1. A method of regulating engagement of a torque transfer device by superimposing a dithering signal onto a digital control signal having multiple pulses to provide a dithered control signal, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) nulling blocks of pulses of the digital control signal having at least one nulled pulse per block, such that each successive block of nulled pulses has at least the same number of nulled pulses as the block that immediately precedes the succeeding block;
(b) nulling blocks of pulses of the digital control signal having at least one nulled pulse per block, such that each successive block of nulled pulses has an equal or less number of nulled pulses than the block that immediately precedes the succeeding block; and
(c) regulating engagement of the torque transfer device based on the dithered control signal.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
determining a period of the dithering signal;
wherein step (a) occurs over a first half of the dithering period and step (b) occurs over a second half of the dithering period.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulses are voltage pulses.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the nulled pulses have a voltage that is substantially equal to zero.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the control signal has a duty cycle that can be varied by modulating a pulse width.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein each block of nulled pulses consists of consecutively nulled pulses with no intervening non-nulled pulses.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein there is at least one pulse between succeeding blocks of nulled pulses.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulses are spaced at intervals that are substantially equal to the reciprocal of a frequency of the control signal.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for forming an internal gear member having a plurality of gear teeth comprising:
providing a broaching tool having a first set of broaching teeth and a second set of broaching teeth;
providing a gear blank defining an internal aperture;
passing the broaching tool through the internal aperture of the gear blank;
rotating the broaching tool at a first predefined rate as the broaching tool passes through the internal aperture of the gear blank such that the first set of broaching teeth cut only a first flank portion of the plurality of gear teeth; and
rotating the broaching tool at a second predefined rate as the broaching tool passes through the internal aperture of the gear blank such that the second set of broaching teeth cut only a second flank portion of the plurality of gear teeth;
wherein the broaching tool is rotated sufficiently such that the first and second flank portions of each gear tooth are tapered between a first end portion and a second end portion so that one of said end portions is narrower than the other of said end portions.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing a broaching tool includes providing a broaching tool having a third set of broaching teeth.
3. The method of claim 2, rotating the broaching tool at a third predefined rate as the broaching tool passes through the internal aperture of the gear blank such that the third set of broaching teeth cut both the first flank portion and the second flank portion of the plurality of gear teeth.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising rotating the broaching tool in one direction as the first flank portion of the plurality of gear teeth is being cut, and rotating the broaching tool in an opposite direction as the second flank portion of the plurality of gear teeth is being cut.
5. A broaching tool configured to form an internal gear member comprising:
a first set of broaching teeth configured to cut only a first flank portion of a plurality of gear teeth; and
a second set of broaching teeth configured to cut only a second flank portion of the plurality of gear teeth;
such that the first and second flank portions of each gear tooth are tapered between a first end portion and a second end portion so that one of said end portions is narrower than the other of said end portions.
6. The broaching tool of claim 5, further comprising a third set of broaching teeth configured to cut both the first flank portion and the second flank portion of the plurality of gear teeth.
7. The broaching tool of claim 6, further comprising a shank.
8. The broaching tool of claim 7, further comprising an end portion.
9. A broaching machine configured to produce an internal gear member comprising:
a broaching tool defining a central axis including:
a first set of broaching teeth configured to cut only a first flank portion of a plurality of gear teeth; and
a second set of broaching teeth configured to cut only a second flank portion of the plurality of gear teeth;
such that the first and second flank portions of each gear tooth are tapered between a first end portion and a second end portion so that one of said end portions is narrower than the other of said end portions; and
a motor configured to rotate the broaching tool about the central axis at a selectable rate and in a selectable direction to form said tapered flank portions.
10. The broaching machine of claim 9, wherein the broaching tool includes a third set of broaching teeth configured to cut both the first flank and the second flank portions of the plurality of gear teeth.
11. The broaching machine of claim 10, wherein the broaching tool includes a shank.
12. The broaching machine of claim 11, wherein the broaching tool includes an end portion.
13. The broaching tool of claim 5, wherein said first set of broaching teeth extend along a first length of said broaching tool; wherein said second set of broaching teeth extend along a second length of said broaching tool different from said first length; and wherein said third set of broaching teeth extend along a third length of said broaching tool different from said first length and said second length.
14. The broaching machine of claim 9, wherein said first set of broaching teeth extend along a first length of said broaching tool; wherein said second set of broaching teeth extend along a second length of said broaching tool different from said first length; and wherein said third set of broaching teeth extend along a third length of said broaching tool different from said first length and said second length.
15. The broaching machine of claim 9, wherein said motor is further configured to rotate said broaching tool in a counter-clockwise direction about said central axis to thereby cut only said second flank portion of said plurality of gear teeth via said second set of broaching teeth.
16. The broaching machine of claim 15, wherein said motor is further configured to rotate said broaching tool in a clockwise direction about said central axis to thereby cut only said first flank portion of said plurality of gear teeth via said first set of broaching teeth.