Abstract: A friction brake assembly for applying a braking torque to a rotating shaft such as a transmission output shaft utilizing a primary ball ramp mechanism having a control ring and activation ring with opposed variable depth grooves and rolling members disposed therebetween to load a friction brake in response to a secondary ball ramp mechanism which creates a braking torque on the control ring to activate the primary ball ramp mechanism in response to the rotation of a control lever. Rolling members disposed in opposed variable depth grooves formed in the control lever and a control plate force the control plate towards a housing extension thereby applying a friction force to a clamp ring where the clamp ring is connected to the control ring of the primary ball ramp mechanism using a flex extension to allow relative axial movement between the clamp ring and the control ring. In this manner, the friction brake assembly of the present invention can function as a vehicle parking brake.

Abstract: A vehicle driveline clutch using a ball ramp actuator supplying a clamping force on a clutch disc in response to an electromagnetic field where the clutch clamping force is maintained and increased with clutch slip using a plurality of one-way clutches acting in a pair of planetary gearsets with a one-way clutch acting on each planet gear and supported on a carrier ring which is frictionally connected to a ball ramp control ring upon energization by a clutch coupling with an electrical coil thereby creating relative rotational motion between the control ring and an actuation ring causing a plurality of rotational elements to travel along identical opposed variable depth ramps thereby creating an axial separation force between the control ring and the actuation ring generating the clamping force on the clutch disc.

Abstract: A clutch assembly using a ball ramp actuator supplying a clamping force on a clutch disc in response to an electromagnetic field where the clutch clamping force is maintained and increased with clutch slip using a ball ramp mechanism having a control ring and an actuation ring. A bias spring acting to maintain contact between a clutch member and the coil plate of the control clutch. Activated by a control clutch having a response to electrical current introduced into a coil thereby creating an electromagnetic field in a coil pole which attracts a coil plate which in turn applies a cone clutch thereby introducing a rotational torque on the control ring to activate the ball ramp mechanism. The bias spring is used to force the clutch plate toward the coil pole thereby minimizing the air gap between the clutch plate and coil pole thereby providing a more controllable engagement of the clutch assembly.

Abstract: In a transmission inertia brake a ball ramp mechanism is used to load a clutch pack to slow a rotating transmission shaft where the clutch pack is carried on a one piece drive assembly having a gear section for meshing with a transmission gear, an extension section for engaging a thrust plate in an isolator assembly, a clutch section for engaging plurality of driven clutch plates in the clutch pack and a bearing section for rotational support within a brake housing. An armature having an angled peripheral surface engages a mating friction surface formed in an end plate to form a core clutch, the armature being magnetically pulled upon energization of an electrical coil energized by a power signal from a control unit supplied through a sealed electrical connector thereby introducing a frictional braking force on the armature to activate the ball ramp mechanism. The armature is nonrotatably connected to the control ring of the ball ramp mechanism through at least one connecting pin.

Abstract: A vehicle driveline clutch using a ball ramp actuator supplying a clamping force on a clutch disc in response to an electromagnetic field where the clutch clamping force is maintained and increased with clutch slip using a plurality of one-way clutches acting in a pair of planetary gearsets with a one-way clutch acting on each planet gear and supported on a carrier ring which is frictionally connected to a ball ramp control ring upon energization by a clutch control unit of an electrical coil thereby creating relative rotational motion between the control ring and an actuation ring causing a plurality of rolling elements to travel along identical opposed variable depth ramps thereby creating an axial separation force between the control ring and the actuation ring generating the clamping force on the clutch disc.

Abstract: A vehicle driveline clutch using a ball ramp actuator including a ball ramp mechanism supplying a clamping force on a clutch disc in response to an electromagnetic field where the clutch clamping force is maintained and increased with clutch slip using a planetary gearset having an annulus connected to rotate with a clutch ring and a sun gear connected to rotate with the transmission input shaft.

Abstract: A driveline retarder coupled to a vehicle driveline where a ball ramp actuator having a control plate and an activation plate separated by rolling elements is energized by an electrical coil is used to apply a clamping load on a clutch pack which frictionally couples a rotating shaft to a gerotor hydraulic pump which is used to absorb rotational energy to create a braking torque on the vehicle driveline to aid in vehicle braking. A coupling plate is electromagnetically attracted to the electrical coil thereby transferring a braking torque to the control plate through a flex plate.

Abstract: A ball ramp mechanism having a control ring acting with an actuation ring to apply a clamping force on a driveline clutch during both a vehicle driving mode and a vehicle coast mode using a planetary gearset acting with a one-way clutch between a sun gear and meshing planetary gears to define rotation of the control ring with respect to the actuation ring in a direction tending to further activate the ball ramp mechanism. In the vehicle drive mode the planetary gearset is locked by the one-way clutch and in a vehicle coast mode the one-way clutch releases and the planetary gearset rotates the control ring through a coil pole in a direction to further activate the ball ramp mechanism.

Abstract: A transmission shifting system for axially displacing a jaw clutch having a plurality of axially and/or radially beveled teeth for engagement with a plurality of engagement cavities formed in a mainshaft gear where a ball ramp actuator or a cam ramp mechanism is used to axially displace the jaw clutch. An electrical coil is used to electromagnetically couple a control ring to the mainshaft gear using a clutch plate and an actuation ring is nonrotatably connected to the mainshaft. In an alternative embodiment, the actuation ring is formed as part of the jaw clutch and the control ring remains stationary relative to a mainshaft. A plurality of flux grooves are utilized to channel magnetic forces between the clutch plate and the mainshaft gear.

