Means Industries, Inc.

Brenco, Incorporated

Aks Engineering, LLC

Stephen M Ruth

Jeffrey J Prout

David W Shaw

Brian D Klecker

A Richard Frank

Brice A Pawley

Gary B Scott

Sharon G Harrison

An assembly for selectively locking the angular position of a biased throttle grip mounted on an end of a handlebar to control engine speed is provided. The assembly includes a first member having a first face and adapted to be mounted on the end of the handlebar and a second member having a second face in close-spaced opposition to the first face and a third face spaced from the second face and in close-spaced opposition to an end face of the throttle grip when the first member is mounted on the end of the handlebar. The second member is mounted for rotation about an axis and for controlled shifting movement along the axis relative to the first member between a first position which corresponds to the unlocked mode of the assembly and a second position which corresponds to a locked mode of the assembly.

Assembly for selectively locking the angular position of a biased throttle grip

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

A one-way clutch includes a first member having multiple first recesses, and a second member having multiple second recesses that are alignable with the first recesses. Each recess includes a load-bearing surface. The clutch also includes multiple engaging elements that are engageable with the load-bearing surfaces of the recesses to effect one-way torque transfer between the first and second members. At least one of the engaging elements comprises a non-metallic, compressible material and is configured to compress upon engagement with a respective load-bearing surface of each member to inhibit relative movement of the members.

Sound dampened one-way clutch

A one-way clutch apparatus comprising a driving member having a plurality of recesses, a corresponding plurality of biasing members disposed in the recess, 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 to 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 lubricant to damp unwanted movement of the key as prior art developed one-way clutch systems.

One-way clutch apparatus

An adjustable-length support member, such as a motorcycle kickstand, includes a generally-tubular outer member defining a longitudinal bore with at least one recess formed in a surface of the bore, and an inner member telescopingly received in the longitudinal bore of the outer member including a plurality of recesses. The support member further includes a tension spring urging the inner member to a retracted position relative to the outer member, and at least one gravity-responsive locking element carried within a respective recess of one of the inner and outer members, wherein the locking element is urged by gravity out of engagement with a recess of the other of the inner and outer members as the attitude of the two members moves between an operative orientation and a stowage orientation.

Locking telescoping member with attitude-responsive release

A planar inertia-actuated overrunning coupling assembly having a pocket plate and a notch plate mounted on a common rotary axis with planar juxtaposed coupling surfaces. A pocket plate having a plurality of angularly spaced pockets that receive adjustable clutch elements, the notch plate having angularly spaced notches, a clutch element being mounted in each pocket for pivotal movement about one edge thereof, an inertia-actuated ball in each pocket adjacent a clutch element, the pocket being formed with a ramp surface engageable with the inertiaactuated ball whereby the clutch element is shifted into locking engagement with the pocket plate in response to an inertia force acting on the actuator balls whereby torque is transmitted from one plate to the other in one direction of relative rotation of the plates, and wherein the clutch elements move out of registry with the pocket plate upon a reversal in the direction of relative rotation of the plates.

Inertia-actuated overrunning coupling assembly

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.

One-way clutch and method for making same

An overrunning coupling assembly includes a notch plate and an annular coupling pocket plate positioned in face-to-face relationship with respect to each other along a common axis. The pocket plate has strut pockets disposed at angularly spaced positions about the common axis. The notch plate has notch recesses at angularly spaced positions about the common axis and positioned in juxtaposed relationship with respect to the strut pockets. Torque-transmitting struts are positioned in each of the strut pockets. Each strut has first and second ears at one edge thereof for enabling pivotal motion of the struts about an ear axis intersecting the ears. The opposite edge of each strut is movable between disengaged and engaged positions with respect to one of the notch recesses whereby one-way torque transfer may occur between the plates. A lubricant flows between the notch plate and pocket plate. A spring is positioned in each strut pocket and biases the respective strut toward the notch plate. Each spring engages the respective strut intermediate the ear axis and the opposite edge. Each strut pocket provides sufficient clearance forward of the respective opposite edge of the strut to allow forward sliding movement of the respective strut during overrunning to cause the engagement of the respective spring and strut to occur nearer the ear axis, thereby reducing the length of a moment arm about which the spring acts upon the strut which enables frictional forces of the flowing lubricant to hold the strut in its disengaged position to prevent the strut from slapping against the notch recesses as the notch plate and pocket plate are respectively counterrotated.

Overrunning coupling assembly

A hub for a torque-transmitting member comprising a planar clutch. The clutch includes a pocket plate and a notch plate located within the hub. One plate is integrated within the hub, such as by casting or molding, to form an integral assembly, the other plate being splined or otherwise secured to a shaft. The pocket plate has strut pockets disposed about the axis of the hub. The notch plate has recesses at angularly spaced positions about the axis. Struts pivotally anchored in the strut pockets engage the notch plate recesses to effect one-way torque transfer between the plates.

Overrunning coupling assembly and manufacturing method

An overrunning coupling assembly includes a notch plate and an annular coupling pocket plate positioned in face-to-face relationship with respect to each other along a common axis. The pocket plate includes strut pockets disposed at angularly spaced positions about the axis. The notch plate includes notch recesses at angularly spaced positions about the common axis and positioned in juxtaposed relationship with respect to the strut pockets. The notch plate includes an inner circumferential rail at a radially inward side of the notch recesses and an outer circumferential rail at a radially outward side of the notch recesses. Torque-transmitting struts are positioned in the strut pockets. Each strut has first and second ears at one edge thereof for enabling pivotal motion of the struts about an ear axis intersecting the ears. The opposite edge of each strut is engageable with one of the notch recesses whereby one-way torque transfer may occur between the plates. Each opposite edge has first and second corners. Each strut pocket is sufficiently enlarged to allow pivotal movement of each strut about a strut axis which is parallel with the common axis, thereby enabling one of the first and second corners to be selectively supported by one of the inner and outer circumferential rails to prevent the struts from slapping against the notch recesses as the notch plate and pocket plate are respectively counterrotated.

A damper assembly for use with a transmission structure having at least two spline tooth spaces. The damper assembly comprises a torque transmission plate having at least a first and second spline situated to engage the at least two splined tooth spaces and a damper element located such that when the torque transmission plate engages the transmission structure, the damper element will be compressed between the first spline and one of the at least two splined tooth spaces before the second spline engages the other of the at least two spline spaces. Accordingly, the engagement of the second spline with the other of the at least two splined tooth spaces is dampened.

Damper assembly

A planar coupling having a first coupling plate connected drivably to a torque input member and a second coupling plate connected to a torque output member, the first coupling plate being mounted for rotation relative to the second coupling plate, the first plate having angularly spaced recesses at uniform radial distances from the axis of the assembly, the second coupling plate having cooperating recesses in which are positioned force transmitting struts that are biased in an axial direction relative to the axis of the assembly so that upon relative rotation of the coupling plates, the struts in the second coupling plate will engage the recesses in the first coupling plate, the geometry of the struts providing for simplified manufacture and for reduced stresses in the struts as they engage the coupling plate recesses.

Overrunning planar clutch assembly

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 lubricant to damp unwanted movement of the key as prior developed one-way clutch systems.

Growing community of inventors

Holly, MI, United States of America

Stephen M Ruth