An apparatus for coupling mechanical power between the rotor of a Brushless DC Motor and an external mechanical load comprises: a) two concentric rings; b) an equal number of magnets connected to the inner ring and to the outer ring; and c) an opposite orientation of the poles of each couple of facing magnets, wherein one magnet is placed on the inner ring, and its facing magnet is placed on the outer ring; wherein the first of said two concentric rings is rotatable around an axis by the application of a force not applied by the second ring, and wherein when said first concentric ring rotates, the second ring rotates as well by the action of magnetic forces.

An electromagnetic actuator includes an electromagnetic coil, a yoke serving as a magnetic path of a magnetic flux of the electromagnetic coil, an armature configured to move in an axial direction while being attracted by the yoke by energization of the electromagnetic coil, and a housing that houses the armature. The armature and the housing are coupled to each other by an engagement structure in which protrusions provided on one of the members engage with engagement grooves formed in the other one of the members. At least a part of the engagement groove is inclined with respect to the axial direction. When the armature moves while being attracted by the yoke, the protrusions of the armature slide along the engagement grooves of the housing, and the armature turns relative to the housing along the inclination of the engagement grooves.

A clutch system for a motor vehicle includes a friction clutch and a magnetic clutch. The friction clutch is for transmitting a torque between a torque-introducing element and a torque-discharging element. The magnetic clutch is for actuating the friction clutch. The magnetic clutch includes an open position and a closed position, an axially displaceable permanent magnet, and an electromagnet for axially displacing the permanent magnet between the open position and the closed position of the magnetic clutch. The electromagnet has an activated state and a deactivated state. The permanent magnet is held magnetically fixed in the open position or in the closed position of the magnetic clutch when the electromagnet is in the deactivated state.

The invention comprises a clutch device having an actuating device, wherein the actuating device has an electrical eddy current brake. The eddy current brake has a brake stator with at least one coil and a brake rotor with a brake region, wherein the brake region has a first layer which is electrically conductive and which has a first lateral face and a second lateral face, the first lateral face facing toward the coil and the second lateral face facing away from the coil. The brake region has a second layer which is magnetic and which is connected to the second lateral face. The invention further comprises a corresponding production method.

A control device is to be applied to a four-wheel drive vehicle including a first coupling device interposed between a rear-wheel final gear device and a rear left wheel axle and a second coupling device interposed between the rear-wheel final gear device and a rear right wheel axle. The control device includes a controller changes a coupling torque of the first coupling device and a coupling torque of the second coupling device independently of each other. The controller estimates, when the vehicle is accelerating, a vehicle body speed of the vehicle under a state in which the coupling torque of any one of the first coupling device and the second coupling device is set to a value larger than zero and the coupling torque of another one thereof is set to zero. Thereby, the control device can accurately estimate the vehicle body speed when the vehicle is traveling while accelerating.

An actuator assembly for a positively locking, switchable clutch or a brake includes a shaft that can be rotated with respect to a rotational axis and an actuator slide for actuating the freewheel. The actuator slide is rotationally connected to the shaft and can be moved relative to the shaft in the axial direction between a first position and a second position and an actuator, which is stationary at least in part, that moves the actuator slide between the first position and the second position. The actuator includes a stationary coil, which, in the energized state, generates a magnetic field, in which the actuator slide can be moved out of the first position into the second position or vice versa. The coil is not energized in the first and in the second position. The actuator fixes the actuator slide in the first position and the second position.

A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to promptly disengage a clutch for halting an engine is provided. A clutch device comprises a reciprocating member having tapered reciprocating teeth, and a rotary member having tapered teeth opposed to the tapered rotary teeth. A controller is configured to turn off an actuator to eliminate the electromagnetic attraction thereby allowing the engine to be started, and to apply a torque of the first motor to the clutch device after the actuator is turned off thereby disengaging the reciprocating teeth from the rotary teeth.

A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to promptly disengage a clutch for halting an engine is provided. A clutch device comprises a reciprocating member having tapered reciprocating teeth, and a rotary member having tapered teeth opposed to the tapered rotary teeth. A controller is configured to turn off an actuator to eliminate the electromagnetic attraction thereby allowing the engine to be started, and to apply a torque of the first motor to the clutch device after the actuator is turned off thereby disengaging the reciprocating teeth from the rotary teeth.

A disconnect assembly for translating torque to shafts of a driveline. A clutch is disposed in torque translating relationship between the shafts and is movable between an engaged configuration wherein torque is translated, and a disengaged configuration wherein torque is interrupted. An actuator includes a coil that generates a first magnetic field. A slider is movable between a first stable position and a second stable position, with an armature operatively attached to the slider. The armature has a magnetic polarity pattern defined by a plurality of north and south magnetic pole regions facing the coil. The pattern configured such that predetermined changes in the magnetic field generated by the coil urge the slider from one of the stable positions to the other of the stable positions so as to cause corresponding movement of the clutch assembly between the configurations to selectively translate rotational torque between the shafts of the driveline.

A drive assembly including a wedge clutch assembly is disclosed. The wedge clutch assembly includes a first cage having a first plurality of tapered crossbars that at least partially define a plurality of tapered wedge pockets. A plurality of wedges are each arranged within a respective one of the plurality of wedge pockets and within a circumferential groove of one of an outer ring or an inner ring. The plurality of wedges each including a ramped surface facing a corresponding one of a plurality of ramps defined in the outer ring or inner ring. Movement of the first plurality of tapered crossbars in a first axial direction or a second axial direction circumferentially drives the plurality of wedges into contact with the circumferential groove such that an input drive gear drives an output.