Overrunning clutches

摘要

In at least one illustrative embodiment, a clutch may comprise an outer race, an inner race, and an engagement assembly disposed in a space located radially between the outer and inner races. The engagement assembly may comprise a plurality of locking members and a biasing shoe frictionally engaged with one of the outer race and the inner race. The locking members may be configured to move with the biasing shoe within the space between an unlocked position, in which the locking members are free to move relative to the outer race and to the inner race, and a locked position, in which the locking members are wedged between the outer and inner races to couple the outer and inner races for rotation together.

主权项

1. A clutch comprising:
an outer race having an inner surface; an inner race having an outer surface facing the inner surface of the outer race; and an engagement assembly disposed in a space located radially between the inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race, the engagement assembly comprising a first plurality of locking members and a first biasing shoe frictionally engaged with one of the outer race and the inner race, the first plurality of locking members being configured to move with the first biasing shoe within the space between an unlocked position, in which the first plurality of locking members are free to move relative to the outer race and to the inner race, and a locked position, in which the first plurality of locking members are wedged between the inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race to couple the outer race and the inner race for rotation together; wherein the first biasing shoe is frictionally engaged with one of the inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race, such that the first biasing shoe is biased to rotate with the frictionally engaged surface but is also able to rotate faster than the frictionally engaged surface, the frictionally engaged surface being round.