One-way clutch for a fishing reel with an improved contact surface configuration

A one-way clutch of a fishing reel including an outer race; a plurality of rollers; and a retainer provided in the outer race for retaining the rollers inside of the outer race. The present invention is characterized in that an inner circumferential surface of the outer race is shaped as a polygon; free rotation spaces, in which the rollers are freely rotated, are defined on nook portions of the inner circumferential surface; and the other portions of the inner circumferential surface have rotation hindrance facets with which the rollers are put into contact so that the rollers are hindered from being rotated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a one-way clutch which allows a rotary 
member to be rotated in a direction but prevents the member from being 
rotated in another direction. 
There is a conventional one-way clutch comprising an outer race 1", an 
inner race 10, a retainer 2", and a plurality of slender cylindrical 
rollers 3" housed in the retainer between the outer and the inner races, 
as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The clutch allows a rotary member to be 
rotated in a direction but prevents the member from being rotated in 
another direction. The movement of the rollers 3" for a wedge effect at 
the time of the backward rotation of the clutch is small. The clutch can 
be easily fitted between the rotary member and a support member. The outer 
race 1" is made of a cement steel plate high enough in strength against 
the wedge effect between the outer race and the rollers 3" and is 
cylindrically shaped so that the outer race has an end portion extending 
in the radial direction of the race, a plurality of peripheral projections 
1e each slenderly extending between both the ends of the race, recesses 1f 
formed inside the projections, inner sloped 1g formed inside the 
projections, and a through hole 1h formed inside the end portion so as to 
fit the inner race 10 in the hole. The outer race 1" is thereafter 
subjected to nitriding and anticorrosive processing. After the retainer 2" 
is put in the outer race 1", the race is bend at one end thereof to have 
another end portion 1i for keeping the retainer from coming out the outer 
race. 
Since the outer race 1" has a relatively complicated form, there are 
problems that the race is expensive and it is difficult to keep the 
accuracy of the form of each of the recesses 1f and the slopes 1g high 
enough to stabilize the function of the clutch. The axial dimension of 
each of the rollers 3" is large, while the outside diameter of the roller 
is small. When the outside diameter of the inner race 10 is small and the 
one-way clutch is included in a device whose rotational frequency at the 
clutch is low, no trouble takes place. However, when the inner race 10 is 
large in outside diameter and small in axial dimension and the clutch is 
included in a device whose rotational frequency at the clutch is high, 
troubles (1), (2) and (3) take place as follows: 
(1) If the axial dimension of each of the slender cylindrical rollers is 
decreased for weight reduction or other purpose without changing the 
outside diameter of the roller, the pressure on the surface of he roller 
is heightened to make it likely that the roller is pressed onto the inner 
or outer race and locked thereon due to a rotative impact, or local 
flawing, deformation, wear or the like is accelerated. 
(2) If the number of the rollers, which roll in slipping pressure contact 
with the inner race, is large, the power for rotating the clutch needs to 
be high. If the number of the rollers is small, the transmissible torque 
of the clutch is lowered in proportion to the number. 
