US 12,253,126 B2
Electric drive axle system with a self-indexing clutch and method for operation of said clutch
Eric M. Engerman, Plymouth, MI (US)
Assigned to DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC, Maumee, OH (US)
Filed by Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC, Maumee, OH (US)
Filed on Sep. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/931,848.
Application 17/931,848 is a continuation of application No. 16/794,703, filed on Feb. 19, 2020, granted, now 11,480,222.
Prior Publication US 2023/0003266 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. F16D 11/14 (2006.01); F16D 47/04 (2006.01); F16D 48/06 (2006.01); F16H 61/686 (2006.01); B60K 6/36 (2007.10); B60K 6/383 (2007.10); F16H 57/00 (2012.01)
CPC F16D 47/04 (2013.01) [F16D 48/06 (2013.01); F16H 61/686 (2013.01); B60K 6/36 (2013.01); B60K 6/383 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/92 (2013.01); F16H 57/0006 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A clutch assembly for a gearbox, comprising:
a clutch including:
a gear including a plurality of teeth that include at least one tooth with a tapered end and are positioned on a face of the gear, where the gear face is arranged on an axial side of the gear;
an indexing shaft rotationally connected to a shaft;
a shift collar mounted on the indexing shaft, configured to translate on the indexing shaft into an engaged and disengaged configuration, and including a plurality of teeth on a face that is arranged on an axial side of the shift collar, where at least one tooth in the plurality of teeth in the shift collar includes a tapered end; and
a spring loaded ball positioned in a recess of the indexing shaft and configured to mate with a ramp in the shift collar, wherein the spring loaded ball and the ramp are configured to accommodate rotational indexing between the indexing shaft and the shift collar during clutch engagement;
where the plurality of teeth in the gear are positioned radially outward from the spring loaded ball; and
where the ramp is positioned between a pair of teeth in the indexing shaft with regard to a circumference of the indexing shaft.