Abstract: A drive axle with a bevel gear differential having a differential cage as an input and two drive shafts as differential outputs. The differential cage is driven by a planet carrier of a planetary gear set, the planet carrier providing a plurality of planet shafts, each forming a stiff unit with two planet wheels stepped in diameter. The planet carrier is driven by a sun wheel and counter-acts with a static ring wheel. While the planet carrier drives the differential cage and orbits around the differential in its entirety, the differential is compactly disposed between the planet shafts.

Abstract: A torque transfer assembly includes an engine starter, an electric machine, a torque converter, and a disconnect clutch further defined as a mechanical clutch. The vehicle includes an internal combustion engine including an output shaft, and a transmission. The engine starter is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the output shaft for rotating the output shaft to start the internal combustion engine. The electric machine is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the transmission for delivering rotational torque to the transmission. The torque converter is rotatably coupled to the electric machine and adapted to be rotatably coupled to the transmission. The mechanical clutch is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the output shaft and the torque converter. The mechanical clutch is adapted to selectively rotatably couple the output shaft to the torque converter and is adapted to selectively rotatably decouple the output shaft from the torque converter.

Abstract: A clutch (10) for selectively preventing rotatory movement of a cogged gear (12) about an axis may include an actuator (20) and a pivotally moveable pawl (40) that is interactive with the cogged gear (12). A plunger (24) may be radially movable within and by the actuator (20). A pair of axially spaced sidewalls (16, 18) may include an opposed radially extending slot (52). A pawl pusher (50) may be radially movable between the plunger (24) and the pawl (40). The pawl pusher (50) may include a pair of axially extending wing portions (54, 56) that may be slidably supported in one of the opposed slots (52) to limit movement of the pawl pusher (50) to radial, only. Axial and/or circumferential force loads transmitted to the pawl pusher (50) by the pawl (40) may not be transferred to the radially movable plunger (24).

Abstract: In an all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle, torque carrying connections are provided between the powertrain and all four wheels. A multimode clutch module or clutches are provided to selectively disconnect two of the wheels from the powertrain during operating conditions where disconnection improves the performance and efficiency of the AWD vehicle. The multimode clutch module may be installed at various locations of the AWD vehicle, such as within a front or rear differential, between a half axle and a differential or between a half axle and a corresponding wheel, or within a transfer case or power transfer unit.

Abstract: A torque transfer assembly includes an engine starter, an electric machine, a torque converter, and a disconnect clutch further defined as a mechanical clutch. The vehicle includes an internal combustion engine including an output shaft, and a transmission. The engine starter is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the output shaft for rotating the output shaft to start the internal combustion engine. The electric machine is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the transmission for delivering rotational torque to the transmission. The torque converter is rotatably coupled to the electric machine and adapted to be rotatably coupled to the transmission. The mechanical clutch is adapted to be rotatably coupled to the output shaft and the torque converter. The mechanical clutch is adapted to selectively rotatably couple the output shaft to the torque converter and is adapted to selectively rotatably decouple the output shaft from the torque converter.

Abstract: A one-way ratchet overrunning clutch includes first and second concentric races, the first race having pockets configured to contain pawls, each pocket including a boss having an exterior convex surface defining an arc of about 180°. Each pawl is supported on one boss, and is adapted to ratchet about the boss to selectively lock the races together. Each pawl has a J-shaped body including a pair of legs joined by a hook portion that with one of the legs defines a concave surface. The concave surface is configured to partially engage a complementary exterior convex surface of a corresponding boss, and the concave surface defines an arc ranging from 90° to at least 150° adapted to circumscribe an identical range of the convex surface of the corresponding boss. The interactive convex and concave surfaces of respective pawl and boss elements provide an effective pawl retention system under centrifugal forces.

Abstract: A clutch system includes a clutch plate and a reservoir coupled with the clutch plate. The reservoir is configured to receive bailed excess fluid from the clutch upon rotation of the clutch plate. The clutch system also includes a hydraulic control valve fluidly coupled with the clutch plate and the reservoir. A first fluid flow path is defined between the reservoir and the clutch plate. Moreover, the hydraulic control valve includes an orifice fluidly coupled with the reservoir and a lube valve configured to move between a closed position and an open position. Additionally, a cavity is defined in the hydraulic control valve. Finally, the movement of the lube valve between the open position and the closed position is controlled using the fluid from the reservoir which flows though the orifice and into the cavity.

