Freewheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11047432-B2
Application number	US-201916408793-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2019
Priority date	May 11, 2018
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

The present invention relates to a freewheel ( 2 ) comprising a first race ( 18 ), a second race ( 20 ), and clamping elements ( 42, 44 ) between the first and second races ( 18, 20 ), said clamping elements connected in rotational engagement with the first race ( 18 ), wherein the clamping elements ( 42, 44 ) consist of first clamping elements ( 42 ) which are able to move between a first position, in which the first race ( 18 ) is able to rotate in relation to the second race ( 20 ) in a first direction of rotation ( 52 ), and a second position, in which the first race ( 18 ) is coupled in rotational engagement with the second race ( 20 ) via at least one of said first clamping elements ( 42 ) in the first direction of rotation ( 52 ). At least one first clamping element ( 42 ) is designed to be elastically deformable.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A freewheel ( 2 ) comprising a first race ( 18 ), a second race ( 20 ), and first and second pivotable clamping elements ( 42 , 44 ) between the first and second races ( 18 , 20 ), said clamping elements connected in rotational engagement with the first race ( 18 ), wherein the clamping elements ( 42 , 44 ) consist of first clamping elements ( 42 ) which are able to move between a first position, in which the first race ( 18 ) is able to rotate in relation to the second race ( 20 ) in a first direction of rotation ( 52 ), and a second position, in which the first race ( 18 ) is coupled in rotational engagement with the second race ( 20 ) via at least one of said first clamping elements ( 42 ) in the first direction of rotation ( 52 ), characterized in that at least one first clamping element ( 42 ) is elastically deformable such that the at least one first clamping element ( 42 ) is made of an elastic material that is compressed only in the direction of a supporting force and expands back in an opposing direction in the absence of the supporting force.

2. The freewheel ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first and second clamping elements ( 42 , 44 ) further consist of second clamping elements ( 44 ) which are able to move between a first position, in which the first race ( 18 ) is able to rotate in relation to the second race ( 20 ) in a second direction of rotation ( 60 ), and a second position, in which the first race ( 18 ) is coupled in rotational engagement with the second race ( 20 ) via at least one of said clamping elements ( 44 ) in said second direction of rotation ( 60 ), wherein at least one second clamping element ( 44 ) is elastically deformable.

3. The freewheel ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the freewheel ( 2 ) is operable in four operating modes, and in a first operating mode, in which the first race ( 18 ) is able to rotate in relation to the second race ( 20 ) in both the first direction of rotation and the second, opposite direction of rotation ( 52 , 60 ), a second operating mode, in which the first race ( 18 ) is coupled in rotational engagement with the second race ( 20 ) in the first direction of rotation ( 52 ) and is able to rotate in relation to the second race ( 20 ) in the second direction of rotation ( 60 ), a third operating mode, in which the first race ( 18 ) is able to rotate in relation to the second race ( 20 ) in the first direction of rotation ( 52 ) and is coupled in rotational engagement with the second race ( 20 ) in the second direction of rotation ( 60 ), and a fourth operating mode, in which the first race ( 18 ) is coupled in rotational engagement with the second race ( 20 ) in both the first and second directions of rotation ( 52 , 60 ).

4. The freewheel ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the elastically deformable first clamping element 42 and/or an elastically deformable second clamping element ( 44 ) is elastically bendable.

5. The freewheel ( 2 ) according to claim 1 characterized in that at least the elastically deformable first clamping element ( 42 ) and/or an elastically deformable second clamping element ( 44 ) is designed to be arcuate or curved, wherein at least the elastically deformable clamping element ( 42 ) and/or the elastically deformable second clamping element ( 44 ) is designed to be arcuate or curved in a way that a supporting force between the first and second races ( 18 , 20 ) can in the second position only be transmitted along an arcuate or curved force transmission path ( 66 ) via the respective clamping element ( 42 , 44 ).

