Combination bearing/freewheel clutch
US5573094A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 7, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16D41/061
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A ball bearing/freewheel clutch is provided with an inner race member defining an inner race surface; an outer race member defining an outer race surface concentric with said inner race member; and a raceway between said inner and outer races. The inner and outer race members each have a series of short radially oriented sawtooth inclines on their respective inner and outer race surfaces at right angles to said raceway. A plurality of modified ball bearings are disposed in said raceway between said inner and outer race members, such that said modified ball bearings serve to prevent relative rotation of said inner and outer race members in one direction, and to transmit a torque between said inner and outer races. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said modified ball bearings have flattened poles which engage said sawtooth inclines in one direction of rotation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.