(3) If the outer race of the clutch, whose inner race is usually rotated at 
a high speed for the rapid rotation of the device, is rotated at a high 
speed for that purpose, the rollers are separated from the inner race due 
to a centrifugal force so as to delay the action of the clutch. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention was made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned 
problems and troubles. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a one-way 
clutch in which the form of an outer race is made simpler to decrease the 
cost of the clutch, and the accuracy of the form of the inner 
circumferential surface of the outer race, on which a wedge effect is 
produced, is kept high to enhance and stabilize the function of the 
clutch. In the clutch, a retainer for retaining a plurality of rollers is 
provided inside the outer race. The inner circumferential surface of the 
outer race is shaped as a polygon. Free rotation spaces, in which the 
rollers are freely rotated, are defined on the nook portions of the inner 
circumferential surface of the outer race. The other portions of the 
surface have rotation hindrance facets with which the rollers are put into 
contact so that the rollers are hindered from being rotated. Each of the 
rollers is shaped as a disk so that the outside diameter of the roller is 
larger than the axial dimension thereof. When the outer race is rotated 
backward, the rollers are put into the free rotation spaces inside the 
nook portions of the inner circumferential surface of the outer race 
against the urging forces of springs so that the outer race is allowed to 
continue to be rotated backward. When the outer race is rotated forward, 
the rollers are put into contact with the rotation hindrance facets of the 
other portions of the inner circumferential surface of the outer race so 
that the outer race is prevented from being more rotated forward. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a one-way clutch 
in which the form of an outer race is made simpler to decrease the cost of 
the clutch, and the accuracy of the form of the inner circumferential 
surface of the outer race, on which a wedge effect is produced, is kept 
high to enhance and stabilize the function of the clutch. In the clutch, a 
retainer for retaining a plurality of rollers is provided inside the outer 
race. The inner circumferential surface of the outer race is shaped as a 
polygon. Free rotation spaces, in which the rollers are freely rotated, 
are defined on the hock portions of the outer circumferential surface of 
the outer race. The other portions of the surface have rotation hindrance 
facets with which the rollers are put into contact so that the rollers are 
hindered from being rotated. Each of the rollers is slenderly shaped so 
that the axial dimension of the roller is larger than the outside diameter 
thereof. When the inner race of the clutch is rotated forward, the slender 
rollers are put in the free rotation spaces inside the nook portions of 
the inner circumferential surface of the outer race so that the inner race 
is allowed to continue to be rotated forward. When the inner race is 
rotated backward, the slender rollers are put into contact with the 
rotation hindrance facets of the other portions of the inner 
circumferential surface of the outer race so that the wedge effect is 
produced on the rollers and the inner and the outer races to prevent the 
inner race from being more rotated backward. 
Since the one-way clutches have the above-mentioned constitution and 
operation, each of the clutches has advantages mentioned from now on. The 
wedge effect is produced with the rollers surely and accurately during a 
long period of time so as to enable the clutch to function surely and 
stably during that period to allow the forward or backward rotation or 
prevent the backward or forward rotation. The form of the outer race is 
simpler. The accuracy of the form of the inner circumferential surface of 
the outer race, on which the wedge effect is produced, is kept high to 
stabilize the function of the clutch. The pressure on the surface of each 
of the rollers is reduced. For that reason, the roller is prevented from 
being pressed onto the inner or outer race and locked thereon even if 
receiving a rotative impact, the transmissible torque of the clutch is 
higher, and the life of the clutch is longer. The constitution of the 
clutch is simpler. When the clutch is included as a backward rotation 
preventing component in a fishing reel, the movement of the clutch for the 
action thereof is small and the backward rotation preventing operation of 
the clutch is always sure and stable. As for the clutch, each roller of 
which is shaped as a disk to make the outside diameter of the roller 
larger than the axial dimension thereof, a device including the clutch as 
a component can be made compact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described in detail with 
reference to the drawings attached hereto. 
FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 show the case that a one-way clutch which is one 
of the embodiments and is large in the outside diameter of the inner race 
of the clutch and small in the axial dimension thereof is included in a 
spinning reel for fishing. When the clutch is included in a device whose 
rotational frequency at the outer race of the clutch is high, the clutch 
functions more appropriately. 
The one-way clutch comprises the outer race 1, a retainer 2 made of a 
synthetic resin, a plurality of disk-shaped rollers 3, a plurality of 
springs 4, and the inner race 10. The outer race 1 is made of a cement 
steel subjected to nitriding and anticorrosive processing after the 
shaping of the steel. The outer circumferential surface of the outer race 
1 is circularly shaped. The inner circumferential surface of the outer 
race 1 is shaped as a regular octagon. The outer surfaces of the lateral 
portions 2a of the retainer 2 are fitted on the inner circumferential 
surface of the outer race 1. The axially inner surfaces of the other 
lateral portions 2b of the retainer 2 are located on one side la of the 
outer race 1. The disk-shaped rollers 3, the number of which is four, are 
retained in the through holes 2c of the retainer 2, located on the outer 
circumferential surface of the inner race 10, and urged by the springs 4. 
