Controllable coupling assembly having forward and reverse backlash

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A controllable coupling assembly having forward and reverse backlash, the assembly comprising:
a plurality of forward locking elements, each of the forward locking elements having a load-bearing surface; at least one reverse locking element; and first and second coupling members supported for relative rotation about a common rotational axis, the coupling members including:
a first coupling face having a set of forward pockets angularly spaced about the axis, each of the forward pockets receiving one of the forward locking elements and defining a forward load-bearing surface adapted for abutting engagement with the load-bearing surface of its respective forward locking element;a second coupling face having a set of reverse locking formations adapted for abutting engagement with the at least one reverse locking element to prevent the relative rotation in a reverse direction about the axis; anda third coupling face that opposes the first coupling face, the third coupling face having a set of forward locking formations, each of the set of forward locking formations being adapted for abutting engagement with one of the forward locking elements to prevent the relative rotation in a forward direction about the axis, wherein the number of forward locking elements is different than the number of reverse locking elements, wherein the number of forward locking formations is different than the number of reverse locking formations and wherein either the forward backlash is a non-zero integer multiple of the 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 about the axis.