One-way clutch and torque converter stator

A one-way clutch assembly of the type including a radial driven member mounted for rotation about an axis, said radial driven member including a cylindrical driven face disposed parallel to said axis;

• a radial drive member mounted for rotation about said axis, and having a drive direction of rotation, said radial drive member including a cylindrical drive face, disposed concentrically about said driven face, and spaced apart therefrom;
• said radial drive member defining a plurality of drive pockets, each including a drive surface;
• said driven face defining a plurality of driven pockets, each including a driven surface;
• a plurality N of pawls disposed in one of said drive and driven pockets, each of said pawls comprising a separate member, and having a retracted position in which each pawl is disposed wholly within said one of said drive and driven pockets, and a drive position in which each pawl engages both said drive surface and said driven surface, as said drive and driven members transmit torque in said drive direction of rotation;
• means operable to bias said pawls toward said drive position;
• characterized by:
• (a) said means operable to bias said pawls comprising a plurality N of circumferentially-elongated spring members, each being disposed circumferentially between first and second adjacent pawls;
• (b) each spring member including a retaining portion in engagement with a radially outer surface of said first pawl to retain one portion of said first pawl in its pocket, and a spring portion in engagement with a radially inner surface of said second pawl to bias another portion of said second pawl toward said drive position.