Separation clutch with locking device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle separation clutch (10), comprising a first clutch component (12) rotatable about a pivot axis (16), a second rotatable clutch component (14), and an actuator (30) having an actuator element (32) that is axially displaceable to change the clutch state, wherein the first and second clutch components (12, 14) are connected to each other so as to transmit torque in the first clutch state (82), and these clutch components are coupled to each other in the second clutch state (58). The present invention relates to a disengaging clutch (10) having a coupling element (24) for releasing the clutch and a locking device (52) for holding the coupling element (24) in the axial direction, wherein the locking element (54) of the locking device (52) is locked in a first locking position (56) between a first clutch component (12) and the coupling element (24) in a first clutch state (82), and locked in a second locking position (60) between the first clutch component (12) and the coupling element (24) in a second clutch state (58).

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to a disconnecting clutch according to the preamble of claim 1. [[Background Art]]

[0002] German Patent Application Publication No. 102022132440 describes a disconnecting clutch comprising a rotatable first clutch component and a rotatable second clutch component, wherein these components are connected to each other for torque transmission depending on a clutch state. In this regard, a locking device having a displaceable locking element maintains the clutch state. [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0003] An object of the present invention is to maintain a clutch state more energy-efficiently and more safely. An actuating force for switching the clutch state is to be reduced. [[Means for Solving the Problem]]

[0004] At least one of these objects is achieved by a disconnecting clutch having the features of claim 1. In this way, the clutch state can be maintained reliably and energy-efficiently. The clutch state can be adopted in a more energy-efficient manner. The actuating force for switching the clutch state is reduced.

[0005] The disconnecting clutch may be arranged in a vehicle between a drive element and an output element. The drive element may be an electric motor. The output element may be a gear unit, in particular a differential gear unit. The disconnecting clutch may be arranged on an electrically driven axle of a vehicle.

[0006] The separation clutch may be a positive-acting clutch. In the first clutch state, the first and second clutch components may be positively connected to each other. In the first clutch state, the first clutch component may have radial teeth and / or axial teeth for positive connection with the coupling element and / or the second clutch component. In the first clutch state, the coupling element and / or the second clutch component may have radial teeth and / or axial teeth for positive connection with the first clutch component. In the second clutch state, the first and second clutch components may be rotatable relative to each other.

[0007] The first clutch state may correspond to an engaged disengaged clutch. When the disengaged clutch is engaged, torque can be transmitted between the drive element and the output element via the disengaged clutch. The second clutch state may correspond to an unengaged disengaged clutch. When the disengaged clutch is unengaged, torque transmission between the drive element and the output element is interrupted via the disengaged clutch.

[0008] The first and second clutch components may be arranged coaxially. The first and second clutch components may be arranged axially offset from each other.

[0009] The first clutch component may be a shaft or a hub. The second clutch component may be a shaft or a hub. The first and / or second clutch components may have teeth, preferably external teeth, for a secure connection with the coupling element.

[0010] The coupling element may be a sliding coupling. The coupling element may have teeth, preferably internal teeth, for a positive connection with the first and / or second clutch components. The coupling element may be permanently connected to the first clutch component by its teeth. The coupling element may be housed on the first clutch component so as to be axially displaceable. In the first clutch state, the coupling element may be positively connected to the first and second clutch components, thereby connecting the first and second clutch components to each other in a torque-transmitting manner.

[0011] The actuating element may take the form of a gear shift fork. The actuating element may be axially displaceable by a clutch actuator.

[0012] In the first locking position, the locking element can maintain a first clutch state. In the second locking position, the locking element can maintain a second clutch state. The locking element may consist of at least one ball, or may comprise at least one ball.

[0013] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is advantageous that a first shift movement of the actuator, starting from a second clutch state to engage a first clutch state, is different from a second shift movement of the actuator, starting from a first clutch state to engage a second clutch state. The first shift movement may be smaller or larger than the second shift movement. The coupling element may cause an axial movement between the first clutch state and the second clutch state. The axial movement may be different from the first and second shift movements. The axial movement may be smaller than the first and / or second shift movements.