The radially inner surfaces of the lateral portions 2a and 2b of the 
retainer 2 are located on the outer circumferential surface of the inner 
race 10 so that the retainer serves as a bearing for the rollers 3. Free 
rotation spaces .alpha., in which the rollers 3 are freely rotated, are 
defined on the nook portions 1b of the inner circumferential surface of 
the outer race 1. The other portions 1c of the inner circumferential 
surface of the outer race 1 have rotation hindrance facets .beta. with 
which the rollers 3 are put into contact so that the rollers are hindered 
from being rotated. The outer circumferential surface of the outer race 1 
has a plurality of recesses 1d. 
Each of the rollers 3 is made of a hard material such as a high-carbon 
chromium steel, and plated with nickel of about 2 to 20 .mu. in thickness. 
The outside diameter D of the roller 3 is larger than the axial dimension 
H thereof, as shown in FIG. 2. 
Each of the springs 4 is shaped as N, located on the outer circumferential 
surface of the corresponding roller 3 at one end portion 4a of the spring, 
and fitted in the corresponding pit 2d of the retainer 2 at the other end 
portion 4b of the spring. 
The operation of the one-way clutch is described from now on. When the 
outer race 1 is rotated counter-clockwise as to FIG. 1, the rollers 3 are 
put into the free rotation spaces .alpha. against the urging forces of the 
springs 4 so that the outer race is allowed to continue to be rotated 
counterclockwise. When the outer race 1 is rotated clockwise as to FIG. 1, 
the rollers 3 are put into contact with the rotation hindrance facets 
.beta. of the outer race so that the outer race is prevented from being 
more rotated clockwise. 
Although the inner circumferential surface of the outer race 1 is shaped as 
a regular octagon, the surface may be shaped as another regular polygon. 
The spinning reel includes a body cover 5, a rotary quill 11 projecting 
forward from the cover, a collar 12 fitted on the quill, and a rotor 6 
mounted on the quill in front of the collar and secured to the quill by a 
nut so that the rotor is unrotatable relative to the quill, and is rotated 
by turning a handle 14. The reel also includes a spool shaft 15 fitted in 
the rotary quill 11 and projecting therefrom, and a spool 16 supported on 
the spool shaft at the tip thereof so that the spool is moved back and 
forth in conjunction with the turning of the handle 14. The rotor 6 has a 
plurality of projections 6a and another projection 6b on the inner 
circumferential surface of the rotor. The projections 6a extend into the 
internal opening of the rotor 6, and are fitted in the recesses 1d of the 
outer race 1 of the clutch. A stop ring 17 made of a spring is engaged 
with the projection 6b as shown in FIG. 2. A backward rotation preventer 7 
is rotatably supported on the collar 12. The inner race 10 of the clutch 
is fitted on the outer circumferential surface of the preventer 7 so that 
the inner race is unrotatable relative to the preventer. The preventer 7 
constitutes a backward rotation preventing ratchet 7a. The tip 8a of a 
backward rotation preventing pawl 8 is located near the ratchet 7a so 
that the tip can be engaged with the ratchet, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. 
The pawl 8 is supported in a swingable manner by the body cover 5 of the 
reel, and urged by a spring 18 in such a direction as to be engaged with 
the ratchet 7a. The position of the pawl 8 is controlled by the cam 9a of 
the cam member 9 of the reel so that the pawl is engaged with the ratchet 
7a or disengaged therefrom. A torsion spring 19 extends from the spring 
engagement portion of the cam 9a to the body cover 5 and is engaged with 
them. The cam member 9 is secured to the tip of a manipulation bar 20 
projecting backward from the body cover 5. A knob 21 is secured to the bar 
20. FIG. 5 shows the state of the reel that the tip 8a of the pawl 8 is 
engaged with the ratchet 7a by swinging the knob 21 down for engagement. 
