Pull-type clutch actuator and clutch system

Abstract

This application relates to a pull-type clutch actuator and clutch system. The pull-type clutch actuator includes a release bearing, a housing, and a piston. The piston is movably disposed inside the housing and extends out through a through-hole to the outside of the housing, where it is connected to the release bearing. Gas is introduced into the first chamber through a first air hole from an air source to control the piston's movement, thus disengaging the pull-type clutch. After the gas inside the first chamber is discharged out through the first air hole, the piston resets, thereby engaging the pull-type clutch. This is equivalent to a concentric structure, which, compared to an external structure, offers advantages such as high integration, compact structure, and high reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of clutch technology, and in particular to a pull-type clutch actuator and clutch system. Background Technology

[0002] Clutches, as an important component of automobiles, are widely used with the increase in the number of cars on the road. Currently, diaphragm spring clutches are widely used in commercial vehicles. Depending on the direction of force on the inner end of the release finger during disengagement, when the force on the inner end of the release finger is directed away from the pressure plate, it is called a pull-type diaphragm spring clutch, or simply a pull clutch; when the force on the inner end of the release finger is directed towards the pressure plate, it is called a push-type diaphragm spring clutch, or simply a push clutch.

[0003] The engagement and disengagement of the clutch are achieved through the clutch actuator. Through the clutch actuator, the vehicle can automatically or manually adjust the clutch engagement and disengagement state according to different road conditions and driving needs, enabling functions such as starting, shifting gears, and getting out of trouble. It plays a crucial role in various road conditions, including highways, off-road, snow, and slippery surfaces, allowing the vehicle to better adapt to different driving environments.

[0004] Clutch actuators in related technologies are classified into pull-type clutch actuators and push-type clutch actuators according to the specific type of clutch. Pull-type clutch actuators mostly adopt an external structure, that is, a single component mounted outside the AMT housing. This external actuator requires a more complex overall structure and can even cause interference between components. Furthermore, the control precision and stability during clutch engagement and disengagement are not high. Push-type clutch actuators not only adopt an external structure but also a concentric structure, which uses a bushing-type structure. Its principle is electro-pneumatic, electro-hydraulic, or electro-electric, greatly reducing assembly space and mitigating the overall assembly problems of the AMT to some extent. However, the electronic control involves pneumatic control, hydraulic circuits, or motor arrangement, still placing high demands on the overall clutch structure, airtightness, and control precision. Compared to the external structure, the concentric structure has advantages such as high integration, compact structure, and high reliability. However, concentric clutch actuators are widely used in mainstream commercial vehicles both domestically and internationally, and currently all use push-type clutches. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and provide a pull clutch actuator and clutch system that can realize the separation and engagement of the pull clutch, with high integration, compact structure and high reliability.

[0006] A pull-type clutch actuator, the pull-type clutch actuator comprising:

[0007] Release bearing, the release bearing being used for connection with a pull clutch;

[0008] A housing having a through hole and a first vent for communicating with an air source, the release bearing being located outside the housing; and

[0009] A piston is movably disposed inside the housing. The piston includes a piston head that slides against the inner wall of the housing and a piston rod connected to the piston head. The piston rod extends through the through hole to the outside of the housing and is connected to the release bearing. The interior of the housing includes a first chamber located on the side of the piston head near the through hole and a second chamber located on the side of the piston head away from the through hole. A first vent communicates with the first chamber.

[0010] When gas enters the first chamber through the first vent, the gas inside the first chamber causes the piston head to move away from the release bearing, which in turn drives the release bearing to move closer to the outer casing, thereby disengaging the pull clutch.

[0011] When the gas inside the first chamber is discharged outward through the first vent, the piston head moves toward the release bearing, causing the release bearing to move away from the outer casing, so that the pull clutch engages.

[0012] In one embodiment, the release bearing is provided with a first hook, and the piston rod extending out of the outer casing is provided with a second hook. When the release bearing rotates to a first position, the first hook and the second hook are hooked together along the direction of piston movement. When the release bearing rotates to a second position, the first hook and the second hook are completely displaced along the direction of piston movement. The pull clutch actuator also includes an elastic element disposed inside the first chamber. The opposite ends of the elastic element abut against the piston head and the inner wall of the outer casing facing the piston head, respectively, so that when the release bearing is in the first position, the first hook and the second hook are pressed together.

