Overrunning clutch
AssigneeThe Torrington Company
InventorsAmerico E. Marola, John R. Hull
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The overrunning clutch includes an outer member having at least one radially, inwardly extending flange. The flange includes some means such as a slot, or hole, or projection for cooperating with a spring biasing portion of a cage located in the annular space between the outer member and an inner member of the clutch. The cage includes a biasing portion for biasing the rolling members in the pockets of the cage. The biasing portion is shaped to cooperate with the slot or hole, or projection in the radially extending flange of the outer member so that the rolling members in the retainer will lock into a cam surface of the outer member when the rolling members are urged in a given rotary direction.
Claims7
An overrunning clutch comprising:
- an outer member containing an internal bore and at least one radially, inwardly extending flange;
- a second member located within said bore and having a smaller outside diameter than the diameter of said bore to provide an annular space between said members;
- a cage in said annular space with pockets for receiving rolling members;
- at least one rolling member in at least one of said pockets;
- a rolling member biasing portion included as a part of the cage;
- biasing portion cooperating means on the radially, inwardly extending flange adapted to cooperate with the rolling member biasing portion of the cage for biasing the rolling members;
- the outer member having a plurality of cam surfaces for cooperating with the rolling members to wedge and lock said rolling members between said outer and inner members when said rolling members are urged in a given rotary direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.