WO2024136721A1

WO2024136721A1 - A coupling arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2024136721A1
Application number: PCT/SE2023/051247
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mikael Bergquist
Original assignee: Scania Cv Ab
Priority date: 2022-12-21
Filing date: 2023-12-13
Publication date: 2024-06-27
Also published as: SE2251514A1; SE546267C2

Abstract

A coupling arrangement is presented, which comprises: - a first input shaft (310a) coupled to a first component (R/211; S/212; C/213) of a planetary gear (210); - a second input shaft (310b) coupled to a second component (R/211; S/212; C/213) of the planetary gear; - an output shaft (320); and - a sleeve (330) arranged to interact with a third component (R/211; S/212; C/213) of the planetary gear, and arranged to be movable between a first (337) and a second (338) position, the sleeve comprising: - a second spline arrangement (332) arranged to interact with a shaft spline arrangement (321 ) arranged at a first end (322) of the output shaft, where the second spline arrangement and the shaft spline arrangement are both spiral splines; wherein: - the sleeve is by the interaction arranged to be moved towards the first position when the output shaft rotates in a first direction relative to the sleeve, where the first component, the second component and the third component are unlocked in relation to each other when the sleeve is in the first position, such that the planetary gear is functionally utilized to couple the first and second input shafts to the output shaft; and - the sleeve is by the interaction arranged to be moved towards the second position when the output shaft rotates in a second direction relative to the sleeve, being opposite to the first direction, where the sleeve locks two of the first component, the second component and the third component together when the sleeve is in the second position, such that the first input shaft, the second input shaft and the output shaft corotate.

Description

A COUPLING ARRANGEMENT

Technical field

The present invention relates to a coupling arrangement arranged for being able to control a planetary gear such that it is functionally utilized or functionally bypassed.

Background

The following background description constitutes a description of the background to the present invention, which does not, however, necessarily have to constitute prior art.

Planetary gears, also called epicyclic gears, are today used in a large number of differing implementations. For example, planetary gears are widely used in vehicles, helicopters, and marine applications. Planetary gears may, for example, be used in various kinds of gearboxes. Such gearboxes may e.g. transfer torque between one or more power sources, such as e.g. electrical machines and/or combustions engines, and one or more drive wheels of a vehicle of some kind. Planetary gears have a number of advantages compared to other gear types, where some of these advantages are related to compactness and noise. Planetary gears are therefore often used when high torques should be transferrable by the planetary gear although there are restrictions regarding available space for the gear and the weight of the gear.

Brief description of the invention

In many implementations of today, it is desirable to be able to control the function of a planetary gear. For example, if the planetary gear is comprised in a gearbox, the functionality of the planetary gear needs to be controllable in order for the gearbox to provide suitable gearing, for example between one or more power sources and one or more drive wheels of a vehicle.

In conventional solutions, movable actuators have been used for controlling a planetary gear. The movements of these actuators then need to be controlled in order for the actuators to be able to properly control the functionality of the planetary gear. Therefore, actuator control systems comprising electronics, hydraulics and/or pneumatics to move these actuators have to be especially designed for the specific features of each planetary gear. Both the actuators and their control systems add to the size, weight, and complexity of the planetary gear. They also add to the cost of devices in which the planetary gear and its control system are comprised.

Electronic, pneumatic and/or hydraulic control systems are generally difficult to design such that they can provide the needed accuracy and robustness during the possibly hard conditions in which planetary gears may be used. The planetary gears might, for example, be used in situations where large temperature variations and/or substantial vibrations may occur. To design conventional actuator control systems such that a robust and exact control of the planetary gear is guaranteed under such hard conditions is both difficult and costly.

Also, there are often built in delays present in electronic, hydraulic and pneumatic control systems, which may cause a degraded accuracy for the actuator control system, and thus also a degradation of the functionality of the of the planetary gear controlled by it.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a small, robust, low complexity, and low cost coupling arrangement arranged for being able to provide an exact and efficient control of a planetary gear.

According to an aspect of the present invention, this objective is achieved by the above-mentioned coupling arrangement, which comprises:

- a first input shaft coupled to a first component of a planetary gear;

- a second input shaft coupled to a second component of the planetary gear;

- an output shaft; and

- a sleeve arranged to interact with a third component of the planetary gear, and arranged to be movable between a first and a second position, the sleeve comprising:

-- a second spline arrangement arranged to interact with a shaft spline arrangement arranged at a first end of the output shaft, where the second spline arrangement and the shaft spline arrangement are both spiral splines; wherein:

-- the sleeve is arranged to be moved towards the first position by the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement and the second spline arrangement when the output shaft rotates in a first direction relative to the sleeve, where the first component, the second component and the third component are unlocked in relation to each other when the sleeve is in the first position, such that the planetary gear is functionally utilized to couple the first and second input shafts to the output shaft; and -- the sleeve is arranged to be moved towards the second position by the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement and the second spline arrangement when the output shaft rotates in a second direction relative to the sleeve, being opposite to the first direction, where the sleeve locks two of the first component, the second component and the third component together when the sleeve is in the second position, such that the first input shaft, the second input shaft and the output shaft corotate.

The spiral splines of the interacting second spline arrangement and shaft spline arrangement cause the axially directed forces on the sleeve when the output shaft rotates in relation to the sleeve. The spiral splines thereby also cause the movements of the sleeve between, and to, its first and second positions. Hereby, a low complexity and automatic coupling arrangement is provided, which controls the planetary gear simply by being controlled itself by the torque, i.e. the torque difference/direction, being provided over it.

By the interaction between the output shaft spline arrangement and the second spline arrangement of the sleeve, which causes the axially directed forces on the sleeve when the output shaft rotates in relation to the sleeve, a robust and exact functionality of the coupling arrangement is achieved.

The coupling arrangement either utilizes or bypasses the functionality of the first planetary gear. When the sleeve is in the first position, the planetary gear is controlled to be functionally utilized, whereby the torque and rotation relationships of the planetary gear are utilized/enabled, such that an up gearing or down gearing is provided.

However, when the sleeve is in the second position, the first input shaft, the second input shaft and the output shaft of the coupling arrangement corotate, whereby the planetary gear provides for a 1 :1 gearing. This may also be described as the planetary gear being bypassed in the sense that the torque and rotation relationships of the planetary gear are not utilized/enabled, i.e. the planetary gear is controlled to be functionally bypassed/disabled and does not provide any up gearing or down gearing. Thus, the gearing functionality of the planetary gear is not utilized.

The switching between functionally utilizing and functionally bypassing the planetary gear is, according the present invention, controlled by the coupling arrangement. The coupling arrangement is a low complexity, small sized and low-cost device, which provides for a robust, quick and exact control of the planetary gear.

The coupling arrangement is arranged to provide a control which either enables or disables the functionality of planetary gear dependent only by the torque present/provided over it. The axial movement of the sleeve between its first and second positions, which causes the enabling and disabling of the functionality of the planetary gear, respectively, is a driven solely by the torque applied over the coupling arrangement. Thus, for the presented torque driven mechanical solution, no specific control logic is necessary for providing the herein described functionality of the coupling arrangement and control of the planetary gear. By this mechanical solution for the coupling arrangement, a low complexity and automatic coupling arrangement is provided, which is controlled simply by first and second torque differences/directions, respectively, being provided over it. The coupling arrangement is arranged such that the features/characteristics/properties of the first torque difference cause the relative rotation of the output shaft in relation to the sleeve in the first direction. Conversely, the coupling arrangement is also arranged such that the features/characteristics/properties of the second torque difference cause the relative rotation of the output shaft in relation to the sleeve in the second direction.

It should especially be noted that no extra conventional mechanical actuators are needed for controlling the functionality of the coupling arrangement and the planetary gear, since the planetary gear is automatically controlled only dependent on the torque provided over the coupling arrangement. The movement of the sleeve may according to various embodiments, be provided by spline arrangements comprising e.g. spiral splines, which is a low complexity mechanical solution for which no extra control logic is necessary. The control causing enabling and disabling of the functionality of the planetary gear is thus automatically provided by the torque differences being provided over the coupling arrangement, i.e. by the relative rotations of the output shaft and the sleeve in relation to each other. Thus, the coupling arrangement does not add to the complexity of a control system of a device in which the coupling arrangement is to be implemented.

The omission of the need for conventional actuators, and their respective hydraulic or pneumatic control systems, greatly reduces the complexity and cost of the planetary gear, as well as increases the robustness and reliability for the planetary gear.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

- the first input shaft, the second input shaft, the sleeve and the output shaft are arranged coaxially in relation to an axis, and are arranged for being rotatable around the axis;

- the first input shaft, the second input shaft, and the output shaft are axially fixed; and

- the sleeve is arranged axially movable between the first position and the second position.

The, coaxial, rotatable and axially fixed input and output shafts in combination with the rotatable and axially movable sleeve facilitates for the sleeve to be moved between its first and second positions, and thus facilitates for the control of the planetary gear.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

- the sleeve further comprises:

-- a first spline arrangement arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement coupled to the third component of the planetary gear, where the first spline arrangement and the component spline arrangement are either both axially oriented or are both spiral splines.

The axially oriented splines of the first spline arrangement and the component spline arrangement prevent the sleeve from rotating and thus facilitate these movements of the sleeve. Alternatively, the spiral splines of the first spline arrangement and the component spline arrangement cause axially directed forces on the sleeve.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first spline arrangement is arranged as one in the group of: - on the outside of the sleeve; and

- on the inside of the sleeve.

The coupling arrangement according to this embodiment provides for a robust interaction between the first spline arrangement and the component spline arrangement coupled to the third component of the planetary gear, being useful in various implementations depending on the constitution of the sleeve and the output shaft.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first spline arrangement is arranged as one in the group of:

- at the first end of the sleeve;

- at the second end of the sleeve;

- at least partially between the first and second ends of the sleeve; and

- from the first end to the second end of the sleeve.

