US 6,588,559 B2 · Two-way clutch biasing assembly

Abstract

A two-way clutch biasing assembly including a two-way clutch having an inner race attached to an input shaft and an outer race attached to an output shaft. The inner and outer races having inner cammed portions between them, with an engagement assembly interposed therein that is adapted to rotate bi-directionally thereby providing selective mechanical engagement between the races in either direction. A planetary gear assembly is provided having a ring gear, planetary gears on a carrier, and a sun gear that is adapted to rotate the engagement assembly within the two-way clutch. A drag clutch assembly is also slidingly connected to the carrier to hold the carrier stationary when the input shaft is stationary, such that sun gear is rotated by the plurality of planetary gears, thereby rotating the engagement assembly within the two-way clutch and providing a mechanical advantage in engaging the races together when the input shaft begins to move.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A two-way clutch biasing assembly comprising:

a two-way clutch having an inner race operatively attached to an input shaft and an outer race operatively attached to an output shaft;
an engagement assembly operatively interposed between said inner and said outer races of said two-way clutch adapted to rotate bi-directionally to provide selectable mechanical engagement between said races;
a planetary gear assembly having a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears operatively connected to a carrier, and a sun gear that is operatively connected to said engagement assembly, said planetary gear assembly adapted to operatively rotate said engagement assembly within said two-way clutch;
and
a drag clutch assembly operatively connected to said carrier of said planetary gear assembly, said drag clutch adapted to provide a mechanical force to hold said carrier when said input shaft is stationary, such that said sun gear is rotated by said plurality of planetary gears, said sun gear rotating said engagement assembly between said races of said two-way clutch so as to provide a mechanical advantage in engaging said races when the input shaft begins to move.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Two-way clutch biasing assembly

Life of this patent

Two-way clutch biasing assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11