A failsafe multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having input and output races. The freewheeling unit has a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly must be energized to shift the bypass assembly from the engaged position to a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.

A failsafe multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having input and output races. The freewheeling unit has a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly must be energized to shift the bypass assembly from the engaged position to a disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.

A multimode clutch assembly is positioned in a powertrain of a rotorcraft. The clutch assembly includes a freewheeling unit having a driving mode in which torque applied to the input race is transferred to the output race and an overrunning mode in which torque applied to the output race is not transferred to the input race. A bypass assembly has an engaged position that couples the input and output races of the freewheeling unit. An actuator assembly shifts the bypass assembly between engaged and disengaged positions. An engagement status sensor is configured to determine the engagement status of the bypass assembly. In the disengaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is enabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for unidirectional torque transfer. In the engaged position, the overrunning mode of the freewheeling unit is disabled such that the clutch assembly is configured for bidirectional torque transfer.

Methods and systems for an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. An electric drive axle system includes, in one example, an electric motor-generator rotationally coupled to a gear train. The gear train includes an output shaft rotationally coupled to a gear assembly axially offset from an input shaft rotationally coupled to the electric motor-generator, where the gear assembly is rotationally coupled to a differential and the differential is rotationally coupled to an axle, a first clutch assembly is configured to rotationally couple and decouple a first gear set from the output shaft, and a second clutch assembly is configured to rotationally couple and decouple a second gear set from the output shaft, the second gear set having a different gear ratio than the first gear set.

Methods and systems for an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. An electric drive axle system includes, in one example, an electric motor-generator rotationally coupled to a gear train. The gear train includes an output shaft rotationally coupled to a gear assembly axially offset from an input shaft rotationally coupled to the electric motor-generator, where the gear assembly is rotationally coupled to a differential and the differential is rotationally coupled to an axle, a first clutch assembly is configured to rotationally couple and decouple a first gear set from the output shaft, and a second clutch assembly is configured to rotationally couple and decouple a second gear set from the output shaft, the second gear set having a different gear ratio than the first gear set.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cam clutch capable of switching from one operating mode to another and offering improved stability of clutch operations and high responsiveness. The object is achieved by an operating mode switching means (180) having a cam attitude change part (185) being drivable independently of rotation of the inner race (110) and outer race (120). A load support point (Sp) is located radially between a load application point (Ap) of the cam attitude change part (185) on the cam (140) and a distal contact point (Ep) of the cam (140) on a raceway positioned on a radially distal side relative to the load application point (Ap). The radial distance (d1) between the load application point (Ap) and the load support point (Sp) is larger than the radial distance (d2) between the load support point (Sp) and the distal contact point (Ep).

An object of the present invention is to provide a cam clutch capable of switching from one operating mode to another and offering improved stability of clutch operations and high responsiveness. The object is achieved by an operating mode switching means (180) having a cam attitude change part (185) being drivable independently of rotation of the inner race (110) and outer race (120). A load support point (Sp) is located radially between a load application point (Ap) of the cam attitude change part (185) on the cam (140) and a distal contact point (Ep) of the cam (140) on a raceway positioned on a radially distal side relative to the load application point (Ap). The radial distance (d1) between the load application point (Ap) and the load support point (Sp) is larger than the radial distance (d2) between the load support point (Sp) and the distal contact point (Ep).

A clutch can include an input; an output; a centrifugal clutch mechanism that transfers energy from the input to the output, the centrifugal clutch mechanism including: a disk; centrifugal weights movably coupled to the disk; and a central shaft rotatable relative to the disk and extending through the disk, the central shaft comprising drive surfaces, wherein the disk is rotatably coupled to the input, wherein the output is rotatably coupled to the central shaft, wherein the centrifugal weights rotate between a disengaged position in which the centrifugal weights do not interface with drive surfaces and an engaged position in which the centrifugal weights interface with the drive surfaces, and wherein the centrifugal weights are disposed inside the perimeter of the disk when the centrifugal weights are in the engaged position.

A clutch can include an input; an output; a centrifugal clutch mechanism that transfers energy from the input to the output, the centrifugal clutch mechanism including: a disk; centrifugal weights movably coupled to the disk; and a central shaft rotatable relative to the disk and extending through the disk, the central shaft comprising drive surfaces, wherein the disk is rotatably coupled to the input, wherein the output is rotatably coupled to the central shaft, wherein the centrifugal weights rotate between a disengaged position in which the centrifugal weights do not interface with drive surfaces and an engaged position in which the centrifugal weights interface with the drive surfaces, and wherein the centrifugal weights are disposed inside the perimeter of the disk when the centrifugal weights are in the engaged position.

A sliding balance board has an eccentrically mounted center wheel as a pivotable central balancing member, a wheel with one-way sprag clutch bearings mounted near the left end of the board and a wheel with one-way sprag clutch bearings mounted near the right end of the board. A user balances himself/herself on the board, and yet slides the board to the left and right, back and forth by shifting his/her weight left and right, synchronized to the rocking motion of the eccentrically mounted center wheel.