The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 02, 1996
Filed:
Jul. 12, 1994
Wesley M Dick, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
A clutch actuating device for use in a vehicle drivetrain subassembly having a clutch and a rotatable drive member, including first and second rotating members which are rotatably mounted to the drive member and are free to rotate relative to one another and relative to the drive member. The first and second rotating members engage one another so as to cause axial translation relative to one another in response to relative rotation between one another due to the engagement of ramp surfaces included on each member or, alternatively, due to the engagement of screw threads formed on each member. A gear system is connected to the first and second rotating members for differentially driving them and for controlling a direction of rotation of the rotating members relative to the drive member. First and second pilot clutches, are connected to the gear system and the pilot clutches are selectively activated, and selectively grounded. Activation of one of the pilot clutches causes relative rotation between the first and second rotating members which results in engagement of the drivetrain subassembly clutch, and activating the other of the pilot clutches causes relative rotation between the first and second rotating members which results in disengagement of the drivetrain subassembly clutch. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second rotating members are attached to, and may be integrally formed with, first and second ring gears of a planetary gear set.