Actuation assembly for actuatable device in motor vehicle drivetrain

Abstract

An actuation assembly comprising: a body; the plunger can axially move relative to the body; a linear actuator configured to be activated to axially move the plunger in a first direction into engagement with the body such that the plunger and the body are rotationally fixed relative to each other; a cylindrical member movable relative to the body for contacting the plunger and the body according to an axial position of the plunger; and a spring for biasing the cylindrical member toward the plunger piston. The barrel is configured such that the spring forces the barrel into circumferential engagement with the body in two different axial positions of the barrel relative to the body according to a rotational orientation of the barrel when the linear actuator is not activated.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. non-provisional application No. 17 / 960,320, filed on October 5, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to motor vehicle powertrains and, more particularly, to an actuation assembly for an actuatable device in a motor vehicle powertrain. Background Art

[0004] Disconnect clutches and valves are actuatable devices used in automotive powertrains that can be actuated by an actuation assembly. Summary of the invention

[0005] An actuation assembly for an automotive powertrain is provided. The actuation assembly includes: a body; a plunger that is axially movable relative to the body; a linear actuator that is configured to be activated to axially move the plunger in a first direction into engagement with the body so that the plunger and the body are rotationally fixed relative to each other; a barrel that is movable relative to the body for contacting the plunger and the body depending on the axial position of the plunger; and a spring for biasing the barrel toward the plunger, the barrel being configured such that the spring forces the barrel to circumferentially engage with the body in two different axial positions of the barrel relative to the body depending on the rotational orientation of the barrel when the linear actuator is not activated.

[0006] In some examples, the actuation assembly is configured such that, depending on the axial position of the plunger and the rotational orientation of the barrel, the spring forces the barrel into each of the following orientations: a first orientation in which the barrel circumferentially engages the plunger; a second orientation in which a first surface of the barrel circumferentially engages the body and the barrel is in a first axial position of two different axial positions; and a third orientation in which a second surface of the barrel circumferentially engages the body and the barrel is in a second axial position of two different axial positions.

[0007] In some examples, the barrel is axially closer to the engagement surface of the plunger in the second orientation than in the third orientation.

[0008] In some examples, the barrel includes a barrel ramp and the plunger includes a plunger ramp, the barrel ramp axially contacting the plunger ramp in the first orientation.

[0009] In some examples, the body includes a protrusion having a protrusion ramp surface that axially contacts the barrel ramp in the third orientation.

[0010] In some examples, the barrel includes a barrel slot and the protrusion is received in the barrel slot in the second orientation.

[0011] In some examples, the barrel grooves are formed in some of the barrel ramps.

[0012] In some examples, the plunger includes a plunger groove that receives the protrusion to rotationally fix the plunger and the body relative to each other.

[0013] In some examples, the linear actuator is configured to actuate the plunger only in a first direction.

[0014] In some examples, the barrel is at a different circumferential position relative to the body in each of the two different axial positions.

[0015] In some examples, the two different axial positions are rotationally directly adjacent to each other.

[0016] In some examples, the plunger includes a first plunger surface configured to circumferentially engage a first body surface of the body to rotationally connect the plunger to the body.

[0017] In some examples, the first plunger surface is located on at least one groove of the plunger and the first body surface is located on at least one protrusion of the body, and the at least one protrusion of the body enters into the at least one groove of the plunger to rotationally connect the plunger to the body.

[0018] In some examples, the plunger includes a second plunger surface configured to circumferentially engage the first barrel surface of the barrel when the solenoid is activated.

[0019] In some examples, the second plunger surface is located on at least one stop edge of the plunger ramp of the plunger, and the first barrel surface is located on at least one stop edge of the barrel ramp of the barrel.

[0020] In some examples, the barrel includes a second barrel surface configured for circumferentially engaging the second body surface to rotationally connect the barrel with the body in a first of two different axial positions of the barrel.

