Systems and methods for an electric drive axle are provided. In one example, the electric drive axle may include an electric motor-generator rotationally coupled to a gearbox having a one-way clutch mounted on an output shaft and operable in an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, where in the engaged configuration, the one-way clutch transfers rotational energy from the output shaft to an output gear rotationally coupled to a plurality of drive wheels. The gearbox further includes a mode adjustment mechanism including a lock ring rotationally coupled to the output shaft and configured to selectively engage an input gear and the one-way clutch in a plurality of operating modes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cam clutch capable of switching from one operating mode to another with a simple structure and with high responsiveness, and of securing an expected torque capacity. The cam clutch of the present invention includes an operating mode switch mechanism (140) for switching between a free state that allows relative rotation between an inner race (110) and an outer race (120) and a locked state that prohibits relative rotation between the inner race (110) and the outer race (120). The operating mode switch mechanism (140) includes a cam attitude change part (142) that is movable circumferentially, radially, or axially independently of the rotation of the inner race (110) and the outer race (120) to forcibly tilts a plurality of cams (131) circumferentially arranged between the inner race (110) and the outer race (120).

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 reverse input blocking clutch includes an input member, an output member, a pressed member, and an engaging member. When a rotational torque is inputted to the input member, the engaging member moves in a direction away from a pressed surface of the pressed member due to engagement with the input member, and transmits the rotational torque inputted to the input member to the output member due to engagement with the output member; and when rotational torque is reversely inputted to the output member, moves in the direction closer to the pressed surface based on engagement with the output member, and by being pressed against the pressed surface does not transmit the rotational torque reversely inputted to the output member to the input member, or transmits only part thereof to the input member due to engagement with the input member.

A drive assembly having a rotator system and including a drive pulley, a driven pulley spaced apart from the drive pulley, a drive belt, a rotator pulley, and a rotator belt. The driven pulley supports a tool assembly, and the drive belt is connected to the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The drive belt is selectively tensioned to couple the drive pulley and the driven pulley so that rotation of the drive pulley causes the driven pulley to rotate and de-tensioned to decouple the drive pulley and the driven pulley allowing the drive pulley to rotate without causing the driven pulley to rotate. The rotator belt couples the rotator pulley and the driven pulley in a way that when the drive belt is decoupled from the drive pulley and the driven pulley rotation of the rotator pulley causes the driven pulley and the tool assembly to rotate.

A reverse-input blocking clutch includes: a pressed member having a pressed surface; an input member having an input-side engaging portion on an inner side in a radial direction of the pressed surface; an output member having an output-side engaging portion further on the inner side in the radial direction than the input-side engaging portion; an engaging element on the inner side in the radial direction of the pressed surface to move in a first direction away from or toward the pressed surface, having a main engaging element body having a pivot-support shaft, and a link member having a first end portion pivotally linked to the pivot-support shaft and a second end portion pivotally linked to the input-side engaging portion; and an elastic body between the main engaging element body and the link member and applying an elastic force to the link member toward the pressed surface in the first direction.

A coupling and control assembly includes first and second rotatable coupling members. The first coupling member has a first coupling face with locking formations, and the second coupling member has a second coupling face with pockets and in opposition with the first coupling face of the first coupling member and a third face spaced from the second coupling face and with passages communicating with the pockets. Locking members in the pockets transmit torque between the first and second coupling members. A stator includes an electromagnetic source, and a translator is translatable, rotatable, and coupled to the second coupling member to be rotatable therewith. The translator may include springs in the passages to actuate the plurality of locking members, or a permanent magnetic source cooperative with the electromagnetic source to translate the translator. An apertured retainer plate may be coupled to the second coupling member to facilitate pivoting of the plurality of locking members.

A clutch has an inner race, an outer race spaced from the inner race and forming a radial cavity between the races, and a plurality of sprags disposed in the radial cavity. The sprags have a different coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) from the inner race, the outer race, or both races, and a sprag cage retains the sprags at a uniform spacing within the radial cavity. When the clutch is at a first temperature, a gap exists between the sprags and the inner race, between the sprags and the outer race, or between the sprags and both races, and the clutch is disengaged. When the clutch is at a second temperature the sprags are in contact with both the races, and the clutch is engaged.

The disclosure relates to an overrunning clutch, comprising a torque-introducing clutch element, a torque-receiving clutch element and switching element, which is forced from an engagement position into a freewheeling position or from a freewheeling position into an engagement position in dependence on the direction of a sufficient change in the rotational angle position between the torque-introducing clutch element and the torque-receiving clutch element by means of an actuating force applied to the switching element by an actuator. According to the disclosure, the actuating force is a friction-induced actuating force, which is induced by means of a friction-force pairing between the actuator and a component of the overrunning clutch that is in frictional contact with the actuator and the actuator forms an interlockingly acting actuating stop, by means of which the actuating force acts on the switching element.

To provide a simple-structured cam clutch that does not require precise control, uses a smaller drive force for forcibly changing cam postures, and provides improved clutch operation stability and high responsiveness. The cam clutch includes a plurality of cams circumferentially arranged between an inner race and an outer race and supported by a cage member, and a selector allowing a rotation angle thereof to be controlled relatively to the inner race or the outer race to which the cage member is fixed. The selector has a cam posture control surface in contact with cam surfaces of the cams and capable of causing the cams to change posture thereof. The cam posture control surface includes a cam release portion radially protruded toward the cams more than a cam actuator portion and causing the cams to change posture thereof to a non-operating posture.