[0013] In one embodiment, the piston has a channel extending from the piston head to the end face of the piston rod away from the piston head, and the inner wall of the housing has a guide post passing through the channel, and the piston reciprocates along the extension direction of the guide post through the channel.

[0014] In one embodiment, a first protrusion is provided on the outer wall of the guide post, and a first slide is formed on the inner wall of the channel parallel to the reciprocating motion direction of the piston, with the first protrusion disposed in the first slide; and / or, a second slide is formed on the outer wall of the guide post parallel to the reciprocating motion direction of the piston, and a second protrusion is provided on the inner wall of the channel, with the second protrusion disposed in the second slide.

[0015] In one embodiment, the pull clutch actuator further includes a first sealing ring, a second sealing ring, and a third sealing ring; the first sealing ring is disposed at the through hole and sleeved on the outside of the piston rod; the second sealing ring is disposed on the inner wall of the channel and sleeved on the outside of the guide post; the third sealing ring is sleeved on the outside of the piston head and abuts against the inner wall of the outer casing.

[0016] The pull-type clutch actuator also includes a dustproof ring, which is disposed at the through hole and sleeved on the outside of the piston rod. The dustproof ring is located on the side of the first sealing ring away from the piston head.

[0017] In one embodiment, the release bearing is detachably connected to one end of the piston rod extending outside the housing; the housing includes a first split housing and a second split housing arranged sequentially and detachably connected along the direction of piston movement; the through hole and the first air hole are both formed on the first split housing.

[0018] In one embodiment, the first split shell has a plurality of first protrusions arranged sequentially in the circumferential direction around its outer wall, and the second split shell has a plurality of second protrusions arranged sequentially in the circumferential direction around its outer wall, wherein each first protrusion and each second protrusion are detachably connected; and / or, the pull clutch actuator further includes a washer disposed at the joint between the first split shell and the second split shell.

[0019] In one embodiment, the pull clutch actuator further includes a displacement sensor and a magnetic element, the displacement sensor being disposed on the housing and the magnetic element being disposed on the piston, the displacement sensor being capable of sensing the position of the magnetic element.

[0020] In one embodiment, the pull-type clutch actuator further includes a controller, an air chamber, a first pipeline, a second pipeline, a third pipeline, a first flow regulating mechanism, and a second flow regulating mechanism; the housing also forms a second air hole and an exhaust hole, both of which communicate with the second chamber; one end of the first pipeline communicates with the air chamber, and the other end of the first pipeline is used to communicate with the air source; the first flow regulating mechanism is electrically connected to the controller and is disposed on the first pipeline for controlling the gas flow rate of the first pipeline; one end of the second pipeline communicates with the air chamber, and the other end of the second pipeline communicates with the first air hole; one end of the third pipeline communicates with the air chamber, and the other end of the third pipeline communicates with the second air hole; the second flow regulating mechanism is electrically connected to the controller and is disposed on the third pipeline for controlling the gas flow rate of the second pipeline.

[0021] A clutch system comprising the aforementioned pull-type clutch actuator.

[0022] The aforementioned pull-type clutch actuator and clutch system includes a release bearing, a housing, and a piston. The piston is movably disposed inside the housing and extends out of the housing through a through-hole to connect with the release bearing. The movement of the piston is controlled by the air source through the first air hole into the first chamber, thereby disengaging the pull-type clutch. After the air inside the first chamber is discharged out through the first air hole, the piston is reset, thereby engaging the pull-type clutch. This is equivalent to a concentric structure, which has advantages such as high integration, compact structure, and high reliability compared to an external structure. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is an exploded structural diagram of a pull-type clutch actuator according to an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a pull-type clutch actuator according to an embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of a pull clutch actuator according to an embodiment of this application after removing the release bearing.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the release bearing of a pull-type clutch actuator according to an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of a pull-type clutch actuator according to an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 6 This is a simplified schematic diagram of a pull-type clutch actuator according to an embodiment of this application, including an air chamber.

