Clutch

US4966265A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Viscodrive GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Helmut Wiese · Neunkirchen, DE
• Paul-Erich Schonenbrucher · Much, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 29, 1989
• Grant date: Oct 30, 1990
• Expiry date: Aug 29, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16D47/06
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A clutch (1) including an inner part (3) and an outer part (4) having races (6 and 5) respectively between which are arranged rollers (4). The rollers are arranged in a cage (7) which is in two parts (8 and 9) which are connected by leaf springs (10). One part (8) of the cage may be operated upon by a brake (11) to retard it relative to the other part of the cage thus to cause the rollers to skew and jam between the races and thus transmit torque between the inner and outer member. The clutch may be associated with a viscous shear coupling (18) and the combination may be used in the driveline of a motor vehicle.