Means Industries, Inc.

Jeffrey J Prout

Brice A Pawley

Stephen M Ruth

David W Shaw

Terry O Hendrick

Gary B Scott

Douglas E Brubaker

Joseph J Jurek

A controllable or selectable coupling assembly includes a plurality of forward locking elements, at least one reverse locking element and first and second coupling members supported for relative rotation about a common rotational axis. The coupling members include a first, second and third coupling faces. The first coupling face has a set of forward pockets angularly spaced about the axis. The second coupling face has a set of reverse locking formations adapted for abutting engagement with the at least one reverse locking element. The third coupling face opposes the first coupling face and has a set of forward locking formations. Either forward backlash is a non-zero integer multiple of reverse backlash or the reverse backlash is a non-zero integer multiple of the forward backlash to prevent the coupling assembly from inadvertently binding in both directions (i.e. a 'lock-lock' condition) about the axis.

Controllable coupling assembly having forward and reverse backlash

A coupling and control assembly includes a coupling subassembly and a control subassembly integrated with the coupling subassembly. The control subassembly has a reciprocating member and actuators operatively connected to the reciprocating movement for controlled reciprocating movement therewith to move or pivot respective struts received within pockets of a coupling member of the coupling subassembly. The reciprocating member converts a pressure of a working fluid at its working face to move linearly together with the actuators from its first position which corresponds to a first operating mode of the coupling subassembly to its second position which corresponds to a second operating mode of the coupling subassembly.

Coupling and control assembly

A diecast pocket plate or coupling member including a pocket with a machined surface layer or portion, a method for making the coupling member and an overrunning clutch assembly including the coupling member are provided. The member is formed as a unitary diecasting from a die-casting material in a die-casting process. The diecast member includes a coupling face having at least one pocket which is sized and shaped to receive and retain a locking member that moves in the pocket during an overrun condition of the assembly. The pocket is defined by a plurality of surface portions including an angled, slightly positive surface portion which is machined vertical or slightly negative to improve performance of the assembly during the overrun condition.

Diecast coupling member including a pocket having a machined surface portion, method for making the coupling member and clutch assembly including the coupling member

A diecast pocket plate or member having a sacrificial surface layer or portion is provided. The member is formed as a unitary die-casting from a die-casting alloy strengthened by an alloying material in a die-casting process. The diecast member includes a coupling face having a pocket which is sized and shaped to receive and nominally retain a locking member that moves in the pocket during an overrun condition of an engageable coupling assembly. The diecast member also includes a relatively hard base portion including particles of the strengthening alloying material of the die-casting alloy. The diecast member further includes a plurality of surface portions which define the pocket. At least one generally vertical surface portion of the surface portions is soft relative to the hard base portion and is substantially devoid of the particles of the alloying material so that the at least one generally vertical surface portion wears or deforms (i.e., is sacrificial) during contact of the locking member against the at least one generally vertical surface portion during the overrun condition.

Diecast coupling member for use in an engageable coupling assembly

An overrunning one-way clutch or coupling assembly includes a first outer coupling member and an inner coupling member which together have a first pair of annular coupling faces therebetween and a second outer coupling member which together with the inner coupling member have a second pair of annular coupling faces therebetween. Both pairs of coupling faces are formed with sets of pockets and locking formations. Forward and reverse sets of struts are located in pockets axially spaced apart from each other.

Overrunning one-way clutch or coupling assembly

An engageable coupling assembly having reduced spin losses and method of assembling such assembly within an automotive transmission to reduce such losses are provided. The assembly is adapted for use with pressurized fluid. The assembly includes first and second coupling members that are supported with respect to each other for relative rotation about a common rotational axis. The coupling members have a first pair of annular faces that oppose each other and define an annular space therebetween. A first face of the first pair has a set of pockets spaced about the rotational axis. A second face of the first pair has a set of locking formations. The coupling members have a second pair of annular faces that oppose each other. A first face of the second pair defines a first set of fluid grooves fluidly communicating the annular space with an exterior surface of the assembly. The fluid grooves are configured to conduct the pressurized fluid from the annular space and out of the assembly in an axial direction during an overrun condition of the assembly, thereby reducing spin losses when the assembly is disengaged.

Engageable coupling assembly having reduced spin losses and method of assembling such assembly within an automotive transmission to reduce such losses

An overrunning coupling assembly having improved shift feel and/or noise reduction is provided. The assembly includes planar first and second members rotatable about a first axis. In a locked position, torque transfer is permitted between the first and second members in a first direction about the first axis. In a disengaged position, the first and second members are permitted to free-wheel relative to each other in a second direction opposite the first direction. A compliant retaining device retains the first and second members together and absorbs axial impact loads. The retaining device is less compliant in the locked position than in the disengaged position to decrease axial force at time of axial impact and improve shift feel and/or noise reduction. In a first embodiment, the retaining device includes a wave spring. In a second embodiment, the retaining device includes a stepped weir plate.

Overrunning coupling assembly having improved shift feel and/or noise reduction

A method for manufacturing a one-way clutch includes forming an inner plate; forming first and second outer plate members having a common axis; forming at least one strut pocket in one of the group consisting of the inner plate and the second outer plate member; forming at least one notch in the other of the group consisting of the inner plate and the second outer plate member; assembling a strut in the at least one strut pocket; inserting the inner plate between the outer plate members; and securing the outer plate members together to form a unitary outer plate assembly such that the inner plate is rotatably retained within the outer plate assembly and the strut is engageable with the at least one notch to effect one-way torque transfer between the inner plate and the outer plate assembly. The method may also include forming the second outer plate member as two pieces having mating surfaces, and interlocking the mating surfaces together. A one-way clutch manufactured by the method is also disclosed.

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Freeland, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey J Prout