[0014] In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the locking element is defined to lock into a first recess of a first clutch component when in a first locking position. The locking element may be housed within the receptacle of the coupling element so as to be axially displaceable together with the coupling element. The locking element may be held axially relative to the coupling element within the receptacle.

[0015] In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the locking element is configured to lock into a second recess of a first clutch component, which is axially offset relative to the first recess when in a second locking position. The groove depths of the first and second recesses may be the same or different. The first recess may have a deeper groove depth than the second recess.

[0016] In one preferred and advantageous configuration of the present invention, the actuating element is displaceable relative to the coupling element. The actuating element may have further locking devices that hold the actuating element axially in the first and second clutch states.

[0017] In one particular embodiment of the present invention, it is advantageous for the actuator to have an axially displaceable interlocking element that holds the locking element in at least a first locking position. The interlocking element may be axially displaceable and housed on the coupling element. The interlocking element may be positioned radially outward from the coupling element. The interlocking element may hold the locking element in a second locking position.

[0018] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interlocking elements are pre-tensioned by a spring load in the direction of the first locking position. The interlocking elements may be pre-tensioned by a spring element, for example, a coil spring. In the second locking position, the spring element may exert a spring force on the interlocking elements. In the first locking position, the spring element may exert a lower spring force on the interlocking elements compared to the second locking position, or it may not exert any spring force at all.

[0019] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is advantageous for the actuating element to act on the working portion of the coupling element in order to employ a first clutch state. The actuating element may have a U-shaped portion that accommodates the working portion in the axial direction. The actuating element may also act on a first axial side of the working portion in order to employ a first clutch state.

[0020] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is advantageous for the actuating element to act on the contact portion of the mutual locking element and the actuating portion of the coupling element in order to employ a second clutch state. The actuating element may act on the second axial side of the actuating portion that is axially opposite to the first axial side in order to employ a second clutch state. The actuating element may first act on the contact portion of the mutual locking element and then act on the actuating portion of the coupling element in order to employ a second clutch state.

[0021] In one particular configuration of the present invention, it is advantageous that the actuating element acts on a first axial side of the actuating part in order to engage a first clutch state, and on a second axial side of the actuating part opposite in the axial direction in order to engage a second clutch state. The actuating part may take the form of a radial projection that protrudes integrally from the coupling element. The circumference of the actuating part may be limited.

[0022] Further advantages and favorable configurations of the present invention are evident from the description and drawings.

[0023] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0024] [Figure 1] This shows a half-section through the separation clutch in one specific embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows the operation of switching the disassembly clutch to the first clutch state. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows the operation of switching the disassembly clutch to the second clutch state. [Figure 4] An example of the shifting movement of the separating clutch in FIG. 1 is shown. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a half cross-section of a separating clutch in one specific embodiment of the present invention. The separating clutch 10 is arranged in a vehicle between a drive element, for example an electric motor, and an output element, for example a differential gear unit. A first clutch component 12 is connected to the drive element for torque transmission, and a second clutch component 14 is connected to the output element for torque transmission.

[0026] The first clutch component 12 is rotatable about a rotation axis 16 and takes the form of a shaft 18. The second clutch component 14 is arranged coaxially with the first clutch component 12, is rotatable about the rotation axis 16, and takes the form of a shaft 20. The first clutch component 12 has external teeth 22. A coupling element 24 is accommodated axially displaceably on the first clutch component 12. The coupling element 24 takes the form of a sliding coupling 28 and has internal teeth for positive connection with the external teeth 22 of the first clutch component 12.

[0027] The coupling element 24 is associated with an actuating device 30, which further comprises an actuating element 32 that can be displaced axially to change the clutch state. The actuating element 32 takes the form of a gear shift fork 34, which has a U-shaped portion 36 that accommodates an actuating portion 38 of the coupling element 24. The actuating portion 38 takes the form of a radial projection 40 and is arranged axially between two legs of the actuating element 32.