[0029] 10. Separation bearing; 11. First claw; 20. Housing; 201. Through hole; 202. First vent; 203. First chamber; 204. Second chamber; 205. Guide post; 2051. First protrusion; 206. Second vent; 207. Exhaust port; 21. First split shell; 211. First protrusion; 22. Second split shell; 221. Second protrusion; 23. Fastener; 30. Piston; 301. Channel; 3011. First slide rail; 31. Piston head; 32. Piston 321. Rod; 40. Second hook; 50. Elastic element; 61. Guide ring; 62. First sealing ring; 63. Second sealing ring; 64. Third sealing ring; 70. Dustproof ring; 80. Gasket; 91. Displacement sensor; 92. Air chamber; 93. First pipeline; 94. Third pipeline; 95. First flow regulating mechanism; 951. First branch; 952. First switch control valve; 96. Second flow regulating mechanism; 961. Second branch; 962. Second switch control valve. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0031] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 An exploded structural diagram of a pull-type clutch actuator according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 2 A cross-sectional structural diagram of a pull clutch actuator according to an embodiment of this application is shown. An embodiment of this application provides a pull clutch actuator comprising: a release bearing 10, a housing 20, and a piston 30. The release bearing 10 is used to connect to a pull clutch. The housing 20 has a through hole 201 and a first vent 202, the first vent 202 being used to communicate with an air source. The release bearing 10 is located outside the housing 20. The piston 30 is movably disposed inside the housing 20, and the piston 30 includes a piston head 31 that slides against the inner wall of the housing 20 and a piston rod 32 connected to the piston head 31. The piston rod 32 extends through the through hole 201 to the outside of the housing 20 and connects to the release bearing 10. The interior of the housing 20 includes a first chamber 203 located on the side of the piston head 31 near the through hole 201, and a second chamber 204 located on the side of the piston head 31 away from the through hole 201. The first vent 202 communicates with the first chamber 203.

[0032] When gas enters the first chamber 203 through the first vent 202, the gas inside the first chamber 203 causes the piston head 31 to move away from the release bearing 10, which in turn moves the release bearing 10 towards the outer casing 20, thereby disengaging the pull clutch. When the gas inside the first chamber 203 is discharged outward through the first vent 202, the piston head 31 moves towards the release bearing 10, which in turn moves the release bearing 10 away from the outer casing 20, thereby engaging the pull clutch.

[0033] The aforementioned pull clutch actuator includes a release bearing 10, a housing 20, and a piston 30. The piston 30 is movably disposed inside the housing 20 and extends out of the housing 20 through a through hole 201, where it is connected to the release bearing 10. When the air source inputs gas into the first chamber 203 through the first air hole 202, it controls the movement of the piston 30, thereby disengaging the pull clutch. After the gas inside the first chamber 203 is discharged outward through the first air hole 202, the piston 30 is reset, thereby engaging the pull clutch. This is equivalent to a concentric structure, which, compared to an external structure, has advantages such as high integration, compact structure, and high reliability.

[0034] In addition, the concentric pull clutch actuator design structure has the advantages of compact structure and high integration of concentric clutch actuator, while also taking into account the advantages of high separation efficiency and high reliability of pull clutch system, which can effectively improve the reliability and separation efficiency of clutch system.

[0035] In some embodiments, the ends of the release bearing 10 and the piston rod 32 extending outside the housing 20 are, but are not limited to, a detachable connection, which facilitates the disassembly and assembly of the pull clutch. Alternatively, the ends of the release bearing 10 and the piston rod 32 extending outside the housing 20 may be fixedly connected and not detachable.

[0036] When the release bearing 10 and the piston rod 32 are detachably connected at one end extending outside the housing 20, there are many ways to detach them. For example, they can be hooked together by a claw, detachably connected by a snap-fit, or detachably connected by a pin, rivet, or screw.

[0037] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4In one embodiment, the release bearing 10 is provided with a first hook 11, and the piston rod 32 extending outside the housing 20 is provided with a second hook 321. When the release bearing 10 rotates to a first position, the first hook 11 and the second hook 321 are hooked together along the direction of movement of the piston 30; when the release bearing 10 rotates to a second position, the first hook 11 and the second hook 321 are completely displaced along the direction of movement of the piston 30. Furthermore, the pull-type clutch actuator also includes an elastic element 40 disposed inside the first chamber 203. The opposite ends of the elastic element 40 abut against the piston head 31 and the inner wall of the housing 20 facing the piston head 31, respectively, so that when the release bearing 10 is in the first position, the first hook 11 and the second hook 321 are pressed together. Thus, by rotating the release bearing 10 to the first position and the second position, the first hook 11 and the second hook 321 can be quickly joined together or separated from each other; when the release bearing 10 is in the first position, the first hook 11 and the second hook 321 are pressed together by the elastic force of the elastic member 40, so that the release bearing 10 and the piston 30 are firmly connected together and are not easy to loosen.

