Overrunning coupling assembly and method for controlling the engagement of planar members

An overrunning coupling assembly comprising:

• a planar first member having an inside first surface and at least one recess formed in the first surface;
• a planar second member rotatable about a first axis and having an inside second surface extending generally normal to the first axis and disposed closely adjacent to the first surface, the second surface having at least one notch formed therein;
• at least one free-floating, forward key and at least one free-floating, reverse key opposed to the at least one forward key, the keys being received and retained in the at least one recess but not physically secured to the first member, the forward and reverse keys being movable between a notch-engaging, engaged position and a disengaged position in which the first and second members are permitted to free-wheel relative to each other;
• a first set of biasing members carried by the first member and urging the forward and reverse keys toward the second surface;
• a single planar control member disposed between the first and second surfaces and being controllably rotatable about the first axis between first and second angular positions relative to the first member, the control member having at least one aperture which extends completely therethrough to allow the forward and reverse keys to extend therethrough to the notch-engaging, engaged position in the first angular position of the control member and wherein the control member maintains the forward and reverse keys in the disengaged position in the second angular position of the control member;
• and
• a second biasing member carried by the first member and urging one of the keys to pivot about a key axis which is substantially parallel to the first axis during rotation of the control member.

A method of controlling the engagement of planar first and second members, the first member having an inside first surface and at least one recess formed in the first surface, the planar second member being rotatable about a first axis and having an inside second surface extending generally normal to the first axis and disposed closely adjacent to the first surface, the second surface having at least one notch formed therein, the method comprising:

• providing at least one free-floating, forward key and at least one free-floating, reverse key opposed to the at least one forward key, the keys being received and retained in the at least one recess but not physically secured to the first member;
• urging the forward and reverse keys toward the second surface;
• providing a single planar control member between the first and second surfaces and being rotatable about the first axis relative to the first member, the control member having at least one aperture which extends completely therethrough;
• rotating the control member relative to the first member about the first axis, the at least one aperture allowing the keys to extend therethrough and engage the at least one notch in the second member in a first angular position of the control member wherein the control member maintains the keys in a disengaged position in a second angular position of the control member in which the first and second members are positioned to free-wheel relative to each other;
• and
• urging one of the keys to pivot about a key axis which is substantially parallel to the first axis to permit free-wheeling of the first and second members.