Abstract: Locking differential systems, vehicles and methods are provided. An electric vehicle includes an electric motor including a stator and a rotor, wherein the rotor is configured to rotate about a rotor axis; a rotor shaft connected to the rotor for rotation about the rotor axis; a differential located within the rotor shaft; a first input shaft connected to first side of the differential; a second input shaft connected to second side of the differential; a locking system configured to selectively lock rotation of the first input shaft to rotation of the rotor shaft; a control system configured to determine when to lock rotation of the first input shaft to rotation of the rotor shaft; and an actuation system configured to operate the locking system to lock rotation of the first input shaft to rotation of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A power transfer system for a separately excited machine includes a positive slipring and a negative slipring. One or more positive brushes and one or more negative brushes. A rotor winding attached to rotor laminations and a stator winding attached to stator laminations, such that the stator winding is outside of the rotor winding. The power transfer system may have a hollow shaft. The power transfer system may also have the negative brush and the negative slipring being exterior to the hollow shaft, and one or more position sensors. A shaft ingress separator may be within the hollow shaft and may act as a barrier between wet areas and dry areas. The power transfer system may also include a positive wire and a negative wire, which may be reversed.

Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft and a rotor core supported by the rotor shaft and surrounded by a plurality of windings. The rotor assembly also includes a first brush engaging a first slip ring fixed relative to a first distal end of the rotor shaft. The first brush includes one of a first conical projection or a first convex receptacle and the first slip ring includes the other of the first conical projection or the first convex receptacle. A first electrical connection extends between the first slip ring and the plurality of windings. A second brush is configured to engage a second slip ring with the second slip ring fixed relative to the rotor shaft. A second electrical connection extending between the second slip ring and the plurality of windings.

Abstract: A two-stage actuation mechanism for a brake system includes a first lead screw having a first plurality of threads, a second lead screw having a second plurality of threads, a preloaded torsional spring, and an actuator assembly having an input shaft coupled with the preloaded torsional spring of the two-stage actuation mechanism. The preloaded torsional spring is configured to activate a first stage of movement of the two-stage actuation mechanism via rotation of the first lead screw. The size and pitch of each of the first and second lead screws are configured to minimize power consumption by the actuator assembly and satisfy a desired actuation time with a low current consumption and high actuator gear train ratio.

Abstract: A two-stage actuation mechanism for a brake system includes a first lead screw having a first plurality of threads, a second lead screw having a second plurality of threads, a preloaded torsional spring, and an actuator assembly having an input shaft coupled with the preloaded torsional spring of the two-stage actuation mechanism. The preloaded torsional spring is configured to activate a first stage of movement of the two-stage actuation mechanism via rotation of the first lead screw. The size and pitch of each of the first and second lead screws are configured to minimize power consumption by the actuator assembly and satisfy a desired actuation time with a low current consumption and high actuator gear train ratio.

Abstract: A variable compression ratio (VCR) phaser configured to control a compression ratio of an engine having a crankshaft and a control shaft. The variable compress ratio phaser comprises: i) a control shaft gear configured to mesh with a gear on the control shaft of the engine and to receive torque from the control shaft; ii) a crankshaft gear configured to mesh with a gear on the crankshaft of the engine and to deliver torque to the crankshaft; and iii) a torque conversion mechanism configured to receive torque from the control shaft and to convert the torque to a linear force that changes the compression ratio of the engine.

Abstract: A drive unit includes a first electric machine including a first machine shaft, a second electric machine including a second machine shaft, and a differential interconnecting the first electric machine and the second electric machine. The differential includes a park gear. The drive unit further includes a single park system configured to engage the park gear of the differential to simultaneously stop rotation of both the first electric machine and the second electric machine. The park system includes a single pawl movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The pawl is spaced apart from the park gear of the differential in the disengaged position to allow the park gear to rotate. The single pawl is in contact with the park gear of the differential in the engaged position to preclude rotation of the park gear.

Abstract: A variable compression ratio (VCR) phaser configured to control a compression ratio of an engine having a crankshaft and a control shaft. The variable compress ratio phaser comprises: i) a control shaft gear configured to mesh with a gear on the control shaft of the engine and to receive torque from the control shaft; ii) a crankshaft gear configured to mesh with a gear on the crankshaft of the engine and to deliver torque to the crankshaft; and iii) a torque conversion mechanism configured to receive torque from the control shaft and to convert the torque to a linear force that changes the compression ratio of the engine.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes a crankshaft, a control shaft, a drive gear fixed to the crankshaft, a carrier, a first planetary gear set, an actuator, and a second planetary gear set. The first planetary gear set includes a first sun gear fixed to ground, a first ring gear engaged with the drive gear, and a first planet gear rotatably mounted on the carrier and engaged with the first ring gear and the first sun gear. The second planetary gear set includes a second sun gear fixed to the actuator, a second ring gear coupled with the control shaft, and a second planet gear rotatably mounted on the carrier and engaged with the second ring gear and the second sun gear. The actuator is operable to rotate the second sun gear and thereby adjust a ratio of a rotational speed of the crankshaft to a rotational speed of the control shaft.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes a crankshaft, a control shaft, a drive gear fixed to the crankshaft, a carrier, a first planetary gear set, an actuator, and a second planetary gear set. The first planetary gear set includes a first sun gear fixed to ground, a first ring gear engaged with the drive gear, and a first planet gear rotatably mounted on the carrier and engaged with the first ring gear and the first sun gear. The second planetary gear set includes a second sun gear fixed to the actuator, a second ring gear coupled with the control shaft, and a second planet gear rotatably mounted on the carrier and engaged with the second ring gear and the second sun gear. The actuator is operable to rotate the second sun gear and thereby adjust a ratio of a rotational speed of the crankshaft to a rotational speed of the control shaft.

