Motorized disconnect system and operation methods
Methods and systems are provided for a motorized disconnect operable to selectively engage and disengage two rotating components of a vehicle drivetrain. As one example, a motorized disconnect system is provided that operates via an electric motor and includes a shifter assembly with an oscillating gear track and cam profile for rotating the shifter assembly while moving it in an axial direction to selectively couple two rotating components.
1. A method for selectively engaging two shafts, comprising:
during a first mode, holding a clutch ring of a shifter assembly in a first position where the clutch ring is engaged only with a first shaft via a worm gear driven by a motor adapted to rotate the worm gear in only a first direction;
upon receiving a command to shift to a second mode, driving the worm gear into contact with a gear track on a first gear of the shifter assembly, the gear track including a plurality of teeth that are continuous around an outer circumference of the first gear, and moving the clutch ring in a first axial direction and into a second position where the clutch ring is engaged with both the first shaft and a second shaft; and
upon receiving a command to shift back to the first mode, driving the worm gear in the first direction, and moving the clutch ring in a second axial direction until the shifter assembly reaches the first position, the second axial direction opposite the first axial direction.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mode is a two-wheel drive mode and the second mode is a four-wheel drive mode.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command to shift to the second mode and the command to shift back to the first mode are received by a controller coupled to the shifter assembly, the controller operating the motor.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the controller further includes programming for communicating with an external vehicle controller for receiving the commands to shift to the first and second modes.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the clutch ring includes an inner surface including a first set of teeth, a second set of teeth, and a non-toothed section separating the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth, wherein the first shaft includes a third set of teeth adapted to mate with the first set of teeth, and wherein the second shaft includes a fourth set of teeth adapted to mate with the second set of teeth.