Linamar Gmbh

Jtekt Automotive North America, Inc.

Mclaren Engineering Crimmitschau Tech Center Gmbh

Evan Swinger

Sean Hayes

Todd Ekonen

Patrick Desing

Shun Ono

Mitchell Holland

Gary Monkaba

Shun Ohno

Mike Kocevar

Masaki Mita

Robert Schuster

Bastian Stöckner

Kyle Milliman

Jayson Allison

Simon Joliff

Joe Schaffer

Michael Burr

Josia Buchert

Simon Jolliff

A switchable clutch unit for coupling a drive component, wherein the clutch unit comprises: a primary side and a secondary side, which can be positively connected to one another for rotary driving, wherein the secondary side has driving recesses distributed around the circumference, wherein the primary side has driving claws distributed around the circumference, which are formed for engaging in the driving recesses of the secondary side, wherein the driving claws comprise a group of first driving claws and a group of second driving claws, wherein the first driving claws can be moved between an engaged position and an disengaged position with respect to the driving recesses, wherein the second driving claws are displaceable between an engaged position and an disengaged position with respect to the driving recesses, and wherein the first driving claws and the second driving claws are displaceable relative to one another.

Switchable clutch unit

An improved twin clutch, two-speed disconnect secondary drive unit, which may be configured as a rear drive unit (RDU) for an all wheel drive vehicle is provided. The RDU is driven through an input shaft, which is connected to a vehicle drive source such as a motor, and includes a twin clutch assembly, which is connected to the drive shaft and is selectively actuated to drive left and right main shafts, which drive respective wheels of the vehicle. The RDU further includes a modular a shift assembly mountable to one or both of said main shafts to drive output shafts, wherein each shift assembly is selectively operable between the hi-range and lo-range modes to shift driving operation of the output shafts between hi-speed and lo-speed operation. The shift assembly may be controlled by improved mono-stable or bi-stable actuators.

Twin clutch two speed disconnect RDU

An improved differential for a vehicle is provided which includes a disconnect assembly engaged between a ring gear and pinion gears and/or a gear nest associated with the pinion gears, wherein the disconnect assembly is able to disconnect torsional loading of torque between the ring gear and the pinon gears of the differential. The disconnect assembly selectively connects and disconnects the ring gear and pinon gears by preferably disconnecting from the gear nest disposed therebetween. Disconnection of the ring gear and pinion gears allows the ring gear, differential housing, bearings, and rest of the gear box to stop spinning while the wheels of the vehicle are spinning. The differential pinion gears are mechanically connected to the gear nest such that torque can be transferred from the differential gear nest to the differential pinion gears and then to the differential side gears. A spline ring is supported inside the differential housing and defines a mechanical connection which locks the ring gear and the gear nest to transfer torque therebetween, wherein the mechanical connection may be disconnected to unlock the ring gear and gear nest and disconnect such torsional loading to permit rotation of the side gears and pinion gears independent of the ring gear.

Differential disconnect assembly

A secondary drive unit (SDU) for the secondary axis of an all wheel drive vehicle consists of an SDU housing defining a first section for receiving a main shaft which is connected to a drive source and a second section for enclosing a twin clutch assembly. The twin clutch assembly has a common clutch housing connected to the main shaft, a left clutch for selectively connecting a left output shaft and the clutch housing, a right clutch for selectively connecting a right output shaft and the clutch housing, and a rigid center plate separating the left and right clutches. The twin clutch assembly may be activated by a dual action piston assembly to decrease all wheel drive synchronization and connection response times.

Integrated disconnecting twin clutch system and dual action piston

Piston apparatus for use with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed drive unit assembly for a vehicle includes a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity fluidly coupled together. The drive unit assembly also includes a clutch positioned in the first cavity. Rotation of the clutch conveys a fluid from the first cavity to the second cavity. The drive unit assembly also includes a port extending from the second cavity to the first cavity to receive the fluid. The drive unit assembly also includes a piston positioned in the first cavity proximate to the port and configured to operate the clutch. Movement of the piston relative to the port controls a flow of the fluid through the port from the second cavity to the first cavity.

Piston apparatus for use with vehicle clutches

Systems, apparatus, and methods to control fluid associated with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a drive unit assembly for a vehicle. The drive unit assembly includes a housing and a clutch in a cavity of the housing. Rotation of a drum of the clutch expels a fluid from the cavity. The apparatus also includes a vehicle controller configured to disengage the clutch via an actuator. Actuation of the actuator reduces a flow of the fluid into the cavity. The vehicle controller is also configured to maintain engagement of a vehicle transfer device operatively coupled between a vehicle transmission and the drum such that the drum continues to rotate for a time interval during which the clutch is disengaged.

Systems, methods, and apparatus to control fluid associated with vehicle clutches

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Evan Swinger