ONE-WAY CLUTCH ENERGISING SPRING

Abstract: An energizing spring (21) utilized for a one-way clutch (10); such as a sprag clutch, wherein the spring includes a resilient high tensile spring steel metal cage or ring having parallel side bars joined by cross bars (24) to define a plurality of openings with tapered inwardly extending tabs, both the tabs and the side bars having transverse wrinkles or depressions therein. This energizing spring cooperates with a set of generally rigid inner (11) and outer (12) circular cages between the inner and outer races, these cages having openings corresponding to the spring openings to receive sprags which engage the inner and outer races.

Description: The present invention relates to an improved energiz­ ing spring for a one-way sprag clutch. In many convention­ al one-way clutch assemblies, a circular cage and a circu­ lar energizing spring are positioned radially midway be­ tween the inner and outer concentric races for a sprag clutch. The sprags are positioned in aligned openings in the cage and spring and are tiltable into wedging engage­ ment with the races. Extending into each opening in the spring is an energizing tab which engages the associated sprag to urge the sprag into wedging engagement with the races. One such energizing spring is shown in the Troendly et al U.S. Patent No. 2,573,027. In this patent, a circu­ lar energizing spring consists of a pair of parallel sides joined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced cross pieces defining spaced openings receiving the clutch sprags. Adjacent each cross piece, a transverse wrinkle or depression is formed in each parallel side. Extending from one edge of each cross piece is a substantially rectangular tab also having a transverse wrinkle or depression closely adjacent the cross piece. A circular, generally rigid cage is also located between the races contacting the spring and having transverse depressions which engage either the inner or outer race surface to position the cage in the clutch assembly. In the Troendly et al U. S. Patent No. 2,824,635, an­ other one-way sprag clutch is disclosed, which is similar in construction to the previous patent, including a resil­ ient cage 21 having spaced openings 23 separated by cross pieces 24 and sprag energizing tabs 25; a transverse wrin­ kle 27 at each side of the cage 21 and an aligned wrinkle 28 in each tab 25 adjacent the cross piece 24. Figs. 4 through 13 disclose alternate versions of the resilient cage. The present invention overcomes stress problems and breakage of the sprag energizing tabs that has occurred in the energizing springs of prior devices. The present invention relates to an improved energiz­ ing spring for a one-way sprag clutch wherein a resilient high tensile metal energizing spring band is utilized in conjunction with generally rigid inner and outer sprag cag­ es positioned intermediate the inner and outer races for the clutch. Both the energizing spring and the cages in­ clude a plurality of generally aligned, circumferentially spaced openings receiving individual sprags. Each opening in the energizing spring also has a tapered energizing tab resiliently engaging the associated sprag with a transverse wrinkle formed therein spaced from the cross bar to which the tab is attached. Further objects are to provide a construction of maxi­ mum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly, and such further objects, advantages and capabilties as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby. Figure 1 is a partial side elevational view of a sprag clutch utilizing the improved energizing spring. Figure 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the energizing spring. Figure 3 is a partial top plan view of the stamped spring blank. Figure 4 is a partial top plan view of the formed spring prior to being formed into a circle. Figure 5 is an edge view of a portion of the formed spring of Figure 4. Figure 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4. Figure7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 4. Figure 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 4. Figure 9 is a further enlarged cross sectional view similar to Figure 6 through an alternate embodiment of the formed spring. Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings wherein are shown illustrative embodiments of the present invention, Figure 1 discloses a one-way sprag clutch assembly 10 including a cylindrical inner race 11, a cylindrical outer race 12, and a generally rigid outer circular cage 13 provided with a plurality of circum­ ferentially spaced openings 14 receiving individual sprags 15 having inner and outer rounded surfaces 16 and 17, respectively, engaging the cylindrical surfaces 18 and 19 of the races 11 and 12. A generally rigid inner cage 20 is positioned between an energizing spring and the inner race 11; the cage having openings 30 receiving the sprags. The rigid cages 13 and 20 are both generally circular and formed by stamping with no overlapping ends. Circum­ ferentially spaced transversely extending corrugations (not shown) may be formed into either cage to contact either the surface 18 or 19 and aid in positioning the cages relative to the inner and outer races. Positioned between the rigid cages is a generally circular energizing spring 21 which is formed from a flat metal strip 22 of spring steel having spaced openings 23 punched out of the strip, as seen in Figure 3. Each opening is generally rectangular and separated by a cross bar 24 from the next adjacent opening. Projecting inward from each cross bar is an integral tapered energizing tab 25 having side edges 26,26 converging from the cross bar and provided with a rounded surface or fillet radius 27 at the intersection with the cross bar 24. Also, the opening 23 opposite the energizing tab is provided with a pair of enlarged corners 28. After the strip 22 is formed and the openings 23 punched out, a wrinkle 31 is formed in each parallel side bar 29 and an aligned wrinkle 32 is formed in the energiz­ ing tab 25; the wrinkles 31 and 32 being spaced from the edge 33 of the cross bar 24. As seen in Figure 7, the wrinkles 31 and 32 are of an equal depth and enhance the resiliency of the spring and energizing tabs. Lastly, the spring strap is formed into a generally circular confi­ guration with overlapping ends (not shown) and located adjacent the outer cage 13. The sprags 15 are positioned within the aligned openings 14, 30 and 23 of the cages and spring, respectively, with the free end 34 of each energiz­ ing tab 25 engaging a side of a corresponding sprag 15 to urge the sprag to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction to an engaged position with the inner and outer races of the clutch. Figure 9 discloses an alternate embodiment of energiz­ ing spring 41 which is substantially identical in configura­ tion with, the spring 21 of Figures 1 through 8, except the wrinkles 31a in the side bars 29a are deeper than the wrin­ kle 32a in the energizing tab 25a. The load on the sprag is adjusted by the height of the tab end 34a; the load also being increased by using thicker material or a more rigid tab. The usage of thicker material and a rigid tapered tab allows the height of the tab to be formed lower in relation to the plane of the side bar, as seen in Figure 9. As a result of being formed lower, the tab deflection is less at freewheel and the life of the spring is increased. The tapered tab of this invention transfers more of its load to the crossbars than the previously used parallel sided tab. The crossbar width is also thinner to act as a spring and absorb the increased load without fracturing. The fillet radius at the tab base is also increased in this invention to reduce the loading at this point. These chang­ es have greatly enhanced the fatigue life of the ribbon spring in a sprag one-way clutch.