[0038] In some embodiments, a first hook 11 is disposed on the outer wall of the release bearing 10, the piston rod 32 is disposed in a hollow tubular shape, and a second hook 321 is disposed on the inner wall of the piston rod 32. Specifically, there are at least two first hooks 11, and all first hooks 11 are disposed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the release bearing 10 on the outer wall of the release bearing 10; the number of second hooks 321 is, for example, the same as the number of first hooks 11, and all second hooks 321 are disposed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the piston rod 32 on the inner wall of the piston rod 32.

[0039] In some embodiments, the elastic element 40 includes, but is not limited to, a spring. The spring is sleeved on the outside of the piston rod 32.

[0040] Specifically, in order to improve the stability of the spring and prevent it from moving within the first chamber 203 after being subjected to force, a first positioning groove is formed on the inner wall of the outer shell 20, and one end of the spring is located inside the first positioning groove; a second positioning groove is formed on the piston head 31, and the other end of the spring is located inside the second positioning groove.

[0041] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5Based on the aforementioned embodiment, the piston 30 is provided with a channel 301 extending from the piston head 31 to the end face of the piston rod 32 away from the piston head 31, that is, the piston rod 32 is provided in a hollow tubular shape. Furthermore, the inner wall of the outer casing 20 is provided with a guide post 205 passing through the channel 301, and the piston 30 reciprocates along the extending direction of the guide post 205 through the channel 301. Thus, under the guiding action of the guide post 205, the reciprocating stability of the piston 30 in its axial direction is improved.

[0042] In some embodiments, the guide post 205 is configured as a hollow tube, which reduces the amount of structural material required and lowers material costs. Specifically, the guide post 205 is connected to the second split shell 22, and the hollow tubular design of the guide post 205 and the second split shell 22 facilitates integral molding, for example, by injection molding or die casting.

[0043] In some embodiments, the outer contour of the guide post 205 along the reciprocating motion direction of the piston 30 is non-circular. Correspondingly, the outer contour of the channel 301 along the reciprocating motion direction of the piston 30 is also non-circular, such as elliptical or polygonal regular shapes or other irregular shapes. Thus, when the piston 30 reciprocates, the guide post 205 not only guides the piston along the reciprocating motion direction but also prevents the piston 30 from rotating, ensuring that the first hook 11 and the second hook 321 are stably engaged, preventing them from loosening due to rotation, thereby improving operational stability.

[0044] In one embodiment, a first protrusion 2051 is provided on the outer wall of the guide post 205, and a first slide rail 3011 parallel to the reciprocating motion direction of the piston 30 is formed on the inner wall of the channel 301, with the first protrusion 2051 disposed in the first slide rail 3011. And / or, a second slide rail parallel to the reciprocating motion direction of the piston 30 is formed on the outer wall of the guide post 205, and a second protrusion is provided on the inner wall of the channel 301, disposed in the second slide rail. Thus, when the piston 30 reciprocates, the first protrusion 2051 moves relative to the first slide rail 3011, and the second protrusion moves relative to the second slide rail, thereby preventing the piston 30 from rotating during reciprocating motion. This ensures that the first hook 11 and the second hook 321 are stably engaged together, preventing the first hook 11 and the second hook 321 from loosening due to rotation, thereby improving operational stability. Furthermore, it also reduces the wear of the sealing ring.

[0045] In some embodiments, the pull-type clutch actuator further includes a guide ring 50. A groove is formed on the inner wall of the channel 301, the guide ring 50 is installed in the groove, and the guide ring 50 is sleeved on the outside of the guide post 205, with the guide ring 50 slidingly engaging with the outer wall of the guide post 205. Thus, the piston 30 slides against the guide post 205 through the guide ring 50, reducing the contact area between the inner wall of the channel 301 and the guide post 205, thereby reducing the wear during the reciprocating motion of the piston 30. Specifically, the guide ring 50 is, but is not limited to, made of wear-resistant material.

