Inertia-actuated overrunning coupling assembly

An overrunning coupling assembly comprising a pocket plate and a notch plate one plate being connected to a torque input member and the other plate being connected to a torque output member;

• the pocket plate having a pocket plate planar surface and the notch plate having a notch plate planar surface, the planar surfaces being assembled on a common axis in juxtaposed close proximity;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced pockets in the pocket plate planar surface;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced notches in the notch plate planar surface;
• a ramped surface portion in each pocket;
• a torque-transmitting strut in each pocket, each strut having an anchor edge engageable with the pocket plate and a movable edge engageable with a notch in the notch plate during operation of the overrunning coupling assembly in a locked mode;
• and
• inertia members having rounded roll surfaces in the pockets between the struts and the ramped surface portion whereby the inertia members urge the struts into engagement with notches in the notch plate in response to rotary inertia forces acting on the inertia members;
• each pocket in the pocket plate including a secondary ramped surface located at a radially outward wall of the surfaces whereby centrifugal forces acting on the inertia members, upon rotary motion of the pocket plate, effect movement of the inertia members to establish strut actuating forces in an axial direction.

An overrunning coupling assembly for a power transmission mechanism having multiple torque ratio gearing, the transmission comprising clutch and brake means for establishing and disestablishing plural torque flow paths through the gearing including a reaction gear element for establishing a torque reaction point during operation of the gearing in a first ratio and a selectable engageable friction coupling forming a reaction torque flow path for the reaction gear element, the overrunning coupling assembly comprising:

• a pocket plate and a notch plate, one plate being connected to the reaction gear element and the other plate being connected to a stationary portion of the transmission through the friction coupling;
• the pocket plate having a pocket plate planar surface and the notch plate having a notch plate planar surface, the planar surfaces being assembled on a common axis in juxtaposed close proximity;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced pockets in the pocket plate planar surface;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced notch in the notch plate planar surface;
• a ramped surface portion in each pocket;
• a torque-transmitting strut in each pocket, each strut having an anchor edge engageable with the pocket plate and a movable edge engageable with a notch in the notch plate;
• and
• inertia members having rounded roll surfaces in the pockets between the struts and the ramped surface portion whereby the inertia members urge the struts into engagement with notches in the notch plate in response to rotary inertia forces acting on the inertia members.

An overrunning coupling assembly for a power transmission mechanism having multiple torque ratio gearing, the transmission comprising clutch and brake means for establishing and disestablishing plural torque flow paths through the gearing including a reaction gear element for establishing a torque reaction point during operation of the gearing in a first ratio and a selectable engageable friction coupling forming a reaction torque flow path for the reaction gear element, the overrunning coupling assembly comprising:

• a pocket plate and a notch plate, one plate being connected to the reaction gear element and the other plate being connected to a stationary portion of the transmission through the friction coupling;
• the pocket plate having a pocket plate planar surface and the notch plate having a notch plate planar surface, the planar surfaces being assembled on a common axis in juxtaposed close proximity;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced pockets in the pocket plate planar surface;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced notches in the notch plate planar surface;
• a primary ramped surface portion in each pocket;
• a torque-transmitting strut in each pocket, each strut having an anchor edge engageable with the pocket plate and a movable edge engageable with a notch in the notch plate;
• and
• inertia members in the pockets between the struts and the primary ramped surface portion whereby inertia forces acting on the inertia members urge the struts into engagement with the notches in response to angular deceleration forces acting on the inertia members;
• and
• each pocket in the pocket plate including a secondary ramped portion located at a radially outward wall of the pocket, the inertia members engaging the secondary ramped portion whereby centrifugal forces acting on the inertia members, upon rotary motion of the pocket plate, effect movement of the inertia members so as to establish strut actuating forces in an axial direction.

An overrunning coupling assembly comprising

• a pocket plate and a notch plate, one plate being connected to a torque input member and the other plate being connected to a torque output member;
• the pocket plate having a pocket plate planar surface and the notch plate having a notch plate planar surface, the planar surfaces being assembled on a common axis in juxtaposed close proximity;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced pockets in the pocket plate planar surface;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced notches in the notch plate planar surface;
• a ramped surface portion in each pocket;
• a torque-transmitting strut in each pocket, each strut having an anchor edge engageable with the pocket plate and a movable edge engageable with a notch in the notch plate during operation of the overrunning coupling assembly in a locked mode;
• and
• inertia members having rounded roll surfaces in the pockets between the struts and the ramped surface portion whereby the inertia members urge the struts into engagement with notches in the notch plate in response to rotary inertia forces acting on the inertia members;
• each pocket in the pocket plate including a secondary ramped portion located at a radially outward wall of the pocket, the inertia members engaging the secondary ramped portion whereby centrifugal forces acting on the inertia members, upon rotary motion of the pocket plate, effect movement of the inertia members so as to establish strut actuating forces in an axial direction.

