Electronic locking clutch with lock indication device
AssigneeNtn Corporation
InventorsRussell Monahan, Shiro Goto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An over-running clutch includes an outer race and an inner race defining a gap therebetween. A plurality of rolling elements are positioned between the inner and outer races. A retainer interconnects the rolling elements. A first biasing element biases the retainer to hold the rolling elements such that the inner and outer races are free to rotate relative to one another. An actuator selectively forces the rolling elements to a position where the rolling elements engage and wedge between the inner and outer races, thereby locking the clutch. A sensor is adapted to detect the engagement of the clutch and to send a corresponding signal.
Claims10
An over-running clutch comprising:
- an outer race having a cylindrical inner surface and a case end enclosing one end of said outer race, said outer race being rotatable about a first axis;
- an inner race having an outer surface coaxial with said cylindrical inner surface and defining a gap between said outer surface and said cylindrical inner surface, said inner race being rotatable about said first axis with allowable rotational movement relative to said outer race;
- a plurality of ramp surfaces formed at spaced apart locations about said outer surface of said inner race, said ramp surfaces defining a plurality of cam surfaces on said outer surface of said inner race;
- a plurality of rolling elements positioned between said outer race and said inner race, said rolling elements having a diameter less than said gap between said cylindrical inner surface and the midpoint of said cam surfaces;
- a retainer interconnecting all of said rolling elements and causing said rolling elements to circumferentially move in unison with one another, said retainer being rotatable about said first axis with limited relative rotation with respect to said inner race, said retainer including a plurality of retainer tabs extending axially toward an axial inner surface of said case end, a distal end of each of said retainer tabs being adjacent and spaced from said inner surface of said case end;
- a first biasing element supported on said inner race to radially bias said retainer so as to hold each of said rolling elements onto the midpoints of said cam surfaces when said clutch is not engaged;
- an actuation disk having an outer diameter, an inner diameter and a thickness, disposed between said retainer and said inner surface of said case end, said actuation disk further including a plurality of notches located radially about one of said inner diameter and said outer diameter, said notches to engaging said retainer tabs thereby preventing rotational motion of said actuation disk relative to said retainer and allowing axial motion of said actuation disk relative to said retainer;
- a second biasing element disposed between said actuation disk and said inner surface of said case end to bias said actuation disk away from said case end and toward said retainer;
- an actuator to selectively overcome said second biasing element to force said actuation disk into contact with said case end, wherein rotation of said outer race and said case end with respect to said inner race is frictionally transferred to said actuation disk and said retainer, thereby overcoming said first biasing element and moving said rollers along said ramp surfaces to a position where said rollers engage and wedge between said inner and outer races to prevent relative rotation between said inner and outer races;
- and
- a sensor adapted to detect the proximity of said actuation disk relative to said case end and to send a corresponding signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.