[0028] The actuating element 32 can be displaced axially to change the clutch state. For a first clutch state to be adopted, the first clutch component 12 and the second clutch component 14 are connected to each other via a coupling element 24 so as to transmit torque, and the actuating element 32 acts on the first axial side surface 46 of the actuating portion 38 of the coupling element 24 with its first leg 42, displacing the coupling element 24 axially toward the second clutch component 14 until the coupling element 24 is firmly connected to the second clutch component 14, thus connecting the first clutch component 12 and the second clutch component 14 firmly and so as to transmit torque. Switching from the clutch state to the second clutch state is achieved by the coupling element 24 being discoupled from the second clutch component 14, thereby discoupled from the first clutch component 12 and the second clutch component 14, and by the actuation element 32 acting on the second axial side surface 50, which is axially opposite to the first axial side surface 46, with the second leg portion 48, thereby axially displacing the coupling element 24 away from the second clutch component 14.

[0029] The first and second clutch states are held axially by a locking device 52. The locking device 52 includes a locking element 54, which in the first clutch state is locked at a first locking position 56 between the first clutch component 12 and the coupling element 24, and in the second clutch state 58 shown herein, is locked at a second locking position 60 between the first clutch component 12 and the coupling element 24. In this way, the coupling element 24 is held axially in the first and second clutch states. The locking element 54 includes at least one ball 62, which is housed within a receptacle 64 of the coupling element 24 so as to be axially displaceable together with the coupling element.

[0030] In the first locking position 56, the locking element 54 is locked into the first recess 66 of the first clutch component 12, and in the second locking position 60 shown here, it is locked into the second recess 68 of the first clutch component 12, which is axially offset from the first recess 66. In this way, the coupling element 24 is held axially with respect to the first clutch component 12.

[0031] The actuator 30 includes an axially displaceable mutual locking element 70, which holds the locking element 54 in at least a first locking position 56. The mutual locking element 70 is pre-tensioned by a spring element 72, in this case a coil spring, which provides a spring load in the direction of the first locking position 56. The spring element 72 is mounted axially in contact with the retaining element 74.

[0032] The mutual locking element 70 has an inclined contact portion 76, which exerts axial and radial forces on the locking element 54 via the spring force of the spring element 72. In the second clutch state 58, the locking element 54 is pushed radially into the second recess 68, thus holding the coupling element 24 axially relative to the first clutch component 12.

[0033] The actuating element 32 is displaceable relative to the coupling element 24, and in the second clutch state 58 shown here, the actuating element 32 is not in contact with the mutual locking element 70 and the actuating part 38. The second clutch state 58 can therefore be maintained in a manner that does not apply force to the actuating element 32.

[0034] Figure 2 shows the operation of switching the separation clutch of Figure 1 to the first clutch state. Starting from the second clutch state 58 in Figure 2a), the actuating element 32 is displaced in the first axial direction 78, as shown in Figure 2b), acting on the first axial side surface 46 of the actuating part 38, and displacing the coupling element 24 in the first axial direction 78 until the coupling element 24 is firmly connected to the second clutch component 14, as shown in Figure 2c). During the process, the second locking position 60 is released, and the locking element 54 moves out of the second recess 68, and the first locking position 56 is adopted, with the locking element 54 positioned within the first recess 66. In the first locking position 56, the mutual locking element 70, aided by the spring force of the spring element 72, can move radially over the locking element 54 with the retaining part 80, preventing the release of the first locking position 56, thereby maintaining the first clutch state.

[0035] When the first clutch state is adopted, the first clutch component 12 and the second clutch component 14 are reliably connected to each other via the coupling element 24 so that torque is transmitted, and the actuating element 32 moves slightly in the second axial direction 84 and does not come into contact with the mutual locking element 70 and the actuating part 38. In this way, the first clutch state 82, held by the first locking position 56, can be maintained in a manner that does not apply force to the actuating element 32.

[0036] Figure 3 shows the operation of switching the separation clutch of Figure 1 to a second clutch state. To adopt the second clutch state, starting from the first clutch state 82 shown in Figure 3a), the actuating element 32 is first moved in a second axial direction 84, and during the process its first leg 42 moves the mutual locking element 70 in the second axial direction 84, thereby enabling the release of the first locking position 56 as shown in Figure 3b). The depth of the groove of the first recess 66 is such that the locking element 54 is not constrained and is moved out of the first recess 66 by the coupling element 24 and / or by centrifugal force.