[0021] In some examples, the second barrel surface is located on at least one groove of the barrel, and the second body surface is located on an axial end of at least one protrusion of the body, and the at least one protrusion of the body enters into at least one groove of the barrel to rotationally connect the barrel to the body.

[0022] In some examples, the first barrel surface is configured to circumferentially engage the first body surface to rotationally connect the barrel with the body in a second of the two different axial positions of the barrel.

[0023] A method for constructing an actuating assembly for an automotive transmission system is also provided, the method comprising: fixing a plunger rotationally to a body so that the plunger can be axially moved in a first direction relative to the body by the linear actuator when the linear actuator is enabled; elastically preloading a barrel for axial movement relative to the body and the plunger so that, depending on the axial position of the plunger and the rotational orientation of the barrel, the barrel can be forced into each of the following orientations: a first orientation in which the barrel circumferentially engages an engagement surface of the plunger; a second orientation in which the first surface of the barrel circumferentially engages the body and the barrel is in a first axial position; and a third orientation in which the second surface of the barrel circumferentially engages the body and the barrel is axially closer to the engagement surface of the plunger in the second axial position in the second orientation than in the third orientation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The present disclosure is described below with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Various exploded views of examples of an actuation assembly of the present disclosure are illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The present disclosure provides a bistable actuation assembly that enables a single-acting linear actuator, i.e., an actuator that actuates only in a single direction (push only or pull only), to actuate a plunger into either of two stable positions and then retain the plunger in the respective stable position without continuing to apply the linear actuator force. In an example where the actuator is an electric solenoid, the plunger is retained in the respective stable position without continuing to apply energization to the solenoid.

[0027] Typically, in a solenoid actuated device that provides two distinct positions, one of those positions will require the solenoid to be continuously energized. If continuous energization in one position is unacceptable, a bistable mechanism is de-energized in each of its two stable positions (after the initial momentary energization required to move the device to that position), and two solenoids may be used in combination with a mechanical stop in the mechanism.

[0028] The present disclosure enables a single single-acting solenoid to switch a device between two stable positions and then remain de-energized in either of the two positions.

[0029] Figure 1and Figure 2 Different exploded views of an actuating assembly 10 for an actuatable device in an automotive powertrain are illustrated. The actuatable device may be a clutch or a hydraulic valve. The actuating assembly 10 may include a body 12, a plunger 14 that is axially movable relative to the body 12, a linear actuator 18 configured to be enabled to axially move the plunger 14 in a first direction into engagement with the body 12, and a barrel 20 that is movable relative to the body 12 for contacting the plunger 14. The schematically shown linear actuator 18 is configured to actuate the plunger 14 only in the first direction. For example, the linear actuator 18 may be a solenoid. The actuating assembly 10 may also include a spring 22 for biasing the barrel 20 toward the plunger 14. The barrel 20 is configured so that the spring 22 forces the barrel 20 to engage circumferentially with the body 12 in two different axial positions of the barrel 20 relative to the body 12 when the linear actuator 18 is not enabled. As explained further below, the barrel 20 is at a different circumferential position relative to the body 12 in each of the two different axial positions, and the two different axial positions are rotationally immediately adjacent to one another.

[0030] The plunger 14 includes a first plunger surface 14a configured to circumferentially engage the first body surface 12a of the body 12 to rotationally connect the plunger 14 to the body 12. Figure 1 In the example shown in , the first plunger surface 14a is formed on the circumferential facing edge of at least one groove 24 of the plunger 14, and the first body surface 12a is formed on the circumferential facing edge of at least one protrusion 26 of the body 12. At least one protrusion 26 enters into at least one groove 24 to connect the plunger 14 with the body 12 in terms of rotation. More specifically, Figure 1 The plunger 14 is shown to include a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves 24 , and the body 12 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions 26 , wherein each of the protrusions 26 enters into one of the grooves 24 .

