Patent ID: 6311814
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A one-way clutch comprising:an inner annular body having an outer peripheral face and cam faces formed as flat notches extending chordally on said outer peripheral face;an outer annular body having an inner peripheral face having a circular shape in section, said outer annular body being disposed outside said inner annular body and concentrically with said inner annular body;gaps provided individually between each said cam face of said inner annular body and said inner peripheral face of said outer annular body such that each said cam face faces said inner peripheral face of said outer annular body;wedge-shaped spaces at positions along a circumferential direction between said inner annular body and said outer annular body, each said wedge-shaped space having a wider side and a narrower side, said narrower side being narrowing in one direction along said circumferential direction; androllers disposed individually in each said wedge-shaped space for switching between a lock state in which each said roller rolls to the narrower side of said wedge-shaped space to integrate both the inner annular body and the outer annular body with each other such that said inner annular body and the outer annular body rotate synchronously and a free state in which each said roller rolls to the wider side of said wedge-shaped space to cancel said lock state to allow the inner annular body and the outer annular body to rotate with respect to each other, wherein a wedge angle of each said wedge-shaped space is between 4.degree. to 8.degree., said wedge angle being defined by the cam face and a tangent of an inner circumference of the outer annular body at a point where said roller is disposed in said wedge-shaped space in the lock state.