[0037] Only when the first locking position 56 is released, the actuating element 32 acts on the second axial side 50 of the actuating part 38 with its second leg 48, displacing the coupling element 24 in the second axial direction 84 during the process, and thus moving the locking element 54 out of the first recess 66, as shown in Figure 3c). The coupling element 24 is displaced by the actuating element 32 in the second axial direction 84 until the locking element 54 engages in the second recess 68 by the inclined contact portion 76, as shown in Figure 3d), thereby adopting and maintaining the second clutch state 58. The actuating element 32 then moves sufficiently in the first axial direction 78 so as not to contact the mutual locking element 70 and the actuating part 38. In this way, the second clutch state 58 can be maintained in a forceless manner.

[0038] Figure 4 shows an example of the shift movement of the disengaged clutch in Figure 1. The first shift movement 86 of the operating element 32, which starts from the second clutch state to adopt the first clutch state, is smaller than the second shift movement 88 of the operating element 32, which starts from the first clutch state to adopt the second clutch state.

[0039] The coupling element 24 moves between a first clutch state and a second clutch state by an axial movement 90, and this axial movement 90 is smaller than the first shift movement 86 and the second shift movement 88. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 10 Separation Clutch 12. First clutch component 14. Second clutch component 16 Rotation axis 18 shafts 20 shafts 22 External teeth 24 Coupling Elements 26 Sliding Coupling 28 Inner teeth 30 Actuator 32 Actuating elements 34 Gear Shift Fork 36 parts 38 Operating parts 40 Radial protrusion 42 First leg 46 First axial side 48 Second leg 50 Second axial side 52 Locking device 54 Locking element 56 1st locking position 58 Second clutch state 60 Second locking position 62 balls 64 Receptacles 66 First recess 68 Second recess 70 Interlocking elements 72 Spring elements 74 Holding Element 76 Contact part 78 First axis 80 Holding part 82 First clutch state 84 Second axis direction 86 First shift movement 88 Second shift movement 90-degree axis movement

Claims

1. A separate clutch (10) for a vehicle, A first clutch component (12) that is rotatable about a rotation axis (16), A rotatable second clutch component (14), The device includes an actuator (30) equipped with an axially displaceable actuator (32) to change the clutch state, a coupling element (24) that connects the first and second clutch components (12, 14) to each other so as to transmit torque in the first clutch state (82), and discouples the first and second clutch components (12, 14) from each other in the second clutch state (58), and a locking device (52) for holding the coupling element (24) in the axial direction. A separable clutch (10) characterized in that the locking element (54) of the locking device (52) is locked in a first locking position (56) between the first clutch component (12) and the coupling element (24) in the first clutch state (82), and locked in a second locking position (60) between the first clutch component (12) and the coupling element (24) in the second clutch state (58).

2. The separation clutch (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first shift movement (86) of the operating element (32) that starts from the second clutch state (58) in order to adopt the first clutch state (82) is different from the second shift movement (88) of the operating element (32) that starts from the first clutch state (82) in order to adopt the second clutch state (58).

3. The separation clutch (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking element (54) is engaged with the first recess (66) of the first clutch component (12) when in the first locking position (56).

4. The separation clutch (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking element (54) is locked in a second recess (68) of the first clutch component (12) which is axially offset with respect to the first recess (66) when in the second locking position (60).

5. The separation clutch (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the operating element (32) is displaceable relative to the coupling element (24).

6. The separation clutch (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the actuator (30) has an axially displaceable mutual locking element (70) that holds the locking element (54) at least in the first locking position (56).

7. The separation clutch (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the mutual locking element (70) is pre-tensioned by a spring load in the direction of the first locking position (56).

8. The separation clutch (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the operating element (32) acts on the operating portion (38) of the coupling element (24) in order to adopt the first clutch state (82).

9. The separation clutch (10) according to claim 6, 7, and 8, characterized in that the operating element (32) acts on the contact portion (76) of the mutual locking element (70) and the operating portion (38) of the coupling element (24) in order to adopt the second clutch state (58).

10. The separation clutch (10) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the actuating element (32) acts on a first axial side surface (46) of the actuating part (38) in order to adopt the first clutch state (82), and acts on a second axial side surface (50) of the actuating part (38) opposite in the axial direction in order to adopt the second clutch state (58).

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