Patent ID: 7874413
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A rotation transmission device comprising an inner ring having an outer periphery, an outer ring having an inner periphery, one of said outer periphery and said inner periphery being formed with cam surfaces, and the other of said outer periphery and said inner periphery being formed with a cylindrical surface, a plurality of pairs of rollers, the rollers of each pair being disposed between one of said cam surfaces and said cylindrical surface to circumferentially face each other, roller separation springs each disposed between the rollers of one of said pairs of rollers to bias said rollers of each of said pairs of rollers away from each other until wedged between said one of said cam surfaces and said cylindrical surface, and a roller retainer retaining said rollers and capable of changing the distance between the rollers of each of said pairs of rollers, reducing the distance between the rollers of each of said pairs of rollers, whereby said rollers are disengageable from said cam surfaces and said cylindrical surface by reducing the circumferential distance between the rollers of each of said pairs of rollers with said roller, retainer, wherein said roller retainer comprises first and second annular retainer members that are circumferentially movable relative to each other, said first and second annular retainer members having first, axial protrusions and second axial protrusions, respectively, to support the rollers of each of said pairs of rollers with one of said first axial protrusions and one of said second axial protrusions that is adjacent to said one of said first axial protrusions, whereby the distance between the rollers of each of said pairs of rollers is changeable by circumferentially moving said first and second annular retainer members relative to each other, wherein said first and second annular retainer members are axially movable relative to each other, said first and second annular retainer members having first and second contact surfaces, respectively, that are in sliding contact with each other, said first and second contact surfaces being configured such that when said first and second annular retainer members move axially relative to each other with said first and second contact surfaces in sliding contact with each other, said first and second annular retainer members are also circumferentially moved relative to each other.