Claims: 1. An energizing spring (21) for a one-way sprag clutch (10) used in conjunction with at least one relatively rigid cage (13 or 20) between inner (11) and outer (12) clutch races, comprising an elongated resilient metal ribbon (22) adapted to be bent into a circular spring, said ribbon including a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings (23) in the ribbon separated by cross bars (24), and a tapered energizing tab (25) extending from each cross bar (24) into the corresponding opening. 2. An energizing spring as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said tab (25) has opposite edges (26) converging from said cross bar to terminate within said opening. 3. An energizing spring as set forth in Claim 1, in- cluding parallel side bars (29,29) defined by said openings (23) and joined by said cross bars (24). 4. An energizing spring as set forth in Claim 3, wherein said side bars (29) and energizing tab are formed with a transverse wrinkle (31,32) therein. 5. An energizing spring as set forth in Claim 4, wherein all of the wrinkles (31,32) are spaced from the adjacent cross bar (24). 6. An energizing spring as set forth in Claim 4, wherein all of the wrinkles (31,33) are formed to have an equal depth. 7. An energizing spring as set forth in Claim 4, wherein the wrinkles (31a) in the side bar (29a) have a greater depth than the wrinkle (32a) in said energizing tab (25a). 8. An energizing spring as set forth in Claim 1, wherein each opening (23) has enlarged corners (28) at the edge of the cross bar (24) opposite to the energizing tab (25). 9. An energizing spring as set forth in Claim 1, in which the corners (27) of the intersection of said tab with said cross bar are rounded.

Inventors: CAREY, JAMES ROBERT, FERFECKI, FRANK JOHN
Applicants: BORG-WARNER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F16D41
IPC codes: F16D41