Segmented wedge clutch with spring clips

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10378595-B2
Application number	US-201615388297-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2016
Priority date	Dec 22, 2016
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

A clutch for selectively coupling first and second rotational members includes a hub rotatable about an axis and connectable to the first rotational member, and a carrier rotatable about the axis and connectable to the second rotational member. One of the hub and the carrier defines an annular groove and the other of the hub and the carrier defines a ramped surface. A wedge plate of the clutch has a first edge disposed on the ramped surface, a second edge disposed in the annular groove, and a face extending between the edges and defining an annular shoulder. An annular resilient member is seated against the shoulder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clutch for selectively coupling first and second rotational members, the clutch comprising:
a hub rotatable about an axis and connectable to the first rotational member;
a carrier rotatable about the axis and connectable to the second rotational member, wherein a one of the hub or the carrier defines an annular groove and the other one of the hub or the carrier defines a ramped surface;
a wedge plate including a first edge disposed on the ramped surface, a second edge disposed in the annular groove, and a face extending between the edges and defining an annular shoulder; and
an annular resilient member seated against the shoulder.

2. The clutch of claim 1 further comprising a retainer that secures the resilient member to the wedge plate.

3. The clutch of claim 2 , wherein the retainer includes a body that engages with the resilient member and at least one prong that clips onto the wedge plate.

4. The clutch of claim 3 , wherein the prong extends through an opening defined in the wedge plate.

5. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder defines a step, and the annular resilient member is seated against the step.

6. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the wedge plate further includes a plurality of annular segments arranged in a disk and secured together by the annular resilient member.

7. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the groove is defined by a first pair of angled surfaces, and the second edge defines a second pair of angled surfaces that engage with the first pair of angled surfaces when the clutch is closed.

8. A wedge plate for a wedge clutch having first and second concentric races supported for rotation about a common axis, the wedge plate comprising:
a plurality of arcuate segments arranged to form a disk, each of the segments including an inner edge engageable with the first race, an outer edge engageable with the second race, and first and second opposing faces extending between the inner and outer edges;
a retaining ring adjacent the first face on each of the arcuate segments to secure the segments as the disk; and
at least one clip including a retaining portion disposed against the retaining ring and a clip portion connected to the disk.

9. The wedge plate of claim 8 , wherein each of the segments defines a shoulder extending axially from one of the faces, and the retaining ring is seated on the shoulder.

10. The wedge plate of claim 8 , wherein the retaining portion engages with the first face on a corresponding one of the arcuate segments and the clip portion engages with the second face of the corresponding arcuate segment.

11. The wedge plate of claim 10 , wherein the corresponding arcuate segment defines an opening and the clip portion extends through the opening.

12. The wedge plate of claim 11 , wherein a perimeter surface of the opening defines a recessed slot, and the clip portion is disposed in the slot.

13. The wedge plate of claim 8 , wherein the retaining portion is arcuate.

14. The wedge plate of claim 8 , wherein the clip portion further includes an elongate member extending through the disk and a hook member engaging with the second face of one of the arcuate segments.

15. The wedge plate of claim 8 , wherein the wedge plate includes an equal amount of arcuate segments and clips, and wherein each of the arcuate segments is connected to a corresponding one of the clips.

16. A clutch comprising:
a hub supported for rotation about an axis;
a carrier supported for rotation about the axis; and
a wedge plate that frictionally engages between the hub and the carrier when the clutch is locked to couple the hub and the carrier, the wedge plate including:
a plurality of wedge segments arranged for rotation about the axis,
a retaining ring interconnecting the wedge segments to form a disk, and
a clip that secures the retaining ring to the disk.

17. The clutch of claim 16 , wherein the disk defines an opening and a portion of the clip extends through the opening.

18. The clutch of claim 16 , wherein the clip includes an annular body disposed against the retaining ring and a prong extending from the annular body and including a hooked end clipped to one of the wedge segments.

19. The clutch of claim 16 , wherein the clip is a plurality of clips that are each attached to one of the wedge segments.

20. The clutch of claim 16 further comprising a second retaining ring disposed on a side of the disk opposite the retaining ring and engaging with each of the wedge segments.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Lee Brian
• Ohr Carsten

Classifications

• F16D13/16 Primary

  shaped as radially-movable segments · CPC title

• F16D13/66

  of conical shape · CPC title

• F16D27/10

  with an electromagnet not rotating with a clutching member, i.e. without collecting rings {(F16D27/004 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16D15/00

  Clutches with wedging balls or rollers or with other wedgeable separate clutching members (freewheels, freewheel clutches F16D41/00) · CPC title