[0046] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the pull-type clutch actuator further includes a first sealing ring 61, a second sealing ring 62, and a third sealing ring 63. The first sealing ring 61 is disposed at the through hole 201 and sleeved on the outside of the piston rod 32. Optionally, a first mounting groove is provided on the wall of the through hole 201, and the first sealing ring 61 is installed in the first mounting groove, allowing it to be securely installed on the wall of the through hole 201, sealing off high-pressure gas and providing a good sealing effect. Furthermore, the second sealing ring 62 is disposed on the inner wall of the channel 301 and sleeved on the outside of the guide post 205. A second mounting groove is formed on the inner wall of the channel 301, and the second sealing ring 62 is installed in the second mounting groove, allowing it to be securely installed on the inner wall of the through hole 201, sealing off high-pressure gas and providing a good sealing effect. Additionally, the third sealing ring 63 is sleeved on the outside of the piston head 31 and abuts against the inner wall of the outer casing 20. The piston head 31 is provided with a third mounting groove arranged around its circumference. The third sealing ring 63 is installed in the third mounting groove and can be securely fitted onto the piston head 31 to achieve a good sealing effect.

[0047] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, the pull-type clutch actuator further includes a dust seal 64. The dust seal 64 is disposed at the through hole 201 and sleeved on the outside of the piston rod 32, with the dust seal 64 located on the side of the first sealing ring 61 away from the piston head 31. Thus, the dust seal 64 serves a dustproof function, preventing dust from entering the interior of the housing 20 through the gap between the piston rod 32 and the wall of the through hole 201, and preventing dust from contacting the first sealing ring 61, thereby improving the service life of the first sealing ring 61.

[0048] Please see Figures 1 to 3In one embodiment, the release bearing 10 is detachably connected to one end of the piston rod 32 extending outside the housing 20. The housing 20 includes a first split housing 21 and a second split housing 22, which are sequentially arranged and detachably connected along the reciprocating direction of the piston 30. A through hole 201 and a first vent 202 are both formed on the first split housing 21. Thus, because the ends of the release bearing 10 and the piston rod 32 are detachably connected, and the housing 20 includes the detachably connected first split housing 21 and second split housing 22, it facilitates the disassembly and assembly of the pull-type clutch actuator.

[0049] Please see Figures 1 to 3 Based on the aforementioned embodiments, the first split shell 21 is provided with a plurality of first protrusions 211 arranged sequentially around its outer wall in the circumferential direction, and the second split shell 22 is provided with a plurality of second protrusions 221 arranged sequentially around its outer wall in the circumferential direction. Each first protrusion 211 and each second protrusion 221 are detachably connected. Specifically, the first protrusions 211 and the second protrusions 221 are detachably connected by fasteners 23 such as pins, rivets, screws, or bolts, including but not limited to those used for fastening. In this embodiment, the first protrusions 211 and the second protrusions 221 are specifically connected and fixed, for example, by bolts and nuts.

[0050] Optionally, the number of first protrusions 211 includes, but is not limited to, two, three, four, five, or more. The number of second protrusions 221 is the same as the number of first protrusions 211. When both the first protrusions 211 and the second protrusions 221 are multiple, the first protrusions 211 are arranged at equal intervals around the circumferential direction of the first split shell 21, and the second protrusions 221 are arranged at equal intervals around the circumferential direction of the second split shell 22.

[0051] In some embodiments, the pull clutch actuator further includes a washer 70. The washer 70 is disposed at the mating point between the first split housing 21 and the second split housing 22. Thus, the washer 70 enhances the sealing performance at the mating point between the first split housing 21 and the second split housing 22.

[0052] In some specific embodiments, when the outer casing 20 is configured to include a first split casing 21 and a second split casing 22 that are detachably connected, the elastic member 40 abuts against the piston head 31 and the inner wall of the first split casing 21 at opposite ends, so that when the release bearing 10 is in the first position, the first hook 11 and the second hook 321 press against each other, thereby connecting the release bearing 10 and the piston 30 together and making it difficult to loosen.

[0053] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2In one embodiment, the pull clutch actuator further includes a displacement sensor 80 and a magnetic element. The displacement sensor 80 is disposed on the housing 20, and the magnetic element is disposed on the piston 30. The displacement sensor 80 can sense the position of the magnetic element. Thus, by sensing the position of the magnetic element through the displacement sensor 80, the movement position of the piston 30 can be obtained accordingly, thereby enabling the monitoring of the engagement and disengagement states of the pull clutch.

