IP Library Granted Patent US 9,518,622
Granted Patent B2
US 9,518,622 · App. 14/401,048 · Granted Dec 13, 2016

Clutch device with an actuating mechanism

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,518,622
App. No.
14/401,048
Granted
Dec 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A clutch device having an actuating device, in particular for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric machine with a stator and a rotor, and a transmission device, wherein the clutch device can be positioned in the drivetrain between the internal combustion engine on the one side and the electric machine and the transmission device on the other side, the clutch device and the actuating device are integrated into the rotor of the electric machine, and the actuating device has an adjustable ramp device with first ramps and second ramps and a planetary transmission with a ring gear, a sun gear, planet gears and a planet carrier, wherein the first ramps are assigned to the ring gear and the second ramps to the planet carrier, in order to improve the clutch device structurally and/or functionally.

Claims (37)

1. A clutch device for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric machine with a stator and a rotor, and a transmission device, the clutch device comprising:

an input part driven by the engine;

an output part to provide a torque to the transmission; and,

an actuating device operatively arranged within the rotor, the actuating device comprising:

a planetary gear set having a ring gear, a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, and a planet carrier; and,

an adjustable ramp device having:

a first ramp ring frictionally engaged to the ring gear; and,

a second ramp ring non-rotatably connected to the planet carrier and operatively arranged to move axially with respect to the planet carrier to engage the clutch, connecting the input part to the output part, wherein the actuating device has an eddy current brake to engage the clutch device.

2. The clutch device of claim 1 , further comprising a leaf spring operatively arranged to bias the second ramp ring toward the planet carrier axially, and, wherein the planet carrier is non-rotatably connected to the rotor.

3. The clutch device of claim 1 , wherein the planetary transmission has a plurality of planet gear pairs, each pair having a first planet gear to make a first gear ratio with the sun gear, and a second planet gear to make a second gear ratio with the ring gear.

4. The clutch device of claim 3 , wherein the first planet gear has a first diameter larger than a second diameter of the second planet gear.

5. The clutch device of claim 1 , wherein:

a first set of components rotates with the ring gear and comprises the first ramp ring;

a second set of components rotates with the sun gear and comprises the second ramp ring; and,

the first set has a first moment of inertia substantially equal to a second moment of inertia of the second set.

6. The clutch device of claim 1 , further comprising a pressing plate non-rotatably connected to the planet carrier.

7. The clutch device of claim 1 , wherein the actuating device has a torque sensor for regulated adjustment of the ramp device, and a freewheeling device, and, the torque sensor and the freewheeling device are arranged at least partially overlapping in the radial direction.

8. The clutch device of claim 7 , wherein the torque sensor has at least one torque spring arranged to at least partially overlap the freewheeling device in the radial direction.

9. The clutch device of claim 8 , wherein the torque spring is a helical compression spring.

10. The clutch device of claim 1 , wherein the eddy current brake enables a torque to be applied to the sun gear such that the first ramp ring, connected to the ring gear, rotates in a first direction while the second ramp ring, connected to the planet carrier, rotates in a second direction contrary to the first direction.

11. A clutch device for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric machine with a stator and a rotor, and a transmission device, the clutch device comprising:

an input part driven by the engine;

an output part to provide a torque to the transmission; and,

an actuating device operatively arranged within the rotor, the actuating device comprising:

a planetary gear set having a ring gear, a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, and a planet carrier;

a pressing plate non-rotatably connected to the planet carrier; and,

an adjustable ramp device having:

a first ramp ring frictionally engaged to the ring gear; and,

a second ramp ring non-rotatably connected to the planet carrier and operatively arranged to move axially with respect to the planet carrier to engage the clutch, connecting the input part to the output part.

12. A clutch device for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric machine with a stator and a rotor, and a transmission device, the clutch device comprising:

an input part driven by the engine;

an output part to provide a torque to the transmission; and,

an actuating device operatively arranged within the rotor, the actuating device comprising:

a planetary gear set having a ring gear, a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, and a planet carrier; and,

an adjustable ramp device having:

a first ramp ring frictionally engaged to the ring gear; and,

a second ramp ring non-rotatably connected to the planet carrier and operatively arranged to move axially with respect to the planet carrier to engage the clutch, connecting the input part to the output part, wherein the actuating device has a torque sensor for regulated adjustment of the ramp device, and a freewheeling device, and, the torque sensor and the freewheeling device are arranged at least partially overlapping in the radial direction.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037732 FRAME 0347. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE APP. NO. 14/553248 SHOULD BE APP. NO. 14/553258. Recorded Oct 11, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 040404/0530 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037732/0347 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2014
From: VOGEL, FLORIAN
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 034167/0497 →