Radial spacer and retainer for roller one-way clutch

Abstract: A roller one-way clutch assembly has a single spacer ring (22) having inner and outer bearing surfaces (32,34) which are supported on shoulders (36,38) of the inner (12) and outer (14) races of the clutch assembly, to accurately define an operating space (18) therebetween, and wherein the outer race (14) further includes an annular groove (45) for receiving retention tabs (22d) on the ring (22) to fix it axially on the outer race (14) and to provide retention of the roller clutch in the operating space (18).

Description: This invention relates to roller one-way clutches. In US-A-4236619 there is generally disclosed a roller one-way clutch having an outer race, an inner bearing member and a cage located therebetween with roller components and spring components movable with respect to the inner bearing member and the outer race and interacting with mating surfaces on the inner bearing member and the outer race to lock relative rotation between the inner bearing member and the outer race in one direction of relative rotation therebetween and to cause one of the outer race and the inner bearing member to overrun the other of the outer race and the inner bearing member in an opposite direction of relative rotation therebetween, the cage having means thereon for forming closed pockets with an open end for loading the roller components therein and for locating the roller components between the inner bearing member and the outer race, and a spacer element connected between the inner bearing member and the outer race for maintaining a controlled radial spacing therebetween independent of radial contact between the roller components and the inner bearing member and the outer race for smoothing operation of the roller components during the first and opposite directions of relative rotation. More particularly, in the aforesaid clutch the inner bearing member is a shaft and there are a pair of axially spaced spacer elements which are bearing rings fixedly fitted within the outer race and supported on the shaft. As preassembled to the outer race, the bearing rings provide a clearance for assembly on the shaft. One such bearing ring is located to one side of the closed pocket area of the cage, and the other bearing ring is located on the other side of the cage opposite the open ends of the cage pockets. The arrangement presents the disadvantage that the roller components can slip from their seats and escape through the central openings in the bearing rings prior to assembly of the shaft thereto. A problem can arise if the roller components are reinserted under field conditions in a manner in which they are misaligned or are not properly cleaned prior to reassembly. In accordance with the present invention as claimed, the aforesaid generally disclosed roller one-way clutch of US-A-4236619 is characterised in that the clutch is preassembled, the inner bearing member is an inner race, and there is a single said spacer element which is locked in a groove in the outer race and which has surface means thereon for closing the open end of the pockets, by which the spacer element together with the cage prevents the roller components from escaping in any axial direction. The invention is advantageous in that the single spacer element acts as an integral radial spacer and roller component retainer, in its former function providing for radial spacing of inner and outer races with an operating space therebetween occupied by a caged roller one-way clutch unit, and in its latter function maintaining the roller components in place following assembly and during shipment of the preassembled roller one-way clutch. Attention is also drawn to US-A-3083802 which discloses the use of a centered roller bearing for providing radial spacing between inner and outer races of a clutch mechanism. US-A-3118525 discloses a clutch with spacers for axially positioning two separate caged roller mechanisms between a central shaft and two outer races. US-A-3547238 discloses a roller one-way clutch with individual spaced side plates that connect on individual spring retainers. Separate flange pieces are required to complete the assembly after the inner and outer races are assembled on the operating shaft. US-A-4178805 discloses a roller one-way clutch formed as part of an engine starter assembly. The rollers are held in place by a cover having an end wall. US-A-4438836 discloses a roller one-way clutch like the '805 clutch but assembled in a free wheel hub assembly rather than in an engine starter assembly. US-A-4570762 discloses a roller one-way clutch having an inner and outer race with a caged roller and spring array supported in the operating space therebetween. The caged roller one-way clutch has spaced side walls joined by transverse webs. The side walls must be joined following insertion of the roller components. DE-B-2348733 discloses a similar roller one-way clutch. Finally, attention is drawn to the one-way clutch mechanism disclosed in JP-A-631030932. FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an assembled roller one-way clutch embodying the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially sectioned of the roller one-way clutch of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a cage component in the assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a spacer ring component in the assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a roller receiving pocket and spring in the roller one-way clutch of FIG. 1; and FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the spacer ring component showing oil flow and bearing support surface segments thereon. Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 5, a roller one-way clutch 10 is illustrated including an inner race 12 and an outer race 14 with a caged roller one-way clutch 16 located therebetween. The inner race 12, outer race 14 and clutch 16 are preassembled as a unit and shipped together for assembly in a larger machine or apparatus. It is desirable to provide an operating space 18 between the inner race 12 and the outer race 14 which is precisely radially dimensioned for smooth operation of roller components 20 in the caged roller one-way clutch 16. To accomplish this objective a one-piece radial spacer ring 22 is provided to maintain the desired radial spacing of the inner and outer races 12, 14 and to retain the individual rollers 20 in place following preassembling and during shipment of the assembled unit for use in a larger machine or apparatus. As will be described in detail below, the one-piece radial spacer ring 22 has a configuration especially suited to maintaining desired radial spacing between the inner and outer races 12, 14. The spacer ring 22 also includes integral means thereon for retaining the clutch components axially within the operating space 18. The spacer ring 22 also includes integral means thereon for controlling lubrication flow with the operating space 18 during operation of the roller one-way clutch 10. More specifically, the roller one-way clutch 10, in addition to the rollers 20 includes a cage 24 having pockets 26 in which the rollers 20 and pleated leaf springs 28 are located for suspending the rollers 20 as they grip and release depending upon the direction of relative rotation between the inner and outer races 12, 14. The leaf springs 28 are exemplary, with it being understood that other spring types and other orientations of the leaf springs 28 are contemplated within the scope of the invention. The inner race 12 includes counter gripping surfaces 30 with shoulders 30a which allow the inner race to free wheel when the inner race 12 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5. The surfaces 30 will grip the rollers to prevent relative rotation of the races 12, 14 in the opposite direction of rotation of the inner race 12. While the counter gripping surfaces are shown on the inner race 12 it should be understood that the spacer ring 22 of the present invention is equally suited for use with roller one-way clutches where such gripping surfaces are formed on the outer race. The cage 24 is also illustrative of a cage suitable for receiving the rollers 20. The cage 24 has circumferentially spaced cross arms 24a serving to define the side walls of the pockets 26. In the illustrated arrangement the cage 24 also has a closure wall 24b which prevents the assembled rollers 20 from escaping the cage 24 through one end of the pockets 26. The spacer ring 22 is shaped to have a central annular segment 22a that closes the opposite end of the pockets 26 as best seen in FIG. 2. The spacer ring 22 also has a pair of axially outwardly bent ends 22b and 22c that define annular bearing surfaces 32, 34 respectively. The bearing surface 32 engages the inner race 12 at an axial annular reference surface 36 at the O.D. of the inner race 12 as best seen in FIG. 6. The bearing surface 34 engages a annular reference surface 38 on the outboard face and I.D. of the outer race 14. The bearing surfaces 32, 34 have a length and the spacer ring 22 has a width which is selected to provide for radial loadings on the inner and outer races 12, 14 to assure that the spacer ring 22 will maintain a desired radial relationship between the I.D. of the outer race 14 and the O.D. of the inner race. Such spacing, in certain bearing designs will allow higher overrunning speeds, will accommodate higher radial loads and in certain cases can eliminate the need for separate bearing block inserts to provide radial alignment. The spacer ring 22 is configured to have radius surfaces 40, 42 on the inboard surface 44 thereof. The surfaces 40, 42 provide for flow of lubricant across the surfaces 32,34,36 and 38 to enhance lubrication of the clutch, races and adjacent components in which the roller one-way clutch 10 is later assembled. While only one spacer ring 22 is illustrated it should be understood that a like spacer ring can be provided on the opposite end of the assembled inner and outer race in cases where greater radial load bearing capacity is desired. In either case, circumferentially spaced radially projecting tabs 22d are provided on the or each ring 22. The tabs 22d are received in an annular groove 45 formed in the outer race 14 as seen in FIG. 2 for interlocking the spacer ring 22 to the outer race.

