Outer cage for one-way sprag clutch

Abstract

A one-way sprag clutch assembly for use in an automatic transmission or slar application including an inner race (42), an outer race (44) having a pair of annular grooves (63, 68) cut in the interior surface (45) thereof, and a clutch assembly (41) having an inner cage member (46), an outer cage member (53) and an intermediate energizing spring (49), the cage members and spring having generally aligned openings (47, 51, 55) for receiving a plurality of sprags (48) therein. A side wall (56) is integrally formed with and perpendicular to the outer annular cage member (53) to create, with an end cap (64) on the opposite end of the assembly, lubrication escape barriers for lubricant in the assembly. The side wall (56) further includes either an integrally formed annular protrusion or a plurality of radially extending axial positioning protrusions (62) received in one of the annular grooves (63) to cooperate with a snap ring (67) received in the other grooves (68) to retain the clutch assembly (41) from axial movement with respect to the races (42, 44). Drag lands (58) are integrally formed on a plurality of spaced crossbars (57) in the cage member and extend radially outwardly from the crossbars (57) to terminate in arcuate surfaces (61) engaging the interior surface (45) of the outer race (44) to provide for inertial resistance for the clutch assembly (41) relative to the races (42, 44).