When the one-way clutch is to be installed in the internal opening of the 
rotor 6 of the reel, a buffer material 22 such as felt and leather is put 
in the opening at the bottom thereof, the retainer 2 of the clutch, the 
disk-shaped rollers 3 fitted in the retainer and the outer race 1 are put 
in the opening so as to place the lateral portions 2b of the retainer in 
front of the other lateral portions 2a thereof, the projections 6a of the 
rotor 6 are fitted in the recesses 1d of the outer race, and the stop ring 
17 is engaged with the other projection 6b of the rotor. 
The operation of the reel including the one-way clutch is described from 
now on. When the knob 21 remains swung down for engagement and the handle 
14 is turned in such a direction as to wind a fishline on the spool 16, 
the rotary quill 11 and the rotor 6 are rotated forward or clockwise as to 
FIGS. 5 and 6 so that the outer race 1 is rotated forward or clockwise as 
to FIG. 6. As a result, the rollers 3 are put in the free rotation spaces 
.alpha. inside the nook portions 1b of the inner circumferential surface 
of the outer race so that the outer race is allowed to continue to be 
rotated forward. At that time, the tip 8a of the pawl 8 urged by the 
spring 18 remains engaged with the ratchet 7a so that the backward 
rotation preventer 7 is kept from being rotated. When the fishline is 
thereafter unwound from the spool 16 by the pull of a fish, the rotor 6 is 
rotated backward or counterclockwise as to FIG. 5 so that the outer race 1 
is rotated backward or counter-clockwise as to FIG. 6. As a result, the 
rollers 3 are put out of the free rotation spaces .alpha. onto the 
rotation hindrance facets .beta. of the inner circumferential surface of 
the outer race 1 so that a wedge effect is produced on the rollers and the 
outer and the inner races 1 and 10 to prevent the outer race from being 
more rotated backward relative to the inner race. At that time, the tip 8a 
of the pawl 8 urged by the spring 18 remains engaged with the ratchet 7a 
so that the backward rotation preventer 7 is kept from being rotated 
counterclockwise relative to the body cover 5 of the reel. For the reason, 
the inner race 10 secured to the outer circumferential surface of the 
preventer 7 is kept from being rotated, so that the rotor 6 is prevented 
from being more rotated backward. At that time, since the movement of the 
rollers 3 for the wedge effect is small and the preventer 7 remains 
engaged with the pawl 8, the rotor 6 is very quickly prevented from being 
more rotated backward. If the knob 21 is swung down for disengagement in 
advance, the pawl 8 is swung counterclockwise against the urging force of 
the spring 18 by cam 9s of the cam member 9 as shown by a two-dot chain 
line in FIG. 5, so that the rotor 6 is allowed to continue to be rotated 
backward. 
Since the outside diameter D of each of the disk-shaped rollers 3 is larger 
than the axial dimension H thereof and the number of the rollers is small 
enough to make the outside diameter large enough, the rollers are unlikely 
to be pressed onto the rotation hindrance facets .beta. of the inner 
circumferential surface of the outer race 1 and the outer circumferential 
surface of the inner race 10 and locked on them, even if the pressure 
between the facet and the outer circumferential surface drops and a 
rotative impact acts to the rollers. For that reason, the transmissible 
torque of the one-way clutch is higher, and the life of the clutch is 
longer. Since the number of the rollers 3 is smaller, the power for 
rotating them and the weight of the clutch are lower. Since the axial 
dimension of the clutch is smaller, the spinning reel including it can be 
made more compact. 
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show the case that a one-way clutch which is another of 
the embodiments is included in a spinning reel for fishing. The outside 
diameter of each slender roller 3' of the clutch is smaller than the axial 
dimension of the roller. The rotational frequency of the reel at the outer 
race 1' of the clutch is low. The clutch comprises the outer race 1' made 
of a cement steel subjected to nitriding and anticorrosive processing 
after the shaping of the steel, a retainer 2' made of a synthetic resin, a 
plurality of slender rollers 3', springs 4, and an inner race 10. 
