Clutch assembly and power module

Abstract

A clutch assembly (1) and a power module. The clutch assembly (1) comprises a switchable one-way clutch (10) comprising an outer ring (11) and an inner ring (12) which are coaxially arranged, and rollers (14) held between the outer ring (11) and the inner ring (12) by means of a cage (13); first sections (111) and second sections (112) are distributed in a circumferential direction are arranged on an inner ring contact surface of the inner ring (12) for contacting the rollers (14) or an outer ring contact surface of the outer ring (11) for contacting the rollers (14); at the first sections (111), gaps are formed between the rollers (14) and the outer ring (11) or between the rollers (14) and the inner ring (12); at the second sections (112), the rollers (14) are in contact with both the outer ring (11) and the inner ring (12); the clutch assembly (1) further comprises a force applying member (20) which is fixed relative to the cage (13) and is in contact with the rollers (14); when the rollers (14) are located at the first sections (111), under the action of a radial force applied by the force applying member (20), the rollers (14) abut against one of the outer ring (11) and the inner ring (12) which is provided with the first sections (111) and the second sections (112) and are spaced apart from the other one of the outer ring (11) and the inner ring (12).

Description

Clutch assembly and power module TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of vehicle transmission, in particular to a clutch assembly and a power module. BACKGROUND

[0002] A clutch connects or disconnects a power source to or from a power transmission system in a manner similar to a switch. When the clutch is in an engaged state, the inner ring and the outer ring of the clutch transmit torque via the rolling elements held by the retainer; when the clutch is in a disengaged state, the rolling elements held by the retainer are not in contact with the inner ring or the outer ring, thereby disconnecting the torque transmission between the inner ring and the outer ring.

[0003] When the clutch is in a disengaged state, it is desirable that the inner ring and the outer ring of the clutch do not interfere with each other, i.e., it is desirable that the inner ring and the outer ring of the clutch can be reliably kept in a state of separation from each other.

[0004] SUMMARY

[0005] One of the objects of the present application is to provide a clutch assembly which can ensure that the inner ring and the outer ring of the clutch do not interfere with each other when the clutch is in a disengaged state, which advantageously improves the reliability of the clutch; and the present application also provides a power module comprising the clutch assembly.

[0006] One aspect of the present application provides a clutch assembly comprising:

[0007] A switchable one-way clutch comprising an outer ring, an inner ring coaxially arranged, and rolling elements held therebetween via a retainer,

[0008] wherein,

[0009] a first section and a second section distributed along a circumferential direction are provided on an inner ring contact surface of the inner ring for contacting the rolling elements, or on an outer ring contact surface of the outer ring for contacting the rolling elements, at the first section, a gap is provided between the rolling elements and the outer ring or between the rolling elements and the inner ring, at the second section, the rolling elements are in contact with both the outer ring and the inner ring,