6. The freewheel ( 2 ) according to claim 5 , characterized in that at least the elastically deformable first clamping element ( 42 ) and/or the elastically deformable second clamping element ( 44 ) comprises a first end portion ( 68 ) for supporting the respective clamping element ( 42 , 44 ) on the first race ( 18 ) in the second position, a second end portion ( 70 ) for supporting the respective clamping element ( 42 , 44 ) on the second race ( 20 ) in the second position, and an intermediate portion ( 72 ) between the first and second end portions ( 68 , 70 ), the cross-section of which has a greater axial area moment of inertia and/or a greater height (h1) than the cross-sections of the first and second end portions ( 68 , 70 ), wherein the area moment of inertia and/or the height (h1) of the cross-sectional surface increases continuously and/or constantly with increasing distance from the two end portions ( 68 , 70 ), and/or in an area where the bending stress on the respective clamping element ( 42 , 44 ) is greatest while achieving a uniform bending stress along the respective clamping element ( 42 , 44 ).

7. The freewheel ( 2 ) according to claim 6 , characterized in that a protruding shoulder ( 74 , 76 ) supportable on the first and/or second race ( 18 , 20 ) is provided on the first and/or second end portion ( 68 , 70 ), wherein said protruding shoulder ( 74 , 76 ) protrudes from an upper side ( 62 ) that bulges out due to said arcuate or curved shape.

8. The freewheel ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least the elastically deformable first clamping element ( 42 ) and/or the elastically deformable second clamping element ( 44 ) is pivotable from the first position into the second position, wherein at least the elastically deformable first clamping element ( 42 ) and/or the elastically deformable second clamping element ( 44 ) is pivotably arranged on at least one side wall ( 36 , 38 ) that is non-rotatably connected to the first race ( 18 ), and at least the elastically deformable first clamping element ( 42 ) and/or the elastically deformable second clamping element ( 44 ) extends into a recess ( 80 , 82 ) within the side wall ( 36 , 38 ), while achieving a pivotable support.

9. The freewheel ( 2 ) according to claim 8 , characterized in that the recess ( 80 , 82 ) is associated with a supporting element ( 84 ) projecting into the recess ( 80 , 82 ), upon which the clamping element ( 42 , 44 ) that extends into the recess ( 80 , 82 ) is supported or supportable, while forming a pivot axis ( 46 , 54 ) designed to be apart from the clamping element ( 42 , 44 ), wherein the supporting element ( 84 ) is designed to be integral with the side wall ( 36 , 38 ), and/or to narrow and/or taper to a point in the direction of the clamping element ( 42 , 44 ), and/or the recess ( 80 , 82 ) is associated with a retaining element ( 88 ) for axial support of the clamping element ( 42 , 44 ) that extends into the recess ( 80 , 82 ).

10. The freewheel ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that an adjustment means is provided for adjusting the first clamping elements ( 42 ) and/or the second clamping elements ( 44 ), said adjustment means comprising a positioning ring ( 92 ) that is able to rotate in relation to the first race ( 18 ) and has a positioning contour ( 94 ) which interacts with the first and/or second clamping elements ( 42 , 44 ), wherein the positioning contour ( 94 ) interacts with the first and/or second clamping elements ( 42 , 44 ) via translationally displaceable positioning pieces ( 96 ), and/or the first and/or second clamping elements ( 42 , 44 ) are biased into the first or second position, and/or the first and/or second race ( 18 , 20 ) has a supporting contour ( 28 , 32 ) that deviates from a circular contour.

11. The freewheel ( 2 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the first and second clamping elements ( 42 , 44 ) are able to move in an opposing direction from the first position into the second position and from the second position into the first position.

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc

Inventors

• Brezger Friedrich Philipp
• Meinzer Fabian
• Groneberg Oliver

Classifications

• F16D41/084

  the intermediate coupling members wedging by pivoting or rocking · CPC title

• F16D2041/0603

  Sprag details · CPC title

• F16D41/069 Primary

  the intermediate members wedging by pivoting or rocking, e.g. sprags (F16D41/061 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16D41/14

  the effective stroke of the pawl being adjustable · CPC title