Ratcheting one-way clutch having rockers retained in closed pockets
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJohn W. Kimes, Bernard J. Simon, Norman J. Bird
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An overrunning one-way clutch includes a cam plate formed with cam surfaces angularly spaced about a central axis, and a rocker plate including pockets angularly spaced about the axis, each pocket including a surface that closes the pocket at an axial end, an opening located at an axial end opposite the surface, and an aperture facing the cam surfaces. Each pocket contains a rocker supported for pivoting a portion of the rocker through the pocket aperture toward the cam surfaces. Springs supported on the rocker plate, urging each rocker toward an aperture and engagement with the cam surfaces.
Claims21
An overrunning clutch comprising;
- a cam plate including arcuate first ratchet surfaces spaced about an axis;
- a rocker plate including pockets spaced about the axis, each pocket having a pivot center;
- rockers, each rocker located in a pocket, including an arcuate second ratchet surface and a point where the second ratchet surface first contacts a first ratchet surface, said point located such that a line through the axis and the pivot center and a second line through the pivot center and said point forms an angle greater than ten degrees;
- springs, each spring urging a rocker toward the cam plate.
An overrunning clutch comprising;
- a rocker plate including pockets spaced about an axis, each pocket having a pivot center;
- a cam plate encircling the rocker plate, including arcuate first ratchet surfaces spaced about the axis;
- rockers, each rocker located in a pocket, including an arcuate second ratchet surface and a point where a first ratchet surface first contacts the second ratchet surface, said point located such that a line through the axis and the pivot center and a second line through the pivot center and said point form an angle greater than ten degrees;
- springs, each spring urging a rocker toward the cam plate.
An overrunning one-way clutch comprising:
- a cam plate including arcuate first ratchet surfaces spaced about an axis;
- a rocker plate encircling the cam plate, including pockets spaced about the axis, each pocket having a pivot center;
- rockers, each rocker located in a pocket, including an arcuate second ratchet surface and a point where the second ratchet surface first contacts a first ratchet surface, said point located such that a line through the axis and the pivot center and a second line through the pivot center and said point form an angle whose magnitude is greater than ten degrees;
- springs, each spring urging a rocker toward the cam plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.