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US 6,129,189 AGranted
Spiral type one-way clutch
AssigneeKer-Train Holdings Ltd.
InventorJohn Hugh Kerr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spiral-type one-way clutch suited for use in an accessory drive system for an internal combustion engine, in one of the pulleys (P1-P6) (e.g. on the engine crankshaft, the alternator, a hydraulic pump) to isolate oscillations from the engine is provided. The clutch preferably has roller bearings (5) in a saw tooth spiral channel (23), defined by an inner and/or an outer slipper member (3, 105, 106) which/each of which engages a cylindrical bearing race (4a, 15, 29) of an adjacent inner or encircling member (2, 4). The slipper member (3, 3a) may be split and elastically sprung against the adjacent bearing race (4a, 15, 29) or segmented. A single spring means (6a, 110) is interposed between the rolling bearings (5, B1 to B11) which fill the spiral channel from end to end.
Claims10
A spiral type one-way clutch capable of operating in either over-running or lock-up modes, said clutch having a central axis and comprising:
- (a) an outer containment member encircling said central axis and having a circular, inwardly facing, bearing surface to serve as part of a journal bearing;
- (b) a radially split slipper positioned within said containment member and having:
- (i) an outwardly facing, cylindrical, slipper surface that bears against said inwardly facing bearing surface to serve as the other part of said journal bearing;
- and
- (ii) an inwardly facing slipper spiral surface, said slipper spiral surface terminating at one end with an inwardly extending radial surface to provide a first spiral end face;
- and
- (c) an inner body having an outer body spiral surface in the shape of a segment of the same spiral as that defining said slipper spiral surface, said body spiral surface terminating at one end with an outwardly extending radial surface to provide a second spiral end face;
- said body and slipper being assembled to form a spiral channel, delimited by said slipper and body spiral surfaces and by said first and second spiral end faces and containing a complement of rollers with parallel axes that occupy the width of said channel, and further comprising:
- (d) a single resilient means contained within said channel;
- (e) said rollers and resilient means collectively filling the channel from said first spiral end face to said second spiral end face when the clutch is operating in over-running mode to thereby:
- (i) limit the relative rotational displacement between said slipper and body, and
- (ii) provide means for maintaining the alignment of the axes of said rollers parallel to the central axis of the clutch;
- and
- (f) said spiral surfaces being in the shape of segments of the same spiral with origin on said central axis;
- whereby frictional resistance arises within said journal bearing when said clutch is operating in over-running mode to precipitate engagement of said clutch when switched to lock-up mode.
12 more elements
A spiral type one-way clutch capable of operating in either over-running or lock-up modes, said clutch having a central axis and comprising:
- (a) a central bushing, said bushing having a circular, outwardly facing, bushing surface centered on said axis to serve as part of a journal bearing;
- (b) a radially-split slipper positioned around said bushing and having
- (i) an inwardly facing, cylindrical slipper surface for bearing against said bushing surface to serve as the other part of said journal bearing;
- and
- (ii) an outwardly facing slipper spiral surface, said slipper spiral surface terminating at one end with an inwardly extending radial surface to provide a first spiral end face;
- and
- (c) an outer, containment member encircling said slipper and having an inwardly facing containment member spiral surface, said containment member spiral surface terminating at one end with an inwardly extending radial surface to provide a second spiral end face,
- said containment member and slipper being assembled to form a spiral channel delimited by said slipper and containment member spiral surfaces and by said first and second spiral end faces and containing a complement of rollers with parallel axes that occupy the width of said channel, and further comprising:
- (d) a single resilient means contained within said channel;
- (e) said rollers and resilient means collectively filling the channel from said first spiral end face to said second spiral end face when the clutch is operating in over-running mode to thereby:
- (i) limit the relative rotational displacement between said slipper and containment member;
- and
- (ii) provide means for maintaining the alignment of the axes of said rollers parallel to the central axis of the clutch;
- and
- (f) said spiral surfaces being in the shape of segments of the same spiral with origin on said central axis;
- whereby frictional resistance arises within said journal bearing when said clutch is operating in over-running mode to precipitate engagement of said clutch when switched to lock-up mode.
13 more elements
A spiral type one-way clutch capable of operating in either over-running or lock-up modes, said clutch having a central axis and comprising:
- (a) a central bushing, said bushing having a circular, outwardly facing, bushing surface centered on said axis to serve as part of a first journal bearing;
- (b) a radially-split slipper positioned around said bushing and having:
- (i) a cylindrical inwardly facing, first slipper surface thereon for bearing against said outwardly facing bushing surface to serve as the other part of said journal bearing;
- and
- (ii) an outwardly facing first spiral surface terminating at one end with an outwardly extending radial surface to provide a first spiral end face;
- (c) an outer containment member encircling said first slipper and having an inwardly facing, circular, containment member bearing surface positioned to serve as part of a second journal bearing;
- (d) a radially-split, second slipper positioned within said containment member and encircling said first slipper, said second slipper having:
- (i) a cylindrical, outwardly facing, second slipper surface for bearing against said containment member bearing surface to serve as part of said second journal bearing;
- and
- (ii) an inwardly facing second spiral surface, said second spiral surface terminating with an inwardly extending radial surface to provide a second spiral end face;
- said first and second slippers being assembled to form a spiral channel delimited by said first and second spiral surfaces and by said first and second spiral end faces, and further comprising a complement of rollers with parallel axes contained within said channel that occupy the width of said channel and a single resilient means contained within said channel:
- (e) said rollers and resilient means collectively filling the channel from said first spiral end face to said second spiral end face when the clutch is operating in over-running mode to thereby:
- (i) limit the relative rotational displacement between said first and second slippers;
- and
- (ii) provide means for maintaining the alignment of the axes of said rollers parallel to the central axis of the clutch;
- and
- (f) said spiral surfaces being in the shape of segments of the same spiral with origin on said central axis;
- whereby there being frictional resistance arises within said journal bearing when said clutch is operating in over-running mode to precipitate engagement of said clutch when switched to lock-up mode.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.