Patent ID: 9140318
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A one way clutch comprising: an inner ring; an outer ring disposed coaxially with said inner ring; a predetermined number of block bearings equi-angular distantly disposed between said inner ring and said outer ring to maintain a space between said inner ring and said outer ring with respect to a radial direction; first, second and third pairs, each composed of a torque transmission member and a biasing member, disposed circumferentially in order between neighboring two block bearings in the circumferential direction and between an outer circumferential surface of said inner ring and an inner circumferential surface of said outer ring in the radial direction, said torque transmission members being capable of moving between positions at which the torque transmission members engage with the outer circumferential surface of said inner ring and the inner circumferential surface of said outer ring and non torque transmission positions at which the torque transmission members do not engage with the outer circumferential surface of said inner ring or the inner circumferential surface of said outer ring and said biasing members biasing a paired torque transmission member toward the torque-transmission position; and a retainer that retains said pairs of said torque transmission members and said biasing members, said retainer including, between the neighboring two block bearings, first, second, third and fourth retaining portions, wherein the first retaining portion is held by one of the two block bearings, the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion hold therebetween the first pair, the second retaining portion and the third retaining portion hold therebetween the second pair, and the third retaining portion and the fourth retaining portion hold therebetween the third pair, and the fourth retaining portion is held by the other of said neighboring two block bearings, being characterized in that: the biasing force of the biasing member of said second pair is larger than the biasing force of the biasing members of said first and third pairs, and a distance between said second retaining portion and said third retaining portion is smaller than either of a distance between said first retaining portion and said second retaining portion and between said third retaining portion and said fourth retaining portion, and said biasing members are compression springs having a same spring constant.