An integrated clutch steering mechanism for an autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a steering clutch coupled to a steering column of the AV, and an AV steering motor coupled to the steering clutch. The AV steering motor can apply torque to the steering column via the steering clutch to control steering of the AV. When a predetermined amount of torque is exceeded on the steering column, the steering clutch slips to enable manual steering of the AV.

A harmonic drive, having: a housing; an output shaft within the housing; an input shaft within the housing, the input shaft is configured for being in a first position in which rotation of the input shaft rotates the output shaft, and a second position that is axially offset from the first position, in which rotation of the input shaft does not rotate the output shaft; a solenoid coil within the housing that, when energized, moves the input shaft to the second position; and a spring within the housing that, when the solenoid coil is not energized, moves the input shaft to the first position.

In an aspect, an electromechanical apparatus is provided, comprising an electromagnet, a magnetically permeable rotor, a drive, a current source, a current sensor and processing logic. The electromagnet includes a magnetically permeable housing and a wire coil disposed therein. The rotor spins and is disposed in the path of a magnetic circuit generated by the electromagnet. The drive rotates the rotor relative to the electromagnet housing. The rotor and electromagnet housing vary the reluctance therebetween as the rotor rotates. The current source applies a current to the electromagnet coil, wherein, during rotation of the rotor, fluctuations in the current result in the electromagnet coil due to the aforementioned varying reluctance are superimposed on the applied current. The current sensor senses fluctuations in current in the electromagnet coil. The processing logic reads the sensed current and determines the frequency of the fluctuations, which are correlated to rotor speed.

A system and method for auxiliary clutch failure detection determines a difference between a first output power of a powered system when a clutch system is controlled to engage and drive a load at a first output of the load and a second output power of the powered system when the clutch system is controlled to drive the load at a larger, second output. A control signal indicative of clutch failure is generated responsive to the difference being less than a designated threshold. The control signal may be used to implement one or more remedial actions.

An active suspension system comprises at least one biasing device configured to support a body from a structure, and at least one motor. A magnetorheological (MR) fluid clutch apparatus(es) is coupled to the at least one motor to receive torque from the motor, the MR fluid clutch apparatus controllable to transmit a variable amount of torque. A mechanism is between the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus and the body to convert the torque received from the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus into a force on the body. Sensor(s) provide information indicative of a state of the body or structure. A controller receives the information indicative of the state of the body or structure and for outputting a signal to control the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus in exerting a desired force on the body to control movement of the body according to a desired movement behavior.

An integrated clutch steering mechanism for an autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a steering clutch coupled to a steering column of the AV, and an AV steering motor coupled to the steering clutch. The AV steering motor can apply torque to the steering column via the steering clutch to control steering of the AV. When a predetermined amount of torque is exceeded on the steering column, the steering clutch slips to enable manual steering of the AV.

A vehicle heating system having a first viscous clutch and a pump and viscous clutch mechanism. The first viscous clutch has a first clutch input member. The pump and viscous clutch mechanism has a pump and a second viscous clutch. The pump includes a pump input member, while the second viscous clutch includes a second clutch input member. One of the pump input member and the second clutch input member is drivingly coupled to a portion of the first viscous clutch.

In an aspect, a method is provided for controlling a clutch assembly having first and second rotatable clutch members. The method includes providing a wrap spring clutch having first and second ends. The phase angle between the first and second ends determines a diameter of the wrap spring clutch. One of the clutch members is connected with the first end. The method further includes obtaining a target value indicative of a target speed for the second clutch member, and determining through measurement an actual value that is indicative of an actual speed of the second clutch member. The method further includes changing the phase angle between the first and second ends of the wrap spring clutch to generate a selected amount of slip between the wrap spring clutch and the other of the first and second clutch members, based on the target value and the actual value.

The invention relates to a method for operating a functional element (1) which can be driven by a main drive (2) via a slip clutch (3) and/or by an auxiliary drive (4) which is coupled to the clutch (3), comprising the following method steps: determining the efficiency curve (.sub.K) of the clutch (3); determining the efficiency curve (.sub.HA) of the auxiliary drive (4); superimposing the efficiency curves (.sub.K, .sub.HA); deriving an operating zone diagram (7) from the physical limits (n.sub.E, n.sub.Kmax, n.sub.HAmax, n.sub.I, G.sub.IK) of the clutch (3) and the auxiliary drive (4); and optimizing the interplay of clutch (3) and auxiliary drive (4) determined by the superimposition of the efficiency curves (.sub.K, .sub.HA) with respect to an optimized overall efficiency curve (.sub.opt) of the auxiliary drive (4) and the clutch (3) and/or a minimized heat generation of the clutch (3).

A harmonic drive, having: a housing; an output shaft within the housing; an input shaft within the housing, the input shaft is configured for being in a first position in which rotation of the input shaft rotates the output shaft, and a second position that is axially offset from the first position, in which rotation of the input shaft does not rotate the output shaft; a solenoid coil within the housing that, when energized, moves the input shaft to the second position; and a spring within the housing that, when the solenoid coil is not energized, moves the input shaft to the first position.