Hereby, a robust interaction between the first spline arrangement and the component spline arrangement coupled to the third component of the planetary gear is provided for various implementations, depending on the constitution of the sleeve and the output shaft.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

- the sleeve is arranged as at least partially surrounding the first end of the output shaft; and

- the second spline arrangement is arranged on the inside of the sleeve to interact with the shaft spline arrangement arranged on the outside of the output shaft.

This embodiment provides for a compact coupling arrangement, and for a robust interaction between the second spline arrangement of the sleeve and the shaft spline arrangement, which is useful in many applications.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

- the first end of the output shaft is provided with a circular hollow section, the circular hollow section being arranged to at least partially surround the sleeve and to have a diameter such that the sleeve fits within the hollow section; and - the second spline arrangement is arranged on the outside of the sleeve to interact with the shaft spline arrangement arranged on the inside of the hollow section.

The coupling arrangement according to this embodiment provides for a robust interaction between the second spline arrangement of the sleeve and the shaft spline arrangement, which is useful in some implementations depending on the constitution of the output shaft.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second spline arrangement is arranged as one in the group of:

- at the first end of the sleeve;

- at the second end of the sleeve;

- at least partially between the first and second ends of the sleeve; and

- from the first end to the second end of the sleeve.

Hereby, a position of the second spline arrangement of the sleeve being suitable for, and matching, many different implementations/designs of the output shaft and its shaft spline arrangement may be provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement and the second spline arrangement utilizes a momentum of inertia of the planetary gear for causing the movement of the sleeve towards the first position.

For example, a torque pulse may here be used for setting the sleeve in motion, since the components of the planetary gear do not react immediately to the pulse due to the momentum of inertia of the planetary gear. This is a low complexity solution for facilitating the axial movements of the sleeve, and thereby the functionality of the coupling arrangement.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

- the first spline arrangement and the component spline arrangement are spiral splines, whereby the interaction between the first spline arrangement and the component spline arrangement causes:

-- a contribution to the movement of the sleeve towards the second position, when the output shaft rotates in the second direction relative to the sleeve; and -- a contribution to the movement of the sleeve towards the first position, when the sleeve has reached a third position, between the first and second positions, when the output shaft rotates in the first direction relative to the sleeve.

By the spiral splines of the first spline arrangement and the component spline arrangement, a contribution to the axially directed forces on the sleeve is provided, which secures a robust and exact functionality of the coupling arrangement.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the interaction between the first spline arrangement and the component spline arrangement utilizes a momentum of inertia of the planetary gear for causing the contribution to the movement of the sleeve towards the second position.

Hereby, a simple torque pulse may be used for setting the sleeve in motion, which is a low complexity solution for facilitating the movements of the sleeve and the functionality of the coupling arrangement.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

- one of the first component, the second component and the third component comprises at least one component engaging member;

- the sleeve comprises at least one sleeve engaging member; and

- the at least one component engaging member and the at least one sleeve engaging member, respectively, are arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position, and to be disengaged when the sleeve is in a third position, between the first and second positions.

By utilization of the sleeve and component engaging members, robust and simple engagement and disengagement of the sleeve to and from, respectively, the first, second or third component. Hereby, the sleeve is securely engaged with one of the first, second and third components in its second position, and is completely disengaged from the first, second and third components in the first position. In the third position, the actual engaging/disengaging of the sleeve and component engaging members takes place. According to an embodiment of the present invention,

- both of the at least one sleeve engaging member and the at least one component engaging member comprise axially oriented splines.

Matching axially directed splines offers a compact, low cost and easily produced solution for providing the engagement and disengagement of one of the first, second and third components to and from, respectively, the sleeve.

According to an embodiment of the present invention,

- both of the at least one sleeve engaging member and the at least one component engaging member comprise coupling cogs.

Utilization of matching coupling cogs is a robust, low cost and easily produced solution for providing the engagement and disengagement of one of the first, second and third components to and from, respectively, the sleeve.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve comprises at least one stopper arrangement arranged for stopping the sleeve from further movement towards a second end of the output shaft when it has reached the first position.

Hereby, i.e. by utilization of at least one stopper arrangement, the sleeve is safely stopped in the first position, such that the spline arrangements of the coupling arrangement does not have to stop the sleeve themselves. The spline arrangements do thus not have to take up all the axial forces of the moving sleeve themselves.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one stopper arrangement is arranged for stopping the sleeve from further movement towards a first end of the first input shaft when it has reached the second position.

Hereby, the sleeve is safely stopped in the second position by the stopper arrangement, such that the spline arrangements of the coupling arrangement does not have to stop the sleeve themselves.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling arrangement further comprises a first freewheel arrangement arranged to be able to either lock a planet gear carrier of the planetary gear to a housing, or to allow the planet gear carrier to rotate in relation to the housing. By the use of the first freewheel arrangement, an efficient and automated control of the planetary gear is provided. If the planet gear carrier is locked against rotation, then a ring gear and a sun gear of the planetary gear will rotate with different speeds, and in different rotational directions. Thus, both a shift in rotational direction and a gearing, i.e. a gear ratio, may be provided between the ring gear and the sun gear by this control.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling arrangement further comprises a second freewheel arrangement in the group of:

- a second freewheel arrangement arranged to be able to either lock a planet gear carrier and the sun gear of the planetary gear to each other, or allow the planet gear carrier and the sun gear to rotate in relation to each other; and

- a second freewheel arrangement arranged to be able to either lock the planet gear carrier and the ring gear of the planetary gear to each other, or to allow the planet gear carrier and the ring gear to rotate in relation to each other.

By the use of the second freewheel arrangement, an efficient and automated control of the planetary gear is provided. If two of the components of the planetary gear, e.g. if the planet gear carrier is locked to any one of the sun gear and the ring gear, then all components of the planetary gear, i.e. all of the sun gear, the planet gear carrier and the ring gear, will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed. Thus, a gearing 1 :1 and no shift in rotational direction between the components of the planetary gear may be easily provided by this control.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a first end of the first input shaft is coupled to at least one in the group of:

- an electrical machine;

- an internal combustion engine;

- a pump;

- a gearbox; and

- a freewheel arrangement.

Thus, the coupling arrangement is a flexible coupling being usable in a large number of different implementations. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a first end of the second input shaft is coupled to at least one in the group of:

- an electrical machine;

- an internal combustion engine;

- a pump;

- a gearbox; and

- a freewheel arrangement.

Thus, the coupling arrangement is a flexible coupling being usable in a large number of different implementations.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a second end of the output shaft is coupled to at least one drive wheel of a vehicle.

The coupling arrangement is hereby possible to utilize in e.g. transmission arrangements in vehicles.

Brief list of figures

Embodiments of the invention will be illustrated in more detail below, along with the enclosed drawings, where similar references are used for similar parts, and where:

Figures 1a-b schematically illustrate a coupling arrangement according to various embodiments of the present invention,

Figures 2a-b schematically illustrate a coupling arrangement according to various embodiments of the present invention,

Figures 3a-b schematically illustrate a coupling arrangement according to various embodiments of the present invention,

Figures 4a-b schematically illustrate a coupling arrangement according to various embodiments of the present invention,

Figures 5a-b schematically illustrate a coupling arrangement according to various embodiments of the present invention, Figures 6a-b schematically illustrate a coupling arrangement according to various embodiments of the present invention,

Figures 7a-b schematically illustrate a coupling arrangement according to various embodiments of the present invention,

Figures 8a-b schematically illustrate a coupling arrangement according to various embodiments of the present invention,

Figures 9a-b schematically illustrate a coupling arrangement according to various embodiments of the present invention,

Figures 10a-b schematically illustrate a coupling arrangement according to various embodiments of the present invention,

Figures 11a-b schematically illustrate a coupling arrangement according to various embodiments of the present invention,

Figures 12 schematically illustrates an example vehicle, in which some embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.

Description of preferred embodiments

Here, and in this whole document, the notation that two entities/components are “coupled” to each other means that these two entities/components are either directly connected to each other, i.e. without any further intermediate entities/components, or are indirectly connected to each other, i.e. via one or more intermediate entities/components. Thus, the two entities/components are then arranged/coupled to be able to transfer a torque between them, either directly or indirectly.

Also, in this document, the notation that two entities/components are “engaged” with each other, or are “locked” to each other, means that these entities/components are connected such that they are non-rotatable in relation to each other, i.e. that they are rotatably locked to each other and therefore are arranged to corotate, or to both stand still. Thus, two such engaged/locked entities/components rotate in conjunction with each other, and therefore rotate at the same rate. Conversely, if two entities/components are “unlocked” or “disengaged”, then these entities/components are allowed to rotate in relation to each other.

Further, when an entity/component is stated to be “locked” or “engaged” to a housing, it is locked/engaged to e.g. a housing of a powertrain component, such as an engine, an electrical machine, a gearbox or another component, or any other fixed, i.e. nonrotating, body, component, entity, arrangement or element. This means that the entity/component is then also fixed, i.e. non-rotating. For example, if an entity/component is locked/engaged to such a non-rotating housing, then this entity/component is prevented from rotating, because the entity/component is non- rotatable in relation to the fixed housing.

Further, the notation that an entity/component is “locked” or “locked from/against rotation” means that this entity/component is prevented/restrained/stopped from rotating. Conversely, an “unlocked” entity/component is free to rotate in the meaning that it is released, i.e. is rotatable and not prevented from rotating.

In this document, the notations shaft and axle are both used for describing a rotatable element used for transmitting torque.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a coupling arrangement 242 is presented. As mentioned above, the aspects and embodiments of the present invention provides for a robust and precise control of a planetary gear, without the need for traditional actuators.