Abstract: A clutch system includes a clutch plate and a reservoir coupled with the clutch plate. The reservoir is configured to receive bailed excess fluid from the clutch upon rotation of the clutch plate. The clutch system also includes a hydraulic control valve fluidly coupled with the clutch plate and the reservoir. A first fluid flow path is defined between the reservoir and the clutch plate. Moreover, the hydraulic control valve includes an orifice fluidly coupled with the reservoir and a lube valve configured to move between a closed position and an open position. Additionally, a cavity is defined in the hydraulic control valve. Finally, the movement of the lube valve between the open position and the closed position is controlled using the fluid from the reservoir which flows though the orifice and into the cavity.

Abstract: An automatic transmission multi-mode clutch module (10, 100) may include either two concentric (30B, 30A) or two axially (130B, 130A) spaced sets of pawls (30B, 130B, 30A, 130A) nested between a pair of inner (20, 120) and outer races (12, 112). A first set of pawls (30B, 130B) is secured to the outer race (12, 112), and may be selectively released from a normally spring-biased default engagement with the inner race (20, 120) by an actuator cam ring (16, 116) rotatable between two angular limits. A second set of pawls (30A, 130A) is secured to the inner race (20, 120), and is released from a normally spring-biased default engagement with the outer race (12, 112) whenever the inner race (20, 120) reaches a threshold rotational speed, at which centrifugal forces acting on the inner set of pawls (30A, 130A) overcome the default spring bias to disengage the pawls (30A, 130A) from the outer race (12, 112).

Abstract: A multi-mode clutch system (10) may include a cam slider (66) operatively associated with an actuator (82). A first cam profile (70) and a second cam profile may both be operatively associated with the cam slider (66). A first pawl (26) may be operatively associated with the first cam profile (70) and a second pawl may be operatively associated with the second cam profile (74) wherein the first cam profile (70) selectively acts on the first pawl (26), the second cam profile (74) selectively acts on the second pawl (30), and the multi-mode clutch system (10) is configured to allow multiple modes of operation between the first and second pawls (26, 30) and an inner race (14) according to different actuator (82) positions.

Abstract: A one-way ratchet overrunning clutch includes first and second concentric races, the first race having pockets configured to contain pawls, each pocket including a boss having an exterior convex surface defining an arc of about 180°. Each pawl is supported on one boss, and is adapted to ratchet about the boss to selectively lock the races together. Each pawl has a J-shaped body including a pair of legs joined by a hook portion that with one of the legs defines a concave surface. The concave surface is configured to partially engage a complementary exterior convex surface of a corresponding boss, and the concave surface defines an arc ranging from 90° to at least 150° adapted to circumscribe an identical range of the convex surface of the corresponding boss. The interactive convex and concave surfaces of respective pawl and boss elements provide an effective pawl retention system under centrifugal forces.

Abstract: A clutch (10) for selectively preventing rotatory movement of a cogged gear (12) about an axis may include an actuator (20) and a pivotally moveable pawl (40) that is interactive with the cogged gear (12). A plunger (24) may be radially movable within and by the actuator (20). A pair of axially spaced sidewalls (16, 18) may include an opposed radially extending slot (52). A pawl pusher (50) may be radially movable between the plunger (24) and the pawl (40). The pawl pusher (50) may include a pair of axially extending wing portions (54, 56) that may be slidably supported in one of the opposed slots (52) to limit movement of the pawl pusher (50) to radial, only. Axial and/or circumferential force loads transmitted to the pawl pusher (50) by the pawl (40) may not be transferred to the radially movable plunger (24).

Abstract: In an all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle (10, 42), torque carrying connections are provided between the powertrain and all four wheels (12, 14, 22, 24). A multimode clutch module (50, 170) or clutches are provided to selectively disconnect two of the wheels (12, 14, 22, 24) from the powertrain during operating conditions where disconnection improves the performance and efficiency of the AWD vehicle (10, 42). The multimode clutch module (50, 170) may be installed at various locations of the AWD vehicle (10, 42), such as within a front or rear differential (20, 30), between a half axle (16, 18, 26, 28) and a differential (20, 30) or between a half axle (16, 18, 26, 28) and a corresponding wheel (12, 14, 22, 24), or within a transfer case (36) or power transfer unit (44).

