Schaeffler Technologies Ag & Co .kg

Peter Burke

Michael Hodge

Brian Thomas Lee

Brian Lee

Gregory Heeke

Carsten Behler

Patrick Lindemann

Markus Steinberger

Guihui Zhong

Peter Rentfrow

Jordan Geiser

Kenneth Hunt

James Copeland

Md Wasi Uddin

Benjamin Vögtle

Tobias Heumann

Matthew Gardner

An electromagnetic switchable clutch includes a dog clutch, a one-way clutch and a coil assembly. The dog clutch includes a dog clutch hub with a first outer spline and first pockets, a dog clutch disc with a second outer spline and a dog clutch sleeve with an inner spline, complementary to the first outer spline and the second outer spline. The inner spline is drivingly engaged with the first outer spline and axially displaceable to engage the second outer spline. The one-way clutch includes a cam ring and pawls. The cam ring includes second pockets. The pawls are disposed the first pockets or the second pockets and arranged to engage the other of the first pockets or the second pockets to rotationally lock the cam ring to the dog clutch hub in a single rotational direction. The coil assembly is arranged to axially displace the dog clutch sleeve.

Electromagnetic switchable clutch

A locking differential may be an electric locking differential with an electromagnet which actuates a clutch plate. The electric locking differential may include a final drive gear. The electromagnet may not rotate with the final drive gear. The electric locking differential may also include an actuation side housing. The actuation side housing may be affixed to the final drive gear. The electromagnet may cause an electromagnetic field to couple from a ferrous housing of the electromagnet to the actuation side housing. The electromagnetic field may axially translate the electromagnet relative to the actuation side housing. The ferrous housing and the actuation side housing may include a chamfered edge through which the electromagnetic field couples.

Electromagnetic actuated locking differential

A vehicle ride-height adjustment device with a locking mechanism that has a simple control path and avoids the need for a separate actuator to control locking. The locking mechanism includes a locking gear coupled for rotation with a driven gear of a ride-height actuator, a locking pawl supported adjacent the driven gear for pivoting movement between a locked position engaged with a surface of the locking gear and restricting rotation thereof in at least one direction and a disengaged position spaced apart from the locking gear and permitting rotation of the driven gear. A shifting fork is coupled for rotation with the drive gear configured to move the locking pawl between engaged and disengaged positions. A torque limiter allows the shifting fork to rotate independent from the drive gear when a torque threshold is exceeded.

Ride-height passive locking mechanism

A cable actuated multi-pawl park lock includes an actuator, a first park lock device arranged for engaging a first gear wheel, a first cable connecting the actuator to the first park lock device, a second park lock device arranged for engaging a second gear wheel, and a second cable connecting the actuator to the second park lock device. In some example embodiments, the actuator includes an actuator housing, the first park lock device includes a first park lock housing, the first cable includes a first outer jacket having a first end fixed to the actuator housing and a second end fixed to the first park lock housing, the second park lock device includes a second park lock housing, and the second cable includes a second outer jacket having a first end fixed to the actuator housing and a second end fixed to the second park lock housing.

Cable actuated multi-pawl park lock

A one-way clutch, including: an outer race including a first outer race plate defining a first rocker pocket and a second outer race plate non-rotatably connected to the first outer race plate and defining a second rocker pocket; an inner race axially disposed between the first outer race plate and the second outer race plate; and a rocker assembly including a rocker arranged to contact the inner race and including a first portion disposed in the first rocker pocket and a second portion disposed in the second rocker pocket, a spring guide retained by the first outer race plate and the second outer race plate, and a spring engaged with the spring guide and in contact with the rocker.

Centrifugal lift-off ratcheting one-way clutch with rocker pockets

A one-way clutch, including: an outer race; an inner race; and a rocker assembly. The outer race includes: a first outer race plate defining a first rocker pocket; and a second outer race plate non-rotatably connected to the first outer race plate and defining a second rocker pocket. The inner race is axially disposed between the first and second outer race plates. The rocker assembly is at least partly disposed in the first and second rocker pockets and includes a rocker arranged to contact the inner race, a spring guide including a spring arm, and a spring wrapped around the spring arm and urging the rocker in a pivot direction. The one-way clutch includes: a first annular thrust washer axially disposed between the first outer race plate and the inner race; or a friction-reducing coating adhered to the first outer race plate and facing the inner race.

Centrifugal lift-off ratcheting one-way clutch with rocker pockets and friction reduction

A multi-pawl park lock includes a gear wheel, an actuation ring, a first pawl, a second pawl, and first and second strut rods. The first pawl includes a first tooth and the second pawl includes a second tooth. The strut rods connect the actuation ring to respective pawls. The actuation ring is arranged to rotate in a first rotational direction to rotate the first pawl about a first pawl axis and engage the first tooth with the gear wheel, and rotate the second pawl about a second pawl axis and engage the second tooth with the gear wheel, preventing rotation of the gear wheel. The actuation ring is also arranged to rotate in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, to rotate the first pawl and disengage the first tooth, and rotate the second pawl and disengage the second tooth, permitting rotation of the gear wheel.

