Patent ID: 8151959

Claim:
A one-way clutch unit having an unlocking and reverse rotation function and comprising a one-way clutch ( 2 ), an unlocking member ( 3 ), an input member ( 31 ), an output member ( 32 ) and a control member ( 23 ) that are coaxially assembled together, said one-way clutch ( 2 ) comprising an inner race ( 6 ), an outer race ( 7 ) fitted around said inner race so as to be rotatable relative to said inner race, said inner race ( 6 ) having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets ( 8 ) formed in a fitting surface thereof, each of said pockets having a bottom formed with a circumferentially inclined cam surface ( 14 ) defining a wedge space having a predetermined wedge angle (θ) in cooperation with a fitting surface of said outer race ( 7 ), rolling elements ( 15 ) each disposed on the cam surface ( 14 ) of one of said pockets, and biasing springs ( 16 ) each received in one of said pockets ( 8 ) between a first end of said pocket that faces a wide end of the wedge space having the predetermined wedge angle (θ) and said rolling element ( 15 ) and biasing said rolling element ( 15 ) toward a narrow end of the wedge spaces having the predetermined wedge angle (θ); wherein each of said pockets ( 8 ) has a plurality of said cam surfaces ( 14 ) that are formed continuously in the circumferential direction; wherein in each of said plurality of pockets ( 8 ), a plurality of said rolling elements ( 15 ) are received so as to be each disposed on one of said cam surfaces ( 14 ) and in contact with each other; wherein said unlocking member ( 3 ) comprises an annular portion ( 17 ) that is concentric with said inner race ( 6 ) or outer race ( 7 ), and axially extending unlocking pieces ( 18 ) each received in one of said pockets ( 8 ) between a second end of said pocket ( 8 ) that faces the narrow ends of said wedge spaces having the predetermined wedge angle and the rolling elements ( 15 ) located nearest to said second end; wherein said input member ( 31 ) and said output member ( 32 ) are fixed to said outer race ( 7 ) and said inner race ( 6 ) of said one-way clutch ( 2 ), respectively; and wherein said control member ( 23 ) and said output member ( 32 ) have rotation transmission portions ( 36 , 38 ) that are in engagement with each other, thereby rotationally fixing said control member ( 23 ) and output member ( 32 ) together.