An electric powertrain includes a first electric motor that has an uninterrupted connection with a drive shaft of a vehicle. The electric powertrain further includes a second electric motor that has an interruptible connection with the drive shaft. In one form, this interruptible connection includes a clutch. The electric powertrain further includes a first gear train in the form of a first planetary gear and a second gear train in the form of a second planetary gear. The clutch in one variation includes a positive clutch in the form of a dog clutch. The dog clutch has a clutch suspension configured to deflect a clutch collar when gearing is misaligned during shifting.

A selectable one-way clutch includes: a shaft; an actuator configured to cause the shaft to perform a rectilinear motion in a shaft direction; and an arm including an operation portion configured to receive force in the shaft direction from the shaft. The shaft includes a first flange and a second flange. An engaged state and a released state the selectable one-way clutch are switched by an operation of the arm by the rectilinear motion of the shaft, in an assembled state of the shaft and the arm in which the operation portion is arranged between the first flange and the second flange. The first flange is provided with a cut portion in an outer peripheral edge of the first shaft. The shaft has a structure in which the first flange does not face the operation portion in the shaft direction by the cut portion of the first flange.

A plurality of engaging claws formed at a connecting member mounted to a rotary member of a driving unit via a one-way clutch are brought into engagement with a plurality of engageable grooves formed at a connecting member mounted to a rotated member of a driven unit so as to transmit the forward rotation of the rotary member to the rotated member. When the driven unit is mounted to the driving unit, the rotary member is forwardly rotated to bring at least one of the engaging claws into engagement with the engageable groove. Subsequently, the rotary member is reversely rotated to bring the respective engaging claws into engagement with the respective engageable grooves.

A drive unit includes a decelerator rotatably supported by a housing, the decelerator including a first transmission gear, a second transmission gear having teeth of a smaller number than that of the first transmission gear, and a transmission shaft to transmit a rotation of the first transmission gear to the second transmission gear; and a bearing supporting the first transmission gear in the housing such that the first transmission gear is rotatable. A distance, in a first direction in which the transmission shaft extends in the housing, from a reference plane to teeth of the first transmission gear is less than a distance in the first direction from the reference plane to an innermost portion of the bearing, in which the reference plane passes through an outermost portion of the bearing and is perpendicular to the first direction.

An electric powertrain includes a first electric motor that has an uninterrupted connection with a drive shaft of a vehicle. The electric powertrain further includes a second electric motor that has an interruptible connection with the drive shaft. In one form, this interruptible connection includes a clutch. The electric powertrain further includes a first gear train in the form of a first planetary gear and a second gear train in the form of a second planetary gear. The clutch in one variation includes a positive clutch in the form of a dog clutch. The dog clutch has a clutch suspension configured to deflect a clutch collar when gearing is misaligned during shifting.

An electric powertrain includes a first electric motor that has an uninterrupted connection with a drive shaft of a vehicle. The electric powertrain further includes a second electric motor that has an interruptible connection with the drive shaft. In one form, this interruptible connection includes a clutch. The electric powertrain further includes a first gear train in the form of a first planetary gear and a second gear train in the form of a second planetary gear. The clutch in one variation includes a positive clutch in the form of a dog clutch. The dog clutch has a clutch suspension configured to deflect a clutch collar when gearing is misaligned during shifting.

A tensioning mechanism for tensioning a pre-loaded spring of a spring-loaded accumulator drive. The tensioning mechanism includes a tensioning wheel coupled to the pre-loaded spring, an intermediate shaft coupled to the tensioning wheel, an idler gear that can be driven by a clamping motor, a freewheel coupled to the idler gear, a locking mechanism for detachably locking the tensioning wheel in a tensioned state of the pre-loaded spring, and a dog clutch configured to couple the freewheel to the intermediate shaft in order to tension the pre-loaded spring and to uncouple same from the intermediate shaft in the tensioned state of the pre-loaded spring.

A wearable system, such as a footwear system, can employ a generator. The generator can be powered by human movement, such as movement of knee as a person walks or runs. When the knee resets, it can be desirable to have a relatively equal gear ratio to achieve near natural movement. Conversely, it can be desirable to have a high gear ratio when the knee pushes off to achieve high generator rotation to produce a high amount of power. This can be achieved with employment of a wearable planetary gear set configuration In practicing this wearable planetary gear set, torque can be provided from the source (e.g. human ankle joint) when power negative and not at other times during a movement cycle, meaning energy can be harvested from the walking motion without inducing additional burden to the device wearer.

A wearable system, such as a footwear system, can employ a generator. The generator can be powered by human movement, such as movement of knee as a person walks or runs. When the knee resets, it can be desirable to have a relatively equal gear ratio to achieve near natural movement. Conversely, it can be desirable to have a high gear ratio when the knee pushes off to achieve high generator rotation to produce a high amount of power. This can be achieved with employment of a wearable planetary gear set configuration In practicing this wearable planetary gear set, torque can be provided from the source (e.g. human ankle joint) when power negative and not at other times during a movement cycle, meaning energy can be harvested from the walking motion without inducing additional burden to the device wearer.

An energy transfer system is disclosed. The system (100) includes plurality of rotatable input shafts (108), each having a first end (110) and a second end (112). The first end (110) is coupled to a plurality of drive sources (102). A plurality of rotatable output shafts (120) are operatively coupled to a pinion (116). A plurality of rolling friction gears (114) are coupled to the second end (112) of the plurality of the rotatable input shafts (108). The plurality of rolling friction gears (114) have circular gear teeth that mesh with circular gear teeth of the pinion (116) for transferring rotating movements of the plurality of the rotatable input shafts into rotating movements of the plurality of the rotatable output shafts (120). Each of the plurality of the rolling friction gears (114) houses a freewheeling clutch (118) acting upon the pinion (116).