192 clutches and power-stop control – Transmission and brake – Torque-responsive brake
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-30
2001-03-27
Bonck, Rodney H. (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Transmission and brake
Torque-responsive brake
C192S038000, C297S353000, C297S378120
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206164
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. (Field of the Invention)
The present invention generally relates to a two-way clutch and, more particularly, to a dual-mode two-way clutch that can be used in a physical mechanism wherein mechanical component parts although incapable of freely rotating in any one of first and second directions opposite to each other under a normal condition can be rendered freely rotatable in any one of the first and second directions when the necessity arises. The present invention also relates to an automobile seat back adjustment and a bearing, both having the dual-mode two-way clutch incorporated therein and
2. (Description of the Prior Art)
Wheels used in, for example, a cart or sliding door can, unless forcibly halted by any means, rotate along a slope under the influence of a horizontal component of force and/or an inertia force. For this reason, depending on the application, it is a current practice to use a brake mechanism to apply an external force to at least one of the wheels to halt it to thereby secure a safety factor.
FIG. 28
illustrates an exemplary construction of a one-way clutch well known to those skilled in the art. The one-way clutch shown therein comprises a shaft
81
, an outer race
82
, a plurality of rollers
83
, a retainer
84
and a plurality of springs
85
. The outer race
82
has an inner peripheral surface formed with inclined cam faces
86
equal in number to the number of the rollers
83
, and the springs
85
are used to urge the associated rollers
83
towards respective narrow regions of the cam faces
86
so that when and so long as the shaft
81
is locked in position, the outer race
82
is inhibited from rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed therein.
An exemplary construction of a two-way clutch known to those skilled in the art is shown in FIG.
29
. This two-way clutch shown therein comprises a shaft
91
, an outer race
92
positioned radially outwardly of the shaft
91
and a plurality of rollers
93
interposed between the shaft
91
and the
92
. The structure so far described is substantially similar to the one-way clutch, but the two-way clutch is generally characterized in that the outer race
92
has its inner peripheral surface formed with two mutually opposed cam faces
97
for each of the rollers
93
, in that two springs
95
and
96
are positioned on respective sides of each of the rollers
93
and in that a means, for example, a lever
98
in the illustrated example, is provided to displace a retainer
94
in a direction circumferentially of the shaft
91
. This exemplary two-way clutch shown in
FIG. 29
has a function of switching a direction in which the outer race
92
is locked in one of clockwise and counterclockwise directions by causing a circumferential displacement of the retainer
94
to bring each of the rollers
93
to a position engageable with one of the respective cam faces
97
.
As the nomenclature indicates, the one-way clutch can lock rotation in one direction. On the contrary, the two-way clutch although having a function of locking selectively in one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions depending on manipulation of the lever or the like, has no function of locking rotation in both directions. Accordingly, the both cannot be effectively utilized in association with-the wheels of the cart or the sliding door which requires a high safety factor.
When it comes to a manually adjustable reclining seat assembly currently employed in automotive vehicles, the mainstream is the use of a ratchet mechanism, although some of the manually adjustable reclining seat assemblies make use of a planetary gear mechanism, for adjustably repositioning the seat back relative to the seat. However, the use of the ratchet mechanism permits the seat back to be adjustable stepwise relative to the seat and has therefore been found posing a problem associated with the convenience to use. The use of the ratchet mechanism has an additional problem in that when the seat back is folded down or erected relative to the seat, obnoxious sounds tend to be generated as a result of incomplete engagement of toothed component parts.
On the other hand, although the planetary gear mechanism permits the seat back to be continuously adjusted relative to the seat, not only can the seat back adjustment be manipulated in a one-touch fashion, but the structure is complicated enough to make the planetary gear mechanism expensive and costly.
In either case, the conventionally utilized seat back adjustment for automobile use generally has a problem in that if the seat back is excessively folded down or erected, the seat back must be repositioned by manipulating an adjustment lever, involving an insufficient operativity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been devised with a view to substantially eliminating the above discussed problems inherent in the prior art clutches and has for its object to provide a novel duel-mode two-way clutch capable of locking in any one of forward and reverse directions opposite to each other and also capable of permitting rotation in any one of the forward and reverse directions when manipulated externally.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved seat back adjustment for use in a reclining seat assembly, wherein the angle of inclination of the seat back relative to the seat is adjustable indefinitely between the folded and erected positions, wherein selection of one of two opposite directions in which the seat back is folded and erected can be accomplished freely, and which is simple in structure and capable of exhibiting an improved operativity.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved bearing assembly having built therein the dual-mode two-way clutch of the type referred to above.
In order to accomplish this object, the present invention provides a dual-mode two-way clutch which comprises a first member and a second member which are rotatable relative to each other in any one of first and second directions opposite to each other, a locking means normally locking rotation of the first and second members relative to each other in any one of the first and second directions, and a lock release means operable when an external force is applied thereto to disable the locking means to permit the first and second members to rotate relative to each other.
It is to be noted that the terms “first member” and “second member” are intended to means respective members rotatable relative to each other and, therefore, one of the first and second members may be fixed in position with respect to the axis of rotation thereof.
According to the present invention, the first and second members are normally locked in position together so as not to rotate relative to each other, that is, inhibited from rotating relative to each other. However, when the predetermined external force is applied to the lock release means, the locking function of the locking means are disabled and, therefore, the first and second members are permitted to rotate relative to each other in any one of the forward and reverse directions opposite to each other.
The locking means and the lock release means may take, for example, the following construction. Specifically, the locking means may comprises a circumferentially extending raceway defined in at least one of the first and second members about an axis of rotation thereof, a plurality of circumferentially spaced cam faces defined in the other of the first and second members at a location facing the circumferentially extending raceway in said one of the first and second members, and a plurality of engagement elements interposed between the circumferentially extending raceway and the cam faces and frictionally engaged with the circumferentially extending raceway and the cam faces. The engagement elements are operable to lock rotation of the first and second members relative to each other in any one of the first and second directions. The cam faces are disengaged from the frictional engagement with the
Bonck Rodney H.
NTN Corporation
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
LandOfFree
Dual-mode two-way clutch does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Dual-mode two-way clutch, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dual-mode two-way clutch will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2521357