[0031] The plunger 14 also includes a second plunger surface 14b configured to circumferentially engage the first barrel surface 20a of the barrel 20 when the linear actuator 18 is activated. The second plunger surface 14b is located on at least one stop edge of the plunger ramp 28, and the first barrel surface 20a is located on at least one axially extending stop edge of the barrel ramp 30.

[0032] The barrel 20 also includes a second barrel surface 20b, 20c, which is configured to engage the first body surface 12a and the second body surface 12b circumferentially, so that the barrel 20 is connected to the body 12 in the first axial position in two different axial positions of the barrel 20. The second barrel surface 20b, 20c is located on at least one groove 32 of the barrel, and the second body surface 12b is located on the axial end of at least one protrusion 26. The surface 20b is located on the circumferentially facing and axially extending part of the groove 32, and the surface 20c is an inclined surface extending between the two surfaces 20b. The surface 20c, 12b is a ramp surface that is tapered to make the degree of the circumferential extension of the surface 20c, 12b greater than the degree of the axial extension of the surface 20c, 12b respectively. At least one protrusion 26 enters into at least one groove 32 of the barrel 20, so that the barrel 20 is connected to the body 12 in terms of rotation. The first barrel surface 20 a is also configured for circumferentially engaging the second body surface 12 b to rotationally connect the barrel 20 with the body 12 in a second of the two different axial positions of the barrel 20 .

[0033] More specifically, the barrel 20 includes a plurality of ramps 30 that are directly adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. Some of the ramps 30 are: Figure 1 Every other ramp 30 in the example shown in the drawing - each intersects one of the grooves 32. Each ramp 30 has a shape complementary to each of the ramps 28 of the plunger 14 to allow the engagement surface 34 of the plunger 14 formed by a plurality of axially and circumferentially extending ramp surfaces 34a to rest axially flush against the plunger engagement surface 36 of the barrel 20 formed by a plurality of axially and circumferentially extending ramp surfaces 36a.

[0034] The actuation assembly 10 may also include a retainer 40 for holding the spring 22 axially in place and an armature 42 formed as a single piece with the plunger 14 , allowing the linear actuator 18 in the form of a solenoid to actuate the plunger 14 in the first direction D1 by pulling the plunger toward the linear actuator 18 .

[0035] Ontology 12 and in Figure 1 and Figure 2 A retainer 40 in the form of a C-shaped retaining ring may be rigidly mounted, for example, inside the tubular rotor, and the shaft may extend through the middle of the actuation assembly 10. The disconnect clutch may alternately couple and decouple the tubular rotor to and from the shaft when actuated by the actuation assembly 10. A schematically shown spring 44 may gently push the armature 42 toward the body 12, attempting to create space between the face of the disconnect clutch and the armature 42.

[0036] The linear actuator 18 is located on the end of the body 12 opposite the armature 42 and can forcefully pull the armature 42 and plunger 14 toward the body 12 in the same direction as the push of the spring 44 when the coil of the linear actuator 18 is energized, which produces a weaker axial force than the spring 22.

[0037] The spring 22, one end of which is anchored against the retainer 40, presses against the barrel 20, which can slide axially in the body 12 and also rotate freely inside the body 12 unless the barrel surface 20a or 20b engages with the protrusion 26. Depending on the axial position of the plunger 14 and the angular orientation of the rotating barrel 20, the force of the spring 22 pushes the rotating barrel 20 into the body 12 until the travel of the barrel 20 is stopped by the plunger 14 or the body 12. The actuation assembly 10 is configured so that, depending on the axial position of the plunger 14 and the rotational orientation of the barrel 20, the barrel 20 is elastically preloaded for axial movement relative to the body 12 and the plunger 14, so that, depending on the axial position of the plunger 14 and the rotational orientation of the barrel 20, the barrel 20 can be forced into each of the following orientations:

[0038] a first orientation in which the barrel 20 circumferentially engages the plunger 14;

[0039] a second orientation in which the first barrel surface 20a circumferentially engages the body 12 and the barrel 20 is in a first axial position; and

[0040] - A third orientation in which the second barrel surface 20b circumferentially engages the body 12 and the barrel 20 is in a second axial position different from the first axial position. The barrel 20 is axially closer to the engagement surface 34 of the plunger 14 in the second orientation than in the third orientation.

