Patent ID: 6186299
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: F16D,F16H

Abstract:
An overrunning coupling assembly comprising:a notch plate and an annular coupling pocket plate positioned in face-to-face relationship with respect to each other along a common axis;said pocket plate having strut pockets disposed at angularly spaced positions about said common axis;said notch plate having notch recesses at angularly spaced positions about said common axis and positioned in juxtaposed relationship with respect to said strut pockets;torque-transmitting struts in said strut pockets, each strut having first and second ears at one edge thereof for enabling pivotal motion of the struts about an ear axis intersecting the ears, the opposite edge of each strut being movable between disengaged and engaged positions with respect to one of said notch recesses whereby one-way torque transfer may occur between said plates;a lubricant flowing between the notch plate and pocket plate;a spring positioned in each said strut pocket and biasing the respective strut toward the notch plate, each said spring engaging the respective strut intermediate said ear axis and said opposite edge;wherein each said strut pocket provides sufficient clearance forward of the respective opposite edge of the strut to allow forward sliding movement of the respective strut during overrunning to cause said engagement of the respective spring and strut to occur nearer the ear axis, thereby reducing the length of a moment arm about which the spring acts upon the strut which enables frictional forces of the flowing lubricant to hold the strut in its disengaged position to prevent the strut from slapping against the notch recesses as the notch plate and pocket plate are respectively counterrotated; andwherein said notch plate includes an outer circumferential rail at a radially outward side of the notch recesses, and wherein each said strut pocket provides sufficient clearance to allow forward sliding movement of the strut to enable a corner of the strut to be supported by the outer circumferential rail to prevent said slapping.