[0010] The clutch assembly further comprises a force applying member held fixed relative to the retainer and in contact with the rolling elements, when the rolling elements are located at the first section, the rolling elements abut on one of the outer ring and the inner ring in which the first section and the second section are provided and are spaced apart from the other one under the action of a radial force applied by the force applying member.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present application, the force applying member includes a first force applying member and a second force applying member which are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction and are located on both sides of the rolling element, the retainer includes a first extension and a second extension which are located on both sides in the circumferential direction of the rolling element, and the first force applying member and the second force applying member are provided on the first extension and the second extension, respectively.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present application, the first force applying member is configured as a first elastic member having a first fixed section fixed to the first extension and a first force applying section in contact with the rolling element.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present application, the second force applying member is configured as a protruding section protruding from the second extension toward the rolling element, and the protruding section has a profile surface which is fitted to an outer surface of the rolling element.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present application, the second force applying member is configured as a second elastic member having a second fixed section fixed to the second extension and a second force applying section in contact with the rolling element.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present application, the first elastic member and the second elastic member are configured to be identical to each other and are configured to be formed by bending a linear elastic member in a predetermined direction.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present application, the first fixed section is provided at a first end of the first elastic member, the first force applying section is provided at a second end of the first elastic member, and the first force applying section and the second force applying section are provided on both sides in the circumferential direction of the first extension.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present application, the first elastic member further includes a spiral section which is located on the same side as the first force applying section in the circumferential direction of the first extension.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present application, the first fixed section includes a first fixed sub-section and a second fixed sub-section which are spaced apart in an axial direction of the switchable clutch, and the second force applying section is located between the first fixed sub-section and the second fixed sub-section.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present application, the first fixed sub-section and the second fixed sub-section are configured in a hook shape.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present application, the first elastic member is made of spring steel.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present application, the first section and the second section are arranged on the outer ring contact surface of the outer ring for contacting the rolling elements.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the present application, the clutch assembly further comprises a driving assembly arranged at an axial side of the switchable one-way clutch and connected with both the outer ring and the cage at axial ends thereof to drive both to move relative to each other in the circumferential direction.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present application, the cage comprises a plurality of accommodating portions for accommodating a plurality of the rolling elements respectively, and each of the accommodating portions is defined by a corresponding first extension portion and a second extension portion.

[0024] According to an embodiment of the present application, the driving assembly comprises a driving member and a transmission member, the transmission member is synchronously rotatable with the outer ring, the transmission member is driven by the driving member to move relative to the switchable one-way clutch from a first axial position to a second axial position, and at least one of the cage and the outer ring is linked with the transmission member to drive the cage and the outer ring to move relative to each other in the circumferential direction.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present application, the cage is provided with a linkage portion, and a transmission portion on the transmission member is slidably connected with the linkage portion.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present application, the transmission portion is configured as one of a protrusion and a guide groove, and the linkage portion is configured as the other one of the protrusion and the guide groove.

[0027] A second aspect of the present application provides a power module, comprising:

[0028] The driving device and the clutch assembly of any one of the preceding items, wherein the inner ring or the outer ring of the clutch assembly is torsionally connected with an output shaft of the driving device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 1(b) respectively schematically show a switchable one-way clutch in a first state in a clutch assembly according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Fig. 2 schematically shows a switchable one-way clutch in a second state in a clutch assembly according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b) respectively schematically show part components in a clutch assembly according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Figures 4(a) and 4(b) schematically illustrate parts of the clutch assembly according to a further embodiment of the application.

[0033] Figure 5 is a close-up view of a switchable one-way clutch in the second state in a clutch assembly according to an embodiment of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The features and exemplary embodiments of the various aspects of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0035] Figures 1(a) and 1(b) schematically illustrate a clutch in a first state in a clutch assembly according to an embodiment of the application. Figure 2 schematically illustrates a clutch in a second state in a clutch assembly according to an embodiment of the application. The clutch assembly according to an embodiment of the application is described below with reference to Figures 1(a), 1(b) and 2.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1(a), FIG. 1(b) and FIG. 2, the clutch assembly 1 comprises a switchable one-way clutch 10. The switchable one-way clutch 10 comprises an outer ring 11 and an inner ring 12 coaxially arranged, and a plurality of rolling elements 14 held between the outer ring 11 and the inner ring 12 via a cage 13. A first section 111 and a second section 112 are arranged on an outer ring contact surface of the outer ring 11 for contacting the rolling elements 14, in particular a plurality of first sections 111 and a plurality of second sections 112 are arranged one after another in alternation along a circumferential direction of the outer ring 11. In particular, as one example, the first section 111 can be configured in the form of a groove, and the second section 112 is radially protruding relative to the first section 111, that is, at the first section 111, a radial gap between the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11 is larger, and at the second section 112, the radial gap between the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11 is smaller. As another example, the first section 111 and the second section 112 are configured as two sections smoothly connected on a same ramp form section, and likewise, at the first section 111, the radial gap between the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11 is larger, and at the second section 112, the radial gap between the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11 is smaller. Moreover, at the first section 112, a gap is arranged between the rolling elements 14 and the inner ring 12 (shown in FIG. 3(a)); and at the second section 112, the rolling elements 14 are in contact with both the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11.

