Warner Electric Technology, Inc.

David Pearson Stoltze

Erik Raymond Christiansen

Jonathan Peter Cooksley

Willem Jacobus Sullivan

A clutch includes a clutch assembly having radially spaced input and output members, torque transmission members therebetween, and a cage retaining the torque transmission members. Rotation of the input member relative to the output member in a first direction engages the clutch assembly while rotation of the output member relative to the input member in the first direction disengages the clutch assembly. The clutch further includes a drag assembly including a rotatable member coupled to the cage of the clutch assembly and a fixed member. The rotatable member rotates in the first direction relative to the fixed member, but rotation of the rotatable member in a second direction relative to the fixed member is limited thereby limiting rotation of the input member of the clutch assembly in the second direction.

Disproportional drag actuation of an overrunning clutch

A clutch includes inner and outer races, each with pluralities of teeth. A pawl is supported on the inner race and a shift ring disposed outward of the pawl defines pawl engagement surfaces on an inner perimeter. Pins engage cam surfaces formed in the ring and outer race. When the inner race rotates faster than the outer race, the pawl engages the ring causing relative movement between the ring and outer race that moves the pins radially inward along the cam surfaces to locate the pins between corresponding teeth on the races and rotatably couple the races. When the outer race rotates faster than the inner race, the ring moves relative to the outer race and the pins move radially outward along the cam surfaces away from the corresponding teeth to uncouple the races, disengage the ring from the pawl and allow the outer race to overrun the inner race.

Self-synchronizing clutch

A releasable backstopping clutch is provided with a safety mechanism to prevent uncontrolled release of the clutch. A support structure is fixed against rotation and releaseably coupled to the one of the inner or outer members of the backstopping clutch. The support structure inhibits rotation of the member when coupled to the member and permits rotation of the member when uncoupled from the member to release the clutch. A sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a characteristic associated with movement of the member and a controller is configured to cause recoupling of the support structure and the member if the characteristic meets a predetermined condition.

Safety control for releasable backstopping clutch

Various torque arm assemblies for a backstopping clutch are provided that enable load sharing among multiple torque arm assemblies, controlled release of load on the torque arm assembly and/or load sensing. The torque arm assembly includes a head member that is connected to an outer race of a backstopping clutch and defines a pair of attachment points. One end of an arm member is pivotally connected to one attachment point of the head member while the other end of the arm member is connected to a stationary structure. A strut extends between the other attachment point of the head member and the arm member. Upon backstopping action in one embodiment, the head member rotates slightly against the force of the strut allowing other torque arm assemblies to receive a portion of the system load. The position of the strut may be adjustable to allow controlled release of the load tension.

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Brighton, MI, United States of America

David Pearson Stoltze