Various embodiments of this coupling arrangement 242 are schematically illustrated in figures 1a-b to 11 a-b, and are below described more in detail. The herein mentioned drawing references are thus found in these figures.

As is known for a skilled person, a planetary gear normally comprises three gear components that are arranged in a manner that allows rotation relative to each other. These components are a sun gear S, a planet wheel carrier C and a ring gear R. Knowledge of the numbers of teeth on the gear components of a planetary gear allows the mutual rates of revolution of the three components during operation to be determined. Generally, the function of a planetary gear is defined by its torque equation/relationship and its rotational speed equation/relationship.

Also, planetary gears generally have some specific features, which may for example be utilized in transmission arrangement implementations, and also in other implementations. One such feature is that when one of the components, i.e. one of the sun gear S, the planet wheel carrier C and the ring gear R, is prevented to rotate, the other two components are still allowed to rotate. These two components are then rotating at different speeds depending on the cogs/teeth relationship between the two components, whereby, depending on the number of cogs/teeth of the components, respectively, a gear ratio other than 1 :1 is provided.

For example, if the planet gear carrier C is locked against rotation, then the ring gear R and the sun gear S will rotate with different speeds, and in different rotational directions. Thus, both a shift in rotational direction and a gearing, i.e. a gear ratio, is then provided between the ring gear R and the sun gear S.

However, if the ring gear R is instead locked against rotation, then the planet gear carrier C and the sun gear S will rotate with different speeds, but in the same rotational direction. Thus, only a gearing is then provided between the ring gear R and the sun gear S, without any shift in rotational direction taking place. Correspondingly, if the sun gear S is locked against rotation, then the planet gear carrier C and the ring gear R will rotate with different speeds, but in the same rotational direction.

Further, if two of the components, i.e. if any pair of the sun gear S, the planet gear carrier C and the ring gear R, are locked to each other, then all components, i.e. all of the sun gear S, the planet gear carrier C and the ring gear R, will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed. Thus, a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear.

The coupling arrangement 242 according to an aspect of the present invention, and schematically illustrated for various embodiments in figures 1a-b to 11a-b, comprises a first input shaft 310a, which is coupled to a first component of a planetary gear.

This first planetary gear component may, according to the below described various embodiments be one of the ring gear R/211 , the sun gear S/212 and the planet gear carrier C/213.

The coupling arrangement 242 further comprises a second input shaft 310b coupled to a second component of the planetary gear. This second planetary gear component may, according to the below described various embodiments be one of the ring gear R/211 , the sun gear S/212 and the planet gear carrier C/213, which is uncoupled, i.e. which is not coupled, to the first input shaft 310a. Thus, the second component of the planetary gear differs from the first component of the planetary gear, i.e. the second component is another component that the first component.

The coupling arrangement 242 further comprises an output shaft 320, and a sleeve 330. The sleeve 330 is arranged to interact with a third component of the planetary gear and with the output shaft 320. The third component of the planetary gear is here one of the ring gear R/211 , the sun gear S/212, and the planet gear carrier C/213, other than the first and second components. Thus, the third component differs from, i.e. is another component than, the first and second components.

The sleeve 330 comprises a second spline arrangement 332 arranged to interact with a shaft spline arrangement 321 arranged at a first end 322 of the output shaft 320. Here, both of the second spline arrangement 332 and the shaft spline arrangement 321 are spiral splines.

The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve. More in detail, the sleeve 330 is, by the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement 321 and the second spline arrangement 332, arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. The sleeve 330 is thus controlled simply by the torque, i.e. a first torque difference/direction being provided over it. The features/characteristics/properties of the first torque difference are here such that the rotation of the output shaft 320 in relation to the sleeve 330 in the first direction AD32O_33O_I is caused by them.

When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component, which may be any one of R/211 , S/212 and C/213, the second component, which may be another one of R/211 , S/212 and C/213, and the third component, which may be yet another one of R/211 , S/212 and C/213, as described above, are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, none of the first, second and third components is locked to another one of the first, second and third components, which means that the planetary gear provides for another gearing than a 1 :1 gearing. Hereby, the planetary gear 210 is functionally utilized to couple the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337, such that, depending on the cogs/teeth relationship between the first, second and third components, a gear ratio other than 1 :1 is provided by the coupling arrangement 242.

The sleeve 330 is further, by the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement 321 and the second spline arrangement 332, arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32O_33O_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . The sleeve 330 is here controlled by the torque, i.e. by a second torque difference/direction being provided over it. The features/characteristics/properties of the second torque difference are such that the rotation of the output shaft 320 in relation to the sleeve 330 in the second direction AD32O_33O_2 is caused by them.

In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks two of the first, second, and third components together, i.e. locks one of the component pairs R/211 and S/212, R/211 and C/213, and S/212 and C213 together. Since two of the components are locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing is provided, for which no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear. Therefore, the first input shaft 310a, the second input shaft 310b and the output shaft 320 corotate, which also means that the planetary gear is functionally bypassed/unutilized.

According to various embodiments, the coupling arrangement 242 schematically illustrated for various embodiments in figures 1a-b to 11a-b, is arranged with the first input shaft 310a, the second input shaft 310b, the sleeve 330 and the output shaft 320 being coaxially arranged in relation to an axis 313, which may be a rotation/imaginary axis, and are arranged for being rotatable around that axis 313. Further, the first input shaft 310a, the second input shaft 310b, and the output shaft 320 are axially fixed, whereas the sleeve 330 is arranged axially movable between its first position 337 and its second position 338, as explained above.

According to various embodiments, the sleeve 330, as schematically illustrated in figures 1a-b to 11 a-b, comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component, which may be any one of R/211 , S/212 and C/213 of the planetary gear. Here, the first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 are either both axially oriented, i.e. are straight axial splines being axially oriented, or are both spiral splines, as schematically illustrated for various embodiments in figures 1 a-b to 11 a-b. The interaction between the first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 prevents the sleeve 330 from rotating, when they are axially directed, and thereby facilitates its axial movement, Alternatively, if they are spiral splines, the interaction of the first spline arrangement and the component spline arrangement cause axially directed forces on the sleeve.

For those embodiments, e.g. the embodiments shown in figures 1a-b to 3a-b and 5a- b to 6a-b, wherein both of the first spline arrangement 331 and the second spline arrangement 332 are spiral splines, these two spiral splines are arranged in mutually different directions. Thus, if the first spline arrangement 331 comprises a spiral spline having a right-hand thread, then the second spline arrangement 332 comprises a spiral spline having a left-hand thread, or vice versa. The directions of the component spline arrangement 341 and the shaft spline arrangement 321 are arranged accordingly, such that they are complementary to the first spline arrangement 331 and the second spline arrangement 332, respectively.

According to some embodiments, such as e.g. the embodiments show in figures 1 a- b, 2a-b, 3a-b, 4a-b, 5a-b, 8a-b and 9a-b, the first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the outside of the sleeve 330 to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component R/211 , S/212, C/213 of the planetary gear.

According to some embodiments, such as e.g. the embodiments shown in figures 6a- b, 7a-b, 10a-b and 11 a-b, the first spline arrangement 331 is instead arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330 to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component of the planetary gear, being one of R/211 , S/212 and C/213.

According to some embodiments, such as e.g. the embodiments show in figures 1a- b, and 4a-b to 11a-b, the first spline arrangement 331 is arranged at the first end 335 of the sleeve.

According to some embodiments, such as e.g. the embodiments show in figures 2a-b and 3a-b, the first spline arrangement 331 is arranged at the second end 333 of the sleeve.

According to some embodiments, the first spline arrangement 331 is arranged at least partially between the first 335 and second 333 ends of the sleeve.

According to some embodiments, the first spline arrangement 331 is arranged from the first end 335 to the second end 333 of the sleeve.

According to various embodiments, such as e.g. the embodiments show in figures 1a-b to 4a-b and 6a-b to 11a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged as at least partially surrounding the first end 322 of the output shaft 320. The second spline arrangement 332 is then arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330 to interact with the shaft spline arrangement 321 arranged on the outside of the output shaft 320, at the first end 322 of the output shaft 320.

According to some embodiments, such as e.g. the embodiment show in figure 5a-b, the first end 322 of the output shaft 320 is provided with a circular hollow section 325. The circular hollow section 325 is then arranged to at least partially surround the sleeve 330, and to have a diameter such that the sleeve 330 fits within the hollow section 325. Here, the second spline arrangement 332 is arranged on the outside of the sleeve 330 in order to interact with the shaft spline arrangement 321 then being arranged on the inside of the hollow section 325. Thus, the sleeve 330 is then arranged within the hollow section 325 at the first end 322 of the output shaft 320 to interact with the output shaft 320 to cause the movements of the sleeve 330. According to some embodiments, the second spline arrangement 332 is arranged at the first end 335 of the sleeve.

According to various embodiments, such as e.g. the embodiments schematically illustrated in figures 1a-b to 11a-b, the second spline arrangement 332 is arranged at the second end 333 of the sleeve.

According to some embodiments, the second spline arrangement 332 is arranged at least partially between the first 335 and second 333 ends of the sleeve.

According to some embodiments, the second spline arrangement 332 is arranged from the first end 335 to the second end 333 of the sleeve.

As explained above, the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement 321 and the second spline arrangement 332 causes the movement of the sleeve 330 towards the first position 337, when the output shaft 320 rotates in the first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. This movement may include that the sleeve 330 reaches and also stays at the first position 337.

The interaction between the shaft spline arrangement 321 and the second spline arrangement 332 also causes the movement of the sleeve 330 towards the second position 338, when the output shaft 320 rotates in the second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330.

