Patent ID: 6814198
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A multi-directional coupling comprising:a housing having an inner bearing surface for rotationally supporting a drive shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, said housing including opposite first and second ends and said inner bearing surface being defined by a cylindrical inner bore extending through the center of said housing between said first and second ends; a bearing race disposed between said drive shaft and said housing and having an outer bearing surface facing opposite said inner bearing surface, said inner and outer bearing surfaces defining a bearing channel therebetween; a plurality of roller elements disposed within said channel between said inner and outer bearing surface for providing rotational movement between said housing and said bearing race; a plurality of elongated spacer members wherein one of said spacer members is disposed between each adjacent pair of roller elements within said bearing channel; at least one recessed bearing surface disposed along one of said inner bearing surface and said outer bearing surface configured for receiving one of said roller elements therein for coupling said housing with said race to prevent rotational movement therebetween as said roller element moves relative to said housing; an alignment cage operatively coupled between said housing and said race, said alignment cage including at least one spacer member disposed in said bearing channel and between adjacent roller elements for controlling the spacing between said adjacent roller elements within said channel whereby when said spacer member is retained by said housing said roller elements are forced into said recessed bearing surface to interlock said race and said housing and prevent rotational movement therebetween, said alignment cage including said plurality of spacer members coupled to and extending longitudinally between a first disc member and a spaced apart second disc member, said first disc member seated against said first end of said housing and said second disc member seated against said second end of said housing; and a mode controller coupled to said alignment cage for controlling the relative movement of said roller elements between a freewheel condition, allowing rotational movement between said housing and said race, and a locked condition, with said roller elements seated in said recessed bearing surface to lock and prevent rotational movement between said housing and said race.