CLUTCH DEVICE FOR A TRANSMISSION

A clutch assembly comprises a first clutch member configured to selectively couple a first torque input and a second torque input for torque transmission therebetween. The clutch assembly includes a second clutch member configured to selectively couple the second torque input and a third torque input for torque transmission therebetween. In one embodiment, the first clutch member is nested radially inside the first torque input, the second torque input is nested radially inside the first clutch member, the second clutch member is nested radially within the second torque input, and the third torque input is nested radially within the second clutch member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to clutch devices for transmission applications and more particularly for a hybrid transmission.

BACKGROUND

A clutch is a component used to selectively couple two or more components such as rotatable shafts. The clutch may be engaged to couple the components and may be disengaged to decouple the components.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a clutch assembly comprising a first clutch member configured to selectively couple a first torque input and a second torque input for torque transmission therebetween. The clutch assembly further includes a second clutch member configured to selectively couple the second torque input and a third torque input for torque transmission therebetween. In one embodiment, the first clutch member is nested radially inside the first torque input, the second torque input is nested radially inside the first clutch member, the second clutch member is nested radially within the second torque input, and the third torque input is nested radially within the second clutch member.

In a first mode of operation, the first clutch member decouples the first torque input from the second torque input; and the second clutch member decouples the second torque input from the third torque input. In a second mode of operation, the first clutch member couples the first torque input with the second torque input; and the second clutch member decouples the second torque input from the third torque input. In a third mode of operation, the first clutch member decouples the first torque input from the second torque input; and the second clutch member couples the second torque input with the third torque input. In a fourth mode of operation, the first clutch member couples the first torque input to the second torque input; and the second clutch member couples the second torque input with the third torque input.

In embodiments, the first torque input includes spline features formed on an inner diameter and the second torque input includes spline features formed on inner and outer diameters.

The first clutch member may include spline features formed on inner and outer diameters, wherein: the spline features on the outer diameter of the first clutch member are arranged to matingly engage with the spline features on the inner diameter of the first torque input; and the spline features on the inner diameter of the first clutch member are configured to matingly engage with the spline features on the outer diameter of the second torque input. In other embodiments, the third torque input includes spline features formed on an outer diameter and the second clutch member includes spline features formed on inner and outer diameters. The spline features formed on the outer diameter of the second clutch member may be configured to matingly engage with the spline features on the inner diameter of the second torque input and the spline features formed on the inner diameter of the second clutch member may be configured to matingly engage with the spline features formed on the outer diameter of the third torque input.

In embodiments, a clutch assembly comprises a first clutch member movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position to selectively couple a first torque input and a second torque input for torque transmission therebetween. The clutch assembly may further comprise a second clutch member movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position to selectively couple the second torque input and a third torque input for torque transmission therebetween. In a first mode of operation, the first clutch member and the second clutch member are both in the disengaged position such that the first torque input is decoupled from the second torque input and the second torque input is decoupled from the third torque input. In a second mode of operation, the first clutch member is in the engaged position such that the first torque input is coupled to the second torque input and the second clutch member is in the disengaged position such that the second torque input is decoupled from the third torque input. In a third mode of operation, the first clutch member is in the disengaged position such that the first torque input is decoupled from the second torque input and the second clutch member is in the engaged position such that the second torque input is coupled to the third torque input. In a fourth mode of operation, the first clutch member and the second clutch member are both in the engaged position such that the first torque input is coupled to the second torque input and the second torque input is coupled to the third torque input.

In embodiments, the first torque input includes surface features formed on an inner diameter and the second torque input includes surface features formed on an outer diameter. The first clutch member may include surface features formed on inner and outer diameters thereof, wherein, in response to the first clutch member being in the engaged position: the surface features on the outer diameter of the first clutch member matingly engage with the surface features on the inner diameter of the first torque input; and the surface features on the inner diameter of the first clutch member matingly engage with the surface features on the outer diameter of the second torque input. The surface features formed on the first torque input, the second torque input, and the first clutch member may be in the form of splines. In embodiments, the second torque input includes surface features formed on an inner diameter and the third torque input includes surface features formed on an outer diameter. The second clutch member includes surface features formed on inner and outer diameters thereof, wherein, in response to the second clutch member being in the engaged position: the surface features formed on the outer diameter of the second clutch member matingly engage with the surface features on the inner diameter of the second torque input; and the surface features formed on the inner diameter of the second clutch member matingly engage with the surface features formed on the outer diameter of the third torque input. The surface features formed on the second torque input, the third torque input, and the second clutch member may be in the form of splines.

In embodiments, the first clutch member is disposed radially within the first torque input; the second torque input is disposed radially within the first clutch member; the second clutch member is disposed radially within the second torque input; and the third torque input is disposed radially within the second clutch member.

In embodiments, a method of operating a clutch assembly having a first clutch member and a second clutch member is provided. The method includes moving the first clutch member between a first position where a first torque input is coupled to a second torque input to transmit torque therebetween and a second position where the first torque input is decoupled from the second torque input such that there is no torque transmission therebetween. The method further includes moving the second clutch member between a first position where the second torque input is coupled to a third torque input to transmit torque therebetween and a second position where the second torque input is decoupled from the third torque input such that there is no torque transmission therebetween. The first clutch member is disposed radially between the first torque input and the second torque input, and the second clutch member is disposed radially inward of the first clutch member and radially between the second torque input and the third torque input.

