Hydromechanical anti-roll bar disconnect
An anti-roll bar may include a hydromechanical disconnect. The hydromechanical disconnect may use windup torque as an actuating force to disconnect the hydromechanical disconnect. Hubs of the hydromechanical disconnect may be axially separated due to an axial separating force produced in face splines of the hubs. An oil control valve may control the disconnecting motion depending on the desired mode of the hydromechanical disconnect. The oil control valve controls the flow of fluid between advance and retract chambers defined by the hydromechanical disconnect. Flow from the advance chamber to the retract chamber may maintain the hydromechanical disconnect in a connected position. Flow between both the advance chamber and the retract chamber may allow translation of the hydromechanical disconnect between the non-rotatably connected position and a disconnected position. Flow blocked between the advance chamber and the retract chamber may maintain the hydromechanical disconnect in the disconnected position.
1 . A hydromechanical disconnect comprising:
a housing comprising an input housing and an output housing, the input housing and the output housing being affixed together;
an input hub, the input hub and the input housing being rotatably connected, axially connected, and sealed together;
an output hub, the output hub and the output housing being sealed together;
an output tube, the output hub and the output tube being affixed, the output tube and the output housing being non-rotatably connected and sealed together, the output hub configured to axially translate relative to the input hub between a non-rotatably connected position and a disconnected position, the input hub and the output hub being non-rotatably connected in the non-rotatably connected position, the input hub being disconnected and configured to rotate relative to the output hub in the disconnected position, the output hub configured to disconnect from the input hub due to torque between the input hub and the output hub, the input hub and the output tube being sealed together,
a return spring returning the output hub to the non-rotatably connected position;
an advance chamber defined by the input hub, the input housing, the output housing, the output hub, and the output tube;
a retract chamber defined by the output housing, the output hub, and the output tube, the output hub separating the advance chamber from the retract chamber, the advance chamber and the retract chamber holding a hydraulic fluid;
a manifold fluidically coupling the hydraulic fluid between the advance chamber and the retract chamber; and
an oil control valve controlling axial motion of the output hub relative to the input hub by controlling a flow of the hydraulic fluid through the manifold.
2 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 1 , comprising a bearing, wherein the input hub and the input housing are axially connected and rotatably connected by the bearing.
3 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 2 , comprising an outer bearing nut axially connecting an outer race of the bearing to the input housing, wherein the input housing comprises an input-housing threaded-portion, wherein the output housing comprises an output-housing threaded-portion, wherein the outer bearing nut and the output-housing threaded-portion are each affixed to the input-housing threaded-portion.
4 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 1 , wherein the input hub comprises an input-hub face-spline, wherein the output hub comprises an output-hub face-spline, wherein the input-hub face-spline and the output-hub face-spline are non-rotatably connected in the non-rotatably connected position, wherein torque between the input-hub face-spline and the output-hub face-spline causes the axial motion of the output hub relative to the input hub.
5 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 4 , wherein the input-hub face-spline and the output-hub face-spline comprise spline top-lands, spline bottom-lands, and spline teeth, wherein the spline teeth are circumferentially disposed between and axially connect the spline top-lands and the spline bottom-lands, wherein the input-hub face-spline and the output-hub face-spline are non-rotatably connected by the spline teeth of the input-hub face-spline and the spline teeth of the output-hub face-spline, wherein the spline top-lands of the input-hub face-spline and the spline top-lands of the output-hub face-spline abut when the input-hub face-spline and the output-hub face-spline are disconnected, wherein torque between the spline teeth of the input-hub face-spline and the spline teeth of the output-hub face-spline causes the axial motion of the output hub relative to the input hub.
6 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 4 , wherein the input hub defines an input-hub radial-portion and an input-hub blind-hole, wherein the input-hub face-spline extends axially from the input-hub radial-portion, wherein the input-hub blind-hole is disposed radially inwards of and axially aligned with the input-hub radial-portion, wherein the output tube is sealed to the input-hub blind-hole.
7 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 1 , wherein the output hub is configured to disconnect from the input hub when torque is applied in either direction.
