Radial wedge plate clutch

A radial wedge clutch, comprising:

• an axis of rotation;
• a shaft;
• an outer ring located radially outward of the shaft;
• a cage radially disposed between the shaft and the outer ring;
• a plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments radially disposed between the shaft and the outer ring and axially bracketed by the cage;
• at least one resilient element:
• engaged with the cage and the plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments;
• and,
• urging the plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments radially outwardly into contact with the outer ring;
• and,
• an actuation plate non-rotatably connected to the shaft, wherein:
• for a connect mode for the radial wedge clutch, the shaft, the plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments, and the outer ring are non-rotatably connected;
• and,
• to initiate the connect mode:
• the actuation plate is displaceable in a first axial direction to engage the cage and to rotate the cage and the plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments with respect to the outer ring;
• and,
• the outer ring displaces the plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments radially inwardly to non-rotatably connect to the shaft.

A radial wedge clutch, comprising:

• an axis of rotation;
• a shaft;
• an outer ring located radially outward of the shaft;
• a cage radially disposed between the shaft and the outer ring;
• a plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments radially disposed between the shaft and the outer ring and axially bracketed by the cage;
• at least one resilient element:
• engaged with the cage and the plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments;
• and,
• urging the plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments radially outwardly into contact with the outer ring;
• and,
• an actuation plate non-rotatably connected to the shaft, wherein:
• for a connect mode for the radial wedge clutch, the shaft, the plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments, and the outer ring are non-rotatably connected;
• for a disconnect mode for the radial wedge clutch, the shaft is rotatable with respect to the outer ring;
• and,
• to transition from the connect mode to the disconnect mode:
• the actuation plate is displaceable in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, to disengage from the cage;
• the shaft rotates in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction;
• the second ramps slide along the plurality of first ramps in the second circumferential direction;
• and,
• the at least one resilient element displaces the plurality of circumferentially aligned wedge plate segments radially outwardly and out of contact with the shaft.