Friction clutch pack having a motor driven ball ramp operator

摘要

An electromagnetic clutch especially adapted for use in motor vehicle power trains includes a multiple plate friction clutch pack acted upon (compressed) by a ball ramp operator. The ball ramp operator includes two adjacent plates having opposed pairs of arcuate ramped recesses which receive a load transferring member such as a ball or roller bearing. Relative rotation of the plates is achieved through a worm gear drive from a bi-directional electric motor. Such relative rotation causes separation of the plates and compression of the friction clutch pack which transfers torque from the input to the output of the electromagnetic clutch.