The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 16, 1988
Filed:
Jun. 12, 1987
Richard H Smith, Birmingham, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A clutch assembly to interconnect rotatable drive and driven members. A cylindrical clutch element is operatively connected to one of the rotating members, and a sleeve-like clutch element is attached to at least one other of the rotatable members. The sleeve-like clutch element is disposed in spaced, concentric relation about the cylindrical clutch element. A first helical spring having opposed ends is disposed concentrically about, and frictionally engages, the exterior surface of the cylindrical clutch element. A second helical spring having opposed ends is disposed concentrically within, and frictionally engages, the interior surface of the sleeve-like clutch element. The opposed ends of each helical spring serves as an energizing or a trailing end, depending upon the drive or driven function of the clutch element engaged thereby. As such, the trailing end of the spring frictionally engaging that clutch element secured to the drive member is secured to the energizing end of the spring engaging that clutch element secured to the driven member. The hands of the first and second spring are individually selected to enhance the frictional engagement of the spring in response to rotation of the clutch elements in one direction, and conversely to decrease the frictional engagement in response to rotation in the other direction. At least one of the spring may be selected to effect overrunning of the rotating clutch elements in response to a rotational velocity in excess of a desired range of rotational velocities.