Patent · US Expired

One-way clutch apparatus

US5597057A · kind A · utility

96Cited by
22References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 1, 1995
Grant dateJan 28, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 1, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/2136
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A one-way clutch apparatus comprising a driving member having a plurality of recesses, a corresponding plurality of biasing members disposed in the recesses, a corresponding number of keys or struts disposed over the biasing members in the recesses, and a driven member having a plurality of key-engaging notches formed circumferentially about an inside surface. Each of the keys includes a pair of laterally protruding arm portions and each of the arm portions has a ramp formed thereon which acts as a relief to allow the inside surface of the driven member to be placed in close proximate relationship with the inside surface of a driving member and to overlay portions of the recess. The overlaying enables the driven member to damp or otherwise limit the movement of a back end portion of each key when the driving member is moved in either a free-wheeling direction or driving direction, while the ramp portions allow a front end portion of the key to be urged outwardly without any portion of the arm portion interfering with the inside surface of the driven member overlaying portions of each recess. The one-way clutch apparatus is not as dependent upon a copious and continuous supply of lu…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.