The outer circumferential surface of the outer race 1' is circularly 
shaped. The inner circumferential surface of the outer race 1' is shaped 
as a regular polygon of fourteen sides. The lateral portions 2a of the 
retainer 2' are fitted on the inner circumferential surface of the outer 
race 1'. The axially inner surfaces of the other lateral portions 2b of 
the retainer 2' are located on one side 1a of the outer race 1'. The 
former lateral portions 2a of the retainer 2' may be secured to the inner 
circumferential surface of the outer race 1' by press-fitting or the like. 
The slender rollers 3', the number of which is seven, are retained in the 
through holes 2c of the retainer 2', located on the outer circumferential 
surface of the inner race 10, and urged by the springs 4. Free rotation 
spaces .alpha., in which the rollers 3' are freely rotated, are defined on 
the nook portions 1b of the inner circumferential surface of the outer 
race 1'. The other portions 1c of the surface have rotation hindrance 
facets .beta. with which the rollers 3' are put into contact so that the 
rollers are hindered from being rotated. The outer circumferential surface 
of the outer race 1' has a plurality of recesses 1d. 
The slender rollers 3' are made of a hard material such as a high-carbon 
chromium steel, and plated with nickel of about 2 to 20 .mu. in thickness. 
Each of the springs 4 is shaped as N, located on the outer circumferential 
surface of the corresponding roller 3' at one end portion 4a of the 
spring, and fitted in the corresponding pit 2d of the retainer 2' at the 
other end portion 4b of the spring. 
The operation of the one-way clutch shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 is described 
from now on. When the inner race 10 of the clutch is rotated clockwise as 
to FIG. 7, the slender rollers 3' are put in the free rotation spaces 
.beta. inside the nook portions 1b of the inner circumferential surface of 
the outer race 1' so that the inner race is allowed to continue to be 
rotated clockwise. When the inner race 10 is rotated counterclockwise as 
to FIG. 7, the rollers 3' are put out of the free rotation spaces .alpha. 
onto the rotation hindrance facets .beta. of the inner circumferential 
surface of the outer race 1' so that a wedge effect is produced on the 
rollers and the outer and the inner races 1' and 10 to prevent the inner 
race from being more rotated counterclockwise. 
The difference of the spinning reel from the preceding one shown in FIGS. 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 is that the inner race 10 is fitted on the outer 
circumferential surface of a rotary quill 11 projecting forward from a 
body cover 5, and a rotor 6 is fitted on the quill in front of the inner 
race and secured to the quill by a nut 13 so as not to rotate relative to 
the quill. The one-way clutch is provided on the outer circumferential 
surface of the rotary quill 11. A backward rotation preventer 7 is secured 
to the outer circumferential surface of the outer race 1' of the clutch, 
and constitutes a backward rotation preventing ratchet 7a. The tip 8a of a 
backward rotation preventing pawl 8 is located near the ratchet 7a so that 
the tip can be engaged with the ratchet, as shown in FIG. 9. The pawl 8 is 
supported in a swingable manner by the body cover 5 of the reel, and urged 
by a spring 18 in such a direction as to be engaged with the ratchet 7a. 
The position of the pawl 8 is controlled by the cam 9a of the cam member 9 
of the reel so that the tip of the pawl is engaged with the ratchet 7a or 
disengaged therefrom. A torsion spring 19 extends from the spring 
engagement portion of the cam 9a to the body cover 5, and is engaged with 
them. The cam member 9 is secured to the top of a manipulation bar 20 
projecting backward from the body cover 5. A knob 21 is secured to the bar 
20. FIG. 9 shows the state of the reel that the tip of the pawl 8 is 
engaged with the ratchet 7a by swinging the knob 21 down for engagement. 
