clutch between two wheel drive, automatic ('on demand' four wheel drive), and 'part time' four wheel drive operating modes. The range shift actuator includes a rotary electric motor coaxially mounted relative to a rear output shaft of the transfer case, and a linear screw for translating the rotational movement of the motor shaft to selective axial movement of a range shift sleeve. The clutch actuator is similar to the range shift actuator except that, since the torque requirements necessary to bias the clutch are substantially greater than that necessary to effect the range shift, the clutch actuator includes additional gear reduction to enable the actuator to generate a sufficient axial force to fully engage the clutch. The actuators do not draw any current load after they have moved to their controlled positions and, because the linear screws can not be back driven, their previously set positions are maintained in the event of motor failure or power loss.

Electronic shift or clutch actuator for a vehicle transmission

A torque transfer case includes an output shaft angled relative to an input shaft by the use of a constant velocity (CV) universal joint. The CV joint is contained within a hollow drive sprocket rotatably supported within a housing by a pair of spaced apart, different sized bearing assemblies, and is coupled to input shaft via a drive chain. The drive sprocket is provided with a cylindrical opening at one end thereof and a smaller cylindrical opening at an opposite end thereof. The different sized openings produce a differential pressure across the openings when the sprocket is rotated, thus causing oil contained in the housing to flow through the sprocket and lubricate the CV joint. The output shaft has one end which extends into the one cylindrical opening of the drive sprocket and is coupled to the CV joint, and an opposite end which is rotatably supported within the housing by a single bearing unit. The torque transfer case can be a four wheel drive transfer case and include a differential for dividing torque between a rear output shaft and an angled front output shaft.

Four wheel drive transfer case with CV joint angled front output shaft

An electromagnetic speed change apparatus is effective to shift a sleeve from a first speed position to a second against the bias of a spring. In a preferred form, the apparatus includes an armature fixed to a shifting sleeve for rotation and axial movement therewith, one end of the shifting sleeve splined to an output shaft, the opposite end of the shifting sleeve selectively engagable with an internally splined aperture positioned in one end of an input shaft or with an internally splined carrier aperture axially spaced from the input shaft end. The shifting sleeve has a minor diameter portion and a major portion larger than the minor portion. The major portion is piloted by a support member disposed in the end of the input shaft. In a preferred form, a neck bridges the major and minor diameter portions of the sleeve, and provides a limit to axial movement of the shifting sleeve whenever the neck comes into contact with the support member. Finally, in the preferred form, the biasing force of the spring is effective to cause the shifting sleeve to move to a fail-safe gear position upon failure of electromagnetic actuation.

Electromagnetic speed change apparatus

A four wheel drive transfer case transmits power from the output of a vehicle transmission to front and rear differential assemblies. The transfer case includes an input shaft coupled to the output shaft of the vehicle transmission, and an interaxle planetary gear differential for dividing power between a rear output shaft connected to the vehicle rear differential and a front output shaft connected to the vehicle front differential. An electromagnetic friction clutch is located in the transfer case and is adapted to selectively lock the planetary gear differential to prevent slip between the front and rear output shafts. An electronic control is operative to selectively engage the electromagnetic clutch to lock the differential for a predetermined time period when a predetermined amount of slip is detected between the front and rear output shafts. In accordance with the present invention, a cross-axised gearing arrangement is utilized to provide an angled front output shaft which has a rotational axis oriented in non-parallel, non-intersecting relationship with the rotational axis of the rear output shaft. This arrangement provides a substantially straight line connection between the transfer case and the vehicle rear differential, and between the transfer case and the vehicle front differential. Also, a unique lubrication system is provided for supplying lubricating oil to the upper components of the transfer case.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

David C Reuter