Claims: A roller one-way clutch having an outer race (14), an inner bearing member (12) and a cage (24) located therebetween with roller components (20) and spring components (28) movable with respect to the inner bearing member (12) and the outer race (14) and interacting with mating surfaces (30) on the inner bearing member (12) and the outer race (14) to lock relative rotation between the inner bearing member (12) and the outer race (14) in one direction of relative rotation therebetween and to cause one of the outer race (14) and the inner bearing member (12) to overrun the other of the outer race (14) and the inner bearing member (12) in an opposite direction of relative rotation therebetween, the cage (24) having means (24b) thereon for forming closed pockets (26) with an open end for loading the roller components (20) therein and for locating the roller components (20) between the inner bearing member (12) and the outer race (14), and a spacer element (22) connected between the inner bearing member (12) and the outer race (14) for maintaining a controlled radial spacing therebetween independent of radial contact between the roller components and the inner bearing member and the outer race for smoothing operation of the roller components (20) during the first and opposite directions of relative rotation, characterised in that the one-way roller clutch (10) is preassembled, the inner bearing member (12) is an inner race (12), and there is a single said spacer element (22) which is locked in a groove (45) in the outer race (14) and which has surface means (22a) thereon for closing the open end of the pockets (26), by which the spacer element (22) together with the cage (24) prevents the roller components (20) from escaping in any axial direction. A roller clutch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the groove (45) is formed on the inside of the outer race (14), and including tab means (22d) on the spacer element (22) for engaging in the groove (45) thereby to axially lock the spacer element (22) to the outer race (14). A roller clutch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacer element (22) has a radial outer bearing surface (34) and a radial inner bearing surface (32), the inner race (12) having an annular surface (36) thereon engageable with the radial inner bearing surface (32) of the spacer element (22), the outer race (14) having an annular surface (38) engageable with the radial outer bearing surface (34) of the spacer element (22), the groove (45) being annular and being formed in the outer race (14) outwardly of the annular surface (38) thereof, the spacer element (22) having a plurality of circumferentially spaced retention tabs (22d) thereon fitted within the annular groove (14). A roller clutch as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer element (22) has axially outwardly directed end edges (22b, 22c) each having a curved inboard surface (40, 42) for directing lubricant from between the inner (12) and outer (14) races across the spacer element (22) at the axially outwardly directed end edges (22b, 22c) thereof. A roller clutch as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer element (22) is a continuously circumferentially formed ring (22). A roller clutch as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer element (22) constitutes the sole means for establishing the radial spacing between the inner (12) and outer (14) races.

Inventors: MELACHA GREGORY J, MELACHA, GREGORY J.
Applicants: BORG WARNER AUTOMOTIVE, BORG-WARNER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: F16D41
IPC codes: F16D41