Abstract: A multi-mode clutch module for connecting two components rotating relative to each other may include an outer race, an inner race and pawls coupled to the inner race and movable between engagement to and disengagement from the outer race to alternately lock and unlock the races for relative rotation in one or both directions. A cam ring and a plurality of cams extending therefrom are coupled to the inner race for rotation therewith and for axial movement parallel to a rotational axis of the races. A shift ring is operatively connected between the cam ring and a shift drum such that rotation of the shift drum caused by a stationary actuator causes translation of the shift ring to move the cam ring and cams so the cams engage the pawls to move the pawls between their locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: An automatic transmission multi-mode clutch module (10, 100) may include either two concentric (30B, 30A) or two axially (130B, 130A) spaced sets of pawls (30B, 130B, 30A, 130A) nested between a pair of inner (20, 120) and outer races (12, 112). A first set of pawls (30B, 130B) is secured to the outer race (12, 112), and may be selectively released from a normally spring-biased default engagement with the inner race (20, 120) by an actuator cam ring (16, 116) rotatable between two angular limits. A second set of pawls (30A, 130A) is secured to the inner race (20, 120), and is released from a normally spring-biased default engagement with the outer race (12, 112) whenever the inner race (20, 120) reaches a threshold rotational speed, at which centrifugal forces acting on the inner set of pawls (30A, 130A) overcome the default spring bias to disengage the pawls (30A, 130A) from the outer race (12, 112).

Abstract: A clutch for selectively preventing rotation of a rotating component may include a first and second pawls pivotable between engagement and disengagement with the rotating component to selectively prevent or allow rotation of the rotating component in one or both directions. An armature moveable between a first and second armature positions may have a common member pivotally connected thereto and engaging the first and second pawls, with a torque spring biasing the common member to rotate toward the first pawl and away from the second pawl. In an intermediate armature position, the common member may disengage the first pawl from the rotating component while engaging the second pawl to allow rotation in one direction while preventing rotation in the opposite direction. In embodiments, a clutch may include a cam actuator rotating to selectively control engagement of the pawls with the rotating component and locking in one or both directions.

Abstract: An actuator device for a selectable clutch having three or more clutch modes may include a dual rate piston with a stable middle position. A positive stop provides very accurate control when shifting from an end position to a middle position without overshoot. Precision position control of the actuator device facilitates consistent, stable control of the current mode of the selectable clutch.

Abstract: An electronic clutch actuator for actuation of a clutch in a transmission of a vehicle includes a clutch master cylinder having a fluid cavity therein and adapted to be in fluid communication with a clutch slave cylinder coupled to the clutch of the transmission and a clutch footpedal of the vehicle, the clutch master cylinder having a first port fluidly communicating with the fluid cavity and adapted for fluid communication with the clutch slave cylinder, a second port fluidly communicating with the fluid cavity and adapted for fluid communication with the clutch footpedal, and a third port fluidly communicating with the fluid cavity and adapted for fluid communication with a fluid bypass, and a movable piston disposed in the fluid cavity of the clutch master cylinder to act as a switch valve to allow fluid flow from the second port to the third port when the electronic clutch actuator is being used and to allow fluid flow from the second port to the first port when the electronic clutch actuator is not bein

Abstract: A system and method for actuation of a clutch in a transmission of a vehicle including an electronic clutch actuator adapted to be in fluid communication with a clutch slave cylinder coupled to the clutch of the transmission and a manual override assembly adapted to be in fluid communication between a clutch footpedal of the vehicle and the clutch slave cylinder, wherein the manual override assembly prevents fluid flow from the clutch footpedal to the clutch slave cylinder when the electronic clutch actuator is being used to electronically actuate the clutch slave cylinder and allows fluid flow from the clutch footpedal to the clutch slave cylinder when the electronic clutch actuator is not being used to manually actuate the clutch slave cylinder.

Abstract: A system and method for actuation of a clutch in a transmission of a vehicle including an electronic clutch actuator adapted to be in fluid communication with a clutch slave cylinder coupled to the clutch of the transmission and the electronic clutch actuator including an integrated manual override assembly adapted to be in fluid communication between the clutch footpedal and the clutch slave cylinder, wherein the integrated manual override assembly prevents fluid flow from the clutch footpedal to the clutch slave cylinder when the electronic clutch actuator is being used to electronically actuate the clutch slave cylinder and allows fluid flow from the clutch footpedal to the clutch slave cylinder when the electronic clutch actuator is not being used to manually actuate the clutch slave cylinder.