[0037] In particular, it is to be noted that FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b) respectively schematically show the switchable one-way clutch in a first state, in particular a disengaged state, in the clutch assembly according to the embodiment of the present application, at which the rolling elements 14 are arranged not to be in contact with the inner ring 12, and thereby the outer ring 11 and the inner ring 12 cannot transmit torque to each other via the rolling elements 14 held by the cage 13.

[0038] And, FIG. 2 schematically shows the switchable one-way clutch in a second state, including both an engaged mode and an overrunning mode, in the clutch assembly according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0039] In particular, in the case shown in figure 2, when the inner ring 12 is the driving member, the outer ring 11 is the driven member and the inner ring 12 wants to transmit torque to the outer ring 11, the inner ring 12 should be rotated in the opposite direction to that shown in the figure, in this case, the rolling elements 14 are driven by the friction forces to roll towards the narrowing of the gap between the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11 and wedge between the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11, making the outer ring 11 rotate in the same direction as the inner ring 12, the switchable one-way clutch 10 is in the engagement mode and transmits torque in one direction, if the outer ring 11, while rotating with the inner ring 12, also receives from another member a motion with the same rotation but greater speed, or, the inner ring 12, due to the resistance, slows down, the switchable one-way clutch 10 is in the overrun mode, that is, even if the angular speed of the outer ring 11, as the driven member, exceeds the angular speed of the inner ring 12, as the driving member, it is not able to make the inner ring 12 rotate.

[0040] Similarly, when the outer ring 11 is the driving member, the inner ring 12 is the driven member and the outer ring 11 wants to transmit torque to the inner ring 12, the outer ring 11 should be rotated in the direction shown in the figure, in this case, the rolling elements 14 are driven by the friction forces to roll towards the narrowing of the gap between the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11 and wedge between the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11, making the inner ring 12 rotate in the same direction as the outer ring 11, the switchable one-way clutch 10 is in the engagement mode and transmits torque in one direction, if the inner ring 12, while rotating with the outer ring 11, also receives from another member a motion with the same rotation but greater speed, or, the outer ring 11, due to the resistance, slows down, the switchable one-way clutch 10 is in the overrun mode, that is, even if the angular speed of the inner ring 12, as the driven member, exceeds the angular speed of the outer ring 11, as the driving member, it is not able to make the outer ring 11 rotate.

[0041] To enable the switching of the switchable one-way clutch 10 between the first state shown in Fig. 1(a), Fig. 1(b) and the second state shown in Fig. 2, the clutch assembly 1 further comprises a drive assembly 30 arranged at an axial side of the switchable one-way clutch 10 (axial right side in Fig. 1(a)) and connected to both the outer ring 11 and the cage 13 at the axial ends of both, the drive assembly 30 being configured to drive the cage 13 and the rolling elements 14 from the position shown in Fig. 1(b) to the position shown in Fig. 2 and also to drive the cage 13 and the rolling elements 14 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1(b), the drive assembly 30 comprising a drive member (e.g. a wave spring 32 as shown in the figures) and a transmission member 31 which is rotationally synchronized with the outer ring 11, e.g. by being embedded in both the cage 13 and the outer ring 11 such that the transmission member 31 is displaceable in the axial direction of the output shaft, i.e. in the axial direction of the switchable one-way clutch 10, while the outer ring 11 is also rotationally fixed to the output shaft. The transmission member 31 is displaceable relative to the switchable one-way clutch 10 from a first axial position to a second axial position under the action of the drive member (e.g. the wave spring 32), and the transmission member 31 can be returned from the second axial position to the first axial position against the force of the wave spring 32 under the action of a further drive member (not shown) of the drive assembly 30. In correspondence with the displacement of the transmission member 31 between the first axial position and the second axial position, at least one of the cage 13 and the outer ring 11 is coupled to the transmission member 31, e.g. a transmission portion on the transmission member 31 and a coupling portion provided on the cage 13 are slidably connected. In one example, the transmission portion can be configured as a protrusion and the coupling portion can be configured as a guide slot; in another example, the transmission portion can be configured as a guide slot and the coupling portion can be configured as a protrusion. In this arrangement, when the transmission member (and thus the transmission portion) is displaced from the first axial position to the second axial position or from the second axial position to the first axial position, the transmission portion and the coupling portion slide relative to each other in the circumferential direction of the switchable one-way clutch 10, thereby causing a relative movement of the cage 13 and the outer ring 11 in the circumferential direction, which in turn causes the rolling elements 14 to be pushed along the circumferential direction from the first section 111 to the second section 112 or from the second section 112 to the first section 111.