[0041] In the first orientation, the force of the spring 22 pushes the rotating barrel 20 into the body 12 until the travel of the barrel 20 is stopped by the ramp surface 12b at the end of the protrusion 26 contacting the bottom ramp surface 20c of the slot 32 of the rotating barrel 20. In the second orientation, the force of the spring 22 pushes the rotating barrel 20 into the body 12 until the travel of the barrel 20 is stopped by the ramp surface 12b at the end of the protrusion 26 contacting the surface 20a of the ramp 30 of the rotating barrel 20. In the third orientation, the force of the spring 22 pushes the rotating barrel 20 into the body 12 until the travel of the barrel 20 is stopped by the surface 14b on the ramp 28 on the face of the plunger 14 contacting the surface 20a of the ramp 30 of the rotating barrel 20.

[0042] Functionality in the actuation assembly 10 is initiated when the linear actuator 18 is enabled by energizing the solenoid coil and the armature 42 is pulled toward the body 12. The plunger 14 moves with the armature 42 and maintains a constant angular orientation relative to the body 12 because the slot 24 of the plunger 14 rides on the protrusion 26 of the body 12.

[0043] If the linear actuation assembly 10 is not enabled, for example because the solenoid coil is not energized, the actuation assembly 10 is in a first axial position - i.e., an extended stable position in which the clutch is disengaged - and the ramp surface 12b at the end of the protrusion 26 contacts the bottom ramp surface 20c of the slot 32 of the rotating barrel 20.

[0044] In this case, when linear actuation assembly 10 is activated, for example by energizing a solenoid coil, the force of linear actuation assembly 10 overcomes the force of spring 22 and ramp 28 on the face of plunger 14 moves into contact with surface 20 a of ramp 30 of rotating barrel 20 .

[0045] Once the plunger 14 - which is not free to rotate relative to the body 12 - has pushed the rotating barrel 20 far enough to move the end of the protrusion 26 out of the slot 24, the rotating barrel 20 is free to rotate, and will do so due to the low friction contact between the barrel ramp surface 36a and the plunger ramp surface 34a. This relative rotation will stop when the rotating barrel 20 has rotated far enough to contact the stop surface 20a at the end of the ramp 30 with the stop surface 14b at the end of the ramp 28. This marks the point of maximum required axial travel, and the linear actuator 18 can be disconnected at this point, for example by enabling current to the solenoid coil.

[0046] After the linear actuator 18 has been deactivated, the spring 22 pushes the rotating barrel 20 away from the linear actuator 18, causing the armature 42 and plunger 14 to move with the barrel 20 until the ramp 30 contacts the ramp 28 at the end of the protrusion 26. When this contact initially occurs, the stop surface 20a is approximately half the length of the ramp from the edge of the protrusion 26, so the force of the spring 22 pushes the rotating barrel 20 down to contact the ramps 28, 30 until the barrel 20 has rotated far enough for the stop surface 20a to contact the edge of the protrusion 26. At this point, the actuation assembly 10 is now locked into the second axial position, the retracted stable position, in which the clutch is engaged and the ramp surface 12b at the end of the protrusion 26 contacts against the surface 20a of the ramp 30 of the rotating barrel 20.

