One-way clutch and method for making same

A one-way clutch comprising:

• first and second annular members stamped from sheet stock material and having a common central axis, the second annular member having a plurality of openings disposed at angularly spaced positions about the axis, each of the annular members having an axially extending flange portion, the annular members being staked together to form a unitary outer plate assembly such that the flange portion of one of the annular members overlaps the flange portion of the other annular member;
• a plurality of strut pocket members secured to the second annular member such that the strut pocket members are aligned with the openings;
• an inner plate sufficiently rotatably retained within the outer plate assembly and having a plurality of notches alignable with the strut pocket members;
• and
• a plurality of torque-transmitting struts disposed in the strut pocket members, the struts being selectively engageable with the notches to effect one-way torque transfer between the inner plate and the outer plate assembly.

A one-way clutch comprising:

• first and second annular members stamped from sheet stock material and having a common central axis, the second annular member having a plurality of notches disposed at angularly spaced positions about the axis, each of the members having an axially extending flange portion, the annular members being staked together to form a unitary outer plate assembly such that the flange portion of one of the annular members overlaps the flange portion of the other annular member;
• an inner plate sufficiently rotatably retained within the outer plate assembly and having a plurality of strut pockets alignable with the notches;
• and
• a plurality of torque-transmitting struts disposed in the strut pockets, the struts being selectively engageable with the notches to effect one-way torque transfer between the inner plate and the outer plate assembly.

A method for manufacturing a one-way clutch comprising:

• forming an inner plate,
• forming first and second outer plate members having a common central axis,
• forming at least one strut pocket in one of the group consisting of the inner plate and the second outer plate member,
• forming at least one notch in the other of the group consisting of the inner plate and the second outer plate member,
• assembling a strut in the at least one strut pocket,
• inserting the inner plate between the outer plate members, and
• securing the outer plate members together to form a unitary outer plate assembly such that the inner plate is rotatably retained within the outer plate assembly and the strut is engageable with the at least one notch to effect one-way torque transfer between the inner plate and outer plate assembly.

A method for manufacturing a one-way clutch comprising:

• forming an inner plate with a plurality of notches;
• stamping first and second outer plate members having a common central axis from sheet stock material such that an axially extending flange portion is formed on each of the outer plate members and a plurality of openings is formed in the second outer plate member;
• stamping a plurality of strut pocket members from sheet stock material;
• securing the strut pocket members to the second outer plate member such that the strut pocket members are aligned with the openings;
• assembling struts in the strut pocket members;
• positioning the inner plate between the outer plate members;
• inserting the flange portion of one of the outer plate members within the flange portion of the other outer plate member;
• and
• staking the outer plate members together to sufficiently retain the inner plate therebetween, such that the struts are selectively engageable with the notches to effect one-way torque transfer between the inner plate and the outer plate members.

A method for manufacturing a one-way clutch comprising:

• forming an inner plate with a plurality of strut pockets;
• stamping first and second outer plate members having a common central axis from sheet stock material such that an axially extending flange portion is formed in each of the outer plate members and a plurality of tabs is formed in the second outer plate member, each of the tabs defining a notch in the second outer plate member;
• assembling struts in the strut pockets;
• positioning the inner plate between the outer plate members;
• inserting the flange portion of one of the outer plate members within the flange portion of the other outer plate member;
• and
• staking the outer plate members together to sufficiently rotatably retain the inner plate therebetween, such that the struts are selectively engageable with the notches to effect one-way torque transfer between the inner plate and the outer plate members.

A method for manufacturing a one-way clutch comprising:

• forming an inner plate with a plurality of strut pockets;
• stamping a first outer plate member from sheet stock material such that a first axially extending flange portion is formed in the first outer plate member;
• stamping first and second annular elements from sheet stock material such that mating surfaces are formed in the elements, a second axially extending flange portion is formed in the first element, and a plurality of apertures is formed in the second element;
• interlocking the first and second elements together to form a second outer plate member such that the apertures of the second element cooperate with the first element to define a plurality of notches;
• assembling struts in the strut pockets;
• positioning the inner plate between the outer plate members;
• inserting one of the first and second flange portions within the other of the first and second flange portions;
• and
• staking the outer plate members together to sufficiently rotatably retain the inner plate therebetween, such that the struts are selectively engageable with the notches to effect one-way torque transfer between the inner plate and the outer plate members.

A one-way clutch comprising:

• an outer plate assembly including first and second members secured together and having a common central axis, the second member including first and second annular elements having mating surfaces that interlock together;
• an inner plate disposed between the first and second members;
• wherein one of the group consisting of the second member and the inner plate has at least one strut pocket, and the other of the group consisting of the second member and the inner plate has at least one notch alignable with the at least one strut pocket;
• and
• a torque-transmitting strut disposed in the at least one strut pocket, the strut being engageable with the at least one notch to effect one-way torque transfer between the inner plate and the outer plate assembly.

A one-way clutch comprising:

• an outer plate assembly including first and second members secured together and having a common central axis;
• a strut pocket member secured to one of the members and defining a strut pocket;
• an inner plate disposed between the first and second members and having at least one notch alignable with the strut pocket;
• and
• a torque-transmitting strut disposed in the strut pocket, the strut being engageable with the at least one notch to effect one-way torque transfer between the inner plate and the outer plate assembly.

A one-way clutch comprising:

• an outer plate assembly including first and second members secured together and having a common central axis, the first and second members cooperating to define an annular groove;
• an inner plate disposed between the first and second members;
• wherein one of the group consisting of the second member and the inner plate has at least one strut pocket, and the other of the group consisting of the second member and the inner plate has at least one notch alignable with the at least one strut pocket;
• a retaining device disposed in the groove;
• and
• a torque-transmitting strut disposed in the at least one strut pocket, the strut being engageable with the at least one notch to effect one-way torque transfer between the inner plate and the outer plate assembly.