192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Automatic
Patent
1991-01-28
1993-02-23
Lorence, Richard
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Automatic
192 64, F16D 4132
Patent
active
051882051
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to one way clutches, for example for use as bicycle freewheel mechanisms.
According to the invention, there is provided a one way clutch, comprising coaxial first and second rotatable clutch members and an arcuate resiliently flexible intermediate member arranged between the clutch members, the first clutch member having a set of ratchet teeth and the intermediate member and second clutch member having means for preventing substantial relative rotation between the intermediate and second clutch members, characterized in that the intermediate member has a set of ratchet teeth engageable with the first member ratchet teeth and a set of sloping faced projections at intervals along the intermediate member, in that the intermediate member carries a pawl at one end and in that the second clutch member has a set of sloping faced projections at intervals around the member engageable with those of the intermediate member, the arrangement being such that on relative rotation of the clutch members in a non-driving direction, the pawl ratchets over the ratchet teeth of the first member but on relative rotation in the driving direction, the pawl engages a ratchet tooth of the first member and the projections on the intermediate member abut and ride up the faces of those of the second member clutch member to flex the intermediate member towards the first clutch member until the sets of ratchet teeth on the intermediate and first members engage one another to transmit driving torque.
With this construction, the intermediate member and, if desired, the other clutch members, can be molded from appropriate plastics material. Assembly of the clutch is particularly simple since it does not involve the handling of separate pawls and pawl springs.
The provision of projections around the intermediate member and the second clutch member has the advantage that the intermediate member flexes substantially uniformly into engagement with the first clutch member and the driving forces are distributed among the projections.
The advantage is even greater in the preferred embodiment of the invention in which the second clutch member is provided with two sets of projections on opposite sides of the intermediate member. The intermediate member is received between the two sets and the projections on the intermediate member are formed by lateral extensions of the intermediate members and may be aligned with the ratchet teeth.
The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view on the line I--I in FIG. 3 of a one way clutch embodying the invention in the driving position;
FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 in the disengaged position.
FIG. 3 is a view along the line III--III in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the inner clutch member within a sectional view of the outer clutch member;
FIG. 4 is a front view of the intermediate member of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a scrap plan view of the member of FIG. 4 laid flat.
The clutch shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises three members: an outer clutch member 10, an inner clutch member 12 and an intermediate member 14.
The outer clutch member 10 carries a set of external sprocket teeth 16 of the type normally used on a bicycle freewheel. It also carries a ring of ratchet-type internal clutch teeth 18.
The inner clutch member 12 is mounted coaxially within the outer clutch member 10 so that the two clutch members 10 and 12 define an annular space therebetween and are relatively rotatable. The inner clutch member carries two sets of radially projecting lugs 20 and 22 on its outer surface. These lugs are spaced apart from one another to define a channel 24 (FIG. 3) in which the intermediate member is seated. The two sets of lugs 20 and 22 are circumferentially offset with respect to one another by half the pitch of the lugs. The lugs are generally trapezoidal in elevation. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the width of the clutch teeth 18 of the outer clutch member is equal to the width of the raised perip
REFERENCES:
patent: 2551000 (1951-05-01), Horton
patent: 3928862 (1975-12-01), Ivester et al.
patent: 4164130 (1979-08-01), Hammer
patent: 5020648 (1991-06-01), Bush et al.
Burgess Stuart C.
Karp Stefan
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