According to an embodiment, the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement 321 and the second spline arrangement 332 utilizes a momentum of inertia of the planetary gear 210 for causing the movement of the sleeve 330 towards the first position 337. Here, the sleeve 330 may be helped to start moving by providing an increased torque on the output shaft 320, e.g. by a torque pulse or another suitable torque increase provided to the output shaft 320. Such a torque pulse may, due to the momentum of inertia, cause the relative rotation of the output shaft 320 in relation to the sleeve 330, since the sleeve 330 is held by the momentum of inertia of the planetary gear 210 via the interaction of the first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 . Thus, the components of the planetary gear 210, and therefore also the sleeve 330, do, due to the inertia of the planetary gear 210, not move immediately when the torque is increased, e.g. as a pulse, via the output shaft 320, which causes the rotation of the output shaft 320 in the first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330, and thus causes the movement of the sleeve 330.

According to an embodiment, such as e.g. the embodiments shown in figures 1a-b to 3a-b and 5a-b to 6a-b, the first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 are spiral splines. Hereby, the interaction between the first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 contributes to the movement of the sleeve 330 towards the first position 337, due to the rotation of the output shaft 320 in the first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330, when the sleeve 330 has reached a third position, between the first 337 and second 338 positions, in which the sleeve 334 and component 314 engaging members let go of each other. Also, the interaction between the first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 contributes to the movement of the sleeve 330 towards the second position 338, when the output shaft 320 rotates in the second direction AD32o_33o_2 in relation to the sleeve 330.

According to an embodiment, the interaction between the first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 also utilizes the above mentioned momentum of inertia of the planetary gear 210 when it contributes to the movement of the sleeve 330 towards the second position 338. As explained above, a torque pulse provided on the output shaft 320 may here be used, together with the momentum of inertia and the interaction between the first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 , for causing the rotation in the second direction AD32o_33o_2 in relation to the sleeve 330 and thus for causing the movement towards the second position 338.

According to various embodiment, one of the first component, which may be any one of R/211 , S/212, C/213, the second component, which may be another one of R/211 , S/212, C/213, and the third component, which may be yet another one of R/211 , S/212, C/213, of the planetary gear 210 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314. Also, the sleeve 330 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one sleeve engaging member 334. The at least one component engaging member 314 and the at least one sleeve engaging member 334, respectively, are arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions, such that they are also disengaged on the first position 337.

Thus, the at least one component engaging member 314 and the at least one sleeve engaging member 334, are arranged to, when the sleeve 330 moves towards the second position 338, become engaged in the third position and to then be engaged in the second position 328. Conversely, when the sleeve 330 moves towards the first position 337, the at least one component engaging member 314 and the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 are arranged to become disengaged in the third position and to then be disengaged in the first position 237.

According to some embodiments, including the ones schematically illustrated in figures 1a-b, 4a-b to 7a-b and 9a-b, both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise axially oriented splines.

According to some embodiments, including the ones schematically illustrated in figures 2a-b to 3a-b, 8a-b, 10a-b to 11a-b, both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 coupling cogs.

According to an embodiment, schematically illustrated in figures 6a-b to 9a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises at least one stopper arrangement 336 arranged for stopping the sleeve 330 from further movement towards a second end 323 of the output shaft 320 when it has reached the first position 337 and/or for stopping the sleeve 330 from further movement towards a first end 311 of the first input shaft 310a when it has reached the second position 338. As understood by a skilled person, corresponding at least one stopper arrangements may also be arranged in the embodiments schematically illustrated in figures 1a-b to 5a-b, and 10a-b to 11a-b.

The at least one stopper arrangement 336 may, according to various embodiments, comprise two or more stoppers, such that one or more stoppers are arranged for preventing further movement beyond the first position 337 and one or more other stoppers are arranged for preventing further movement beyond the second position 338.

The stopper arrangement 336 mat be arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330, e.g. as a stopper sleeve, a stopper ring or a stopper lip. The stopper 336 arrangement may, however, also be arranged somewhere else on the sleeve 330, e.g. on the outside of the sleeve, at the first 335 or second 333 ends of the sleeve, or therebetween.

As schematically illustrated in figures 5a-b, at least one stopper arrangement 336 may also be arranged on the output shaft 320 and/or on a suitable component, for example a ring gear 211 , of the planetary gear, for preventing movement pf the sleeve 330 beyond the first 337 and/or second 338 positions.

According to an embodiment, schematically illustrated in figures 8a-b to 11 a-b, a first freewheel arrangement 231 is arranged in the coupling arrangement 242. The first freewheel arrangement is arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 of the planetary gear 210 to a housing 235, or to allow the planet gear carrier C/213 to rotate in relation to the housing 235. As mentioned above, when the planet gear carrier C/213 is locked to the housing 235, i.e. is locked against rotation, then the ring gear R/211 and the sun gear S/212 will rotate with different speeds, and in different rotational directions, i.e. a shift in rotational direction is then provided between the ring gear R/211 and the sun gear S/212.

According to an embodiment, schematically illustrated in figures 8a-b to 11 a-b, a second freewheel arrangement 232 is arranged in the coupling arrangement 242. The second freewheel arrangement may be arranged to be able to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 and the sun gear S/212 of the planetary gear 210 to each other, or allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the sun gear S/212 to rotate in relation to each other. Alternatively, the second freewheel arrangement may be arranged to be able to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 of the planetary gear 210 to each other, or to allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 to rotate in relation to each other. As mentioned above, if two of the components of the planetary gear, e.g. if the planet gear carrier C/213 and the sun gear S/212, or if the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 , are locked to each other, then all components of the planetary gear will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed. Hereby, a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear.

A freewheel arrangement is in this document, a component which allows rotation in one rotational direction, but prevents/blocks rotation in the opposite rotational direction. Freewheel arrangements may be mechanical components being independent from control logic, as the ones used in e.g. bicycle hubs for allowing the bike to roll freely when the rider stops treading, or may be controllable components, controlled by control logic utilizing e.g. pneumatic and/or pneumatics, for only allowing rotation in one rotational direction. Freewheel arrangements may also be electrically controlled arrangements, e.g. including electric actuators.

As is understood by a skilled person, the first 310a and second 310b input shafts may, respectively, according to various embodiments of the coupling arrangement 242, be coupled to a large number of parts/devices/machines/arrangements. Essentially any suitable equipment/component may be coupled to the herein described coupling arrangement 242. Such possible parts/devices/ machines/arrangements may, among other components, include electrical machines, internal combustion engines, pumps, gearboxes and/or freewheel arrangements. Such components are then coupled to a first ends of the first 310a and second 310b input shafts, respectively.

The output shaft, i.e. the second end 323 of the output shaft 320, may be coupled to a number of parts/devices/machines/arrangements, such as e.g. at least one drive wheel 111 , 112 of a vehicle 100, as illustrated in figure 12.

As a non-limiting example, the coupling arrangement 242 may be comprised in a transmission arrangement 200 in a vehicle 100, schematically illustrated in figure 12. In the transmission arrangement 200, the coupling arrangement 242 may for example be arranged for facilitating a braking mode of operation and/or a reverse mode of operation.

Figure 12 schematically shows an exemplary heavy vehicle 100, such as a truck or a bus. The herein described embodiments are, however, not limited to use in a vehicle as the one shown in figure 12, and may also be used in other vehicles, such as lighter vehicles, e.g. in smaller trucks or buses, or in cars. The herein described embodiments may of course also be used in many offboard implementations, i.e. in non-vehicle implementations.

A vehicle 100, in which embodiments of the present invention could be implemented and being shown schematically in figure 12, comprises at least one drive wheel 111 , 112, for example a pair of drive wheels, and at least one pair of wheels used for steering. The vehicle 100 furthermore comprises a drivetrain configured to transfer a torque between at least two power sources 101 , 102, such as e.g. at least a first 101 and a second 102 electrical machine, and the drive wheels 111 , 112.

A first output shaft/axle 106 of the first electrical machine 101 and a second output shaft/axle 107 of the second electrical machine 102 are coupled, respectively, either directly or indirectly, to a transmission arrangement 200. An output shaft/axle 108 of the transmission arrangement 200 is coupled to the at least one drive wheel 111 , 112, either directly or indirectly, possibly via a central gear 109, such as e.g. a differential gear, and/or possibly via first 113 and second 114 drive shafts connected with the central gear 109.

The output shaft 108 of the transmission arrangement 200 may be coupled to the at least one drive wheel 111 , 112 in essentially any way known for a skilled person, as long as this coupling provides the resulting output torque from the transmission arrangement 200 to the at least one drive wheel 111 , 112. Also, the first 101 and second 102 electrical machines, and the transmission arrangement 200, may be arranged essentially anywhere in the vehicle, as long as torque is provided to the at least one drive wheel 111 , 112 via the transmission arrangement 200. This could e.g. be closer to the at least one drive wheel 111 , 112 than illustrated in Figure 12 and/or without any intermediate central gears 109 or drive shafts 113, 114, as is understood by a skilled person.

Below, each one of the coupling arrangements schematically illustrated in figures 1a- b to 11a-b are described more in detail, where corresponding features of the various embodiments are given corresponding reference numbers. As is understood by a skilled person, these embodiments are a sample of the possible embodiments of the coupling arrangement 242, chosen to illustrated and describe some of features of the coupling arrangement 242.

Figure 1a shows an embodiment of the coupling arrangement 242 in its first position 337, and figure 1 b shows the coupling arrangement 242 in its second position 338.

The first input shaft 310a is coupled to a first component of a planetary gear, which is the sun gear S/212. The second input shaft 310b is coupled to a second component of the planetary gear, which is the ring gear R/211 . The coupling arrangement 242 further comprises an output shaft 320, and a sleeve 330. The sleeve 330 is arranged to interact with a third component of the planetary gear, which is the planet gear carrier C/213, and with the output shaft 320.