[0047] When the actuation assembly 10 is in this retracted stable position and the linear actuator 18 is activated, the linear actuator 18 overcomes the force of the spring 22, but must travel a smaller axial distance than during the initial activation of the linear actuator 18 described in the previous paragraph. In particular, the amount of axial travel required to release the rotating barrel 20 from the end of the protrusion 26 is much less than during the initial activation of the linear actuator 18 because, in this arrangement, the end of the protrusion 26 has rested against the ramp 30 rather than against the bottom of the slot 24. In addition, at the end of the cycle (after the linear actuator 18 is deactivated), the amount of axial travel required to seat the rotating barrel 20 into the extended stable position is much greater than during the initial activation of the linear actuator 18. This is because the protrusion 26 moves into the slot 24 and the spring 22 then continues to push the rotating barrel 20 and the armature 42 and plunger 14 away from the linear actuator 18 until the ramp surface 12 b at the end of the protrusion 26 has seated at the bottom of the slot 24 in the rotating barrel 20 .

[0048] In addition to being used with a clutch, the actuation assembly 10 can also be used to control a 2-position hydraulic or pneumatic spool valve. The current prior art is to use two electrical solenoids for these valves, one mounted at each end of the valve housing, each with its own set of wires. Each solenoid pushes (or pulls) the valve spool in one direction opposite to the direction of the other solenoid.

[0049] The system can be replaced with a cheaper arrangement in which a spring (rather than a solenoid) is mounted at only one end of the housing to push the spool toward a single solenoid mounted at the opposite end of the housing. To displace the spool in the valve, the solenoid in conjunction with the present disclosure will be energized momentarily to overcome the preload force of the spring, thereby pushing the spool slightly beyond its furthest stable position and then closed. The spring force will then move the spool back toward the solenoid, and the device of the present disclosure will lock the spool into one of its two stable, predefined axial positions.

[0050] The actuation assembly 10 may also be used with a 2-position rotary valve, such as a ball valve or butterfly valve. The arrangement may be similar to the configuration described above for use with a sliding valve. However, in this application, the actuation assembly 10 may act on a bell crank attached to a pivoting lever of the valve, the solenoid would be mounted to some kind of bracket on the housing of the valve, and a torsion spring may be used to bias the valve toward the de-energized position of the solenoid.

[0051] The actuation assembly 10 may also be applied to mechanisms utilizing other types of solenoids (not just electric solenoids). For example, vacuum solenoids of the type commonly used in automotive applications in push or pull configurations may also be used in the actuation assembly 10.

[0052] In the foregoing description, the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments and examples thereof. However, it will be apparent that various modifications and changes may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. Therefore, the description and drawings should be viewed in an illustrative manner rather than in a restrictive sense.

[0053] Reference numerals list

[0054] 10 Actuator assembly

[0055] 12 body

[0056] 12a First body surface

[0057] 12b Second body surface / body slope surface

[0058] 14 Plunger

[0059] 14a First plunger surface

[0060] 14b Second plunger surface

[0061] 18 Linear Actuators

[0062] 20 cylindrical parts

[0063] 20a Surface of first cylindrical member

[0064] 20b Surface of the second cylindrical member

[0065] 20c Second cylindrical member surface / slope surface of cylindrical member

[0066] 22 Spring

[0067] 24 plunger slots

[0068] 26 body protrusion

[0069] 28 plunger ramp

[0070] 30 cylindrical part slope

[0071] 32 cylindrical groove

[0072] 34 Plunger barrel engagement surface

[0073] 34a Ramped surface of plunger

[0074] 36 Plunger engagement surface of barrel

[0075] 36a Slope surface of the cylindrical member

[0076] 40 Retainer

[0077] 42 Armature

[0078] 44 Spring

Claims

1. An actuating assembly for a vehicle transmission system, comprising: ontology; a plunger, the plunger being axially movable relative to the body; a linear actuator configured to be activated to axially move the plunger in a first direction into engagement with the body such that the plunger and the body are rotationally fixed relative to each other; a barrel movable relative to the body for contacting the plunger and the body according to an axial position of the plunger; as well as A spring is provided for biasing the barrel toward the plunger, the barrel being configured such that the spring forces the barrel to circumferentially engage the body in two different axial positions of the barrel relative to the body depending on the rotational orientation of the barrel when the linear actuator is not activated.

