CN-116097015-B - Axially oriented linear actuator including a single stator coil and clutch assembly having the same

Abstract

An axially oriented two position linear actuator includes a linearly movable transducer and a stationary stator having a single stator coil. The linear actuator is axially oriented in that the stator and the translator are axially offset from each other and the translator is axially movable toward and away from the stator between a first end position and a second end position. In order to move the translator between the end positions, the stator coils attract or repel the translator depending on the polarity of the stator coil current. The linear actuator may be part of a clutch assembly, such as a dynamically controllable clutch, for controlling a coupling member of the clutch assembly.

Inventors

• Ali Merat

Assignees

• 敏思工业公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20210925

Priority Date

20210921

Claims (19)

1. 1. A linear actuator for controlling a coupling member of a clutch assembly, comprising: A stator having a stator coil and a stator core; A transducer having a direction of motion; the stator coil generates a first magnetic loop; the translator is movable in an axial direction, between a position adjacent to the stator and a position remote from the stator, depending on the polarity of the current of the stator coil, wherein the first magnetic circuit generated by the stator coil extends between the stator and the translator in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement; The converter includes a permanent magnet, and The converter is magnetically latched in a position adjacent the stator by a second magnetic circuit extending through the stator core and the permanent magnet.
2. 2. The linear actuator of claim 1, wherein: the stator coil is a single stator coil and the stator has no other stator coils.
3. 3. The linear actuator of claim 1, wherein: the stator further includes a stator latch plate, and After the converter has been moved into a position away from the stator, the converter is magnetically latched in a position away from the stator by a third magnetic circuit extending through the stator latch plate and the permanent magnet.
4. 4. The linear actuator of claim 1, wherein: the permanent magnets include a plurality of segmented permanent magnets.
5. 5. The linear actuator of claim 1, wherein: the stator encapsulates the converter.
6. 6. The linear actuator of claim 1, wherein: The stator further includes a stator connector and a stator latch plate, the stator connector connecting the stator core and the stator latch plate.
7. 7. The linear actuator of claim 6 wherein: Both the stator core and the stator latch plate are ferromagnetic.
8. 8. The linear actuator of claim 1, wherein: the stator having an annular form, and The converter has a ring-shaped form.
9. 9. A linear actuator for controlling a coupling member of a clutch assembly, comprising: A stator having a stator coil; a translator axially offset from the stator; The converter being movable in an axial direction according to the polarity of the current of the stator coil between a first position adjacent to the stator and a second position remote from the stator, and The stator further includes (i) a stator core having the stator coil, (ii) a stator latch plate, and (iii) a stator connector connecting the stator core and the stator latch plate, and Both the stator core and the stator latch plate are ferromagnetic and the stator connector is non-magnetic.
10. 10. A linear actuator for controlling a coupling member of a clutch assembly, comprising: A stator having a stator coil; a translator axially offset from the stator; The converter being movable in an axial direction according to the polarity of the current of the stator coil between a first position adjacent to the stator and a second position remote from the stator, and The translator includes a radially outer ferromagnetic translator ring and a radially inner ferromagnetic translator ring, and permanent magnets extending radially between the radially outer ferromagnetic translator ring and the radially inner ferromagnetic translator ring.
11. 11. A clutch assembly, comprising: A first coupling member and a second coupling member supported for rotation relative to each other about an axis of rotation; locking element, and A linear actuator having a stator axially oriented relative to each other in the direction of an axis of rotation, a latch plate, and a transducer movable in the direction of the axis of rotation between a position adjacent the stator and a position adjacent the latch plate; A stator coil generating a first magnetic loop extending between the stator and the translator in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the rotational axis; the converter includes a permanent magnet; The transducer is magnetically latched in a position adjacent the latch plate by a second magnetic circuit extending through the latch plate and the permanent magnet, and The linear actuator causes the locking element to move to a deployed position in which the locking element mechanically couples the first and second coupling members together to prevent relative rotation of the first and second coupling members about the axis of rotation in at least one direction.
12. 12. The clutch assembly of claim 11, wherein: the linear actuator causes the locking element to move to a non-deployed position in which the first and second coupling members are not mechanically coupled together by the locking element, whereby the first and second coupling members are rotatable relative to each other about the axis of rotation in the at least one direction.
13. 13. The clutch assembly of claim 12, wherein: The stator and the translator each have an annular form.
14. 14. The clutch assembly of claim 12, wherein: the first coupling member is a pocket plate and the second coupling member is a notch plate.
15. 15. The clutch assembly of claim 11, wherein: The stator having a single stator coil and no other stator coils, and The converter is movable between the stator and the latch plate in the direction of the rotation axis according to the polarity of the current of the stator coil.
16. 16. A system, comprising: A clutch assembly comprising (i) a first coupling member and a second coupling member supported for rotation relative to each other about an axis of rotation, (ii) a locking element, and (iii) a linear actuator having a stator and a translator axially oriented relative to each other, the translator axially movable relative to the stator in a direction of the axis of rotation to a position adjacent to the stator and a position remote from the stator; A stator coil generating a first magnetic loop extending between the stator and the transducer in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the rotation axis; A stator core; The converter includes a permanent magnet, and the converter is magnetically latched in a position adjacent the stator by a second magnetic circuit extending through the stator core and the permanent magnet; stator latch plate The converter is magnetically latched in a position away from the stator by a third magnetic circuit extending through the stator latch plate and the permanent magnet, and The linear actuator causes the locking element to move to a deployed position in which the first and second coupling members are mechanically coupled together by the locking element, the linear actuator causes the locking element to move to a non-deployed position in which the first and second coupling members are not mechanically coupled together by the locking element, and A first power flow component and a second power flow component fixedly connected to the first coupling member and the second coupling member, respectively, whereby torque flow between the first power flow component and the second power flow component via the first coupling member and the second coupling member is enabled when the locking element mechanically couples the first coupling member and the second coupling member together to prevent relative rotation of the first coupling member and the second coupling member in at least one direction about the axis of rotation, and whereby torque flow between the first power flow component and the second power flow component via the first coupling member and the second coupling member is disabled when the locking element moves to a non-deployed position in which the first coupling member and the second coupling member are not mechanically coupled together, whereby the first coupling member and the second coupling member are enabled to rotate relative to each other in at least one direction about the axis of rotation.
17. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein: the stator having a single stator coil and no other stator coils, and The translator is axially movable relative to the stator depending on the polarity of the current of the single stator coil.
18. 18. The system of claim 16, wherein: the first coupling member is a pocket plate and the second coupling member is a notch plate.
19. 19. The system of claim 16, wherein: An axial space between the translator and the stator in a position away from the stator in a direction of movement of the translator is larger than an axial space between the translator and the stator in a position adjacent to the stator.