The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve as illustrated in figures 1a and 1 b, respectively.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 1 a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component S/212, the second component R/211 , and the third component C/213 are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, the planetary gear provides for another gearing than a 1 : 1 gearing, and the planetary gear 210 is functionally utilized to couple the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337. Thus, the coupling arrangement 242 controls the planetary gear 210 to provide a gear ratio other than 1 :1.

The sleeve 330 is further arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks the first S/212 and the third C/213 components together. Since two of the components are locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear, which means that planetary gear 210 is controlled to be functionally bypassed/unutilized.

The first input shaft 310a, the sleeve 330 and the output shaft 320 are coaxially arranged in relation to an axis 313, which may be a rotation/imaginary axis, and are arranged for being rotatable around that axis 313. The first input shaft 310a and the output shaft 320 are axially fixed, whereas the sleeve 330 is arranged to be axially movable between its first position 337 and its second position 338, as explained above.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 1 a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component C/213 of the planetary gear. The first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 both comprise spiral splines. The first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the outside of the sleeve 330, at the first end 335 of the sleeve, to interact with the component spline arrangement 341.

The sleeve 330 further comprises a second spline arrangement 332 arranged at the second end 333 of the sleeve to interact with a shaft spline arrangement 321 of the output shaft 320. Both of the second spline arrangement 332 and the shaft spline arrangement 321 comprise spiral splines. The spiral splines of the first spline arrangement 331 and the second spline arrangement 332 are arranged in mutually different directions. As the sleeve 330 is arranged as at least partially surrounding the first end 322 of the output shaft 320, the second spline arrangement 332 is arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330 to interact with the shaft spline arrangement 321 arranged on the outside of the output shaft 320.

As explained above, the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement 321 and the second spline arrangement 332 causes the movement of the sleeve 330 towards the first position 337, when the output shaft 320 rotates in the first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. The interaction between the shaft spline arrangement 321 and the second spline arrangement 332 also causes the movement of the sleeve 330 towards the second position 338, when the output shaft 320 rotates in the second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330. The interaction between the shaft spline arrangement 321 and the second spline arrangement 332 may utilize a momentum of inertia of the planetary gear 210 for causing the movements of the sleeve 330, as explained above.

Since the first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 comprise spiral splines, their interaction may also contribute to the movement of the sleeve 330, as explained above. The interaction between the first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 may utilize the above mentioned momentum of inertia of the planetary gear 210.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 1a-b, the first component S/212 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314, and the sleeve 330 comprises at least one sleeve engaging member 334. Both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise axially oriented splines arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other, i.e. to let loose of each other, when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions.

Figure 2a shows an embodiment of the coupling arrangement 242 in its first position 337, and figure 2b shows the coupling arrangement 242 in its second position 338.

The first input shaft 310a is coupled to a first component of a planetary gear, which is the ring gear R/211 . The second input shaft 310b is coupled to a second component of the planetary gear, which is the planet gear carrier C/213. The coupling arrangement 242 further comprises an output shaft 320, and a sleeve 330. The sleeve 330 is arranged to interact with a third component of the planetary gear, which is the sun gear carrier S/212, and with the output shaft 320.

The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve as illustrated in figures 2a and 2b, respectively.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 2a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component R/211 , the second component C/213, and the third component S/212 are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, the planetary gear 210 is by the coupling arrangement 242 controlled to be functionally utilized for coupling the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337, whereby a gear ratio other than 1 :1 is provided by the planetary gear 210.

The sleeve 330 is further arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks the first R/211 and the third S/212 components together. Since two of the components are locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear. Thus, the planetary gear is controlled to be functionally bypassed/unutilized.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 2a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component S/212 of the planetary gear. The first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 both comprise spiral splines. The first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the outside of the sleeve 330, at the second end 333 of the sleeve, to interact with the component spline arrangement 341.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 2a-b, the first component R/211 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314, and the sleeve 330 comprises at least one sleeve engaging member 334. Both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise coupling cogs arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions. Figure 3a shows an embodiment of the coupling arrangement 242 in its first position 337, and figure 3b shows the coupling arrangement 242 in its second position 338.

The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve as illustrated in figures 3a and 3b, respectively.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 3a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component R/211 , the second component C/213, and the third component S/212 are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, the coupling arrangement 242 controls the planetary gear to provide for another gearing than a 1 :1 gearing. Thus, the planetary gear 210 is controlled to be functionally utilized to couple the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337, whereby a gear ratio other than 1 :1 is provided by the planetary gear 210.

The sleeve 330 is further arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks the second C/213 and the third S/212 components together. Since two of the components are locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear. Thus, the planetary gear is controlled to be functionally bypassed/unutilized. The first input shaft 310a, the sleeve 330 and the output shaft 320 are coaxially arranged in relation to an axis 313, which may be a rotation/imaginary axis, and are arranged for being rotatable around that axis 313. The first input shaft 310a and the output shaft 320 are axially fixed, whereas the sleeve 330 is arranged to be axially movable between its first position 337 and its second position 338, as explained above.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 3a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component S/212 of the planetary gear. The first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 both comprise spiral splines. The first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the outside of the sleeve 330, at the second end 333 of the sleeve, to interact with the component spline arrangement 341.

The sleeve 330 further comprises a second spline arrangement 332 arranged at the second end 333 of the sleeve to interact with a shaft spline arrangement 321 of the output shaft 320. Both of the second spline arrangement 332 and the shaft spline arrangement 321 comprise spiral splines. The spiral splines of the first spline arrangement 331 and the second spline arrangement 332 are arranged in mutually different directions. Since the sleeve 330 is arranged as at least partially surrounding the first end 322 of the output shaft 320, the second spline arrangement 332 is arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330 to interact with the shaft spline arrangement 321 arranged on the outside of the output shaft 320.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 3a-b, the second component C/213 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314, and the sleeve 330 comprises at least one sleeve engaging member 334. Both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise coupling cogs arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other, such that they lose contact, when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions.

Figure 4a shows an embodiment of the coupling arrangement 242 in its first position 337, and figure 4b shows the coupling arrangement 242 in its second position 338.

The first input shaft 310a is coupled to a first component of a planetary gear, which is the sun gear S/212. The second input shaft 310b is coupled to a second component of the planetary gear, which is the planet gear carrier C/213. The coupling arrangement 242 further comprises an output shaft 320, and a sleeve 330. The sleeve 330 is arranged to interact with a third component of the planetary gear, which is the ring gear R/211 , and with the output shaft 320.

The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve as illustrated in figures 4a and 4b, respectively.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 4a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component S/212, the second component C/213, and the third component R/211 are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, the planetary gear 210 is by the coupling arrangement 242 controlled to provide another gearing than a 1 :1 gearing. The planetary gear 210 is thus controlled to be functionally utilized to couple the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337, such that a gear ratio other than 1 :1 is provided.

The sleeve 330 is further arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks the first S/212 and the third R/211 components together. Since two of the components are locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear 210. The planetary gear 210 is thus controlled to be functionally bypassed/unutilized.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 4a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component R/211 of the planetary gear. The first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 both comprise axially oriented splines. The first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the outside of the sleeve 330, at the first end 335 of the sleeve, to interact with the component spline arrangement 341.

The sleeve 330 further comprises a second spline arrangement 332 arranged at the second end 333 of the sleeve to interact with a shaft spline arrangement 321 of the output shaft 320. Both of the second spline arrangement 332 and the shaft spline arrangement 321 comprise spiral splines. Since the sleeve 330 is arranged as at least partially surrounding the first end 322 of the output shaft 320, the second spline arrangement 332 is arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330 to interact with the shaft spline arrangement 321 arranged on the outside of the output shaft 320.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 4a-b, the first component S/212 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314, and the sleeve 330 comprises at least one sleeve engaging member 334. Both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise axially oriented splines arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 4a-b also comprise a stopping arrangement 336 arranged for stopping the sleeve 330 from further movement beyond the first position 337 and/or from further movement beyond the second position 338.

Figure 5a shows an embodiment of the coupling arrangement 242 in its first position 337, and figure 5b shows the coupling arrangement 242 in its second position 338.

The first input shaft 310a is coupled to a first component of a planetary gear, which is the planet gear carrier C/213. The second input shaft 310b is coupled to a second component of the planetary gear, which is the sun gear S/212. The coupling arrangement 242 further comprises an output shaft 320, and a sleeve 330. The sleeve 330 is arranged to interact with a third component of the planetary gear, which is the ring gear R/211 , and with the output shaft 320.

The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve as illustrated in figures 5a and 5b, respectively.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 5a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component C/213, the second component S/212, and the third component R/211 are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, the coupling arrangement controls the planetary gear 210 such that it provides for another gearing than a 1 :1 gearing, whereby the planetary gear 210 is functionally utilized to couple the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337.

The sleeve 330 is further arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks the first C/213 and the third R/211 components together. Since two of the components are controlled to be locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear. The planetary gear 210 is thus controlled to be functionally bypassed/unutilized.

The first input shaft 310a, the sleeve 330 and the output shaft 320 are coaxially arranged in relation to an axis 313, which may be a rotation/imaginary axis, and are arranged for being rotatable around that axis 313. The first input shaft 310a and the output shaft 320 are axially fixed, whereas the sleeve 330 is arranged to be axially movable between its first position 337 and its second position 338, as explained above. According to the embodiment shown in figures 5a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component R/211 of the planetary gear. The first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 both comprise spiral splines. The first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the outside of the sleeve 330, at the first end 335 of the sleeve, to interact with the component spline arrangement 341.

