Wedge clutch with centrifugal liftoff

A wedge clutch comprising:

• an inner race extending about an axis and having an outer surface;
• an outer race concentric with the inner race and having an inner surface defining a pocket, the pocket having a ramped surface facing the axis, wherein a gap exists between the ramped surface and the outer surface of the inner race, the gap narrowing along a circumferential direction;
• and
• a wedge disposed in the pocket and having an inner surface in sliding engagement with the outer surface of the inner race, the wedge further having an outer surface that is ramped with respect to the inner surface of the wedge, wherein circumferential movement of the wedge relative to the pocket wedges the wedge into a narrowing portion of the gap to lock the inner race with the outer race.

A one-way clutch comprising:

• an inner race extending about an axis and having an outer surface;
• an outer race concentric with the inner race and having an inner surface defining a pocket, the pocket having a ramped surface facing the axis, the ramped surface angling toward the outer surface of the inner race along a circumferential direction, the pocket further having a curved wedge-receiving surface;
• and
• a wedge segment disposed in the pocket, the wedge segment having a ramped outer surface in sliding engagement with the ramped surface of the pocket, the wedge segment further having a curved engagement surface and a toe at an opposite end from the curved engagement surface;
• wherein the wedge segment is slidable along the outer race between:
• a locked position in which the engagement surface is spaced from the wedge-receiving surface, and the toe is wedged between and contacting both the ramped surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race to lock the outer race to the inner race, and
• an unlocked position in which the engagement surface contacts the wedge-receiving surface and the toe is unwedged from between the ramped surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race to unlock the outer race and inner race.