An overrunning coupling assembly comprising:

• a pocket plate and a notch plate, one plate being connected to a torque input member and the other plate being connected to a torque output member;
• the pocket plate having a pocket plate planar surface and the notch plate having a notch plate planar surface, the planar surfaces being assembled on a common axis in juxtaposed close proximity;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced pockets in the pocket plate planar surface;
• a Plurality of angularly-spaced notches in the notch plate planar surface;
• a ramped surface in each pocket;
• a torque-transmitting strut in each pocket, each strut having an anchor edge engageable with the pocket plate and a movable edge engageable with a notch in the notch plate during operation of the overrunning coupling assembly in a locked mode;
• and
• inertia balls in the pockets between the struts and the ramped surfaces whereby the inertia balls urge the struts into engagement with notches in the notch plate in response to rotary inertia forces acting on the inertia balls.

An overrunning coupling assembly comprising

• a pocket plate and a notch plate, one plate being connected to a torque input member and the other plate being connected to a torque output member;
• the pocket plate having a pocket plate planar surface and the notch plate having a notch plate planar surface, the planar surfaces being assembled on a common axis in juxtaposed close proximity;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced pockets in the pocket plate planar surface;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced notches in the notch plate planar surface;
• a ramped surface portion in each pocket;
• a torque-transmitting strut in each pocket, each strut having an anchor edge engageable with the pocket plate and a movable edge engageable with a notch in the notch plate during operation of the overrunning coupling assembly in a locked mode;
• and
• inertia balls in the pockets between the struts and the primary ramped surface portion whereby the inertia balls urge the struts into engagement with notches in the notch plate in response to rotary inertia forces acting on the inertia balls;
• each pocket plate including a secondary ramped surface located at a radially outward wall of the pocket, the inertia balls engaging the secondary ramped surfaces whereby centrifugal forces acting on the inertia balls, upon rotary motion of the pocket plate, effect movement of the inertia balls to establish strut actuating forces in an axial direction.

An overrunning coupling assembly for a power transmission mechanism having multiple torque ratio gearing, the transmission comprising clutch and brake means for establishing and disestablishing plural torque flow paths through the gearing including a reaction gear element for establishing a torque reaction point during operation of the gearing in a first ratio and a selectable engageable friction coupling forming a reaction torque flow path for the reaction gear element, the overrunning coupling assembly comprising:

• a pocket plate and a notch plate, one plate being connected to the reaction gear element and the other plate being connected to a stationary portion of the transmission through the friction coupling;
• the pocket plate having a pocket plate planar surface and the notch plate having a notch plate planar surface, the planar surfaces being assembled on a common axis in juxtaposed close proximity;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced pockets in the pocket plate planar surface;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced notches in the notch plate planar surface;
• a ramped surface portion in each pocket;
• a torque-transmitting strut in each pocket, each strut having an anchor edge engageable with the pocket plate and a movable edge engageable with a notch in the notch plate;
• and
• inertia balls in the pockets between the struts and the ramped surface portion whereby the inertia balls urge the struts into engagement with notches in the notch plate in response to rotary inertia forces acting on the inertia balls.

An overrunning coupling assembly for a power transmission mechanism having multiple torque ratio gearing, the transmission comprising clutch and brake means for establishing and disestablishing plural torque flow paths through the gearing including a reaction gear element for establishing a torque reaction point during operation of the gearing in a first ratio and a selectable engageable friction coupling forming a reaction torque flow path for the reaction gear element, the overrunning coupling assembly comprising:

• a pocket plate and a notch plate, one plate being connected to the reaction gear element and the other plate being connected to a stationary portion of the transmission through the friction coupling;
• the pocket plate having a pocket plate planar surface and the notch plate having a notch plate planar surface, the planar surfaces being assembled on a common axis in juxtaposed close proximity;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced pockets in the pocket plate planar surface;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced notches in the notch plate planar surface;
• a primary ramped surface portion in each pocket;
• a torque-transmitting strut in each pocket, each strut having an anchor edge engageable with the pocket plate and a movable edge engageable with a notch in the notch plate;
• and
• inertia balls in the pockets between the struts and the primary ramped surface portion whereby inertia forces acting on the inertia balls urge the struts into engagement with the notches in response to angular deceleration forces acting on the inertia balls;
• and
• each pocket in the pocket plate including a secondary ramped portion located at a radially outward wall of the pocket, the inertia balls engaging the secondary ramped portion whereby centrifugal forces acting on the inertia balls, upon rotary motion of the pocket plate, effect movement of the inertia balls so as to establish strut actuating forces in an axial direction.

