US 12,253,164 B2
Rotary decoupling actuator assembly with integrated spring assistance for blocked engagement
Jasmin Insanic, Jönköping (SE); and Jonas Bergvad, Jönköping (SE)
Assigned to KA Group AG, Zürich (CH)
Appl. No. 18/567,196
Filed by KA Group AG, Zürich (CH)
PCT Filed Jun. 7, 2022, PCT No. PCT/IB2022/055307
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 5, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/259155, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 15, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/197,641, filed on Jun. 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0288064 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. F16H 61/04 (2006.01); F16H 61/32 (2006.01); F16H 61/28 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 61/04 (2013.01) [F16H 61/32 (2013.01); F16H 2061/047 (2013.01); F16H 2061/2892 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An actuator assembly comprising:
a support;
a motor connected to the support;
a shift assembly operatively connected with the motor to move between a decoupled position, and a coupled position with a plurality of intermediate positions between the decoupled position and coupled position, the shift assembly including:
a gear connected to the motor;
an input member in communication with the gear with the input member having a tab with the input member configured to transition between a first position and a second position, the input member being in the first position when the shift assembly is in the decoupled position;
an output member having a stop with the output member operatively connected to the input member and configured to move an angular distance defining a stroke length between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the output member being in the disengaged position when the shift assembly is in the decoupled position; and
a biasing member connecting the input member to the output member wherein the biasing member is held in a pretensioned state when the input member is in the first position and the output member is in the disengaged position such that the stop of the output member engages the tab of the input member;
wherein the input member rotates in a first direction from the first position to the second position relative to the output member, separating the tab of the input member from the stop of the output member and increasing a tension of the biasing member between the input member and the output member, and the output member remains in the disengaged position due to an interference causing a blocked condition;
wherein the biasing member rotates the output member in the first direction relative to the input member in a releasing condition upon clearance of the interference such that the output member rotates through the angular distance from the disengaged position to the engaged position with the stop of the output member re-engaging the tab of the input member while the input member remains in the second position to place the shift assembly in the coupled position; and
wherein the output member is moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position by the input member when the input member is moved in a second direction, moving the input member from the second position to the first position and causing the tab of the input member to engage the stop of the output member and rotate the output member and the input member together in the second direction, placing the actuator assembly back in the decoupled position.