8 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 1 , wherein the return spring is disposed in the retract chamber, wherein the return spring connects between the output hub and the output housing.
9 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 1 , wherein the oil control valve is configurable between a one-way mode, a passthrough mode, and a blocked mode, wherein the output hub is configured to axially translate towards the input hub and is prevented from being axially translated away from the input hub when the oil control valve is configured in the one-way mode, wherein the output hub is configured to axially translate towards and away from the input hub when the oil control valve is configured in the passthrough mode, wherein the output hub is blocked from axially translating towards and away from the input hub when the oil control valve is configured in the blocked mode.
10 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 9 , wherein the input hub is configured to rotate relative to the output hub when the oil control valve is configured in the blocked mode and the output hub is in the disconnected position.
11 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 9 , wherein the one-way mode is a default condition with power off to the oil control valve.
12 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 9 , comprising a sensor configured to control the oil control valve by detecting the output hub.
13 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 12 , wherein the sensor is affixed to the output housing, is configured to detect the output hub is at the disconnected position, and causes the oil control valve to be configured in the blocked mode in response to detecting the output hub is at the disconnected position.
14 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 1 , comprising a pin, wherein the pin non-rotatably connects the output housing and the output tube, wherein the output housing, the output tube, and the pin are configured to balance air pressure within the input hub and the output tube with atmospheric pressure.
15 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 14 , wherein the pin is affixed to the output tube, wherein the output tube defines an output-tube keyway, wherein the output housing defines an output-housing keyway, wherein the pin fluidically couples the output-tube keyway and the output-housing keyway, wherein the pin is configured to axially translate along the output-housing keyway with axial translation of the output hub and the output tube.
16 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 1 , wherein the oil control valve comprises a valve spring, a valve actuator, a valve ring, and a valve poppet.
17 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 1 , comprising a rotary seal dynamically sealing the input hub to the input housing, a tube-to-housing seal affixed to the output housing and sealing the output tube to the output housing, a hub-to-housing seal affixed to the output hub and sealing the output hub to the output housing, a hub-to-tube seal affixed to the output tube and sealing the output tube to the input hub.
18 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 1 , wherein the housing houses the input hub, the output hub, the output tube, the return spring, the advance chamber, and the retract chamber.
19 . The hydromechanical disconnect of claim 1 , wherein the manifold defines a manifold retract port and a manifold advance port, wherein the advance chamber and the retract chamber are fluidically connected to respective of the manifold advance port and the manifold retract port, wherein the manifold retract port and the manifold advance port extend through the output housing and are uncovered by the output hub in the non-rotatably connected position and the disconnected position.
20 . An anti-roll bar comprising:
a hydromechanical disconnect comprising:
a housing comprising an input housing and an output housing, the input housing and the output housing being affixed together;
an input hub, the input hub and the input housing being rotatably connected, axially connected, and sealed together;
an output hub, the output hub and the output housing being sealed together;
an output tube, the output hub and the output tube being affixed, the output tube and the output housing being non-rotatably connected and sealed together, the output hub configured to axially translate relative to the input hub between a non-rotatably connected position and a disconnected position, the input hub and the output hub being non-rotatably connected in the non-rotatably connected position, the input hub being disconnected and configured to rotate relative to the output hub in the disconnected position, the output hub configured to disconnect from the input hub due to torque between the input hub and the output hub, the input hub and the output tube being sealed together,
a return spring returning the output hub to the non-rotatably connected position;
an advance chamber defined by the input hub, the input housing, the output housing, the output hub, and the output tube;
a retract chamber defined by the output housing, the output hub, and the output tube, the output hub separating the advance chamber from the retract chamber, the advance chamber and the retract chamber holding a hydraulic fluid;
a manifold fluidically coupling the hydraulic fluid between the advance chamber and the retract chamber; and
an oil control valve controlling axial motion of the output hub relative to the input hub by controlling a flow of the hydraulic fluid through the manifold;
an input rollbar affixed to the input hub; and
an output rollbar affixed to the output tube.