[0054] Specifically, the piston 30 has an extended position and a retracted position. When in the extended position, the piston head 31 abuts against the inner wall of the first housing, and the piston rod 32 extends outside the outer housing 20, driving the release bearing 10 to move away from the outer housing 20, thereby engaging the pull clutch. When in the retracted position, the piston head 31 abuts against the inner wall of the second housing, and the piston rod 32 retracts into the outer housing 20, driving the release bearing 10 to move closer to the outer housing 20, thereby disengaging the pull clutch. When the piston 30 is in the extended position, the displacement sensor 80 generates a first sensing signal when it senses the magnetic component, meaning the piston 30 is in the extended position based on the first sensing signal. When the piston 30 is in the retracted position, the displacement sensor 80 generates a second sensing signal when it senses the magnetic component, meaning the piston 30 is in the retracted position based on the second sensing signal.

[0055] In some embodiments, the magnetic element includes, but is not limited to, a magnet. The magnetic element is, for example, disposed on the piston head 31. The piston head 31 abuts against the inner wall of the housing 20 and is close to the displacement sensor 80 mounted on the housing 20, thereby facilitating its detection by the displacement sensor 80.

[0056] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 6 In one embodiment, the pull-type clutch actuator further includes a controller, an air chamber 91, a first pipe 92, a second pipe 93, a third pipe 94, a first flow regulating mechanism 95, and a second flow regulating mechanism 96. The housing 20 also has a second air port 206 and an exhaust port 207, both of which communicate with the second chamber 204. One end of the first pipe 92 communicates with the air chamber 91, and the other end is used to communicate with an air source. The first flow regulating mechanism 95 is electrically connected to the controller and is disposed on the first pipe 92 to control the gas flow rate of the first pipe 92. Furthermore, one end of the second pipe 93 communicates with the air chamber 91, and the other end communicates with the first air port 202. Additionally, one end of the third pipe 94 communicates with the air chamber 91, and the other end communicates with the second air port 206. The second flow regulating mechanism 96 is electrically connected to the controller and is installed on the third pipeline 94 to control the gas flow rate of the second pipeline 93.

[0057] In specific operation, the pull clutch disengagement action steps include: the controller controls the first flow regulating mechanism 95 to open and the second flow regulating mechanism 96 to close. The gas from the air source enters the air chamber 91 through the first flow regulating mechanism 95 and enters the first chamber 203 through the second pipeline 93, which increases the air pressure inside the first chamber 203. The air pressure is not limited to 6 bar to 12 bar. The gas inside the first chamber 203 will push the piston head 31 to move toward the second chamber 204, causing the piston rod 32 to retract into the housing 20 and drive the release bearing 10 to move toward the housing 20, thereby realizing the disengagement of the pull clutch.

[0058] The engagement steps of the pull clutch include: the controller controls the first flow regulating mechanism 95 to close and the second flow regulating mechanism 96 to open, the gas inside the first chamber 203 enters the gas chamber 91, the gas pressure in the first chamber 203 decreases accordingly as the gas inside is discharged, the gas inside the gas chamber 91 enters the second chamber 204 through the third pipe 94, the gas inside the second chamber 204 is discharged outward through the exhaust port 207, at this time the piston 30 will extend outward under the action of the pull clutch's own reset force, thereby realizing the engagement of the pull clutch.

[0059] Based on the aforementioned embodiments, the first flow regulating mechanism 95 includes at least two first branches 951 and at least two first switch control valves 952. Each first switch control valve 952 is correspondingly disposed on each first branch 951, and the first switch control valve 952 connects or disconnects the first branch 951 by opening or closing. The first switch control valve 952 is, for example, an electromagnetic control valve. All first branches 951 are connected in parallel between the first pipeline 92 and the air chamber 91. Each first switch control valve 952 is electrically connected to a controller. The more first switch control valves 952 are opened, the greater the gas flow rate into the air chamber 91, which can increase the gas pressure in the first chamber 203.

