Patent ID: 6386349
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A clutch assembly comprising:a driving member rotatable about a first axis in a first rotational direction and in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, the driving member including a first driving face having a recess defining a load-bearing shoulder; a first driven member rotatable about the first axis, the first driven member including a driven face in close-spaced opposition with the first driving face of the driving member, the first driven face including a plurality of recesses, each recess defining a respective load-bearing shoulder; and a first coupling disposed between the first driving face of the driving member and the driven face of the first driven member, the first coupling including: a first strut moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position of the first strut is characterized by simultaneous abutting engagement of the first strut with a respective shoulder of both the first driving face of the driving member and the driven face of the first driven member, and wherein the second position of the first strut is characterized by non-engagement of the first strut with at least one of the first driving face of the driving member and the driven face of the first driven member, a first spring urging the first strut toward the first position, and a first strut retainer rotatable about the first axis, wherein the first strut retainer is rotatable about the first axis to rotate with the driving member only when the driving member is rotated in the first rotational direction relative to the first driven member, and to rotate with the first driven member only when the driving member rotates in the second rotational direction relative to the first driven member, and wherein the first strut retainer urges the first strut to the second position when the first strut retainer is rotated into a first predetermined rotational position relative to the driving member.