Clutch strut, torque locking mechanism, and clutch assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12092173-B2
Application number	US-202318211010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 16, 2023
Priority date	Jan 22, 2021
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A clutch assembly includes a pocket plate, and a teeter-totter strut retained in a pocket plate pocket and pivotable to engaged and disengaged positions. A strut center of mass is configured so that when a shock load force acts on the strut, the strut is prevented from moving into the engaged position. A torque locking mechanism includes a strut housing having a strut pocket, a strut having ears, and a cover. The strut has a center of mass between the ears and a portion of the pocket. A clutch strut includes ears extending transversely from a body. A first portion of the body between the ears and an abutment surface has a first length and width, and a second portion of the body between the ears and a load bearing surface has a second length longer than the first length and a second width narrower than the first width.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torque locking mechanism, comprising:
a strut housing including
a face, and
a strut pocket in the face and including a load bearing shoulder;

a strut including
a body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a load bearing surface at a first end and an abutment surface at a second end configured to engage the load bearing shoulder of the strut pocket of the strut housing, and
ears extending transversely from the body with respect to the longitudinal axis; and

a cover coupled to the face of the strut housing to trap the ears of the strut between the cover and the strut pocket of the strut housing, and having a relief through which the body of the strut is pivotable,
wherein the ears constitute a first shock load pivot for shock loads along a first direction and a portion of the pocket constitutes a second shock load pivot for shock loads along a second direction opposite of the first direction, and wherein the strut has a center of mass located between the first and second shock load pivots.

2. The clutch strut of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the body between the ears and the abutment surface has a first length and a first width, and a second portion of the body between the ears and the load bearing surface has a second length longer than the first length and a second width narrower than the first width.

3. A clutch strut, comprising:
a body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a strut pocket abutment surface at a first end and a load bearing surface at a second end; and
ears extending transversely from the body with respect to the longitudinal axis,
wherein a first portion of the body between the ears and the abutment surface has a first length and a first width, and a second portion of the body between the ears and the load bearing surface has a second length longer than the first length and a second width narrower than the first width.

4. The clutch strut of claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the body also has a first thickness and the second portion of the body also has a second thickness equal to the first thickness.

5. A clutch assembly, comprising:
the clutch strut of claim 3 ; and
a strut housing including
a face, and
a strut pocket in the face and including a load bearing shoulder engageable with the abutment surface of the body of the strut.

6. A clutch assembly comprising:
a pocket plate having a pocket; and
a teeter-totter strut, which is a first class lever, retained in the pocket, the teeter-totter strut being pivotable to an engaged position in which an engagement face of the teeter-totter strut extends out from the pocket, the teeter-totter strut being pivotable from the engaged position to a disengaged position in which the engagement face of the teeter-totter strut extends within the pocket, and wherein a center of mass of the teeter-totter strut is configured so that when a shock load force acts on the teeter-totter strut, the teeter-totter strut is prevented from moving into the engaged position.

7. The clutch assembly of claim 6 , wherein the center of mass of the teeter-totter strut is configured in relation to at least one of a) first and second pivot points of the teeter-totter strut, b) a point at which an actuator acts on the teeter-totter strut, or c) at a point at which a return spring acts on the teeter-totter strut.

8. The clutch assembly of claim 6 , wherein the teeter-totter strut includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis and including a first axial end and a second axial end, and ears extending transversely with respect to the body and spaced from the first and second axial ends of the body.

9. A clutch assembly comprising:
a pocket plate having a pocket; and
a teeter-totter strut retained in the pocket, the teeter-totter strut being pivotable to an engaged position in which an engagement face of the teeter-totter strut extends out from the pocket. the teeter-totter strut being pivotable from the engaged position to a disengaged position in which the engagement face of the teeter-totter strut extends within the pocket, and wherein a center of mass of the teeter-totter strut is configured so that when a shock load force acts on the teeter-totter strut, the teeter-totter strut is prevented from moving into the engaged position,
wherein the teeter-totter strut includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis and including a first axial end and a second axial end, and ears extending transversely with respect to the body and spaced from the first and second axial ends of the body.

10. The clutch assembly of claim 9 , wherein the center of mass of the teeter-totter strut is configured in relation to at least one of a) first and second pivot points of the teeter-totter strut, b) a point at which an actuator acts on the teeter-totter strut, or c) at a point at which a return spring acts on the teeter-totter strut.

Assignees

• Means Ind Inc

Inventors

• Andrzejewski Todd
• Hacker David
• Campfield Kelly J

Classifications

• F16D27/108

  with axially movable clutching members · CPC title

• F16D41/14

  the effective stroke of the pawl being adjustable · CPC title

• F16D27/09

  and with interengaging jaws or gear-teeth · CPC title

• F16D41/125 Primary

  the pawl movement having an axial component · CPC title

• F16D63/006 Primary

  Positive locking brakes · CPC title