2. The actuating assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The actuation assembly is configured such that, depending on the axial position of the plunger and the rotational orientation of the barrel, the spring forces the barrel into each of the following orientations: a first orientation in which the barrel circumferentially engages an engagement surface of the plunger; a second orientation in which the first surface of the barrel circumferentially engages the body and the barrel is in a first axial position of the two different axial positions; as well as A third orientation in which the second surface of the barrel circumferentially engages the body and the barrel is in a second axial position of the two different axial positions.

3. The actuating assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The barrel is axially closer to the engagement surface of the plunger in the second orientation than in the third orientation.

4. The actuating assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The barrel includes a barrel ramp and the plunger includes a plunger ramp, the barrel ramp axially contacting the plunger ramp in the first orientation.

5. The actuating assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The body includes a protrusion having a protrusion ramp surface that axially contacts the barrel ramp in the third orientation.

6. The actuating assembly according to claim 5, wherein: The barrel includes a barrel slot, the protrusion being received in the barrel slot in the second orientation.

7. The actuating assembly according to claim 6, wherein: The barrel grooves are formed in some of the barrel slopes.

8. The actuation assembly according to claim 5, wherein: The plunger includes a plunger groove that receives the projection to rotationally fix the plunger and the body relative to each other.

9. The actuation assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The linear actuator is configured to actuate the plunger only in the first direction.

10. The actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein: The barrel is in a different circumferential position relative to the body in each of the two different axial positions.

11. The actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein: The two different axial positions are rotationally directly adjacent to one another.

12. The actuation assembly of claim 1, wherein: The plunger includes a first plunger surface configured to circumferentially engage a first body surface of the body to rotationally connect the plunger with the body.

13. The actuation assembly according to claim 12, wherein: The first plunger surface is located on at least one groove of the plunger, and the first body surface is located on at least one protrusion of the body, and the at least one protrusion of the body enters into the at least one groove of the plunger to rotationally connect the plunger to the body.

14. The actuation assembly of claim 12, wherein: The plunger includes a second plunger surface configured to circumferentially engage a first barrel surface of the barrel when the linear actuator is activated.

15. The actuation assembly of claim 14, wherein: The second plunger surface is located on at least one stop edge of a plunger ramp of the plunger, and the first barrel surface is located on at least one stop edge of a barrel ramp of the barrel.

16. The actuation assembly of claim 14, wherein: The barrel includes a second barrel surface configured for circumferentially engaging a second body surface to rotationally connect the barrel with the body in a first of the two different axial positions of the barrel.

17. The actuation assembly of claim 16, wherein: The second cylindrical member surface is located on at least one groove of the cylindrical member, and the second body surface is located on the axial end of at least one protrusion of the body, and the at least one protrusion of the body enters into the at least one groove of the cylindrical member to connect the cylindrical member with the body in terms of rotation.

18. The actuation assembly of claim 16, wherein: The first barrel surface is configured for circumferentially engaging the first body surface to rotationally connect the barrel with the body in a second of the two different axial positions of the barrel.

19. A method of constructing an actuation assembly for an automotive powertrain, comprising: rotationally fixing a plunger to the body such that the plunger is axially movable relative to the body in a first direction by the linear actuator when the linear actuator is activated; as well as The barrel is resiliently preloaded for axial movement relative to the body and the plunger, such that, depending on the axial position of the plunger and the rotational orientation of the barrel, the barrel can be urged into each of the following orientations: a first orientation in which the barrel circumferentially engages an engagement surface of the plunger; a second orientation in which the first surface of the barrel circumferentially engages the body and the barrel is in a first axial position; as well as A third orientation in which the second surface of the barrel circumferentially engages the body and the barrel in a second axial position is axially closer to the engagement surface of the plunger in the second orientation than in the third orientation.

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