[0060] Optionally, both the first switch control valve 952 and the first branch 951 are configured as two, for example, with the diameter of one first branch 951 being larger than that of the other. When the controller controls the first switch valve of the first branch 951 with the larger diameter to open, the gas from the air source enters the air chamber 91 at a relatively faster speed, thereby achieving rapid adjustment of the clutch disengagement action; when the controller controls the first switch valve of the first branch 951 with the smaller diameter to open, the gas from the air source enters the air chamber 91 at a relatively slower speed, thereby achieving slow adjustment of the clutch disengagement action. Furthermore, when both first switch control valves 952 of the first branches 951 are open, the gas from the air source enters the air chamber 91 at the fastest speed; when both first switch control valves 952 of the first branches 951 are closed, the gas from the air source cannot enter the air chamber 91.

[0061] Similar to the first flow regulating mechanism 95, the second flow regulating mechanism 96 includes at least two second branches 961 and at least two second switching control valves 962. Each second switching control valve 962 is correspondingly disposed on each second branch 961, and the second switching control valve 962 connects or disconnects the second branch 961 by opening or closing. The second switching control valve 962 is, for example, a solenoid control valve. All second branches 961 are connected in parallel between the third pipeline 94 and the gas chamber 91. Each second switching control valve 962 is electrically connected to the controller. The more second switching control valves 962 are opened, the faster the gas inside the gas chamber 91 flows out into the second chamber 204 and is rapidly discharged outward through the second chamber 204.

[0062] Optionally, both the second switch control valve 962 and the second branch 961 are configured as two, for example, with the diameter of one second branch 961 being larger than that of the other. When the controller controls the second switch valve of the second branch 961 with the larger diameter to open, the gas inside the air chamber 91 is discharged into the second chamber 204 at a relatively faster speed, thereby achieving rapid adjustment of the clutch engagement action; when the controller controls the second switch valve of the second branch 961 with the smaller diameter to open, the gas inside the air chamber 91 is discharged into the second chamber 204 at a relatively slower speed, thereby achieving slow adjustment of the clutch engagement action. In addition, when both second switch control valves 962 of the second branches 961 are open, the gas inside the air chamber 91 enters the second chamber 204 at the fastest speed, achieving rapid adjustment of the clutch engagement action; when both second switch control valves 962 of the second branches 961 are closed, the gas inside the air chamber 91 cannot enter the second chamber 204.

[0063] It should be noted that the controller's control actions on each of the first switch control valves 952 and each of the second switch control valves 962 mainly rely on the software program settings inside the vehicle, and are flexibly adjusted and set according to the movement position of the piston 30 sensed by the displacement sensor 80.

[0064] In some embodiments, the control method for a pull clutch actuator includes the following steps:

[0065] Step S10: Receive signals such as vehicle weight, speed, gear position, and driver intention;

[0066] Step S20: Calculate and determine the current required clutch position of the pull clutch;

[0067] Step S30: Control the first flow regulation structure and the second flow regulation structure according to the clutch position, and monitor the displacement feedback of the displacement sensor 80. Perform closed-loop control of the pull clutch through the two first switching valves of the first flow regulation mechanism 95 (specifically, the fast intake regulating valve and the slow intake regulating valve) and the two first switching valves of the second flow regulation mechanism 96 (specifically, the fast exhaust regulating valve and the slow exhaust regulating valve) until the clutch position of the pull clutch reaches the target position.

[0068] In one embodiment, a clutch system includes a pull clutch actuator of any of the above embodiments.

[0069] The aforementioned clutch system includes a release bearing 10, a housing 20, and a piston 30. The piston 30 is movably disposed inside the housing 20 and extends out of the housing 20 through a through hole 201, where it is connected to the release bearing 10. The movement of the piston 30 is controlled by the gas source inputting gas into the first chamber 203 through the first air hole 202, thereby disengaging the pull clutch. After the gas inside the first chamber 203 is discharged outward through the first air hole 202, the piston 30 is reset, thereby engaging the pull clutch. This is equivalent to a concentric structure, which has advantages such as high integration, compact structure, and high reliability compared to an external structure.

