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US 2020/0096052 A1Published application
Wedge clutch with wedge chain
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorsBrian LEE, Carsten OHR
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wedge clutch includes an inner race and an outer race. The outer race defines an inner cam surface. A chain of wedges encircles the inner race and are configured to couple the races when the clutch is engaged. The wedges have outer surfaces that match with sections of the inner cam surface such that the wedges have an outer radial position when in first rotational position relative to the cam surface and have an inner radial position when in a second rotational position to frictionally engage the inner race.
Claims20
A wedge clutch comprising:
- an inner race;
- an outer race defining an inner cam surface;
- and
- a chain of wedges encircling the inner race and configured to couple the races when the clutch is engaged, the wedges having outer surfaces that match with sections of the inner cam surface such that the wedges have an outer radial position when in a first rotational position relative to the cam surface and have an inner radial position when in a second rotational position to frictionally engage the inner race.
1 more element
A wedge clutch comprising:
- an inner race;
- an outer race;
- and
- an annular wedge assembly radially disposed between the inner and outer races and configured to selectively couple the races, the wedge assembly including:
- a plurality of segments circumferentially arranged around the inner race, each segment having a pair of first and second wedge stacks interconnected to each other by a first link, wherein each of the wedge stacks has multiple wedges that are axially spaced relative to each other, and
- a plurality of second links that are each connected between adjacent ones of the segments to interconnect the segments to form a chain.
3 more elements
A clutch comprising:
- an inner race defining at least one groove;
- an outer race defining an inner cam surface;
- and
- a wedge chain radially disposed between the inner and outer races, the wedge chain including a plurality of wedges disposed in the at least one groove and interconnected with links to encircle the inner race, each of the wedges having an outer surface that cooperates with the cam surface to increase and decrease friction between the wedge and the at least one groove in response to circumferential movement of the wedge relative to the cam surface.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.