Lost motion clutch assembly

Abstract

A lost motion clutch assembly is disclosed which has first, second, and third clutch members. The first and third clutch members are mounted coaxially and contain a plurality of recesses in the surfaces facing each other. The second clutch member is disposed between the first and third, and preferably includes a plurality of balls disposed in arcuate recesses in the first and third clutch members. Each recess has two terminating ends forming engagement shoulders to engage a portion of the balls at the termination of each of the two directions of rotation. Upon inital rotation of the first clutch member in a first rotational direction, the third clutch member is not rotated until a ball has come into contact with the opposite end of the recess in the first clutch member 31 and also in engagement with the opposite end of a recess in the third clutch member. By this construction, an additional angle of angular lost motion is achieved for a given number of balls. Only 80 degrees of motion is achieved on the balls relative to one clutch member, but an additional 80 degrees is achieved between the balls and the other clutch member, for a total of about 160 degrees of lost motion, yet three balls are utilized for symmetry and for carrying the load.