[0070] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0071] Furthermore, where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0072] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0073] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0074] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0075] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0076] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pull-type clutch actuator, characterized in that, The pull clutch actuator includes: Release bearing, the release bearing being used for connection with a pull clutch; A housing having a through hole and a first vent for communicating with an air source, the release bearing being located outside the housing; and A piston is movably disposed inside the housing. The piston includes a piston head that slides against the inner wall of the housing and a piston rod connected to the piston head. The piston rod extends through the through hole to the outside of the housing and is connected to the release bearing. The interior of the housing includes a first chamber located on the side of the piston head near the through hole and a second chamber located on the side of the piston head away from the through hole. A first vent communicates with the first chamber. When gas enters the first chamber through the first vent, the gas inside the first chamber causes the piston head to move away from the release bearing, which in turn drives the release bearing to move closer to the outer casing, thereby disengaging the pull clutch. When the gas inside the first chamber is discharged outward through the first vent, the piston head moves toward the direction closer to the release bearing, causing the release bearing to move away from the outer casing, so that the pull clutch is engaged; The release bearing is provided with a first hook, and the piston rod extending outside the housing is provided with a second hook. When the release bearing rotates to a first position, the first hook and the second hook are hooked together along the direction of piston movement; when the release bearing rotates to a second position, the first hook and the second hook are completely displaced along the direction of piston movement. The pull clutch actuator also includes an elastic element disposed inside the first chamber, the opposite ends of the elastic element abutting against the piston head and the inner wall of the housing facing the piston head, respectively, so that when the release bearing is in the first position, the first hook and the second hook are pressed together. The pull clutch actuator also includes a controller, an air chamber, a first pipeline, a second pipeline, a third pipeline, and a first... The system includes a flow regulating mechanism and a second flow regulating mechanism; the outer casing also has a second vent and an exhaust vent, both of which are connected to the second chamber; one end of the first pipeline is connected to the air chamber, and the other end of the first pipeline is connected to the air source; the first flow regulating mechanism is electrically connected to the controller and is disposed on the first pipeline for controlling the gas flow rate of the first pipeline; one end of the second pipeline is connected to the air chamber, and the other end of the second pipeline is connected to the first vent; one end of the third pipeline is connected to the air chamber, and the other end of the third pipeline is connected to the second vent; the second flow regulating mechanism is electrically connected to the controller and is disposed on the third pipeline for controlling the gas flow rate of the second pipeline.

2. The pull-type clutch actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The piston has a channel extending from the piston head to the end face of the piston rod away from the piston head. The inner wall of the outer shell has a guide post passing through the channel. The piston reciprocates along the extension direction of the guide post through the channel.

3. The pull-type clutch actuator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer wall of the guide post is provided with a first protrusion, and the inner wall of the channel is formed with a first slide parallel to the reciprocating motion direction of the piston, and the first protrusion is disposed in the first slide.

4. The pull-type clutch actuator according to claim 3, characterized in that, A second slide is formed on the outer wall of the guide post, parallel to the reciprocating motion direction of the piston, and a second protrusion is provided on the inner wall of the channel, the second protrusion being disposed in the second slide.

5. The pull-type clutch actuator according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pull-type clutch actuator further includes a first sealing ring, a second sealing ring, and a third sealing ring; the first sealing ring is disposed at the through hole and sleeved on the outside of the piston rod; the second sealing ring is disposed on the inner wall of the channel and sleeved on the outside of the guide post; the third sealing ring is sleeved on the outside of the piston head and abuts against the inner wall of the outer casing.

6. The pull-type clutch actuator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The pull-type clutch actuator also includes a dustproof ring, which is disposed at the through hole and sleeved on the outside of the piston rod. The dustproof ring is located on the side of the first sealing ring away from the piston head.

7. The pull-type clutch actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The release bearing is detachably connected to one end of the piston rod that extends outside the housing; the housing includes a first split housing and a second split housing arranged sequentially and detachably connected along the direction of piston movement; the through hole and the first air hole are both formed on the first split housing.

8. The pull-type clutch actuator according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first split shell has a plurality of first protrusions arranged sequentially in the circumferential direction around its outer wall, and the second split shell has a plurality of second protrusions arranged sequentially in the circumferential direction around its outer wall. Each first protrusion and each second protrusion are detachably connected. And / or, the pull clutch actuator further includes a washer, which is disposed at the joint between the first split shell and the second split shell.

9. The pull-type clutch actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pull clutch actuator also includes a displacement sensor and a magnetic component. The displacement sensor is disposed on the housing, and the magnetic component is disposed on the piston. The displacement sensor can sense the position of the magnetic component.

10. A clutch system, characterized in that, The clutch system includes a pull clutch actuator as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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