The operation of the spinning reel including the one-way clutch as shown in 
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 is described from now on. When the knob 21 remains swung 
down for engagement and the handle 14 of the reel is turned in such a 
direction as to wind a fishline on the spool 16 of the reel, the rotary 
quill 11 and the rotor 6 are rotated forward clockwise as to FIG. 9 so 
that the inner race 10 of the clutch is rotated forward clockwise. As a 
result, the slender rollers 3' of the clutch are put in the free rotation 
spaces .alpha. inside the nook portions 1b of the inner circumferential 
surface of the outer race 1' so that the rotor 6 is allowed to continue to 
be rotated forward. At that time, the tip 8a of the pawl 8 urged by the 
spring 18 remains engaged with the ratchet 7a so that the backward 
rotation preventer 7 is kept from being rotated. When the fishline is 
thereafter unwound from the spool 16 by the pull of a fish, the rotor 6 is 
rotated backward counter-clockwise as to FIG. 9 so that the inner race 10 
is rotated backward counterclockwise. As a result, the slender rollers 3' 
are put out of the free rotation spaces .alpha. onto the rotation 
hindrance facets .beta. of the inner circumferential surface of the outer 
race 1' so that a wedge effect is produced on the rollers and the outer 
and the inner races 1' and 10 to prevent the inner race from being more 
rotated backward. At that time, the tip 8a of the pawl 8 urged by the 
spring 18 remains engaged with the ratchet 7a so that the backward 
rotation preventer 7 is kept from being rotated counterclockwise relative 
to the body cover 5 of the reel. For that reason, the outer race 1' 
secured to the inner circumferential surface of the preventer 7 is kept 
from being rotated, so that the rotor 6 is prevented from being more 
rotated backward. At that time, since the movement of the rollers 3' for 
the wedge effect is small and the backward rotation preventer 7 remains 
engaged with the pawl 8, the rotor 6 is very quickly prevented from being 
more rotated backward. If the knob 21 is swung down for disengagement in 
advance, the cam 9a of the cam member 9 swings the pawl 8 counterclockwise 
against the urging force of the spring 18 as shown by a two-dot chain line 
in FIG. 9, so that the rotor 6 is allowed to continue to be rotated 
backward. 
FIG. 10 shows a one-way clutch which is yet another of the embodiments. The 
difference of the clutch from the preceding one shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 
5 and 6 is that the inner circumferential surface of a retainer 102 is 
located off the outer circumferential surface of an inner race 110, and 
disk-shaped rollers 103 have through holes 103a for weight reduction. 
FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show the case that a one-way clutch which is yet 
another of the embodiments is included in a spinning reel for fishing. The 
clutch comprises an outer race 201, a retainer 202, four disk-shaped 
rollers 203, springs 204, an inner race 210, and a holding ring 223. The 
outer race 201 is made of a cement steel plate and shaped as a bottomed 
cylinder by deep-drawing, and has a through hole 201e which extends in the 
center of the bottom portion of the outer race and in which the inner race 
210 is fitted. The outer race 201 has a plurality of projections 201f on 
the outer circumferential surface of the race. The inner circumferential 
surface of the outer race 201 is shaped as a deformed polygon so that the 
surface has nook portions 201g defining free rotation spaces .alpha. in 
which the rollers 203 are freely rotated, and the surface has other 
portions 201h having rotation hindrance facets .beta. with which the 
rollers are put into contact so as to be hindered from being rotated. The 
retainer 202 is housed in the outer race 201. The four disk-shaped rollers 
203 are retained in the through holes 202e of the retainer 202, located on 
the outer circumferential surface of the inner race 210, and urged by the 
springs 204. The springs 204 are located on the peripheral portions of the 
retainer 202, and attached to the retainer at both the bent side edge 
portions of the springs, and have rectangular through holes 204d and ben 
portions 204e bent inside the holes so as to push the rollers 203. The 
holding ring 223 is fixedly fitted in the outer race 201. Although the 
axial dimension of each roller 203 is small and both the sides thereof are 
partly spherical surfaces, as shown in FIG. 12, the roller is not confined 
thereto. The inner circumferential surface of the rotor 206 of the reel is 
formed with projections 206b which extend into the internal opening of the 
rotor and with which a stop ring 217 made of a spring is engaged as shown 
in FIG. 12, and recesses 206c which face the internal opening of the rotor 
and in which the projections 201f of the outer race 201 of the clutch are 
fitted. The clutch is substantially the same in other constitution as the 
clutch shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and operates substantially in 
the same manner as the latter. 
The present invention is not confined to the above-described embodiments, 
but may be embodied or practiced in other various ways without departing 
from the scope and spirit of the invention.