In a first mode of operation, the method includes: moving the first clutch member to the second position wherein the first torque input is decoupled from the second torque input; and moving the second clutch member to the second position wherein the second torque input is decoupled from the third torque input. In a second mode of operation, the method includes: moving the first clutch member to the first position wherein the first torque input is coupled to the second torque input; and moving the second clutch member to the second position wherein the second torque input is decoupled from the third torque input. In a third mode of operation, the method includes: moving the first clutch member to the second position wherein the first torque input is decoupled from the second torque input; and moving the second clutch member to the first position wherein the second torque input is coupled to the third torque input. In a fourth mode of operation, the method includes: moving the first clutch member to the first position wherein the first torque input is coupled to the second torque input; and moving the second clutch member to the first position wherein the second torque input is coupled to the third torque input.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It should be appreciated that like drawing numbers appearing in different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements. Also, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.

FIG. 1shows a clutch assembly100having a first clutch member108and a second clutch member110according to embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG. 2shows clutch assembly100in a first mode of operation where both the first and second clutch members108,110are in a disengaged position.FIG. 3shows clutch assembly100in a second mode of operation with the first clutch member108in an engaged position and the second clutch member110in a disengaged position.FIG. 4shows clutch assembly100in a third mode of operation with first clutch member108in a disengaged position and second clutch member110in an engaged position.FIG. 5shows clutch assembly100in a fourth mode of operation with both clutch members108,110in an engaged position. The following description is made with reference toFIGS. 1-5.

Clutch assembly100includes: first torque input102, second torque input104, third torque input106, first clutch member108, second clutch member110, and actuator112. First clutch member108, which may also be referred to as a high clutch, is arranged and configured to selectively couple first torque input102with second torque input104. That is, first clutch member108may be actuated, or displaced in a first axial direction AD1, to an engaged position where first torque input102is coupled with second torque input104for torque transmission therebetween. Likewise, first clutch member108may be actuated, or displaced in a second axial direction AD2opposite first axial direction AD1, to a disengaged position where first torque input102is decoupled from second torque input104such that torque is not transmitted therebetween.

First clutch member108includes surface features122, such as splines, formed on an outer diameter thereof that are configured to matingly engage with surface features114of first torque input102when first clutch member108is in the engaged position (see, for example,FIG. 3). Surface features114may be splines, for example, and are formed on an inner diameter of first torque input102to facilitate engagement with first clutch member108. First clutch member108further includes surface features124, such as splines, formed on an inner diameter thereof that are configured to matingly engage with surface features116of second torque input104when first clutch member108is in the engaged position (see, for example,FIG. 3). Surface features116may be splines, for example, and are formed on an outer diameter of second torque input104to facilitate engagement with first clutch member108.

Second clutch member110, which may be referred to as a low clutch, is configured to selectively couple second torque input104with third torque input106. That is, second clutch member110may be actuated, or displaced in first axial direction AD1, to an engaged position where second torque input104is coupled with third torque input106for torque transmission therebetween. Likewise, second clutch member110may be actuated, or displaced in second axial direction AD2opposite first axial direction AD1, to a disengaged position where second torque input104is decoupled from third torque input106such that torque is not transmitted therebetween.

Second clutch member110includes surface features126, such as spline teeth, formed on an outer diameter thereof that are configured to matingly engage with surface features118of second torque input104when second clutch member110is in the engaged position (see, for example,FIG. 5). Surface features118may be in the form of splines, for example, and are formed on an inner diameter of second torque input104to facilitate engagement with second clutch member110. Second clutch member110further includes surface features128, such as splines, formed on an inner diameter thereof configured to matingly with surface features120of third torque input106when second clutch member110is in the engaged position (see, for example,FIG. 5). Surface features120may be in the form of splines, for example, and are formed on an outer diameter of third torque input106to facilitate engagement with second clutch member110. First torque input102, second torque input104, third torque input106may be supplied from a power source combination of an engine and/or e-machine, for example.

First and second clutch members108,110may be actuated by actuator112to be displaced in first axial direction AD1and second axial direction AD2opposite first axial direction AD1. The actuator may be hydraulic or pneumatic, for example. Clutch assembly100may be operated in four modes as described in more detail below.

In a first mode of operation shown inFIG. 2, first clutch member108and second clutch member110are both in a disengaged position. That is, first torque input102and second torque input104are decoupled from each other such that torque is not transmitted therebetween. Likewise, second torque input104is decoupled from third torque input106such that torque is not transmitted therebetween.

In a second mode of operation shown inFIG. 3, first clutch member108is in an engaged position and second clutch member110is in a disengaged position. That is, first torque input102is coupled to second torque input104such that torque is transmitted therebetween. And, second torque input104is decoupled from third torque input106such that no torque is transmitted therebetween.

In a third mode of operation shown inFIG. 4, first clutch member108is in a disengaged position and second clutch member110is in an engaged position. That is, first torque input102is decoupled from second torque input104such that no torque is transmitted therebetween. And, second torque input104is coupled to third torque input106such that torque is transmitted therebetween.

In a fourth mode of operation shown inFIG. 5, first clutch member108is in an engaged position and second clutch member110is in an engaged position. That is, first torque input102is coupled to second torque input104such that torque is transmitted therebetween. And, second torque input104is coupled to third torque input106such that torque is transmitted therebetween.

As can be seen in the figures, first torque input102, second torque input104, third torque input106, first clutch member108, and second clutch member110are arranged to have a nested spline geometry that allows placement in smaller package spaces. Moreover, by nesting the spline geometry of the various input/output members as well as the clutching members, a torque dense system, meeting high load requirements can fit into a much smaller package space than other clutch devices.