[0042] In the clutch assembly 1 of the present application, in order to reliably separate the outer ring 11 and the inner ring 12, and to avoid the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11 from being accidentally transmitted torque in the disengaged state shown in Figs. 1(a) and 1(b) due to some reason, the clutch assembly 1 further comprises a force applying member 20, as shown in Fig. 1(b), which applies a radially outward force to the rolling element 14 when the rolling element 14 is located in the first section 111, under the action of the radially outward force applied by the force applying member 20, the rolling element 14 abuts against the outer ring 11 provided with the first section 111 and the second section 112 and is separated from the inner ring 12. The force applying member in the clutch assembly according to an embodiment of the present application is described in detail below with reference to Figs. 3(a), 3(b), 4(a) and 4(b).

[0043] Figs. 3(a) and 3(b) respectively schematically show part of the components in the clutch assembly according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Fig. 3(a), the force applying member 20 comprises a first force applying member and a second force applying member 22 which are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the switchable one-way clutch 10 and are located on both sides of the rolling element 14, in the orientation shown in the figure, the first force applying member and the second force applying member 22 are respectively located on the left side and the right side of the rolling element 14, the first force applying member is configured as a first elastic member 21, and the second force applying member 22 is configured as a protrusion 1321. The first force applying member and the second force applying member are fixed in the following manner, the retainer 13 comprises a first extension 131 and a second extension 132 which are located on both sides in the circumferential direction of the rolling element 14, the first extension 131 and the second extension 132 can be integrated on the retainer 13, and the first extension 131 and the second extension 132 can also be used to define a receiving portion for receiving the rolling element 14.

[0044] And, as shown in Figs. 3(a) and 3(b), the first elastic member 21 is provided on the first extension 131, for this purpose, the first elastic member 21 has a first fixing section 211 which is fixed to the first extension 131. In one example, the first fixing section 211 has a hook portion, one or more hook portions can be provided, the hook portion can be clamped to the corresponding position of the first extension 131, thereby connecting the first fixing section 211 to the first extension 131. Of course, the first elastic member 21 can be fixed to the first extension 131 by other means (for example, via screws or welding). The first elastic member 21 further comprises a first force applying section 212 which is in contact with the rolling element 14 and applies a radially outward force to the rolling element 14. As shown in Fig. 3(a), the first force applying section 212 abuts against the lower part of the rolling element 14 (i.e. the part of the rolling element close to the inner ring), and applies an upward force to the rolling element 14, i.e. a radially outward force.

[0045] The second force applying member 22 is provided on the second extension portion 132. In one example, the second force applying member 22 can be integrally formed with the second extension portion 132 and configured as a protruding portion 1321 protruding from the second extension portion 132 toward the rolling body 14, and the protruding portion 1321 has a profile surface 1321A adapted to the outer surface of the rolling body 14. Considering that the shape of the rolling body 14 is generally spherical or cylindrical, the profile surface 1321A adapted to the shape of the rolling body 14 can be, for example, an arc profile surface, which is advantageous for the second force applying member 22 to have a larger contact area with the rolling body 14, and the second force applying member 22 can thereby reliably apply a radially outward force to the rolling body 14. Of course, the second force applying member is not limited to being integrally formed with the second extension portion, and can be a separate member that can be fixed to the second extension portion.

