Means Industries, Inc.

Ryan W Essenmacher

Joshua D Hand

Brice A Pawley

Riley C Moore

Steven Mark Thomas

Earl A Getchel

A coupling and control assembly including a non-contact, linear inductive position sensor is provided. The assembly includes a coupling housing and a stator structure disposed within the coupling housing and including a stator housing. A translator structure is coupled to a coupling member of the assembly to rotate therewith about a rotational axis. The sensor is mounted on one of the housings. The translator structure includes a coupler element made of an electrically conductive material. The sensor is configured to create a magnetic field to induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive material. Movement of the coupler element changes a magnetic field caused by the eddy currents. The sensor provides a position feedback signal for vehicle transmission control. The signal is correlated with the linear position of the translator structure along the rotational axis.

Coupling and control assembly including a non-contact, linear inductive position sensor

A coupling and control assembly including a non-contact, inductive displacement sensor is provided. The assembly includes a controllable coupling assembly including first and second coupling members supported for rotation relative to one another about a rotational axis. The first coupling member has a first coupling face which has a sensor pocket which receives the sensor. A control member made of an electrically conductive material is mounted for controlled, small-displacement, shifting movement relative to the sensor. The sensor is configured to create a magnetic field to induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive material of the control member wherein shifting movement of the control member changes a magnetic field caused by the eddy currents. The sensor provides a position feedback signal for vehicle transmission control, wherein the signal is correlated with the position of the control member.

Coupling and control assembly including a position sensor

A high-speed overrunning coupling and control assembly, coupling assembly and locking member which pivotally moves with substantially reduced friction are provided. At least one pivot projects from a main body portion of the locking member and enables pivotal motion of the locking member. The at least one pivot is sized, shaped and located with respect to the main body portion so that the at least one pivot makes contact with at least one bearing located between a pocket surface of a pocket and an outer surface of the at least one pivot to reduce friction during pivotal motion.

High-speed, overrunning coupling and control assembly, coupling assembly and locking member which pivotally moves with substantially reduced friction

An electromagnetic system for controlling the operating mode of a non-friction coupling assembly and a coupling and magnetic control assembly are provided. Magnetic circuit components include a ferromagnetic or magnetic element received within a pocket of a coupling member. The element controls the operating mode of the coupling assembly. A stationary electromagnetic source includes at least one excitation coil which generates a magnetic field between poles of the source when the at least one coil is supplied with current. Ferromagnetic or magnetic first and second inserts are received and retained within first and second spaced passages, respectively, of the coupling member. The electromagnetic source, the element, the inserts and air gaps between the various magnetic circuit components make up a closed loop path containing magnetic flux so that the element moves between first and second positions of the element when the at least one coil is supplied with current.

Electromagnetic system for controlling the operating mode of a non friction coupling assembly and coupling and magnetic control assembly having same

An electromechanical apparatus for use with a controllable coupling assembly and a coupling and electromechanical control assembly are provided. The apparatus includes a locking member pivotable between an uncoupling position and a coupling position characterized by abutting engagement with a load-bearing shoulder of the coupling assembly. Also included is a bi-directional, electrically-powered, actuator and transmission assembly including a rotary output shaft and a set of interconnected transmission elements including an input transmission element coupled to the output shaft to rotate therewith. An output transmission element translates upon rotation of the output shaft to actuate the locking member and cause the locking member to pivot between the coupling and uncoupling positions which correspond to different operating modes of the coupling assembly.

Electromechanical apparatus for use with a controllable coupling assembly and coupling and electromechanical control assembly

An apparatus for controllably actuating a selectable coupling assembly is provided. The apparatus includes a bi-directionally movable, actuating shaft attachable to a movable element of the assembly to provide selective, small displacement element movement to linearly actuate the assembly. An excitation coil is arranged to be magnetically coupled with the shaft and to controllably move the shaft between positions which correspond to different operating modes of the assembly. A controller includes a power inlet terminal adapted to receive electrical power from a vehicle DC power source, a command input terminal adapted to receive a command signal from an electronic control unit and a power switching and supply circuit coupled to the coil to switch and supply received electrical power to the coil based on the command signal. The shaft moves the element and causes the assembly to change its operating mode when the electrical power energizes the coil.

Apparatus for controllably actuating a selectable coupling assembly having multiple operating modes

An actuator controller to controllably supply DC power to a bi-directional electromechanical actuator is provided. The controller includes a first circuit to receive power and direction command signals from a remote electronic control unit through a vehicle-based bus. Control logic is operative to determine a vehicle system failure and to generate a failsafe position command signal in the event of the failure. A failsafe power circuit controllably stores electrical power and supplies the stored electrical power based on the failsafe position command signal. A power switching and supply circuit supplies DC power of a desired polarity to the electromechanical actuator in response to the power and direction command signals in the absence of the failure and supplies the stored electrical power to the electromechanical actuator in the event of the failure.

Actuator controller to controllably supply DC power to a bi-directional electromechanical actuator

An electromechanical system for controlling the operating mode of a selectable clutch assembly and an overrunning coupling and electromechanical control assembly are provided. The system includes a control member mounted for controlled movement and a bi-directional, electrically-powered, actuator assembly coupled to the control member for selective, small-displacement, control member movement between different positions which correspond to different modes of the clutch assembly. The actuator assembly holds the control member in a desired one of the positions after electrical power to the actuator assembly has been purposefully terminated. Control logic is operative to determine a system failure and to generate a failsafe position command signal in the event of the system failure. The actuator assembly moves the control member to a failsafe position based on the failsafe position command signal to prevent inadvertent engagement of the clutch assembly.

Electromechanical system for controlling the operating mode of a selectable clutch assembly and overrunning coupling and electromechanical control assembly using the system

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Saginaw, MI, United States of America

Ryan W Essenmacher