Bi-directional wedge clutch with lockup prevention

A wedge clutch, comprising:

• an axis of rotation;
• a hub;
• a carrier;
• a first wedge plate segment radially located between the hub and the carrier and including a first ramp, the first ramp:
• sloping radially inwardly in a first circumferential direction;
• and,
• including a first circumferential end;
• a second wedge plate segment radially located between the hub and the carrier and including a second ramp, the second ramp:
• sloping radially inwardly in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction;
• and,
• including a second circumferential end;
• a cage including a protrusion;
• and,
• a plurality of resilient elements, wherein:
• a circle, centered on the axis of rotation and orthogonal to the axis of rotation, passes through the first wedge plate segment and the second wedge plate segment;
• in a free-wheel mode of the wedge clutch, one of the hub or the carrier is rotatable with respect to the other of the hub or the carrier;
• in a first locked mode of the wedge clutch:
• the hub and the carrier are non-rotatably connected for rotation of the hub in the first circumferential direction;
• and,
• the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end are in contact;
• and,
• to transition from the first locked mode to the free-wheel mode, the cage is arranged to be axially displaced by one of an actuator or the plurality of resilient elements to:
• insert the protrusion between the first circumferential end and the second circumferential end;
• displace the first wedge plate segment in the second circumferential direction;
• and,
• displace the second wedge plate segment in the first circumferential direction.

A wedge clutch, comprising:

• an axis of rotation;
• a hub;
• a carrier including a plurality of ramps sloping radially inwardly in a first circumferential direction;
• a first pair of wedge plate segments radially located between the hub and the carrier and including:
• a first wedge plate segment with:
• a first ramp sloping radially inwardly in the first circumferential direction;
• and,
• a first circumferential end;
• and,
• a second wedge plate segment with a second ramp sloping radially inwardly in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction;
• a second pair of wedge plate segments radially located between the hub and the carrier and including:
• a third wedge plate segment with:
• a third ramp sloping radially inwardly in the first circumferential direction;
• and,
• a second circumferential end;
• and,
• a fourth wedge plate segment with:
• a fourth ramp sloping radially inwardly in the second circumferential direction;
• and,
• a third circumferential end;
• a first resilient element circumferentially disposed between the first wedge plate segment and the second wedge plate segment and urging the first wedge plate segment and the second wedge plate segment circumferentially away from each other;
• a second resilient element circumferentially disposed between the third wedge plate segment and the fourth wedge plate segment and urging the third wedge plate segment and the fourth wedge plate segment circumferentially away from each other;
• a cage including a first protrusion and a second protrusion;
• and,
• a plurality of resilient elements axially disposed between the cage and the carrier, wherein:
• in a free-wheel mode of the wedge clutch, one of the hub or the carrier is rotatable with respect to the other of the hub or the carrier;
• in a locked mode of the wedge clutch:
• the hub and the carrier are non-rotatably connected for rotation of the hub in the first circumferential direction;
• the first ramp is in contact with a first ramp from the plurality of ramps;
• the third ramp is in contact with a second ramp from the plurality of ramps;
• and,
• the first circumferential end and the third circumferential end are in contact;
• and,
• to transition from the locked mode to the free-wheel mode, the cage is arranged to be axially displaced by one of an actuator or the plurality of resilient elements to:
• insert the first protrusion between the first circumferential end and the third circumferential end;
• displace, with the first protrusion, the first wedge plate segment in the second circumferential direction, and the fourth wedge plate segment in the first circumferential direction;
• contact the second circumferential end with the second protrusion;
• and,
• displace, with the second protrusion, the third wedge plate segment in the second circumferential direction.