Patent ID: 7726455

Claim:
A clutch, comprising: an input pinion; an output pinion rotatable about an axis of rotation and associated with a rotatable locking member having a surface inclined with respect to the axis of rotation, the surface cooperating with at least one engagement member wherein the at least one engagement member and the locking member are ferromagnetic, and wherein the rotatable locking member is movable between a first position, in which the surface forms a recess to receive the at least one engagement member, and a second position, in which the surface forms a projection to force the at least one engagement member into abutment with the input pinion to establish a driveable connection between the input pinion and the output pinion; and a permanent magnet for applying a magnetic field to separate the at least one engagement member from the input pinion when the locking member is in the first position and to hold the locking member in the second position when the locking member is in the second position.