Overrunning radial coupling assembly and method for controlling the engagement of inner and outer members of the assembly

An overrunning radial coupling assembly comprising:

• an inner member having an outer peripheral surface;
• an outer member having an inner peripheral surface adjacent the outer peripheral surface in radially inner and radially outer relationship, at least one of the members being mounted for rotation about a first axis;
• pawl-receiving portions and pawl-holding portions formed on the members;
• at least one free-floating, forward pawl and at least one free-floating, reverse pawl adjacent to the at least one forward pawl, the pawls being received and retained in the pawl-holding portions but not physically secured to the pawl-holding portions, the forward and reverse pawls being movable between an engaged position between the pawl-receiving and pawl-holding portions and a disengaged position in which one of the members is permitted to free-wheel relative to the other of the members;
• and
• a single control element mounted for controlled rotation about the first axis relative to the pawl-holding portions between first and second angular positions between the surfaces and being operable to control position of at least one of the pawls, the control element having at least one opening which extends completely therethrough to allow the forward and reverse pawls to extend therethrough at the same time to the engaged position in the first angular position of the control element to fully lock the inner and outer members together to prevent relative rotation between the inner and outer members in either direction about the first axis and wherein the control element maintains at least one of the pawls in its disengaged position in the second angular position of the control element.

A method of controlling the engagement of inner and outer members, the inner member having an outer peripheral surface, the outer member having an inner peripheral surface adjacent the outer peripheral surface in radially inner and redially outer relationship and at least one of the members being mounted for rotation about a first axis and pawl-receiving portions and pawl-holding portions formed on the members, the method comprising:

• providing at least one free-floating, forward pawl and at least one free-floating, reverse pawl adjacent to the at least one forward pawl, the pawls being received and retained in the pawl-holding portions but now physically secured to the pawl-holding portions;
• urging the forward and reverse pawls outwardly from their respective pawl-holding portions;
• providing a single control element between the inner and outer surfaces and being rotatable about the first axis relative to the pawl-holding portions, the control element having at least one opening which extends completely therethrough;
• and
• rotating the control element relative to the pawl-holding portions about the first axis, the at least one opening allowing the pawls to extend therethrough at the same time and be received within the pawl-receiving portions in a first angular position of the control element to fully lock the inner and outer members together to prevent relative rotation between the inner and outer members in either direction about the first axis wherein the control element maintains at least one of the pawls in a disengaged position in a second angular position of the control element in which one of the members is allowed to free-wheel relative to the other member during the rotation of the one of the members in a first direction about the first axis and the members are locked to each other in a second direction opposite the first direction about the first axis in the second angular position.