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US 10,982,725 B2Granted
Switchable ratcheting clutch
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorPeter Burke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switchable ratcheting clutch achieves four different modes of operation based on a relative rotational position of a cam ring and an inner ring. In a central relative position, an outer ring can rotate freely in either direction with respect to the inner ring. In either extreme relative position, the outer ring is prevented from rotating in either direction relative to the inner ring. In intermediate positions one either side of the central position, the outer ring is permitted to rotate in one direction but not the other. A number of pawls are supported on the inner ring and pushed radially out of engagement with the outer ring by a spring on a spring cage. The spring cage moves with the cam ring between the one-way positions but the cam ring rotates relative to the spring cage when moving into the extreme positions.
Claims16
A switchable clutch comprising:
- a first ring;
- a second ring having a tooth profile and supported for rotation with respect to the first ring;
- a cam ring supported for rotation through a first range with respect to the first ring;
- a plurality of pawls supported by the first ring;
- and
- a plurality of ratcheting springs, each ratcheting spring urging a respective pawl toward the cam ring and positioning the respective pawl with respect to the second ring based on a relative rotational position of the cam ring with respect to the first ring, such that
- in a first relative rotational position, the respective pawl does not engage the second ring,
- in a second relative rotational position, the respective pawl engages the tooth profile to prevent rotation of the second ring with respect to the first ring in a first direction while permitting relative rotation in a second direction,
- in a third relative rotational position, the respective pawl engages the tooth profile to prevent rotation of the second ring with respect to the first ring in the second direction while permitting relative rotation in the first direction,
- in a fourth relative rotational position, the respective pawl engages the tooth profile to prevent rotation of the second ring with respect to the first ring in both the first and second directions;
- wherein each pawl of the plurality of pawls comprises;
- a first arm configured to engage the tooth profile to prevent relative rotation in the first direction;
- and
- a second arm configured to engage the tooth profile to prevent relative rotation in the second direction.
11 more elements
A method of operating a switchable clutch comprising:
- rotating a cam ring clockwise with respect to a first ring to transition from a free-free mode to a first one-way mode wherein, in the free-free mode, a second ring is permitted to rotate in either direction with respect to the first ring and wherein, in the first one-way mode, the second ring is permitted to rotate in a first direction with respect to the first ring but is prevented from rotating in a second direction with respect to the first ring;
- rotating the cam ring further clockwise with respect to the first ring to transition from the first one-way mode to a first lock-lock mode wherein, in the first lock-lock mode, the second ring is prevented from rotation in either direction with respect to the first ring;
- rotating the cam ring counter-clockwise with respect to the first ring to transition from the free-free mode to a second one-way mode wherein in the second one-way mode, the second ring is permitted to rotate in the second direction with respect to the first ring but is prevented from rotating in the first direction with respect to the first ring;
- and
- rotating the cam ring further counter-clockwise with respect to the first ring to transition from the second one-way mode to a second lock-lock mode wherein the second lock-lock mode, the second ring is prevented from rotation in either direction with respect to the first ring.
2 more elements
A switchable clutch comprising:
- an inner ring;
- an outer ring having an internal tooth profile and supported for rotation with respect to the inner ring;
- a cam ring supported for rotation through a first range with respect to the inner ring;
- a plurality of pawls supported by the inner ring;
- a plurality of ratcheting springs, each ratcheting spring urging a respective pawl radially toward the cam ring and positioning the respective pawl with respect to the outer ring based on a relative rotational position of the cam ring with respect to the inner ring, such that
- in a first relative rotational position, the respective pawl does not engage the outer ring,
- in a second relative rotational position, the respective pawl engages the tooth profile to prevent rotation of the outer ring with respect to the inner ring in a first direction while permitting relative rotation in a second direction,
- in a third relative rotational position, the respective pawl engages the tooth profile to prevent rotation of the outer ring with respect to the inner ring in the second direction while permitting relative rotation in the first direction,
- in a fourth relative rotational position, the respective pawl engages the tooth profile to prevent rotation of the outer ring with respect to the inner ring in both the first and second directions;
- a spring cage supported for rotation through a second range less than the first range with respect to the inner ring, wherein the ratcheting springs are secured to the spring cage;
- and
- a plurality or return springs acting between the cam ring and the spring cage.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.