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US 6,588,560 B1Granted
Pulley unit
AssigneeKoyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
InventorHideki Fujiwara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pulley unit improved in the axial positioning of the cage of the one-way clutch is disclosed. The outer radius of the orbital portion of the inner rings of two rolling bearings disposed at both axial sides of the cage are designed to be larger than the inner radius of the cage, so that the axial movement of the cage is constrained. Due to this structure, the projecting and recessing portions disposed on the cage of the one-way clutch and on the inner ring become inutile, and these can be eliminated.
Claims19
A pulley unit including:
- an inner shaft;
- an outer ring disposed concentrically about said inner shaft to define an annular space therebetween;
- a one-way clutch having a plurality of rollers disposed in the annular space between said inner shaft and said outer ring, and a clutch inner race outer surface which has a non-circular configuration which defines maximum and minimum clutch inner race radii, and which contacts said plurality of rollers and rotates with said inner shaft;
- first and second rolling bearings in said annular space on first and second opposing axial sides of said one-way clutch;
- and
- said one-way clutch including a cage defining rolling regions of the plurality of rollers, said cage having a cage inner circumferential surface for non-rotatably engaging said clutch inner race outer surface, said cage inner circumferential surface defining maximum and minimum cage inner radii, said minimum cage inner radius being not less than said minimum clutch inner race radius, and said minimum cage inner radius being less than an outer radius of a first bearing inner race surface of said first roller bearing.
3 more elements
A pulley device for unidirectional operation comprising:
- an inner shaft,
- an outer ring disposed concentrically about said inner shaft;
- a one-way clutch device coupling said ring with said shaft, said one-way clutch including:
- an inner clutch race surface having a non-circular configuration defined by a plurality of equidistant circumferentially dispose cam surfaces with adjacent cam surfaces each defining an obtuse angle therebetween, said cam surfaces defining a maximum clutch inner race radii at adjacent circumferential edges thereof and a minimum clutch inner race radii circumferentially center portions thereof;
- an outer clutch race surface having an inner diameter greater than said maximum clutch inner race radii to define an annular space between said outer clutch race surface and said inner clutch race surface;
- a cage disposed in said annular space and having a non-circular inner circumferential surface including equidistant circumferentially disposed engaging surfaces engaging at least portions of said cam surfaces at said circumferential edges thereof to effect non-rotational engagement such that said cage rotates with said inner clutch race surface,
- said cage having pockets circumferentially aligned with said cam surfaces;
- rolling elements disposed in said pockets between said cam surfaces and said outer clutch race surface of said outer ring, said cam surfaces being configured to lockingly engage said rolling elements when said outer ring rotates in a first direction relative to said inner clutch race surface which is non-rotationally engage with said shaft and to disengage said rolling elements when said outer ring rotates in a second direction relative to said inner clutch race surface;
- and
- first and second rolling bearings in said annular space on first and second opposing axial sides of said one-way clutch.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.