[0046] It can be understood that in the above-described example, both the first force applying member and the second force applying member apply a radially outward force to the rolling body. It should be noted that the "radially outward force" mentioned herein not only includes a force strictly along the radial direction outwardly, but also includes all forces having a component in the radial direction outwardly. Under the action of the first force applying member and the second force applying member, as shown in FIG. 3(a), at the first section 111, the rolling body 14 can reliably abut against the outer ring 11 and be spaced apart from the inner ring 12. Of course, the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and only one force applying member can be provided to apply a radially outward force to the rolling body; for example, only one first elastic member is provided as a force applying member, and the force applying section of the first elastic member is in contact with the rolling body.

[0047] In addition, according to the embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the first elastic member 21 further includes a spiral section 213, which is located on the same side of the first extension portion 131 in the circumferential direction as the first force applying section 213, i.e., both are located on the left side of the first extension portion 131 in the figure. The spiral section 213 is always in a compressed state for applying a force along the circumferential direction to the rolling body 14, and the force along the circumferential direction applied by the spiral section 213 is always directed toward the narrowing portion of the gap between the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11.

[0048] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) schematically show part of the components in a clutch assembly according to another embodiment of the present application. Only the differences from the above-described embodiment already described with reference to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) will be described below, and the same will not be described to avoid redundancy.

[0049] As shown in Fig. (a) and Fig. 4(b), the second elastic member 22 is configured as a second elastic piece which is configured to be identical to the first elastic member 21, and the first elastic member 21 will be described in detail next, and it can be understood that the following description of the first elastic member 21 is applicable to the second elastic member.

[0050] The first fixed section 211 of the first elastic member 21 is provided at the first end (the right end in Fig. 4(b)) of the first elastic member 21, the first fixed section 211 includes a first fixed sub-section 2111 and a second fixed sub-section 2112 which are spaced apart in the axial direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper in Fig. 4(a)) of the switchable one-way clutch 10, and the first elastic member 21 includes a second elastic section 214 which is located between the first fixed sub-section 2111 and the second fixed sub-section 2112. In this arrangement, like the first fixed section 211, the second elastic section 214 is also located at the first end (the right end in Fig. 4(b)) of the first elastic member 21, and the first elastic section 212 is provided at the second end (the left end in Fig. 4(b)) of the first elastic member 21, so that when the first elastic member 21 is fixed to the first extension 131, the first elastic section 212 and the second elastic section 214 are arranged on both sides in the circumferential direction of the first extension 131. Specifically, for the rolling element 14 with the reference numeral in Fig. 4(a), the second elastic section 214 of the first elastic member 21 on the left side thereof, and the first elastic section 212 of the second elastic member 21 on the right side thereof are in contact with the rolling element 14 and provide a radially outward force to the rolling element 14. According to an embodiment of the present application, the first elastic member and the second elastic member can be configured to be formed by bending a linear elastic member along a predetermined direction.

[0051] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present application, the first fixed sub-section 2111 and the second fixed sub-section 2112 can also be configured as hooks, and the hook-shaped first fixed sub-section 2111 and the hook-shaped second fixed sub-section 2112 can be clamped to the corresponding positions of the first extension 131, respectively, thereby connecting the first elastic member 21 to the first extension 131.

[0052] Of course, the second elastic member can also be provided to be different from the first elastic member, as long as the second elastic member can be fixed to the second extension and can be in contact with the rolling element to provide a radially outward force. For example, the second elastic member can be provided on the circumferential side surface of the second extension.

