Patent ID: 6244965
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A planar coupling assembly comprising:a first coupling plate and a second coupling plate, said coupling plates being rotatable about a common axis and having juxtaposed coupling faces in closely-spaced opposition, one with respect to the other;strut recesses formed in each coupling plate face at angularly spaced locations about said axis;a plurality of struts in said first coupling plate, said struts and said strut recesses in said first coupling plate defining a pivot means for each strut for establishing pivotal motion of said strut about a pivotal edge thereof to thereby maintain the pivotal edge of each of said struts in a substantially-fixed angular relation with a respective one of said strut recesses in said first coupling plate;spring means in said strut recesses urging each of said struts for pivotal motion about the pivotal edge thereof;a strut retainer plate between said coupling faces, said strut retainer plate having angularly spaced apertures for selectively receiving said struts in said first coupling plate as said struts pivot about the respective pivotal edges thereof;said struts engaging said recesses in said second coupling plate when said strut retainer plate assumes a first angular position relative to said first coupling plate and said struts;said strut retainer plate retaining said struts in said recesses in said first coupling plate when said strut retainer plate assumes a second angular position relative to said first coupling plate and said struts; andmeans for effecting angular movement of said strut retainer plate relative to said first coupling plate and said struts to permit torque transfer between said coupling plates when said strut retainer plate is in the first angular position relative to said first coupling plate and to permit free-wheeling relative motion of said coupling plates, one with respect to the other, when said strut retainer plate is in the second angular position relative to said first coupling plate.