Main shaft dog clutch and method
View Patent ↗A transmission shaft is divided into a first shaft portion releasably connectable to a first electric motor/generator via a first gear set and a second shaft portion connected to a second electric motor/generator via a second gear set. The first and second shaft portions are operatively connected to one another for rotation together. The first shaft portion is selectively slidable with respect to the second shaft portion to connect and disconnect the first shaft portion and the first gear set.
1. A clutch adapted for engagement in a transmission having a plurality of gear sets and comprising:
an input shaft having at least one fluid inlet for pressurized fluid;
a rotatable first main shaft portion being engagable with a first gear set;
a rotatable second main shaft portion having a spring, said second main shaft portion being engagable with a second gear set;
wherein said first main shaft portion is slidably movable with respect to said second main shaft portion and rotatable therewith;
wherein said first main shaft portion is in a bias relationship with said spring for movement in a first direction;
a piston slidably movable for actuating movement of said first main shaft portion, said piston being selectively in fluid flow communication with sufficiently pressurized fluid at said fluid inlet for movement in a second direction opposite said first direction;
wherein said first gear set and said first main shaft portion are engagable and disengagable;
wherein said spring biases said first main shaft portion to engage the first gear set when the piston is not in fluid flow communication with sufficiently pressurized fluid at said fluid inlet;
wherein sufficiently pressurized fluid at said fluid inlet forces said piston to disengage the first main shaft portion from said first gear set; and
wherein when sufficiently pressurized fluid is depleted at said fluid inlet, said spring biases said first main shaft portion to re-engage said first gear set.
2. The clutch of claim 1 wherein the clutch is a dog clutch.
3. The clutch of claim 1 wherein the input shaft has at least two fluid inlets.
4. The clutch of claim 1 wherein the input shaft, rotatable first main shaft portion, rotatable second main shaft portion, and said piston are coaxial.
5. The clutch of claim 1 wherein the engagement between the first main shaft portion and the first gear set comprises at least one pair of interconnecting splines.
6. The clutch of claim 1 wherein an apply chamber is defined between said fluid inlet of said input shaft and said piston such that said piston is in fluid flow communication with said fluid inlet to pressurize the fluid in said apply chamber and bias said piston in said second direction, opposite the spring bias.
7. The clutch of claim 1 wherein said first gear set surrounds said first main shaft portion and said second gear set surrounds said second main shaft portion.
8. The clutch of claim 1 , further comprising a first power unit connected to said first gear set and a second power unit connected to said second gear set.
9. The clutch of claim 8 , wherein said first power unit is engaged with said second power unit when said first main shaft portion is engaged with said first gear set.
10. The clutch of claim 8 , wherein said first power unit is disengaged from said second power unit when said first main shaft portion is disengaged from said first gear set such that said first power unit charges a battery and said second power unit operates as a power unit for generating power.