Back to results
US 6,817,457 B2Granted
Two-way roller clutch with torque limiting feature
AssigneeNtn Corporation
InventorsRussell E. Monahan, Thomas Houtman, Shiro Goto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch system is described wherein a two-way roller clutch system transmits torque in from one direction (i.e., input side) only, and allows the clutch system to be physically decoupled from the power steering system when torque is forced in from the output side, e.g., during loss of electrical power to the power steering motor. Additionally, the clutch system can include a torque limiting system that permits slip when overall torque exceeds a preset limit. Both the clutch system and the torque limitation system are especially useful in conjunction with automotive power steering systems.
Claims39
A clutch system having a power input member and a power output member, comprising:
- a housing member;
- an inner race member contained within the housing member and being coaxially disposed about the power input member, the inner race member being capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction in response to a torque force from the power input member;
- an outer race member contained within the housing member and being coaxially disposed about the inner race member, the outer race member being in physical cooperation with the inner race member, the outer race member being capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction;
- a roller member disposed between the inner and outer race members;
- a retainer member for retaining the roller member between the inner race member and the outer race member;
- a spring member in physical cooperation with the inner race member and the retainer member, the spring member exerting a spring force on the inner race member and the retainer member;
- and
- a friction member in physical cooperation with the retainer member and the housing, the friction member being selectively operable to overcome the spring force of the spring member to allow the inner race member to rotate relative to the retainer member;
- wherein the friction member is selectively operable to permit the roller member to physically engage at least a portion of a surface of the outer and inner race members in response to a torque force being applied to the power input member in either a first or a second direction and to physically disengage from at least a portion of a surface of the outer or inner race members in response to a torque force being applied to the power output member in either a first or a second direction.
6 more elements
A clutch system for use in conjunction with a power assisted steering system for a vehicle, wherein the power assisted steering system includes a power steering motor, a power input member capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction in response to a torque force, and a power output member, the power input member being in physical cooperation with the power steering motor, comprising:
- a housing member;
- an inner race member contained within the housing member and being coaxially disposed about the power input member, the inner race member being capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction in response to a torque force from the power input member;
- an outer race member contained within the housing member and being coaxially disposed about the inner race member, the outer race member being in physical cooperation with the inner race member, the outer race member being capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction;
- a roller member disposed between the inner and outer race members;
- a retainer member for retaining the roller member between the inner race member and the outer race member;
- a spring member in physical cooperation with the inner race member and the retainer member, the spring member exerting a spring force on the inner race member and the retainer member;
- and
- a friction member in physical cooperation with the retainer member and the housing, the friction member being selectively operable to overcome the spring force of the spring member to allow the inner race member to rotate relative to the retainer member;
- wherein the friction member is selectively operable to permit the roller member to physically engage at least a portion of a surface of the outer and inner race members in response to a torque force being applied to the power input member in either a first or a second direction and to physically disengage from at least a portion of a surface of the outer or inner race members in response to a torque force being applied to the power output member in either a first or a second direction.
6 more elements
A power assisted steering system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a power steering motor;
- a power output member capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction in response to a torque force, the power output member being in physical cooperation with the power steering motor;
- and
- a plutch system disposed between the power steering motor and the power output member, the clutch system being coaxially disposed about the power output member, the clutch system being in physical cooperation with the power output member;
- wherein the clutch system is selectively operable to physically disengage from the power output member in response to a torque force being applied to the power output member in either a first or a second direction;
- wherein the clutch system comprises:
- a housing member;
- an inner race member contained within the housing member and being coaxially disposed about the power input member, the inner race member being capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction in response to a torque force from the power input member;
- an outer race member contained within the housing member and being coaxially disposed about the inner race member, the outer race member being in physical cooperation with the inner race member, the outer race member being capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction;
- a roller member disposed between the inner and outer race members;
- a retainer member for retaining the roller member between the inner race member and the outer race member;
- a spring member in physical cooperation with the inner race member and the retainer member, the spring member exerting a spring force on the inner race member and the retainer member;
- and
- a friction member in physical cooperation with the retainer member and the housing, the friction member being selectively operable to overcome the spring force of the spring member to allow the inner race member to rotate relative to the retainer member;
- wherein the friction member is selectively operable to permit the roller member to physically engage at least a portion of a surface of the outer and inner race members in response to a torque force being applied to the power input member in either a first or a second direction and to physically disengage from at least a portion of a surface of the outer or inner race members in response to a torque force being applied to the power output member in either a first or a second direction.