[0053] Fig. 5 is a partial enlarged view of a switchable one-way clutch in a second state in a clutch assembly according to an embodiment of the present application. The clutch assembly according to an embodiment of the present application will be further described below with reference to Fig. 5.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 5, the switchable one-way clutch 10 is in the second state, in which the rolling elements 14 are located at the second section 112 and are in contact with both the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11. As already described above, the second state includes both the engaged mode and the overrun mode. Specifically, in the case shown in Fig. 5, when the outer ring 11 is the driving member, the inner ring 12 is the driven member and the outer ring 11 wants to transmit torque to the inner ring 12, the outer ring 11 is rotated clockwise in the orientation shown in the figure, at this time, the rolling elements 14 are driven by the friction force to roll to the narrow part of the gap between the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11, and are wedged between the inner ring 12 and the outer ring 11, so that the inner ring 12 is rotated clockwise together, the switchable one-way clutch 10 is in the engaged mode and the torque is transmitted in one direction. If the inner ring 12 obtains a motion with the same rotation but a higher speed from another member while rotating with the outer ring 11, or the outer ring 11 slows down due to resistance, the switchable one-way clutch 10 is in the overrun mode. When in the overrun mode, the rolling elements 14 will move from the second section 112 to the first section 111 under the action of centrifugal force, in this case, even if the speed of the outer ring 11 increases or the speed of the inner ring 12 decreases, since the rolling elements 14 have moved to the first section 111 that cannot contact the inner ring 12, the switchable one-way clutch 10 cannot enter the engaged mode to transmit torque. Moreover, when the inner ring 12 is the driving member, the outer ring 11 is the driven member and the inner ring 12 wants to transmit torque to the outer ring 11, the same problem exists in the overrun mode. In order to solve this problem, the helical section 21 of the first elastic member 21 is configured to provide an elastic force large enough to overcome the centrifugal force and keep the rolling elements 14 at the second section 112.

[0055] In one example, the first elastic member is made of spring steel. In another example, the helical section of the first elastic member has a number of turns greater than 3. In another example, the helical section of the first elastic member is configured to be able to provide an elastic force greater than 100 N. The first elastic member with a larger elastic force can be achieved by, for example, selecting a material with higher tensile strength (for example, spring steel) to manufacture the first elastic member, designing a profile on the first elastic member that can reduce stress, and selecting a suitable heat treatment process to process the first elastic member.

[0056] It is to be noted that the first section and the second section are provided on the outer ring of the one-way clutch, but this is merely an example, and of course, a different design is possible, i.e. the first section and the second section can be provided on the inner ring instead of the outer ring, in which case the force applying member needs to apply a radially inward force to the rolling element, under the action of which the rolling element can reliably abut against the inner ring and be spaced apart from the outer ring at the first section. The "radially inward force" mentioned here does not only include a force strictly along the radial direction, but also includes all forces having a component in the radial direction.

[0057] On the other hand, the clutch assembly of the present application can be used in a power module, and the inner ring or the outer ring of the clutch assembly is torsionally connected with the output shaft of the driving device of the power module. The features described with reference to the clutch assembly of the present application are equally applicable to the power module of the present application, i.e. to ensure that the clutch is reliably in the disengaged state, to improve the reliability and service life of the power module.

[0058] The above merely illustrates the specific embodiments of the present application, and it should be understood that the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any modification or replacement within the technical scope disclosed by the present application can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art, and all these modifications or replacements shall be encompassed within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A clutch assembly (1), comprising: a switchable one-way clutch (10) comprising an outer ring (11), an inner ring (12) and rolling elements (14) held therebetween via a cage (13), characterized in that a first section (111) and a second section (112) distributed along a circumferential direction are provided on an inner ring contact surface of the inner ring (12) for contact with the rolling elements (14) or on an outer ring contact surface of the outer ring (11) for contact with the rolling elements (14), at the first section (111) there is a gap between the rolling elements (14) and the outer ring (11) or between the rolling elements (14) and the inner ring (12), at the second section (112) the rolling elements (14) are in contact with both the outer ring (11) and the inner ring (11), the clutch assembly (1) further comprises a force applying member (20) held fixed relative to the cage (13) and in contact with the rolling elements (14), when the rolling elements (14) are located at the first section (111), the rolling elements (14) are pressed against one of the outer ring (11) and the inner ring (12) provided with the first section (111) and the second section (112) and spaced apart from the other one under the action of a radial force applied by the force applying member (20).

2. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the force applying member (20) comprises a first force applying member and a second force applying member (22) arranged spaced apart along the circumferential direction and located on both sides of the rolling elements (14), the cage (13) comprises a first extension (131) and a second extension (132) located on both sides of the rolling elements (14) in the circumferential direction, and the first force applying member and the second force applying member (22) are respectively provided on the first extension (131) and the second extension (132).

3. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first force applying member is configured as a first elastic member (21) having a first fixed section (211) fixed to the first extension (131) and a first force applying section (212) in contact with the rolling elements (14).

4. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second force applying member (22) is configured as a protruding portion (1321) protruding from the second extension (132) towards the rolling elements (14), and the protruding portion (1321) has a profile surface (1321A) adapted to an outer surface of the rolling elements (14).

5. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second force applying member (22) is configured as a second elastic member having a second fixed section fixed to the second extension (132) and a second force applying section (214) in contact with the rolling elements (14).

6. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the first elastic member (21) and the second elastic member are configured to be identical to each other and are configured to be formed by bending a linear elastic member along a predetermined direction.

7. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein The first fixed section (211) is arranged at a first end of the first elastic member (21), the first force applying section (212) is arranged at a second end of the first elastic member (21), and the first force applying section (212) and the second force applying section (214) are arranged on both sides of the first extension (131) in the circumferential direction.

8. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein The first elastic member (21) further comprises a spiral section (213) arranged on the same side of the first extension (131) as the first force applying section (212).

9. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein The first fixed section (211) comprises a first fixed sub-section (2111) and a second fixed sub-section (2112) spaced apart in the axial direction of the switchable clutch (10), and the second force applying section (214) is located between the first fixed sub-section (2111) and the second fixed sub-section (2112).

10. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein The first fixed sub-section (2111) and the second fixed sub-section (2112) are configured in a hook shape.

11. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein The first elastic member (21) is made of spring steel.

12. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein The first section (111) and the second section (112) are arranged on the outer ring contact surface of the outer ring (11) for contacting the rolling elements (14).

13. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 12, wherein The clutch assembly (1) further comprises a driving assembly arranged on one axial side of the switchable one-way clutch (10) and connected to both the outer ring (11) and the cage (13) at the axial ends thereof to drive both to move relative to each other in the circumferential direction.

14. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 13, wherein The cage (13) comprises a plurality of accommodation portions for accommodating a plurality of rolling elements (14) respectively, and each of the accommodation portions is defined by a corresponding first extension (131) and a second extension (132).

15. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 13, wherein The driving assembly comprises a driving member and a transmission member (31) that rotates synchronously with the outer ring (11), and under the driving of the driving member, the transmission member (31) moves relative to the switchable one-way clutch (10) from a first axial position to a second axial position, and at least one of the cage (13) and the outer ring (11) is linked with the transmission member (31) to drive the cage (13) and the outer ring (11) to move relative to each other in the circumferential direction.

16. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 15, wherein The cage (13) is provided with a linkage portion, and a transmission portion on the transmission member (31) and the linkage portion are slidably connected.

17. The clutch assembly (1) according to claim 16, wherein The transmission portion (31) is configured as one of a protrusion and a guide groove, and the linkage portion is configured as the other of the protrusion and the guide groove.

18. A power module characterized by Comprising: A driving device and the clutch assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1-17, wherein the inner ring or the outer ring of the clutch assembly is torsionally connected with an output shaft of the driving device.

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