Wedge plate with angled struts and one-way wedge clutch with wedge plate having angled struts

A wedge plate for a wedge plate clutch, including: a radially inner surface with a plurality of ramps, each ramp sloping radially inwardly in a first circumferential direction; a radially outer surface; a first circumferential end; a second circumferential end; a gap separating the first circumferential end from the second circumferential end in the first circumferential direction; a first slot open to the radially inner surface and extending radially outwardly; a second slot open to the radially outer surface and extending radially inwardly; and a portion circumferentially located between the first slot and the second slot. a first line passes through the axis of rotation and the portion. A second line passes through the radially inner surface, the portion and the radially outer surface without passing through the first slot or the second slot. An acute angle is formed between the first line and the second line.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a wedge plate with angled struts and a one-way wedge clutch with a wedge plate having angled struts.

BACKGROUND

FIG. 5is a front view of known wedge plate300for use in a one-way wedge clutch. Respective struts302are bounded by respective slots304and306. Struts302are substantially radially aligned with axis of rotation ARR for plate300. For example, line L3passes through strut302A without intersecting slot304A or slot306A. It has been found that struts302fail under fatigue testing.

SUMMARY

According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a wedge plate for a wedge plate clutch, including: an axis of rotation; a radially inner surface with a plurality of ramps, each ramp in the plurality of ramps sloping radially inwardly in a first circumferential direction; a radially outer surface; a first circumferential end; a second circumferential end; a gap separating the first circumferential end from the second circumferential end in the first circumferential direction; a first slot open to the radially inner surface and extending radially outwardly; a second slot open to the radially outer surface and extending radially inwardly; and a portion circumferentially located between the first slot and the second slot. a first line passes through the axis of rotation and the portion. A second line passes through the radially inner surface, the portion and the radially outer surface without passing through the first slot or the second slot. An acute angle is formed between the first line and the second line.

According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a wedge clutch, including: an axis of rotation; an inner race; an outer race; a wedge plate radially disposed between the inner race and the outer race and including a first radially inner surface with a first plurality of ramps, each ramp in the first plurality of ramps sloping radially inwardly in a first circumferential direction; a first radially outer surface; a first circumferential end; a second circumferential end; a gap separating an entirety of the first circumferential end from an entirety of the second circumferential end; a first slot open to the first radially inner surface and extending radially outwardly; a second slot open to the first radially outer surface and extending radially inwardly; and a portion between the first slot and the second slot. A first line passes through the axis of rotation and the portion. A second line passes through the radially inner surface, the portion and the radially outer surface without passing through the first slot or the second slot. An acute angle is formed between the first line and the second line.

According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a wedge clutch, including: an axis of rotation; an outer race; an inner race located radially inward of the outer race and including a first plurality of ramps, each ramp in the first plurality of ramps sloping radially inwardly in a first circumferential direction; and a wedge plate. The wedge plate is radially disposed between the inner race and the outer race and includes: a first radially inner surface with second plurality of ramps in contact with the first plurality of ramps, each ramp in the second plurality of ramps sloping radially outwardly in the first circumferential direction; a first radially outer surface in contact with the outer race; a first circumferential end; a second circumferential end; a gap separating an entirety of the first circumferential end from an entirety of the second circumferential end; a first slot open to the first radially inner surface, extending radially outwardly and bounded radially outwardly by a first end; a second slot open to the first radially outer surface, extending radially inwardly and bounded radially inwardly by a second end; and a portion circumferentially located between the first and second slots. The second end is radially inward of the first end. A first line passes through the axis of rotation and the portion. A second line passes through the first radially inner surface, the portion and the first radially outer surface without passing through the first slot or the second slot. An acute angle is formed between the first line and the second line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 4is a perspective view of cylindrical coordinate system10demonstrating spatial terminology used in the present application. The present application is at least partially described within the context of a cylindrical coordinate system. System10includes axis of rotation, or longitudinal axis,11, used as the reference for the directional and spatial terms that follow. Opposite axial directions AD1and AD2are parallel to axis11. Radial direction RD1is orthogonal to axis11and away from axis11. Radial direction RD2is orthogonal to axis11and toward axis11. Opposite circumferential directions CD1and CD2are defined by an endpoint of a particular radius R (orthogonal to axis11) rotated about axis11, for example clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively.

To clarify the spatial terminology, objects12,13, and14are used. As an example, an axial surface, such as surface15A of object12, is formed by a plane co-planar with axis11. However, any planar surface parallel to axis11is an axial surface. For example, surface15B, parallel to axis11also is an axial surface. An axial edge is formed by an edge, such as edge15C, parallel to axis11. A radial surface, such as surface16A of object13, is formed by a plane orthogonal to axis11and co-planar with a radius, for example, radius17A. A radial edge is co-linear with a radius of axis11. For example, edge16B is co-linear with radius17B. Surface18of object14forms a circumferential, or cylindrical, surface. For example, surface19, defined by radius20, passes through surface18.

Axial movement is in direction axial direction AD1or AD2. Radial movement is in radial direction RD1or RD2. Circumferential, or rotational, movement is in circumferential direction CD1or CD2. The adverbs “axially,” “radially,” and “circumferentially” refer to movement or orientation parallel to axis11, orthogonal to axis11, and about axis11, respectively. For example, an axially disposed surface or edge extends in direction AD1, a radially disposed surface or edge extends in direction RD1, and a circumferentially disposed surface or edge extends in direction CD1.

