Two-way coupling apparatus and method

A centrifugally actuated coupling apparatus comprising:

• (a) an internal hub rotatable about an axis and comprising an outer circumferential surface and a first recess formed on the outer surface;
• (b) an annular rotatable external hub coaxially disposed about the internal hub, the external hub comprising an inner circumferential surface and at least one second recess formed on the inner surface;
• and
• (c) a locking element comprising a pivot end, a locking element axis and a contact element rotatable about the locking element axis, the pivot end pivotally retained by the internal hub at a location spaced apart from the first recess and the contact element movably contacting the first recess, wherein the contact element is pivotable radially outwardly into engagement with the at least one second recess in response to rotation of the internal hub in a forward direction with respect to the external hub.

A centrifugally actuated coupling apparatus comprising:

• (a) an internal hub rotatable about an axis and comprising an outer circumferential surface, a first recess formed on the outer surface, and a pivot section spaced apart from the first recess;
• (b) an annular rotatable external hub coaxially disposed about the internal hub, the external hub comprising an inner circumferential surface and at least one second recess formed on the inner surface;
• and
• (c) a locking element comprising a contact end and a pivot end, the contact end movably contacting the first recess and the pivot end pivotally retained by the internal hub at the pivot section, wherein the contact end is pivotable radially outwardly into engagement with the at least one second recess in response to rotation of the internal hub in a forward direction with respect to the external hub.

A centrifugally actuated coupling apparatus comprising:

• (a) an internal hub rotatable about an axis and comprising an outer circumferential surface and a first recess formed on the outer surface;
• (b) an annular rotatable external hub coaxially disposed about the internal hub, the external hub comprising an inner circumferential surface and at least one second recess formed on the inner surface;
• and
• (c) a locking element comprising a pivot end pivotally retained by the internal hub at a location spaced apart from the first recess and a contact end, the contact end comprising opposing free-standing side surfaces joined by an outer contact surface movably contacting the first recess, wherein the outer contact surface is pivotable radially outwardly into engagement with the at least one second recess in response to rotation of the internal hub in a forward direction with respect to the external hub.

A centrifugally actuated coupling apparatus adapted to enable selective free rotation and torque transmission, the coupling apparatus comprising:

• (a) an internal hub rotatable about an axis in a forward direction and comprising an outer circumferential surface and a first recess formed on the outer surface;
• (b) an annular external hub coaxially disposed about the internal hub and rotatable about the axis, the external hub comprising an inner circumferential surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced second recesses formed on the inner surface;
• and
• (c) a locking element comprising a pivot end and a contact end, the pivot end pivotally retained by the internal hub at a location spaced apart from the first recess and the contact end radially pivotable from a de-coupled position to a coupled position in response to rotation of the internal hub in the forward direction with respect to the external hub, wherein at the de-coupled position the contact end contacts the first recess and permits the external hub to rotate in the forward direction and in a reverse direction with respect to the internal hub, and pivoting of the contact end to the coupled position rolls the contact end into engagement with one of the second recesses to enable the internal hub to drive the external hub in the forward direction.

A method for selectively transmitting torque from a first rotatable member to a second rotatable member coaxially disposed about the first rotatable member, comprising the steps of:

• (a) rotating the first rotatable member in a first direction to produce centrifugal force;
• (b) permitting centrifugal force to cause a catch mechanism connected to the first rotatable member to pivot at a pivot location spaced apart from a first recess of the catch mechanism to move a contact end of the catch mechanism from the first recess in a radially outward direction;
• and
• (c) seating the catch mechanism in a second recess of the second rotatable member, whereby further rotation of the first rotatable member rotates the second rotatable member in the first direction.

A centrifugally actuated coupling apparatus comprising:

• (a) an internal hub rotatable about an axis and comprising an outer circumferential surface and a first recess formed on the outer surface;
• (b) an annular rotatable external hub coaxially disposed about the internal hub, the external hub comprising an inner circumferential surface and at least one second recess formed on the inner surface;
• (c) a locking element comprising a pivot end and a contact end, the pivot end pivotally retained by the internal hub and the contact end movably contacting the first recess, wherein the contact end is pivotable radially outwardly by centrifugal force into engagement with the at least one second recess in response to rotation of the internal hub in a forward direction with respect to the external hub;
• (d) wherein the internal hub comprises a third recess, and wherein the pivot end of the locking element is retained in the third recess;
• and
• (e) a spring contacting the pivot end and the third recess and biasing the contact end of the locking element into contact with the first recess.

A centrifugally actuated coupling apparatus comprising:

• (a) an internal hub rotatable about an axis and comprising an outer circumferential surface and a first recess formed on the outer surface;
• (b) an annular rotatable external hub coaxially disposed about the internal hub, the external hub comprising an inner circumferential surface and at least one second recess formed on the inner surface;
• (c) a locking element comprising a pivot end and a contact end, the pivot end pivotally retained by the internal hub and the contact end movably contacting the first recess, wherein the contact end is pivotable radially outwardly by centrifugal force into engagement with the at least one second recess in response to rotation of the internal hub in a forward direction with respect to the external hub;
• and
• (d) wherein the internal hub comprises first and second opposing side surfaces perpendicular to the outer surface, the locking element comprises first and second opposing arms extending between the pivot end and the contact end, the first arm is adjacent to the first side surface and the second arm is adjacent to the second side surface.

A centrifugally actuated coupling apparatus comprising:

• (a) an internal hub rotatable about an axis and comprising an outer circumferential surface and a first recess formed on the outer surface;
• (b) an annular rotatable external hub coaxially disposed about the internal hub, the external hub comprising an inner circumferential surface and at least one second recess formed on the inner surface;
• (c) a locking element comprising a pivot end and a contact end, the pivot end pivotally retained by the internal hub and the contact end movably contacting the first recess, wherein the contact end is pivotable radially outwardly by centrifugal force into engagement with the at least one second recess in response to rotation of the internal hub in a forward direction with respect to the external hub;
• (d) wherein the internal hub comprises first and second opposing side surfaces perpendicular to the outer surface, the locking element comprises first and second opposing arms extending between the pivot end and the contact end, the first arm is adjacent to the first side surface and the second arm is adjacent to the second side surface;
• and
• (e) wherein the locking element comprises a front arm joining at least one of the first and second arms, and the contact end comprises a roller pin rotatably supported by the front arm.