Multi-pawl park lock

A clutch assembly includes an outer ring having a first and second pocket, and an inner ring. A strut and pawl may be disposed within the first and second pockets. The pawl may be configured such that rotation of the strut pushes the pawl toward teeth of the inner ring for engagement therewith. In a first mode of operation, the pawl does not contact the teeth and the inner ring is free to rotate in the first and second rotational directions. In a second mode of operation, the pawl is in partial engagement with the teeth and the inner ring is free to rotate in the second rotational direction and prevented from rotation in the first rotational direction. In a third mode of operation, the pawl is in full engagement with the teeth and the inner ring is prevented from rotation in both the first and the second rotational directions.

Clutch assembly for transmission

A clutch assembly comprises an actuation assembly, an outer ring, and an inner ring disposed radially inward of the outer ring and rotatable about an axis in first and second rotational directions. A first and second strut are rotatably disposed within first and second pockets of the outer ring and configured to be rotated by the actuation assembly. A first pawl and a second pawl are rotatably disposed within a third pocket and a fourth pocket, respectively. For a transition mode, the actuation assembly is configured to rotate the first strut within the first pocket such that rotation of the first strut in the first rotational direction urges the first pawl radially inward into partial engagement with teeth disposed on an outer surface of the inner ring, the second pawl remains free of contact with the inner ring and the inner ring rotates in the first rotational direction.

Switchable i-brake for hybrid transmission

A differential actuator including: a shuttle supported for rotation around a central axis and including a body portion, a first pinion gear connected to the body portion, and a second pinion gear connected to the body portion; a first component including a first plurality of teeth meshed with the first pinion gear and supported for rotation around the central axis; and a second component including a second plurality of teeth meshed with the second pinion gear and supported for rotation around the central axis. For a first operating mode of the differential actuator: the shuttle is arranged to be rotated by an actuator in a first circumferential direction around the central axis; and the first pinion gear is arranged to rotate the first component in the first circumferential direction around the central axis.

Differential actuator

A clutch including: an inner race forming a pocket; an outer race located radially outward of the inner race; a pawl including a portion disposed in the pocket; a cage rotatable by an actuator to a circumferential position with respect to the pawl; and a resilient element fixed to the cage and in contact with the pawl. The inner or outer race is supported for rotation about an axis of rotation. In a first one-way mode: the cage is in the circumferential position; the inner race is relatively rotatable, with respect to the outer race, only in a first circumferential direction; and the resilient element urges the pawl into contact with the outer race. In a second one-way mode: the inner race is relatively rotatable, with respect to the outer race, only in a second circumferential direction; and the resilient element urges the pawl into contact with the outer race.

Switchable ratcheting clutch with tipping pawls

A hybrid module for a vehicle includes a damper, a pulley, a clutch, and a torque converter. The damper is arranged for fixing to a crank shaft of an engine. The pulley circumscribes the damper and is arranged for connecting to an electric motor via a belt drive. The clutch has a first output flange for drivingly engaging the damper with the pulley. The torque converter has a pilot drivingly engaged with the first output flange.

Off-axis hybrid module

A switchable clutch, including: a housing defining a pocket; a race arranged to receive torque; a pawl disposed in the pocket; a spring ring rotatable by an actuator to circumferential position with respect to the pawl; a ramp ring; and resilient element fixed to the spring ring and in contact with the pawl. In a free-wheel mode: the race is rotatable, with respect to the housing, in a first circumferential direction and in a second circumferential direction; and the resilient element urges the pawl radially outwardly out of contact with the race. In a one-way mode: the spring ring is in the circumferential position; the resilient element urges the pawl into contact with the race; and the pawl blocks rotation of the race, with respect to the housing, only in the first circumferential direction. In a locked mode, the ramp ring, the pawl, and the race are non-rotatably connected.

Four-mode switchable ratcheting clutch

A switchable ratcheting clutch achieves four different modes of operation based on a relative rotational position of a cam ring and an inner ring. In a central relative position, an outer ring can rotate freely in either direction with respect to the inner ring. In either extreme relative position, the outer ring is prevented from rotating in either direction relative to the inner ring. In intermediate positions one either side of the central position, the outer ring is permitted to rotate in one direction but not the other. A number of pawls are supported on the inner ring and pushed radially out of engagement with the outer ring by a spring on a spring cage. The spring cage moves with the cam ring between the one-way positions but the cam ring rotates relative to the spring cage when moving into the extreme positions.

Switchable ratcheting clutch

A clutch, including: an inner race forming a pocket; an outer race; a pawl including a portion in the pocket; and a cage radially disposed between the inner race and the outer race. The cage includes a radially outer surface segment and a lift off bump stop extending from the surface segment. For a one-way mode, the inner race rotates, with respect to the outer race, only in one circumferential direction. For a first phase of the one-way mode, the inner race rotates in the circumferential direction and the pawl is arranged to be in contact with the outer race and free of contact with the lift off bump stop. For a second phase of the one-way mode: the inner TO race rotates in the first circumferential direction; and the pawl is arranged to be in contact with the lift off bump stop and free of contact with the outer race.

Growing community of inventors

Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Peter Burke