Patent ID: 8038575

Claim:
A releasable backstopping clutch assembly, comprising: a backstopping clutch comprising: an inner member; an outer member disposed radially outwardly of said inner member; and, a torque transmission member disposed between said inner and outer members, one of said inner and outer members freely rotatable relative to another of said inner and outer members in a first rotational direction, said torque transmission member configured to engage said another member and inhibit rotation of said one member relative to said another member in a second rotational direction; a support structure fixed against rotation and releasably coupled to said another member of said backstopping clutch, said support structure inhibiting rotation of said another member in said second rotational direction when coupled to said another member and permitting rotation of said another member in said second rotational direction when uncoupled from said another member; a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a characteristic associated with movement of said another member of said backstopping clutch in said second rotational direction; and a controller configured to cause coupling of said support structure and said another member if said characteristic meets a predetermined condition.