FIG. 1is a front view of wedge plate100with angled portions, or struts,102. Wedge plate100is for use in a one-way wedge clutch (further described below) and includes: axis of rotation AR; radially inner surface104with ramps106; radially outer surface108; circumferential end110; circumferential end112; and gap114. Inner surface104defines slots116; and outer surface110defines slots118. Portions102are angled with respect to surface104and surface108. In an example embodiment, each ramp106slopes radially inwardly in circumferential direction CD1. Gap114separates ends110and112in direction CD1. Stated otherwise, wedge plate100is discontinuous at gap114and gap114separates an entirety end110from an entirety of end112.

Each slot116: includes opening120open to radially inner surface104; extends radially outwardly; and includes end122bounded by material M forming wedge plate100. Each slot118: includes opening124open to radially outer surface108; extends radially inwardly; and includes end126bounded by material M forming wedge plate. Ends126are radially inward of ends122.

Each portion102is circumferentially located between a respective slot116and a respective slot118. Stated otherwise, each portion102is circumferentially bounded by a respective slot116and a respective slot118.

In the discussion that follows, capital letters are used to designate a specific component from a group of components otherwise designated by a three digit number, for example, in the discussion below, slot116A is a specific example from the plurality of slots116. As noted above, in an example embodiment, each ramp106slopes radially inwardly in direction CD1. That is, distance128from axis AR to each ramp106decreases moving in direction CD1. Line L1passes through axis of rotation AR, slot116A, portion102A and slot118A. Line L2passes through radially inner surface104, portion102A and radially outer surface108without passing through slot116A or slot118A. Acute angle130is formed between line L1and line L2. Line L1and line L2can be applied to any portion102to obtain acute angle130. Straight line L4passes through axis of rotation AR and end122A of slot116B without passing through opening120A of slot116B. No straight line passes through axis of rotation AR, opening120A, and end122A. No slot116, other than slot116C, is located between slot118A and118B.

In an example embodiment (not shown): ramps106slope radially inwardly along direction CD2; and slots116, slots118and portions102are slanted in a mirror image about a line analogous to line L1(passing through axis of rotation AR, a slot116, a portion102and a slot118). An acute angle is formed between the analog to line L1and a line analogous to line L2(passing through radially inner surface104, the portion102and radially outer surface108without passing through the slot116or the slot118). Thus, portions102slant in direction CD2along radially outward direction RD1.

FIG. 2is a front view of one-way wedge clutch200, including wedge plate100ofFIG. 1, in a free wheel mode. Clutch200includes axis of rotation AR, inner race202, outer race204and wedge plate100. Except as noted, the discussion for wedge plate100inFIG. 1is applicable to wedge plate100inFIG. 2. Race202is radially inward of race204and wedge plate100is radially disposed between race202and race204. Inner race202includes radially outer surface206with ramps208in contact with ramps106. Outer race204includes radially inner surface210in contact with radially outer surface108. In an example embodiment, ramps106and ramps208slope radially inwardly in direction CD1. Wedge plate100is preloaded to urge wedge plate100radially outwardly to frictionally contact surface210.

For the free-wheel mode of clutch200, inner race202is rotatable, with respect to outer race204, in circumferential direction CD2. Note that race204can be rotating in direction CD2, except at a rate slower than race202, or race204can be rotationally fixed. To transition from the free wheel mode to a locked mode for clutch200(in which race202, plate100and race204are non-rotatably connected), inner race202rotates in direction CD1with respect to outer race204. The relative rotation of inner race202with respect to outer race204displaces wedge plate100radially outwardly to non-rotatably connect inner race202, wedge plate100and outer race204.

By “non-rotatably connected” components, we mean that: the components are connected so that whenever one of the components rotates, all the components rotate; and relative rotation between the components is not possible. Radial and/or axial movement of non-rotatably connected components with respect to each other is possible, but not required.

To transition from the locked mode to the free-wheel mode for clutch200, inner race202rotates in direction CD2with respect to plate106and race204. Ramps106slide down (direction CD1) and radially inwardly on ramps208, reducing the frictional force connecting plate100and race204. Race202and plate100rotate in direction CD2, overcoming the frictional contact between plate100and race204.

FIG. 3is a front view of one-way wedge clutch200ofFIG. 2, in the locked mode. To transition from the free-wheel mode to the locked mode, inner race202rotates in direction CD1with respect to plate106and race204. Note that race204can be rotating in direction CD1, except at a rate slower than race202, or race204can be rotationally fixed. The radial outward frictional contact between plate100and race204is sufficient to block rotation of plate100with respect to race202. As a result, ramps106slide up (direction CD2) and radially outwardly on ramps208, forcing plate100radially outwardly into compressive engagement with race204. As torque continues to be applied to race202in direction CD1, race202, plate100and race204are non-rotatably connected.

In an example embodiment (not shown): ramps106and208slope radially inwardly in direction CD2; and slots116, slots118and portions102are slanted in a mirror image about a line analogous to line L1(passing through axis of rotation AR, a slot116, a portion102and a slot118). An acute angle is formed between the analog to line L1and a line analogous to line L2(passing through radially inner surface104, the portion102and radially outer surface108without passing through the slot116or the slot118). Thus, portions102slant in direction CD2along radially outward direction RD1.

In an example embodiment (not shown), ramps106and208slope radially inwardly in direction CD1; and slots116, slots118and portions102are slanted in a mirror image about a line analogous to line L1(passing through axis of rotation AR, a slot116, a portion102and a slot118). An acute angle is formed between the analog to line L1and a line analogous to line L2(passing through radially inner surface104, the portion102and radially outer surface108without passing through the slot116or the slot118). Thus, portions102slant in direction CD2along radially outward direction RD1.

Advantageously, fatigue testing of wedge plate100shows that the slanting of portions102increase the durability of wedge plate100in comparison with known wedge plates having a strut configuration as shown for wedge plate300above.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS