Patent ID: 6615965
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
In a planar type of over-running clutch having a first plate including at least one strut engaging shoulder member and a confronting second plate carrying at least one strut movable in a direction towards and away from said first plate between a first position closer to the first plate and a second position further from the first plate and a biasing mechanism for biasing the strut in its first position, said first and second plates being configured such that (i) when said second plate is caused to rotate in one direction with respect to said first plate, said strut of the second plate engages a shoulder member of the first plate in a way that causes the second plate to lock into movement with the first plate, at the same speed of the first plate including the speed of zero if the first plate is stationary, and such that (ii) when the second plate is caused to rotate in the opposite direction with respect to the first plate, it does so without any such locked engagement with the first plate, so that the second plate can overrun with respect to said first plate, the improvement comprising:an arrangement forming part of said second plate and part of said strut and cooperating with said biasing mechanism of said second plate so as to prevent any contact between the strut and the first plate with the strut in said second position under certain predetermined conditions such that said arrangement cooperates with said strut and said biasing mechanism so as automatically to cause the strut to move from a first location, such that the strut is able to move between said first and second positions, to a second location when said second plate rotates in said opposite direction at or above a given speed, and back to said first location when the speed of the second plate in said opposite direction drops below said given speed, said arrangement being configured such that when the strut is at said second location, the arrangement prevents the strut from moving to said biased first position from said second position at and above the given speed and in a way which urges the strut to move from said second location towards said first location below said given speed.