Patent ID: 9322441
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: F16D,F16H

Claim Text:
1. A clamping element freewheel comprising: an inner ring having an axis of rotation; an outer ring coaxial with and rotatable relative to the inner ring in a first direction of rotation, and an annular gap between an outer cylindrical surface of the inner ring and an inner cylindrical surface of the outer ring; a cage positioned between the outer cylindrical surface of the inner ring and the inner cylindrical surface of the outer ring for receiving and supporting in circumferentially spaced relationship a plurality of circumferentially distributed clamping elements that are carried between the inner ring and the outer ring and are in contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the inner ring, wherein the cage is in contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the inner ring and is rotatable on the outer cylindrical surface of the inner ring and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings for receiving respective circumferentially spaced clamping elements, wherein the circumferentially spaced openings are provided between respective circumferentially spaced and radially extending cage components; wherein the clamping elements are freely carried within respective circumferentially spaced openings between adjacent cage components and are pivotable between a clamping position in which the clamping elements contact both the inner ring and the outer ring to prevent relative rotation between the inner ring and the outer ring in a second direction of rotation, and a release position in which the clamping elements and the cage are spaced from the inner cylindrical surface of the outer ring and are in contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the inner ring to allow relative rotation between the inner ring and the outer ring in the first direction of rotation; wherein each of the clamping elements has a respective center of gravity that is disposed radially outward of circumferentially spaced clamping element support surfaces of respective adjacent cage components, wherein the clamping element support surfaces are provided for guiding respective outer surfaces of respective ones of the clamping elements for allowing pivotal movement of the clamping elements within respective circumferentially spaced openings between the adjacent cage components and about respective clamping element axes of rotation that are parallel to the axis of rotation of the freewheel inner and outer rings; and wherein respective clamping element springs are carried by the cage components and act against respective ones of the clamping elements to preload the clamping elements in a radially inward direction of the freewheel to maintain contact of the respective clamping elements with the outer cylindrical surface of the inner ring and in a direction toward the clamping position.