12 more elements
A power assisted steering system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a power steering motor;
- a power input member capable of rotating either in a first or a second direction in response to a torque force, the power input member being in physical cooperation with the power steering motor;
- a clutch system disposed between the power steering motor and a power output member, the clutch system being coaxially disposed about the power output member, the clutch system being in physical cooperation with the power output member, wherein the clutch system comprises:
- a housing member;
- an inner race member contained within the housing member and being coaxially disposed about the power input member, the inner race member being capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction in response to a torque force from the power input member;
- an outer race member contained within the housing member and being coaxially disposed about the inner race member, the outer race member being in physical cooperation with the inner race member, the outer race member being capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction;
- a roller member disposed between the inner and outer race members;
- a retainer member for retaining the roller member between the inner race member and the outer race member;
- a spring member in physical cooperation with the inner race member and the retainer member, the spring member exerting a spring force on the inner race member and the retainer member;
- and
- a friction member in physical cooperation with the retainer member and the housing, the friction member being selectively operable to overcome the spring force of the spring member to allow the inner race member to rotate relative to the retainer member;
- wherein the friction member is selectively operable to permit the roller member to physically engage at feast a portion of a surface of the outer and inner race members in response to a torque force being applied to the power input member in either a first or a second direction and to physically disengage from at least a portion of a surface of the outer or inner race members in response to a torque force being applied to the power output member in either a first or a second direction.
9 more elements
A power assisted steering system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a power steering motor;
- a power output member capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction in response to a torque force, the power output member being in physical cooperation with the power steering motor;
- a clutch system disposed between the power steering motor and the power output member, the clutch system member being coaxially disposed about the power output member, the clutch system being in physical cooperation with the power output member;
- wherein the clutch system is selectively operable to physically disengage from the power output member in response to a torque force being applied to the power output member in either a first or a second direction;
- and
- a torque limitation system, wherein the torque limitation system comprises:
- a housing member;
- the power output member being capable of rotating relative to the housing member;
- and
- at least one clutch member in physical cooperation with the housing member and the power output member, the at least one clutch member having a compressive force applied thereto so as to establish a preset torque level between the housing member and the power output member;
- wherein the at least one clutch member is selectively operable so as to slip in response to the application of a torque force in excess of the preset torque level.
8 more elements
A power assisted steering system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a power steering motor;
- a power input member capable of rotating either in a first or a second direction in response to a torque force, the power input member being in physical cooperation with the power steering motor;
- a clutch system disposed between the power steering motor and a power output member, the clutch system being coaxially disposed about the power output member, the clutch system being in physical cooperation with the power output member, wherein the clutch system comprises:
- a housing member;
- an inner race member contained within the housing member and being coaxially disposed about the power input member, the inner race member being capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction in response to a torque force from the power input member;
- an outer race member contained within the housing member and being coaxially disposed about the inner race member, the outer race member being in physical cooperation with the inner race member, the outer race member being capable of rotating in either a first or a second direction;
- a roller member disposed between the inner and outer race members;
- a retainer member for retaining the roller member between the inner race member and the outer race member;
- a spring member in physical cooperation with the inner race member and the retainer member, the spring member exerting a spring force on the inner race member and the retainer member;
- and
- a friction member in physical cooperation with the retainer member and the housing, the friction member being selectively operable to overcome the spring force of the spring member to allow the inner race member to rotate relative to the retainer member;
- wherein the friction member is selectively operable to permit the roller member to physically engage at least a portion of a surface of the outer and inner race members in response to a torque force being applied to the power input member in either a first or a second direction and to physically disengage from at least a portion of a surface of the outer or inner race members in response to a torque force being applied to the power output member in either a first or a second direction;
- and
- a torque limitation system, wherein the torque limitation system comprises:
- a housing member;
- the power output member being capable of rotating relative to the housing member;
- and
- at least one clutch member in physical cooperation with the housing member and the power output member, the at least one clutch member having a compressive force applied thereto so as to establish a preset torque level between the housing member and the power output member;
- wherein the at least one clutch member is selectively operable so as to slip in response to the application of a torque force in excess of the preset torque level.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.