Means Industries, Inc.

A clutch assembly includes a first coupling including a locking face including locking formations, and a second coupling including a front face facing the locking face of the first coupling and including passive strut pockets, active strut pockets circumferentially interspersed amongst the plurality of passive strut pockets, and actuator passages open to the plurality of active strut pockets. Passive struts are carried in the passive strut pockets of the second coupling, and active struts, different from the passive struts, are carried in the active strut pockets of the second coupling. Also disclosed are a related axle configuration, and a related method of operating a motor vehicle drivetrain.

A system and method for power transmission system that includes a first shaft, a second shaft, a gear assembly between the first shaft and the second shaft. The gear assembly includes a first gear and a second gear. A first coupling mechanism selectively couples the first shaft and the second shaft through the first gear. A second coupling mechanism selectively couples the first shaft and the second shaft through the second gear wherein the second coupling mechanism includes a ratcheting locking element movable between a deployed and a nondeployed position.

A method for power transmission method includes providing first and second shafts, a gear assembly having first and second gear ratios, and first and second coupling assemblies. The first coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft, and the second coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft. The speed of the first shaft varies, wherein the deployment of a locking element of the second coupling assembly is based on the speed of the first shaft.

A clutch assembly and method for controlling torque distribution of the clutch assembly based on the movement of an actuator. The clutch assembly includes a selectable clutch having a first position and a second position, an actuator, and a controller. The controller monitors current feedback from the actuator and detects motion of the actuator based on current feedback.

A power transmission system and method that includes a first shaft, a second shaft, and a planetary gear assembly between the first shaft and the second shaft. The planetary gear assembly includes at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio. A first coupling assembly associated with the first gear ratio and a second coupling associated with the second gear ratio. The system and method determines an input speed of the second gear ratio based on the speed of the second shaft and varies the speed of the first shaft relative to the input speed of the second gear ratio wherein the second coupling assembly operates based on the speed of the first shaft relative to the input speed of the second gear ratio.

A strut retainer may include strut ear retainers at least partially defined by weakenings to facilitate resilient flexure. A pivotable strut coupler may include a housing, a strut carried by the housing, and a strut retainer coupled to the housing and straddling transversely across a portion of the strut. The housing includes a strut pocket in a base surface and having a transverse pocket portion extending transversely with respect to at least one of a forward pocket portion or a rearward pocket portion of the housing along a transverse axis. The strut is carried in the strut pocket and includes ears extending in directions transversely away from sides of the strut and carried in a transversely extending transverse pocket portion of the strut pocket. The strut retainer straddles the portion of the strut including the ears, and includes weakenings to facilitate resilient flexure of the strut retainer.

A power transmission system includes a simple planetary gearset and a compound planetary gearset. A first coupling mechanism associated with the simple planetary gearset selectively couples a component of the simple planetary gearset to ground, and a second coupling mechanism associated with the compound planetary gearset selectively couples a component of the compound planetary gearset to ground.

A drivetrain component provides an electronically controlled, overrunning drivetrain disconnect, such as a differential with different operating modes. The drivetrain component includes a coupling member and a rotatable member rotating about the central axis. A first locking structure selectively mechanically couples the coupling member to the rotatable member, and a second locking structure selectively mechanically couples the coupling member to the rotatable member. The first locking structure engages a locking abutment of the rotatable member, and the second locking structure engages a locking abutment of the rotatable member.

A vehicle transmission using a gearset. Multi-mode clutches selectively couple components of the gearset. The transmission operates in and shifts between a first forward gear and a second forward gear using a change in input rotation. An electric motor coupled to the input may be used to change the input rotation direction.

A vehicle transmission using a gearset. Multi-mode clutches selectively couple components of the gearset. The transmission operates in and shifts between a first forward gear and a second forward gear using a change in input rotation. An electric motor coupled to the input may be used to change the input rotation direction.