The sleeve 330 further comprises a second spline arrangement 332 arranged at the second end 333 of the sleeve to interact with a shaft spline arrangement 321 of the output shaft 320. Both of the second spline arrangement 332 and the shaft spline arrangement 321 comprise spiral splines. The spiral splines of the first spline arrangement 331 and the second spline arrangement 332 are arranged in mutually different directions. The first end 322 of the output shaft 320 is provided with a circular hollow section 325, where the circular hollow section 325 is arranged to at least partially surround the sleeve 330, and to have a diameter such that the sleeve 330 fits within the hollow section 325. The second spline arrangement 332 is therefore arranged on the outside of the sleeve 330 to interact with the shaft spline arrangement 321 arranged on the inside of the output shaft 320.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 5a-b, the first component C/213 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314, and the sleeve 330 comprises at least one sleeve engaging member 334. Both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise axially oriented splines arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 5a-b also comprise two or more stopping arrangements 336 arranged for stopping the sleeve 330 from further movement beyond the first position 337 and/or from further movement beyond the second position 338.

Figure 6a shows an embodiment of the coupling arrangement 242 in its first position 337, and figure 6b shows the coupling arrangement 242 in its second position 338.

The first input shaft 310a is coupled to a first component of a planetary gear, which is the planet gear carrier C/213. The second input shaft 310b is coupled to a second component of the planetary gear, which is the ring gear R/211 . The coupling arrangement 242 further comprises an output shaft 320, and a sleeve 330. The sleeve 330 is arranged to interact with a third component of the planetary gear, which is the sun gear S/212, and with the output shaft 320.

The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve as illustrated in figures 6a and 6b, respectively.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 6a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component C/213, the second component R/211 , and the third component S/212 are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, the planetary gear is by the coupling arrangement 242 controlled to provide another gearing than a 1 :1 gearing, such that the planetary gear 210 is functionally utilized to couple the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337. The sleeve 330 is further arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks the first C/213 and the third S/212 components together. Since two of the components are locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear. Thus, the planetary gear is controlled by the coupling arrangement to be functionally bypassed/unutilized.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 6a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component S/212 of the planetary gear. The first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 both comprise spiral splines. The first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330, at the first end 335 of the sleeve, to interact with the component spline arrangement 341.

The sleeve 330 further comprises a second spline arrangement 332 arranged at the second end 333 of the sleeve to interact with a shaft spline arrangement 321 of the output shaft 320. Both of the second spline arrangement 332 and the shaft spline arrangement 321 comprise spiral splines. The spiral splines of the first spline arrangement 331 and the second spline arrangement 332 are arranged in mutually different directions. Since the sleeve 330 is arranged as at least partially surrounding the first end 322 of the output shaft 320, the second spline arrangement 332 is arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330 to interact with the shaft spline arrangement 321 arranged on the outside of the output shaft 320. As explained above, the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement 321 and the second spline arrangement 332 causes the movement of the sleeve 330 towards the first position 337, when the output shaft 320 rotates in the first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. The interaction between the shaft spline arrangement 321 and the second spline arrangement 332 also causes the movement of the sleeve 330 towards the second position 338, when the output shaft 320 rotates in the second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330. The interaction between the shaft spline arrangement 321 and the second spline arrangement 332 may utilize a momentum of inertia of the planetary gear 210 for causing the movements of the sleeve 330, as explained above.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 6a-b, the first component C/213 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314, and the sleeve 330 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one sleeve engaging member 334. Both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise axially oriented splines arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 6a-b also comprise stopping arrangements 336 arranged for stopping the sleeve 330 from further movement beyond the first position 337 and/or from further movement beyond the second position 338.

Figure 7a shows an embodiment of the coupling arrangement 242 in its first position 337, and figure 7b shows the coupling arrangement 242 in its second position 338.

The first input shaft 310a is coupled to a first component of a planetary gear, which is the sun gear S/212. The second input shaft 310b is coupled to a second component of the planetary gear, which is the ring gear R/211 . The coupling arrangement 242 further comprises an output shaft 320, and a sleeve 330. The sleeve 330 is arranged to interact with a third component of the planetary gear, which is the planet gear carrier C/213, and with the output shaft 320. The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve as illustrated in figures 7a and 7b, respectively.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 7a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component S/212, the second component R/211 , and the third component C/213 are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, the coupling arrangement controls the planetary gear 210 to provide another gearing than a 1 :1 gearing, and to be functionally utilized to couple the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337.

The sleeve 330 is further arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks the second R/211 and the third C/213 components together. Since the coupling arrangement 242 controls two of the components to be locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear. The planetary gear 210 is hereby functionally bypassed/unutilized.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 7a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component C/213 of the planetary gear. The first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 both comprise axially oriented splines. The first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330, at the first end 335 of the sleeve, to interact with the component spline arrangement 341.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 7a-b, the second component R/211 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314, and the sleeve 330 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one sleeve engaging member 334. Both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise axially oriented splines arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 7a-b also comprise a stopping arrangement 336 arranged for stopping the sleeve 330 from further movement beyond the first position 337 and/or from further movement beyond the second position 338.

Figure 8a shows an embodiment of the coupling arrangement 242 in its first position 337, and figure 8b shows the coupling arrangement 242 in its second position 338.

The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve as illustrated in figures 8a and 8b, respectively.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 8a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component S/212, the second component C/213, and the third component R/211 are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, the planetary gear 210 is then controlled by the coupling arrangement for providing another gearing than a 1 : 1 gearing, and for functionally utilizing the planetary gear 210 to couple the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337.

The sleeve 330 is further arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks the second C/213 and the third R/211 components together. Since two of the components are then controlled by the coupling arrangement 242 to be locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear. The planetary gear 210 is thus controlled to be functionally bypassed/unutilized.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 8a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component R/211 of the planetary gear. The first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 both comprise axially oriented splines. The first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the outside of the sleeve 330, at the first end 335 of the sleeve, to interact with the component spline arrangement 341.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 8a-b, the second component C/213 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314, and the sleeve 330 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one sleeve engaging member 334. Both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise coupling cogs arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 8a-b also comprises a stopping arrangement 336 arranged for stopping the sleeve 330 from further movement beyond the first position 337.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 8a-b further comprises a first freewheel arrangement 231 arranged such that the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, is locked against rotation in a certain rotational direction, its first rotation direction Dc_i. The first freewheel arrangement 231 may here be arranged to lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to a housing 235, for example of a transmission arrangement 200, when the planet gear carrier C/213 tries to rotate in the first rotation direction Dc_i, such that the planet gear carrier C/213 then is held fixed, i.e. is blocked/prevented/forbidden/counteracted/disallowed to rotate. Conversely, the first freewheel arrangement 231 is arranged such that it allows the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, to rotate in its second rotation direction Dc_2, being opposite to the first rotation direction Dc_i. Thus, the first freewheel arrangement 231 is arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the housing 235, or to allow the planet gear carrier C/213 to rotate in relation to the housing 235.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 8a-b further comprises a second freewheel arrangement 232, which is arranged such that the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, is lockable to the first component, i.e. the sun gear S/212. The second freewheel arrangement 232 is arranged such that the planet gear carrier C/213 is locked to the sun gear S/212 when the sun gear S/212 would rotate in a particular direction, its second rotation direction Ds_2. This second direction Ds_2 may e.g. be opposite to a first rotation direction Ds_i of the sun gear S/212, which would cause the first freewheel arrangement 231 to lock the planet gear carrier C/213 against rotation as explained above. Conversely, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is arranged such that it allows the first and second components, i.e. the sun gear S/212 and the planet gear carrier C/213, to rotate in relation to each other, when the sun gear S/212 is rotated in its first rotation direction Ds_i, being opposite to the second rotation direction Ds_2. Thus, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is here arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the sun gear S/212, or allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the sun gear S/212 to rotate in relation to each other.

According to an embodiment (not illustrated in figures 8a-b), the second freewheel arrangement 232 may instead be arranged to be able to either lock the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213 and the third component, i.e. the ring gear R/211 to each other, or to allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 to rotate in relation to each other. The second freewheel arrangement 232 is then arranged such that it allows the ring gear R/211 and the planet gear carrier C/213 to rotate in relation to each other when the sun gear S/212 rotates in the first direction Ds_i of. Conversely, this embodiment of the second freewheel arrangement 232 then locks the ring gear R/211 to the planet gear carrier C/213 when the sun gear S/212 rotates in the second direction Ds_2 of, being opposite to the first rotation direction Ds_i. Thus, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is here arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the ring gear R/211 , or allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 to rotate in relation to each other.

Hereby, the first 231 and/or second 232 freewheel arrangements may be used for further controlling the planetary gear 210.

Figure 9a shows an embodiment of the coupling arrangement 242 in its first position 337, and figure 9b shows the coupling arrangement 242 in its second position 338. The first input shaft 310a is coupled to a first component of a planetary gear, which is the sun gear S/212. The second input shaft 310b is coupled to a second component of the planetary gear, which is the planet gear carrier C/213. The coupling arrangement 242 further comprises an output shaft 320, and a sleeve 330. The sleeve 330 is arranged to interact with a third component of the planetary gear, which is the ring gear R/211 , and with the output shaft 320.

The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve as illustrated in figures 9a and 9b, respectively.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 9a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component S/212, the second component C/213, and the third component R/211 are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, the coupling arrangement 242 controls the planetary gear 210 to provide another gearing than a 1 :1 gearing, and to be functionally utilized to couple the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337.

The sleeve 330 is further arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks the first S/212 and the third R/211 components together. Since two of the components are controlled to be locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear. This means that planetary gear is functionally bypassed/unutilized.