Description

Axially oriented linear actuator including a single stator coil and clutch assembly having the same Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/480,512, filed on 21, 9, 2021, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/083,194, filed on 25, 9, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field The present invention relates to automotive clutch assemblies, and more particularly to linear actuators for controlling and operating the coupling members of such clutch assemblies. Background One-way clutch ("OWC") includes a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and at least one locking element (or locking member) between opposing surfaces of the coupling members. The locking element is movable between (i) a deployed (or engaged) position in which the locking element extends from the first coupling member and engages the second coupling member, and (ii) a non-deployed (or disengaged) position in which the locking element does not extend from the first coupling member and does not engage the second coupling member. When the locking element is in the deployed position and engages the second coupling member, the OWC locks in one rotational direction but has free rotation in the opposite direction. Two types of OWCs often used in vehicles, automatic transmissions, include roller clutches, which may include spring-loaded rollers between the inner and outer races of the OWC, and sprags, which may include asymmetrically shaped sprags between the inner and outer races of the OWC. The selectable OWC (selectable OWC) ("SOWC") (also referred to as a two-way clutch) further includes a second set of locking elements that are combined with the selector plate to add multiple functions to the OWC. SOWC's can make mechanical connections between rotating or stationary input/output power flow components (e.g., input/output shafts respectively connected to the coupling members) in one or both directions, and can overspeed in one or both directions. The SOWC includes an externally controlled selection mechanism that is movable between positions for adjusting the selector plate to different corresponding modes of operation of the SOWC. A dynamic clutch is a clutch assembly in which both the first coupling member and the second coupling member are rotatable. A dynamically controllable clutch (Dynamic Controllable Clutch) (or a dynamically selectable clutch) ("DCC") is packaged in the dynamic clutch position, typically where the dog clutch, synchronizer, and wet friction assembly will be located. With electrical actuation, DCC eliminates the need for hydraulic systems and creates a number of packaging and system efficiency benefits. In particular, DCC uses a type of actuation system that includes a linear actuator that can control a locking element when either or both coupling members are rotated, as discussed herein. Referring now to fig. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E (collectively, "fig. 1"), DCC 12 according to the prior art will be described. DCC 12 is a component of a system (not shown), such as an automotive transmission, and further has an input power flow component (e.g., a drive gear) and an output power flow component (e.g., a driven shaft). DCC 12 has a radially inner rotary race (i.e., a first coupling member in the form of pocket plate 13) and a radially outer rotary race (i.e., a second coupling member in the form of notch plate 16). The pocket plate 13 is fixedly connected to a first power flow component of the system and the notch plate 16 is fixedly connected to a second power flow component of the system. Thus, when the pocket plate 13 and the notch plate 16 are connected, respectively, the first power flow member and the second power flow member are connected. The pocket plate 13 contains first and second sets of radial lock elements 26 for Clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) engagement, respectively. During engagement, at least one of the locking elements 26 simultaneously contacts the pocket and recess engagement surfaces of the pocket and recess plates 13, 16, respectively, thereby connecting the pocket and recess plates together. The connection of the pocket plate 13 and the notch plate 16 connects the first power flow component and the second power flow component together. Thus, DCC 12 may transmit torque between power flow components in each locked rotational direction, the power flow components being coupled together via coupled pocket plate 13 and notch plate 16. DCC 12 is electrically actuated by an actuation system in the form of a linear motor ("linear actuator") 14. The linear actuator 14 includes a stator 22 and a transducer 20. The stator 22 is fixed in position, such as via a mount 47 or the like, to a transmission housing (not shown). The stator 22 includes a pair of copper wire induction coils 44, 46. Steel plates 48, 50, and 52 provide a housing for s