US 12,459,352 B2
Electric vehicle with powertrain having reverse-acting centrifugal clutch
Nicholas Kuhajda, Berkley, MI (US); Kevin Ray Ruybal, Canton, MI (US); Christopher Golecki, Farmington Hills, MI (US); and Jacob Gregory Powers, Livonia, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 4, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/626,873.
Prior Publication US 2025/0313082 A1, Oct. 9, 2025
Int. Cl. B60K 17/02 (2006.01); B60K 1/00 (2006.01); F16D 43/10 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 17/02 (2013.01) [B60K 1/00 (2013.01); F16D 43/10 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric vehicle comprising:
an electric drive motor;
a transmission switchable between a plurality of gear ratios; and
a centrifugal clutch drivingly coupled in a torque transmission path between the electric drive motor and the transmission, the centrifugal clutch including:
a first friction plate rotatable about an axis;
a second friction plate rotatable about the axis and axially movable relative to the first friction plate, the second friction plate being configured to frictionally engage the first friction plate to transmit torque therebetween;
a biasing member that applies a biasing force to the second friction plate that biases the second friction plate in a first axial direction that is toward the first friction plate; and
a base member coupled to the second friction plate for common rotation therewith about the axis, the second friction plate is movable along the axis relative to the base member; and
a counterweight assembly coupled to the second friction plate and configured to apply a counterweight force on the second friction plate in a second axial direction that is away from the first friction plate in response to a rotational speed of the second friction plate exceeding a predetermined rotational speed, the counterweight assembly is coupled to the base member for common rotation therewith.