The first input shaft 310a, the sleeve 330 and the output shaft 320 are coaxially arranged in relation to an axis 313, which may be a rotation/imaginary axis, and are arranged for being rotatable around that axis 313. The first input shaft 310a and the output shaft 320 are axially fixed, whereas the sleeve 330 is arranged to be axially movable between its first position 337 and its second position 338, as explained above. According to the embodiment shown in figures 9a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component R/211 of the planetary gear. The first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 both comprise axially oriented splines. The first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the outside of the sleeve 330, at the first end 335 of the sleeve, to interact with the component spline arrangement 341.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 9a-b, the first component S/212 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314, and the sleeve 330 comprises at least one sleeve engaging member 334. Both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise axially oriented splines arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 9a-b also comprise a stopping arrangement 336 arranged for stopping the sleeve 330 from further movement beyond the second position 338.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 9a-b further comprises a first freewheel arrangement 231 arranged such that the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, is locked against rotation in a certain rotational direction, its first rotation direction Dc_i. The first freewheel arrangement 231 may here be arranged to lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to a housing 235, for example of a transmission arrangement 200, when the planet gear carrier C/213 tries to rotate in the first rotation direction Dc_i, such that the planet gear carrier C/213 then is held fixed, i.e. is blocked/prevented/forbidden/counteracted/disallowed to rotate. Conversely, the first freewheel arrangement 231 is arranged such that it allows the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, to rotate in its second rotation direction Dc_2, being opposite to the first rotation direction Dc_i. Thus, the first freewheel arrangement 231 is arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the housing 235, or to allow the planet gear carrier C/213 to rotate in relation to the housing 235.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 9a-b further comprises a second freewheel arrangement 232, which is arranged such that the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, is lockable to the first component, i.e. the sun gear S/212. The second freewheel arrangement 232 is arranged such that the planet gear carrier C/213 is locked to the sun gear S/212 when the sun gear S/212 would rotate in a particular direction, its second rotation direction Ds_2. This second direction Ds_2 may e.g. be opposite to a first rotation direction Ds_i of the sun gear S/212, which would cause the first freewheel arrangement 231 to lock the planet gear carrier C/213 against rotation as explained above. Conversely, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is arranged such that it allows the first and second components, i.e. the sun gear S/212 and the planet gear carrier C/213, to rotate in relation to each other, when the sun gear S/212 is rotated in its first rotation direction Ds_i, being opposite to the second rotation direction Ds_2. Thus, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is here arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the sun gear S/212, or allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the sun gear S/212 to rotate in relation to each other.

According to an embodiment (not illustrated in figures 9a-b), the second freewheel arrangement 232 may instead be arranged to be able to either lock the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213 and the third component, i.e. the ring gear R/211 to each other, or to allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 to rotate in relation to each other. The second freewheel arrangement 232 is then arranged such that it allows the ring gear R/211 and the planet gear carrier C/213 to rotate in relation to each other when the sun gear S/212 rotates in the first direction Ds_i of. Conversely, this embodiment of the second freewheel arrangement 232 then locks the ring gear R/211 to the planet gear carrier C/213 when the sun gear S/212 rotates in the second direction Ds_2 of, being opposite to the first rotation direction Ds_i. Thus, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is here arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the ring gear R/211 , or allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 to rotate in relation to each other.

Figure 10a shows an embodiment of the coupling arrangement 242 in its first position 337, and figure 10b shows the coupling arrangement 242 in its second position 338.

The first input shaft 310a is coupled to a first component of a planetary gear, which is the ring gear R/211 . The second input shaft 310b is coupled to a second component of the planetary gear, which is the planet gear carrier C/213. The coupling arrangement 242 further comprises an output shaft 320, and a sleeve 330. The sleeve 330 is arranged to interact with a third component of the planetary gear, which is the sun gear S/212, and with the output shaft 320.

The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve as illustrated in figures 10a and 10b, respectively. According to the embodiment shown in figures 10a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component R/211 , the second component C/213, and the third component S/212 are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, the planetary gear 210 is by the coupling arrangement 242 controlled to provides another gearing than a 1 :1 gearing, and to be functionally utilized to couple the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337.

The sleeve 330 is further arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks the second C/213 and the third S/212 components together. Since the coupling arrangement 242 controls two of the components to be locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear. The planetary gear 210 is then functionally bypassed/unutilized.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 10a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component S/212 of the planetary gear. The first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 both comprise axially oriented splines. The first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330, at the first end 335 of the sleeve, to interact with the component spline arrangement 341 . The sleeve 330 further comprises a second spline arrangement 332 arranged at the second end 333 of the sleeve to interact with a shaft spline arrangement 321 of the output shaft 320. Both of the second spline arrangement 332 and the shaft spline arrangement 321 comprise spiral splines. Since the sleeve 330 is arranged as at least partially surrounding the first end 322 of the output shaft 320, the second spline arrangement 332 is arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330 to interact with the shaft spline arrangement 321 arranged on the outside of the output shaft 320.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 10a-b, the third component S/212 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314, and the sleeve 330 comprises at least one sleeve engaging member 334. Both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise coupling cogs arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 10a-b further comprises a first freewheel arrangement 231 arranged such that the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, is locked against rotation in a certain rotational direction, its first rotation direction Dc_i. The first freewheel arrangement 231 may here be arranged to lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to a housing 235, for example of a transmission arrangement 200, when the planet gear carrier C/213 tries to rotate in the first rotation direction Dc_i, such that the planet gear carrier C/213 then is held fixed, i.e. is blocked/prevented/forbidden/counteracted/disallowed to rotate. Conversely, the first freewheel arrangement 231 is arranged such that it allows the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, to rotate in a second rotation direction Dc_2, being opposite to the first rotation direction Dc_i. Thus, the first freewheel arrangement 231 is arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the housing 235, or to allow the planet gear carrier C/213 to rotate in relation to the housing 235.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 10a-b further comprises a second freewheel arrangement 232, which is arranged such that the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, is lockable to the third component, i.e. to the sun gear S/212. The second freewheel arrangement 232 is arranged such that the planet gear carrier C/213 is locked to the sun gear S/212 when the sun gear S/212 would rotate in a particular direction, its second rotation direction Ds_2. This second direction Ds_2 may e.g. be opposite to a first rotation direction Ds_i of the sun gear S/212, which would cause the first freewheel arrangement 231 to lock the planet gear carrier C/213 against rotation as explained above. Conversely, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is arranged such that it allows the second and third components, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213 and the sun gear S/212, to rotate in relation to each other, when the sun gear S/212 is rotated in its first rotation direction Ds_i, being opposite to the second rotation direction Ds_2. Thus, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is here arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the sun gear S/212, or allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the sun gear S/212 to rotate in relation to each other.

According to an embodiment (not illustrated in figures 10a-b), the second freewheel arrangement 232 may instead be arranged to be able to either lock the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, and the first component, i.e. the ring gear R/211 to each other, or to allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 to rotate in relation to each other. The second freewheel arrangement 232 is then arranged such that it allows the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 to rotate in relation to each other when the sun gear S/212 rotates in the first direction Ds_i. Conversely, this embodiment of the second freewheel arrangement 232 then locks the planet gear carrier C/213 to the ring gear R/211 when the sun gear S/212 rotates in the second direction Ds_2, being opposite to the first rotation direction Ds_i. Thus, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is here arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the ring gear R/211 , or allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 to rotate in relation to each other.

Figure 11 a shows an embodiment of the coupling arrangement 242 in its first position 337, and figure 11 b shows the coupling arrangement 242 in its second position 338.

The sleeve 330 is arranged to be movable between a first 337 and a second 338 position of the sleeve as illustrated in figures 10a and 10b, respectively.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 10a-b, the sleeve 330 is arranged to be moved towards the first position 337 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a first direction AD32O_33O_I relative to the sleeve 330. When the sleeve 330 is in this first position, the first component S/212, the second component C/213, and the third component R/211 are unlocked in relation to each other. Thus, the coupling arrangement 242 here controls the planetary gear 210 such that it provides for another gearing than a 1 : 1 gearing, and such that the planetary gear 210 is functionally utilized to couple the first 310a and second 310b input shafts to the output shaft 320 when the sleeve 330 is in the first position 337.

The sleeve 330 is further arranged to be moved towards the second position 338 when the output shaft 320 rotates in a second direction AD32o_33o_2 relative to the sleeve 330, where this second direction AD32o_33o_2 is opposite to the first direction AD32O_33O_I . In its second position 338, the sleeve 330 locks the second C/213 and the third R/211 components together. Since two of the components are controlled by the coupling arrangement to be locked to each other, all components will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed, and a 1 :1 gearing and no shift in rotational direction takes place between the components of the planetary gear. This control thus results in the planetary gear 210 being functionally bypassed/unutilized.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 11 a-b, the sleeve 330 comprises a first spline arrangement 331 arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement 341 coupled to the third component R/211 of the planetary gear. The first spline arrangement 331 and the component spline arrangement 341 both comprise axially oriented splines. The first spline arrangement 331 is arranged on the inside of the sleeve 330, at the first end 335 of the sleeve, to interact with the component spline arrangement 341 .

