Actuator coupling mechanism

摘要

An actuator coupling mechanism (ACM) for an actuator of the type that can be employed in a drive module. The ACM has first and second portions that are coupled in an axial direction by dropping one portion into the other portion such that mating features on the two portions engage one another in a tool-less manner.

主权项

1. A drive module comprising:
a motor; a transmission and differential assembly driven by the motor, the transmission and differential assembly having a transmission and a differential, the differential having a differential case, a first differential output and a second differential output; and a mode actuator having a shift element, a linear motor and an actuator coupling mechanism, the shift element being translatable between a first position, which causes the transmission and differential assembly to operate in a first mode in which at least one of the first output member, the second output member and the differential case is driven by the motor, and a second position, which causes the transmission and differential assembly to operate in a second, different mode, the actuator coupling mechanism being a linkage between the shift element and the linear motor, the actuator coupling mechanism comprising a drive lug extending into a U-shaped recess formed in an end of a first rod, the U-shaped recess extending through a radially outermost surface of the first rod, and a second rod having a circumferentially extending groove formed therein, the second rod being received into the U-shaped recess such that the drive lug is received into the circumferentially extending groove to thereby couple the second rod to the first rod for common axial movement and such that the second rod is translatable in the U-shaped recess in a direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first rod.