An overrunning coupling assembly for a power transmission mechanism having multiple torque ratio gearing, the transmission comprising clutch and brake means for establishing and disestablishing plural torque flow paths through the gearing including a reaction gear element for establishing a torque reaction point during operation of the gearing in a first ratio and a selectable engageable friction coupling forming a reaction torque flow path for the reaction gear element, the overrunning coupling assembly comprising:

• a pocket plate and a notch plate, one plate being connected to the reaction gear element and the other plate being connected to a stationary portion of the transmission through the friction coupling;
• the pocket plate having a pocket plate planar surface and the notch plate having a notch plate planar surface, the planar surfaces being assembled on a common axis in juxtaposed close proximity;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced pockets in the pocket plate planar surface;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced notches in the notch plate planar surface;
• a primary ramped surface portion in each pocket;
• a torque-transmitting strut in each pocket, each strut having an anchor edge engageable with the pocket plate and a movable edge engageable with a notch in the notch plate;
• and
• inertia balls in the pockets between the struts and the primary ramped surface portion whereby inertia forces acting on the inertia balls urge the struts into engagement with the notches in response to angular deceleration forces acting on the inertia balls;
• and
• each pocket in the pocket plate including a secondary ramped portion located at a radially outward wall of the pocket, the inertia balls engaging the secondary ramped portion whereby centrifugal forces acting on the inertia balls, upon rotary motion of the pocket plate, effect movement of the inertia balls so as to establish strut actuating forces in an axial direction;
• each pocket being formed with radially spaced enlarged portions, each strut having radially spaced extensions received in the radially spaced enlarged portions whereby the struts are retained within their respective pockets;
• a flat surface formed in each pocket, the flat surface being parallel to and spaced from the first annular planar surface, the struts being positioned in engagement with the flat surfaces when the overrunning coupling is in an overrunning mode as the movable edges of the struts are disengaged from the notch plate.

An overrunning coupling assembly comprising

• a pocket plate and a notch plate, one plate being connected to a torque input member and the other plate being connected to a torque output member;
• the pocket plate having a pocket plate planar surface and the notch plate having a notch plate planar surface, the planar surfaces being assembled on a common axis in juxtaposed close proximity;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced pockets in the pocket plate planar surface;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced notches in the notch plate planar surface;
• a primary ramped surface portion in each pocket;
• a torque-transmitting strut in each pocket, each strut having an anchor edge engageable with the pocket plate and a movable edge engageable with a notch in the notch plate during operation of the overrunning coupling assembly in a locked mode;
• and
• inertia balls in the pockets between the struts and the primary ramped surface portion whereby inertia forces acting on the inertia balls urge the struts into engagement with the notches in response to angular acceleration forces acting on the inertia balls;
• wherein each pocket has at least one pocket extension, each strut having at least one strut extension received in the at least one pocket extension.

An overrunning coupling assembly for a power transmission mechanism having multiple torque ratio gearing, the transmission comprising clutch and brake means for establishing and disestablishing plural torque flow paths through the gearing including a reaction gear element for establishing a torque reaction point during operation of the gearing in a first ratio and a selectable engageable friction coupling forming a reaction torque flow path for the reaction gear element, the overrunning coupling assembly comprising:

• a pocket plate and a notch plate, one plate being connected to the reaction gear element and the other plate being connected to a stationary portion of the transmission through the friction coupling;
• the pocket plate having a pocket plate planar surface and the notch plate having a notch plate planar surface, the planar surfaces being assembled on a common axis in juxtaposed close proximity;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced pockets in the pocket plate planar surface;
• a plurality of angularly-spaced notches in the notch plate planar surface;
• a ramped surface portion in each pocket;
• a torque-transmitting strut in each pocket, each strut having an anchor edge engageable with the pocket plate and a movable edge engageable with a notch in the notch plate;
• and
• inertia balls in the pockets between the struts and the ramped surface portion whereby inertia forces acting on the inertia balls urge the struts into engagement with the notches in response to angular acceleration forces acting on the inertia balls;
• wherein each pocket has at least one pocket extension, each strut having at least one strut extension received in the at least one pocket extension.