High Resolution One-Way Clutch Using Graduated Engagement in a Radial Arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016017945-A1
Application number	US-201414333012-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Priority date	Jul 16, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automatic slack adjuster for a vehicle brake includes a one-way clutch having first and second parts rotatable about an axis. The first part is rotatable in both a drive direction and a slip direction opposite to the drive direction, while the second part is driven about the axis by the first part when the first part rotates in the drive direction, but not driven when the first part rotates in the slip direction. Movable elements are carried within receptacles distributed circumferentially about and projecting into one of the parts, and are displaceable so as to move within the receptacles in radial directions relative to the axis. The movable elements engage corresponding surfaces of teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of a circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

First claim

1 . A one-way clutch for an automatic slack adjuster, comprising:
a first part rotatable about an axis in both a drive direction and a slip direction opposite to the drive direction, a second part that is driven about the axis by the first part when the first part rotates in the drive direction but that is not driven by the first part when the first part rotates in the slip direction, and a plurality of movable elements carried within receptacles distributed circumferentially about and projecting into one of the parts, the movable elements being displaceable so as to move within the receptacles in radial directions relative to the axis about which the first and second parts are driven relative to both of the parts and engaging corresponding surfaces of teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of a circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

2 . The one-way clutch according to claim 1 , wherein the first part is an input part of the clutch.

3 . The one-way clutch according to claim 1 , wherein the first part is an output part of the clutch.

4 . The one-way clutch according to claim 1 , wherein the movable elements have inclined end faces engaging the corresponding surfaces of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

5 . The one-way clutch according to claim 4 , wherein the movable elements are biased to protrude from the receptacles into engagement with the corresponding surfaces of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

6 . The one-way clutch according to claim 1 , wherein, in a selected clutch engagement state, some of the movable elements have tips fully received between tips of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts and the rest of the movable elements have tips that are not fully received between the tips of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

7 . The one-way clutch according to claim 5 , further comprising a resilient element disposed in each of the receptacles to bias the movable elements into engagement with the corresponding surfaces of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

8 . The one-way clutch according to claim 1 , wherein thirty six of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts are provided.

9 . The one-way clutch according to claim 1 , wherein ten of the movable elements are provided.

10 . The one-way clutch according to claim 1 , wherein fifteen of the movable elements are provided.

11 . An automatic slack adjuster for a vehicle brake including a one-way clutch for the slack adjuster, the one-way clutch comprising:
a first part rotatable about an axis in both a drive direction and a slip direction opposite to the drive direction, a second part that is driven about the axis by the first part when the first part rotates in the drive direction but that is not driven by the first part when the first part rotates in the slip direction, and a plurality of movable elements carried within receptacles distributed circumferentially about and projecting into one of the parts, the movable elements being displaceable so as to move within the receptacles in radial directions relative to the axis about which the first and second parts are driven relative to both of the parts and engaging corresponding surfaces of teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of a circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

12 . The automatic slack adjuster according to claim 11 , wherein the first part is an input part of the clutch.

13 . The automatic slack adjuster according to claim 11 , wherein the first part is an output part of the clutch.

14 . The automatic slack adjuster according to claim 11 , wherein the movable elements have inclined end faces engaging the corresponding surfaces of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

15 . The automatic slack adjuster according to claim 14 , wherein the movable elements are biased to protrude from the receptacles into engagement with the corresponding surfaces of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

16 . The automatic slack adjuster according to claim 11 , wherein, in a selected clutch engagement state, some of the movable elements have tips fully received between tips of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts and the rest of the movable elements have tips that are not fully received between the tips of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

17 . The automatic slack adjuster according to claim 15 , further comprising a resilient element disposed in each of the receptacles to bias the movable elements into engagement with the corresponding surfaces of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

18 . The automatic slack adjuster according to claim 11 , wherein thirty six of the of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts are provided.

19 . The automatic slack adjuster according to claim 11 , wherein ten of the movable elements are provided.

20 . The automatic slack adjuster according to claim 11 , wherein fifteen of the movable elements are provided.

21 . An automatic slack adjuster subassembly having a one-way clutch, comprising:
a first part rotatable about an axis in both a drive direction and a slip direction opposite to the drive direction, a second part that is driven about the axis by the first part when the first part rotates in the drive direction but that is not driven by the first part when the first part rotates in the slip direction, and a plurality of movable elements carried within receptacles distributed circumferentially about and projecting into one of the parts, the movable elements being displaceable so as to move within the receptacles in radial directions relative to the axis about which the first and second parts are driven relative to both of the parts and engaging corresponding surfaces of teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of a circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

22 . The automatic slack adjuster subassembly according to claim 21 , wherein the first part is an input part of the clutch.

23 . The automatic slack adjuster subassembly according to claim 21 , wherein the first part is an output part of the clutch.

24 . The automatic slack adjuster subassembly according to claim 21 , wherein the movable elements have inclined end faces engaging the corresponding surfaces of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

25 . The automatic slack adjuster subassembly according to claim 24 , wherein the movable elements are biased to protrude from the receptacles into engagement with the corresponding surfaces of the teeth that are immovably fixed on or form part of the circumferential surface of the other of the parts.

Assignees

• Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake

Inventors

• Louis John M

Classifications

• F16D41/063

  the intermediate members wedging by moving along the inner and the outer surface without pivoting or rolling, e.g. sliding wedges (F16D41/061 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16D65/52 Primary

  self-acting in one direction for adjusting excessive play · CPC title

• F16D65/60 Primary

  for angular adjustment of two concentric parts of the brake control systems · CPC title

• F16D41/18

  with non-hinged detent (F16D41/02, F16D41/24 take precedence) · CPC title