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US 10,794,432 B2Granted
Wedge clutch with built-in actuator
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorBrian Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wedge clutch includes an inner race and an outer race circumscribing the inner race. A wedge element is radially disposed between the inner and outer races and actuatable to couple and decouple the inner and outer races. An actuator is operably coupled with the wedge element and is configured to actuate the wedge element to decouple the inner and outer races.
Claims17
A wedge clutch comprising:
- an inner race;
- an outer race circumscribing the inner race;
- a wedge element radially disposed between the inner and outer races and actuatable to couple and decouple the inner and outer races;
- and
- a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator including an annular piston having axially extending fingers configured to engage with the wedge element and configured to actuate the wedge element to decouple the inner and outer races.
2 more elements
A wedge clutch comprising:
- an inner race;
- an outer race circumscribing the inner race;
- a wedge element radially disposed between the inner and outer races and actuatable to couple and decouple the inner and outer races;
- a cover cooperating with the outer race to define a piston chamber;
- and
- a piston engageable with the wedge element and disposed in the chamber, the piston and the chamber being configured to cooperate to drive the piston into the wedge element to decouple the inner and outer races when fluid or gas is supplied to the chamber.
3 more elements
A wedge clutch comprising:
- an inner race;
- an outer race circumscribing the inner race;
- a plurality of arcuate segments arranged in pairs and circumferentially disposed around the inner race such that each pair forms a section of a wedge cylinder that includes springs disposed between the sections to bias the arcuate segments of each pair towards each other, wherein the springs bias the arcuate segments of each pair towards each other to contract the wedge cylinder onto the inner race so that the races lock in response to relative rotation between the outer race and the wedge cylinder;
- fingers engageable with the arcuate segments of each pair such that axial movement of the fingers towards the wedge cylinder moves the arcuate segments of each pair away from each other to expand the wedge cylinder and disengage the races;
- and
- an actuator configured to axially move the fingers toward the arcuate segments to engage the fingers with the arcuate segments.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.