Abstract: A ball ramp actuator having first and second actuation plates with a control plate disposed therebetween where a plurality of circumferential variable depth grooves are formed in a first face of the first actuation plate and in first and second faces of the control plate where the grooves formed in the first face of the control plate are directly opposed to the grooves formed in the second face of the control plate where the actuation grooves and the control grooves form opposed pairs of grooves having a rolling member disposed within each pair of grooves for axially separating the first and second actuation plates from the control plate as the rolling members traverse their respective grooves such that the rolling members contacting the first face of the control plate directly oppose the rolling elements contacting the second face of the control plate to provide a balanced axial force on the control plate.

Abstract: A ball ramp actuator having a control ring axially separated from a pressure plate by rolling members engaging matching opposed grooves having a variable depth acting to supply an axial clamping force against a clutch disc in a clutch assembly and a releasable one-way clutch having a first race attached to the control ring and a second race attached to the pressure plate acting to only allow relative rotation between the control ring and the pressure plate in a direction to increase the clamping force on the clutch disc until a release coil is energized to release the one-way clutch thereby allowing the control ring to rotate relative to the pressure plate in a direction to decrease the clamping force on the clutch disc. A control coil is used to apply an electromagnetic force on the control ring to activate the ball ramp actuator.

Abstract: A control method/system for sensing deflection-type gear neutral signal (GNS) errors in an automated mechanical transmission system (10) is provided. A gear neutral sensor (76/76A) provides signals indicative of axial position in a remote shift shaft (56) from which the neutral and not-neutral positioning of associated jaw clutch members (144) is inferred. Deflections in the shift members, such as the shift yokes (50), may result in erroneous indications of a neutral condition, which is a deflection-type gear neutral signal error sensed by the control of the present invention.

Abstract: An inertia brake is coupled to a rotating shaft of a vehicle transmission where a ball ramp actuator energized by an electrical coil is used to load a clutch pack which frictionally creates a braking torque on the rotating shaft to facilitate synchronous gear engagement. A control system includes an electronic control unit and an inertia brake controller where a variety of sensors provide signals to the electronic control unit uses the sensor signals to generate a deceleration signal to the inertia brake controller which in turn generates and supplies the appropriate level of electrical current to the electrical coil which is used to energize the ball ramp actuator thereby accurately controlling the rate of shaft rotational deceleration.

Abstract: A ball ramp actuator for applying a driveline clutch clamping force to a clutch disc using an axial movement created when a control ring is rotated relative to an adjacent activation ring where rolling elements are disposed in opposed variable depth grooves formed in the control ring and likewise in the activation ring and where the rolling elements establish a variable axial separation distance, the ball ramp actuator also having a primary control clutch and a secondary control clutch where upon energizing an electromagnetic coil the primary control clutch energizes the ball ramp actuator and where the secondary control clutch frictionally couples a transmission input shaft to a pressure plate and also frictionally couples the control ring to the activation ring thereby establishing a relatively constant clutch clamping force.

Abstract: A first ball ramp actuator having a control ring acting with an activation ring to supply an axial clutch clamping force in a vehicle driving mode and a second ball ramp actuator using the control ring acting with a clutch pressure plate to supply an axial clutch clamping force in a vehicle coast mode where one side of a one-way clutch is attached to the control ring and another side is attached to a support bracket that is frictionally coupled to a transmission input shaft to maintain an energized rotational relationship with the activation ring when in the coast mode.

Abstract: A ball ramp actuator having a control ring acting with an activation ring to supply an axial driveline clutch clamping force in a vehicle driving mode and a one-way clutch acting on the activation ring to maintain the clamping force when in a vehicle coast mode where one side of a one-way clutch is attached to the control ring and another side is attached to a support bracket that is frictionally coupled to a transmission input shaft to maintain an energized rotational relationship with the activation ring when in the coast mode.

Abstract: A ball ramp mechanism for generating a clutch disc clamping force is disclosed where an activation ring having ramped grooves is connected to a flywheel driven by a prime mover and a control ring having ramped grooves opposing those formed in the activation ring is frictionally connected to a transmission input shaft by a friction shoe contacting a friction ring nonrotatably attached to the transmission input shaft loaded by a centrifugal weight which is pivotally mounted to a coupling link which extends from the control ring.

Abstract: A gearbox having at least two parallel rotating shafts and at least two pairs of gears each pair comprising a gear on one of the shafts permanently in mesh with a freely rotating gear on the other shaft, the rotating gear on one of the shafts being connectable to the shaft by friction gear clutch packs loadable by a ball ramp mechanism having a control ring rotatably supported on a shaft and a pressure ring nonrotatably supported on the same shaft where a coil is used to electromagnetically connect the control ring to the rotating gear which causes the ball ramp mechanism to axially expand onto the gear clutch pack. The ball ramp mechanism is actuated when there is relative rotation between the control ring and the pressure ring as rolling members travel in opposed variable depth grooves formed in the opposed faces of the control ring and the pressure ring.

Abstract: A first ball ramp actuator having a control ring acting with an activation ring to supply an axial clutch clamping force in a vehicle driving mode and a second ball ramp actuator using the control ring acting with a clutch pressure plate to supply an axial clutch clamping force in a vehicle coast mode where one side of a one-way clutch is attached to the control ring and another side is attached to a support bracket that is frictionally coupled to a transmission input shaft to maintain an energized rotational relationship with the activation ring when in the coast mode.