MECHANICAL CLUTCH WITH FRICTION REDUCING INTERFACE

摘要

A mechanical clutch such as a dog clutch includes a plurality of balls or rollers disposed in a carrier and positioned between opposed sets of straight cut teeth extending from opposed drive and driven elements. A ball or roller is positioned between each adjacent pair of teeth such that the torque load is transferred from the tooth on a first or drive element, through the ball or roller, to an adjacent projection or tooth on a second or driven element. The balls or rollers are maintained in position by the carrier having an inner ring and a concentric outer ring. Greatly reduced disengagement force, even under load, is exhibited by a clutch of this configuration.

主权项

1. A mechanical clutch with friction reducing features comprising, in combination,
a first clutch element disposed on an axis and having a plurality of straight cut teeth, a second clutch element disposed on said axis and having said plurality of straight cut teeth, and a carrier disposed on said axis between said first and said second clutch elements and having an inner ring, an outer ring coupled to said inner ring and a plurality of balls disposed for rotation between said inner ring and said outer ring.