Abstract: An engine assembly including a crankshaft, a bell crank pivotally mounted on the crankshaft, the bell crank having a first end and a second end opposite of the first end, a connecting rod connected to the first end of the bell crank, a control shaft, a control link mounted on the control shaft and connected to the second end of the bell crank, a driven gear fixed to the crankshaft, a drive gear fixed to the control shaft, an actuator, and a split-torque gear box splitting the torque from the driven gear between the drive gear via a first torque path and the actuator via a second torque path.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bidirectional controllable overrunning clutch for a powertrain of a motor vehicle, with the powertrain including a gear having ratchet teeth. The clutch includes a pawl movable to a disengaged position, a locked position, and a transition state where the pawl permits the gear to rotate in the forward direction and where rotation of the gear in the reverse direction moves the pawl to the locked position. The clutch further includes a spring for moving the pawl to the disengaged position. The clutch further includes an actuator configured to hold the pawl in the transition state when the gear rotates in the forward direction and the locked position when the gear changes rotation from the forward direction to the reverse direction.

Abstract: A shift by wire parking system includes a park gear including a gear body and a plurality of teeth. The teeth are circumferentially spaced from one another. The park gear defines a plurality of void spaces between each pair of the plurality of teeth. The shift by wire parking system includes a circumferential body sized to fit inside each of the plurality of void spaces to lock a position of the park gear. The circumferential body is movable towards and away from the park gear between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the circumferential body is disposed outside each of the plurality of void spaces, thereby allowing the park gear to rotate. In the engaged position, the circumferential body is disposed inside one of the void spaces to lock the position of the park gear.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bidirectional controllable overrunning clutch for a powertrain of a motor vehicle, with the powertrain including a gear having ratchet teeth. The clutch includes a pawl movable to a disengaged position, a locked position, and a transition state where the pawl permits the gear to rotate in the forward direction and where rotation of the gear in the reverse direction moves the pawl to the locked position. The clutch further includes a spring for moving the pawl to the disengaged position. The clutch further includes an actuator configured to hold the pawl in the transition state when the gear rotates in the forward direction and the locked position when the gear changes rotation from the forward direction to the reverse direction.

Abstract: A shift by wire parking system includes a park gear including a gear body and a plurality of teeth. The teeth are circumferentially spaced from one another. The park gear defines a plurality of void spaces between each pair of the plurality of teeth. The shift by wire parking system includes a circumferential body sized to fit inside each of the plurality of void spaces to lock a position of the park gear. The circumferential body is movable towards and away from the park gear between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the circumferential body is disposed outside each of the plurality of void spaces, thereby allowing the park gear to rotate. In the engaged position, the circumferential body is disposed inside one of the void spaces to lock the position of the park gear.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a housing and a stator mounted to the housing. A rotor is rotatably supported relative to the stator and a drive shaft is connected to the rotor by a torque limiting clutch disposed within the housing. The electric motor with a torque limiting clutch eliminates high torque episodes due to slippery driving conditions. Also, a torque limiting clutch that features a ball-ramp device with two ramp angles performs the function of a two stage torsional vibration damper. An electric motor can have a specific torque signature that can excite certain vibration modes inside the transmission that can create noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and durability concerns.

Abstract: A parking actuator assembly for an automatic transmission includes a park pawl that is rotatable between an in-park position and an out-of-park position. An actuator assembly is configured to be moved between a park-actuated position and a park-disengaged position, the actuator assembly being configured to rotate the park pawl into the in-park position when the actuator is moved into the park-actuated position. An actuator rod is slidably coupled to the actuator assembly. In some forms, the actuator assembly remains in contact with the park pawl from the park-actuated position to the park-disengaged position. In some forms, at least one latching solenoid is included, and the latching solenoid(s) as well as a park actuator motor may be disposed within a main transmission system. A verification sensor may be included to determine the position.

Abstract: A parking actuator assembly for an automatic transmission includes a park pawl that is rotatable between an in-park position and an out-of-park position. An actuator assembly is configured to be moved between a park-actuated position and a park-disengaged position, the actuator assembly being configured to rotate the park pawl into the in-park position when the actuator is moved into the park-actuated position. An actuator rod is slidably coupled to the actuator assembly. In some forms, the actuator assembly remains in contact with the park pawl from the park-actuated position to the park-disengaged position. In some forms, at least one latching solenoid is included, and the latching solenoid(s) as well as a park actuator motor may be disposed within a main transmission system. A verification sensor may be included to determine the position.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a housing and a stator mounted to the housing. A rotor is rotatably supported relative to the stator and a drive shaft is connected to the rotor by a torque limiting clutch disposed within the housing. The electric motor with a torque limiting clutch eliminates high torque episodes due to slippery driving conditions. Also a torque limiting clutch that features a ball-ramp device with two ramp angles performs the function of a two stage torsional vibration damper. An electric motor can have a specific torque signature that can excite certain vibration modes inside the transmission that can create NVH and durability concerns.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a park actuator motor that is external to a transmission housing in the vehicle, a default to park mechanism that is internal to the transmission housing, and a park inhibit solenoid that is internal to the transmission housing.