Slip mechanism with series torque capacity and over drive function

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10508698-B2
Application number	US-201715835539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2017
Priority date	Dec 8, 2017
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

A slip clutch, including: an output hub; a first hub; a second hub non-rotatably connected to the output hub; an input hub arranged to receive rotational torque. The input hub includes: a first plurality of balls; a first plurality of springs urging the first plurality of balls radially outwardly into contact with the first hub; a second plurality of balls; and a second plurality of springs urging the second plurality of balls radially outwardly into contact with the second hub.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A slip clutch, comprising:
an output hub;
a first hub;
a second hub non-rotatably connected to the output hub;
an input hub arranged to receive rotational torque, the input hub including:
a first plurality of balls;
a first plurality of springs urging the first plurality of balls radially outwardly into contact with the first hub;
a second plurality of balls; and,
a second plurality of springs urging the second plurality of balls radially outwardly into contact with the second hub.

2. The slip clutch of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one one-way clutch:
blocking rotation of the first hub, with respect to the output hub, in a first circumferential direction; and,
enabling rotation of the first hub, with respect to the output hub, in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction.

3. The slip clutch of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of balls non-rotatably connects the input hub and the first hub with a first force;
the second plurality of balls non-rotatably connects the input hub and the second hub with a second force; and,
the first force is not equal to the second force.

4. The slip clutch of claim 1 , wherein:
the first plurality of balls non-rotatably connects the input hub and the first hub with a first force;
the second plurality of balls non-rotatably connects the input hub and the second hub with a second force; and,
the first force is equal to the second force.

5. The slip clutch of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one one-way clutch engaged with the first hub and the output hub, wherein:
the first plurality of balls non-rotatably connects the input hub and the first hub with a first force;
the second plurality of balls non-rotatably connects the input hub and the second hub with a second force;
the first plurality of balls and the second plurality of balls non-rotatably connect the input hub to the output hub, with the first force plus the second force, for rotation of the input hub in a first circumferential direction; and,
for rotation of the input hub in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction:
the at least one one-way clutch enables rotation of the first hub, with respect to the output hub, in the second circumferential direction; and,
the second plurality of balls connects the input hub to the second hub with the second force.

6. The slip clutch of claim 1 , wherein:
the first hub includes a first plurality of grooves;
the first plurality of balls is disposed in the first plurality of grooves;
the second hub includes a second plurality of grooves; and,
the second plurality of balls is disposed in the second plurality of grooves.

7. The slip clutch of claim 6 , wherein:
a respective groove from the first plurality of grooves is circumferentially disposed between each pair of circumferentially adjacent balls in the first plurality of balls; and,
a respective groove from the second plurality of grooves is circumferentially disposed between each pair of circumferentially adjacent balls in the second plurality of balls.

8. The slip clutch of claim 1 , wherein:
the slip clutch is supported for rotation around an axis of rotation;
a first line, parallel to the axis of rotation, passes through the first plurality of balls without passing through the second plurality of balls; and,
a second line, parallel to the axis of rotation, passes through the second plurality of balls without passing through the first plurality of balls.

9. The slip clutch of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of balls is axially off-set from the first plurality of balls.

10. The slip clutch of claim 1 , wherein:
the first hub is radially disposed between the input hub and the output hub; and,
the second hub is radially disposed between the input hub and the output hub.

11. The slip clutch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third hub, wherein:
the input hub includes:
a third plurality of balls; and,
a third plurality of springs urging the third plurality of balls radially outwardly into contact with the third hub; and,

the third plurality of balls non-rotatably connects the input hub and the third hub with a first force.

12. The slip clutch of claim 11 , further comprising:
at least one one-way clutch:
blocking rotation of the third hub, with respect to the output hub, in a first circumferential direction; and,
enabling rotation of the third hub, with respect to the output hub, in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction.

13. A slip clutch, comprising:
an output hub;
a first hub;
a second hub non-rotatably connected to the output hub;
an input hub arranged to receive rotational torque and including:
a first slip clutch assembly non-rotatably connecting the input hub and the first hub with a first force; and,
a second slip clutch assembly non-rotatably connecting the input hub and the second hub with a second force; and,

a first plurality of one-way clutches:
blocking rotation of the first hub with respect to the output hub in a first circumferential direction; and,
enabling rotation of the first hub with respect to the output hub in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction.

14. The slip clutch of claim 13 , wherein:
the input hub includes:
a first plurality of radially inwardly extending slots; and,
a second plurality of radially inwardly extending slots;

the first slip clutch assembly includes:
a plurality of first balls disposed in the first plurality of radially inwardly extending slots and in contact with the first hub; and,
a first plurality of springs disposed in the first plurality of radially inwardly extending slots and urging the plurality of first balls radially outwardly; and,

the second slip clutch assembly includes:
a plurality of second balls disposed in the second plurality of radially inwardly extending slots and in contact with the second hub; and,
a second plurality of springs disposed in the second plurality of radially inwardly extending slots and urging the plurality of second balls radially outwardly.

15. The slip clutch of claim 14 , wherein:
the first hub includes a plurality of first grooves;
each first ball is disposed in a respective first groove;
the second hub includes a plurality of second grooves;
each second ball is disposed in a respective second groove;
the respective first groove is circumferentially disposed between each pair of circumferentially adjacent first balls; and,
the respective second groove is circumferentially disposed between each pair of circumferentially adjacent second balls.

16. The slip clutch of claim 13 , further comprising:
a third hub; and,
a second plurality of one-way clutches:
blocking rotation of the third hub, with respect to the output hub, in the first circumferential direction; and,
enabling rotation of the third hub, with respect to the output hub, in the second circumferential direction, wherein the input hub includes a third slip clutch assembly non-rotatably connecting the input hub and the third hub with a third force.

17. The slip clutch of claim 16 , wherein:
the input hub includes a third plurality of radially inwardly extending slots;
the third slip clutch assembly includes:
a plurality of third balls disposed in the third plurality of radially inwardly extending slots and in contact with the third hub; and,
a third plurality of springs disposed in the third plurality of radi

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Sturgin Todd

Classifications

• F16D45/00

  Freewheels or freewheel clutches combined with automatic clutches · CPC title

• F16D41/12

  with hinged pawl co-operating with teeth, cogs, or the like (F16D41/02, F16D41/24 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16D47/04 Primary

  of which at least one is a freewheel (F16D47/02, F16D47/06 take precedence; freewheels combined with a clutch to lock the driving and driven members of the freewheel F16D41/04, F16D41/26) · CPC title

• F16D43/208

  moving radially between engagement and disengagement · CPC title

• F16D7/10 Primary

  moving radially between engagement and disengagement · CPC title