US 11,940,014 B2
Driveline component having lightweight ball-ramp mechanism
Frederick E. Zink, Capac, MI (US); and Robert S. Kleinhardt, Romeo, MI (US)
Assigned to American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/683,689.
Application 17/683,689 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/051772, filed on Sep. 21, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/912,714, filed on Oct. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0178404 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. F16D 23/12 (2006.01); F16D 13/52 (2006.01); F16D 28/00 (2006.01); F16H 48/22 (2006.01); F16H 48/30 (2012.01)
CPC F16D 23/12 (2013.01) [F16D 13/52 (2013.01); F16D 2023/123 (2013.01); F16D 28/00 (2013.01); F16H 48/22 (2013.01); F16H 48/30 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle driveline component comprising:
a ball-ramp mechanism having a first ball-ramp ring, a second ball-ramp ring and a plurality of balls, the first and second ball-ramp rings being disposed concentrically about an actuation axis, each of the first and second ball-ramp rings having a backing structure and a plurality of ball supports that are fixedly coupled to the backing structure, the backing structure defining a rear surface, the ball supports being spaced circumferentially about actuation axis and extending forwardly of the backing structure, the ball supports cooperating to define a front face, each of the ball supports defining a ball track, each ball track having a first circumferential end, which is disposed below the front face by a first dimension, and a second circumferential end that is disposed below the front face by a second dimension that is less than the first dimension, each of the ball tracks having a radial width that tapers between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end, each of the balls being received in an associated one of the ball tracks and being movable between the first and second circumferential ends of the associated one of the ball tracks;
wherein each of the ball supports has a first radial width at a first location where the first circumferential end intersects the front face and a second radial width at a second location where the second circumferential end intersects the front face, the first radial width being taken along a first line passing through the actuation axis and a center of an associated one of the balls as positioned in the first circumferential end, the second width being taken along a second line passing through the actuation axis and the center of the associated one of the balls as positioned in the second circumferential end; and
wherein the first radial width is greater than the second radial width;
wherein an outer radial surface of each of the ball supports tapers radially outwardly from the front face toward the backing structure.