According to the embodiment shown in figures 11 a-b, the second component C/213 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one component engaging member 314, and the sleeve 330 comprises, or is coupled to, at least one sleeve engaging member 334. Both of the at least one sleeve engaging member 334 and the at least one component engaging member 314 comprise coupling cogs arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position 338, and to be disengaged from each other when the sleeve 330 is in a third position, where the third position is located between the first 337 and second 338 positions.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 11 a-b further comprises a first freewheel arrangement 231 arranged such that the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, is locked against rotation in a certain rotational direction, its first rotation direction Dc_i. The first freewheel arrangement 231 may here be arranged to lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to a housing 235, for example of a transmission arrangement 200, when the planet gear carrier C/213 tries to rotate in the first rotation direction Dc_i, such that the planet gear carrier C/213 then is held fixed, i.e. is blocked/prevented/forbidden/counteracted/disallowed to rotate. Conversely, the first freewheel arrangement 231 is arranged such that it allows the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, to rotate in a second rotation direction Dc_2, being opposite to the first rotation direction Dc_i. Thus, the first freewheel arrangement 231 is arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the housing 235, or to allow the planet gear carrier C/213 to rotate in relation to the housing 235.

The embodiment of the coupling arrangement illustrated in figures 11 a-b further comprises a second freewheel arrangement 232, which is arranged such that the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, is lockable to the first component, i.e. to the sun gear S/212. The second freewheel arrangement 232 is arranged such that the planet gear carrier C/213 is locked to the sun gear S/212 when the sun gear S/212 would rotate in a particular direction, its second rotation direction Ds_2. This second direction Ds_2 may e.g. be opposite to a first rotation direction Ds_i of the sun gear S/212, which would cause the first freewheel arrangement 231 to lock the planet gear carrier C/213 against rotation as explained above. Conversely, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is arranged such that it allows the first and second components, i.e. the sun gear S/212 and the planet gear carrier C/213, to rotate in relation to each other, when the sun gear S/212 is rotated in its first rotation direction Ds_i, being opposite to the second rotation direction Ds_2. Thus, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is here arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the sun gear S/212, or allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the sun gear S/212 to rotate in relation to each other.

According to an embodiment (not illustrated in figures 11 a-b), the second freewheel arrangement 232 may instead be arranged to be able to either lock the second component, i.e. the planet gear carrier C/213, and the third component, i.e. the ring gear R/211 to each other, or to allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 to rotate in relation to each other. The second freewheel arrangement 232 is then arranged such that it allows the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 to rotate in relation to each other when the sun gear S/212 rotates in the first direction Ds_i. Conversely, this embodiment of the second freewheel arrangement 232 then locks the planet gear carrier C/213 to the ring gear R/211 to when the sun gear S/212 rotates in the second direction Ds_2, being opposite to the first rotation direction Ds_i. Thus, the second freewheel arrangement 232 is here arranged to either lock the planet gear carrier C/213 to the ring gear R/211 , or allow the planet gear carrier C/213 and the ring gear R/211 to rotate in relation to each other.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Instead, the present invention relates to, and encompasses all different embodiments being included within the scope of the independent claims.

Claims

1 . A coupling arrangement (242) comprising:

- a first input shaft (310a) coupled to a first component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213) of a planetary gear (210);

- a second input shaft (310b) coupled to a second component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213) of the planetary gear (210);

- an output shaft (320); and

- a sleeve (330) arranged to interact with a third component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213) of the planetary gear (210), and arranged to be movable between a first (337) and a second (338) position, the sleeve (340) comprising:

-- a second spline arrangement (332) arranged to interact with a shaft spline arrangement (321 ) arranged at a first end (322) of the output shaft (320), where the second spline arrangement (332) and the shaft spline arrangement (321 ) are both spiral splines; wherein:

-- the sleeve (330) is arranged to be moved towards the first position (337) by the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement (321 ) and the second spline arrangement (332) when the output shaft (320) rotates in a first direction (AD32O_33O_I ) relative to the sleeve (330), where the first component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213), the second component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213) and the third component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213) are unlocked in relation to each other when the sleeve (330) is in the first position (337), such that the planetary gear (210) is functionally utilized to couple the first (310a) and second (310b) input shafts to the output shaft (320); and

-- the sleeve (330) is arranged to be moved towards the second position (338) by the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement (321 ) and the second spline arrangement (332) when the output shaft (320) rotates in a second direction (AD32O_33O_2) relative to the sleeve (330), being opposite to the first direction (AD32O_33O_I ), where the sleeve (330) locks two of the first component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213), the second component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213) and the third component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213) together when the sleeve (330) is in the second position (338), such that the first input shaft (310a), the second input shaft (310b) and the output shaft (320) corotate.

2. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

- the first input shaft (310a), the second input shaft (310b), the sleeve (330) and the output shaft (320) are arranged coaxially in relation to an axis (313), and are arranged for being rotatable around the axis (313);

- the first input shaft (310a), the second input shaft (310b), and the output shaft (320) are axially fixed; and

- the sleeve (330) is arranged axially movable between the first position (337) and the second position (338).

3. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1-2, wherein the sleeve (340) further comprises:

-- a first spline arrangement (331 ) arranged to interact with a component spline arrangement (341 ) coupled to the third component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213) of the planetary gear (210), where the first spline arrangement (331 ) and the component spline arrangement (341 ) are either both axially oriented or are both spiral splines.

4. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first spline arrangement (331 ) is arranged as one in the group of:

- on the outside of the sleeve (330); and

- on the inside of the sleeve (330).

5. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 3-4, wherein the first spline arrangement (331 ) is arranged as one in the group of:

- at the first end (335) of the sleeve;

- at the second end (333) of the sleeve;

- at least partially between the first (335) and second (333) ends of the sleeve; and

- from the first end (335) to the second end (333) of the sleeve.

6. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein

- the sleeve (330) is arranged as at least partially surrounding the first end (322) of the output shaft (320); and

- the second spline arrangement (332) is arranged on the inside of the sleeve (330) to interact with the shaft spline arrangement (321 ) arranged on the outside of the output shaft 320.

7. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein

- the first end (322) of the output shaft (320) is provided with a circular hollow section (325), the circular hollow section (325) being arranged to at least partially surround the sleeve (330) and to have a diameter such that the sleeve (330) fits within the hollow section (325); and

- the second spline arrangement (332) is arranged on the outside of the sleeve (330) to interact with the shaft spline arrangement (321 ) arranged on the inside of the hollow section (325).

8. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the second spline arrangement (332) is arranged as one in the group of:

- at the first end (335) of the sleeve;

- at the second end (333) of the sleeve;

- from the first end (335) to the second end (333) of the sleeve.

9. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the interaction between the shaft spline arrangement (321 ) and the second spline arrangement (332) utilizes a momentum of inertia of the planetary gear (210) for causing the movement of the sleeve (330) towards the first position (337).

10. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 3-9, wherein

- the first spline arrangement (331 ) and the component spline arrangement (341 ) are spiral splines, whereby the interaction between the first spline arrangement (331 ) and the component spline arrangement (341 ) causes:

-- a contribution to the movement of the sleeve (330) towards the second position (338), when the output shaft (320) rotates in the second direction (AD32o_33o_2) relative to the sleeve (330); and

-- a contribution to the movement of the sleeve (330) towards the first position (337), when the sleeve (330) has reached a third position, between the first (337) and second (338) positions, when the output shaft (320) rotates in the first direction (AD32O_33O_I ) relative to the sleeve (330).

11. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the interaction between the first spline arrangement (331 ) and the component spline arrangement (341 ) utilizes a momentum of inertia of the planetary gear (210) for causing the contribution to the movement of the sleeve (330) towards the second position (338).

12. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1-11 , wherein

- one of the first component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213), the second component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213) and the third component (R/211 ; S/212; C/213) comprises at least one component engaging member (314);

- the sleeve (330) comprises at least one sleeve engaging member (334); and

- the at least one component engaging member (314) and the at least one sleeve engaging member (334), respectively, are arranged to be engaged with each other in the second position (338), and to be disengaged when the sleeve (330) is in a third position, between the first (337) and second (338) positions.

13. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in claim 12, wherein

- both of the at least one sleeve engaging member (334) and the at least one component engaging member (314) comprise axially oriented splines.

14. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in claim 12, wherein

- both of the at least one sleeve engaging member (334) and the at least one component engaging member (314) comprise coupling cogs.

15. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1 -14, wherein the sleeve (330) comprises at least one stopper arrangement (336) arranged for stopping the sleeve (330) from further movement towards a second end (323) of the output shaft (320) when it has reached the first position (337).

16. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in claims 15, wherein the at least one stopper arrangement (336) is arranged for stopping the sleeve (330) from further movement towards a first end (311 ) of the first input shaft (310a) when it has reached the second position (338).

17. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1 -16, further comprising a first freewheel arrangement (231 ) arranged to be able to either lock a planet gear carrier (C/213) of the planetary gear (210) to a housing (235), or to allow the planet gear carrier (C/213) to rotate in relation to the housing (235).

18. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1 -16, further comprising a second freewheel arrangement (232) in the group of:

- a second freewheel arrangement arranged to be able to either lock a planet gear carrier (C/213) and the sun gear (S/212) of the planetary gear (210) to each other, or allow the planet gear carrier (C/213) and the sun gear (S/212) to rotate in relation to each other; and

- a second freewheel arrangement arranged to be able to either lock the planet gear carrier (C/213) and the ring gear (R/211 ) of the planetary gear (210) to each other, or to allow the planet gear carrier (C/213) and the ring gear (R/211 ) to rotate in relation to each other.

19. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1 -18, wherein a first end of the first input shaft (310a) is coupled to at least one in the group of:

- an electrical machine (101 );

- an internal combustion engine;

- a pump;

- a gearbox; and

- a freewheel arrangement.

20. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1 -19, wherein a first end of the second input shaft (310b) is coupled to at least one in the group of:

- an electrical machine (101 ); - an internal combustion engine;

- a pump;

- a gearbox; and

- a freewheel arrangement.

21. A coupling arrangement (242) as claimed in any one of claims 1 -20, wherein a second end (323) of the output shaft (320) is coupled to at least one drive wheel (111 , 112) of a vehicle (100).