Wedge clutch with a segmented wedge element and chamfered engagement surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9470275-B2
Application number	US-201414553258-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2014
Priority date	Dec 3, 2013
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A wedge clutch, including: an inner and outer hubs; a wedge element including separate circumferentially disposed segments radially located between the inner and outer hubs; an outer ring; and first and second displacement elements. The ring is radially located between the wedge element and the outer hub and is non-rotatably connected to the segments and urges the segments radially inward into contact with the inner hub. For a closed mode, the first displacement element is arranged to urge the wedge element in a first axial direction, parallel to an axis of rotation for the wedge clutch, to non-rotatably connect the inner and outer hubs, the wedge element, and the outer ring. For an open mode, the second displacement element is arranged to displace the wedge element in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, to enable relative rotation between the inner and outer hubs.

First claim

We claim:

1. A wedge clutch, comprising:
an inner hub;
an outer hub;
a wedge element including a plurality of separate circumferentially disposed segments located radially between the inner and outer hubs;
an outer ring:
disposed radially between the wedge element and the outer hub;
non-rotatably connected to the plurality of segments; and,
urging the plurality of segments radially inward;

a first displacement element; and,
a second displacement element, wherein:
for a closed mode for the wedge clutch, the first displacement element is arranged to urge the wedge element in a first axial direction, parallel to an axis of rotation for the wedge clutch, to non-rotatably connect the inner and outer hubs, the wedge element, and the outer ring;
for an open mode for the wedge clutch, the second displacement element is arranged to displace the wedge element in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, to enable relative rotation between the inner and outer hubs; and,
in the closed mode for the clutch, frictional force between the outer ring and the outer hub is sufficient to maintain the non-rotatable connection of the outer ring and the outer hub.

2. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein for the open mode for the wedge clutch, the second displacement element is arranged to displace the wedge element in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, to enable relative rotation between the outer ring and the outer hub.

3. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein:
each segment from the plurality of segments includes a respective outer circumferential surface sloping radially inward in the first axial direction; and,
the outer ring includes an inner circumferential surface sloping radially inward in the first axial direction.

4. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein:
each segment from the plurality of segments includes a respective outer circumferential surface including at least one radially inwardly extending indent; and,
the outer ring includes an inner circumferential surface with a plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions at least partially disposed in the at least one radially inwardly extending indents to non-rotatably connect said each segment to the outer ring.

5. The clutch of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions are arranged to hold said each segment such that said each segment is separated by respective spaces, in a circumferential direction, from circumferentially adjacent segments from the plurality of segments by respective spaces.

6. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein:
the outer ring includes a radially outermost portion with first and second surfaces tapering toward each other in a radially outward direction; and,
the outer hub includes a radially innermost portion with a circumferentially disposed groove including third and fourth surfaces tapering toward each other in the radially outward direction.

7. The clutch of claim 6 , wherein:
the first and third surfaces are substantially parallel to each other; and,
the second and fourth surfaces are substantially parallel to each other.

8. The clutch of claim 6 , wherein in response to the first displacement element displacing the wedge element in the first axial direction, the outer ring is arranged to expand radially outward to:
non-rotatably connect the first and third surfaces; and,
non-rotatably connect the second and fourth surfaces.

9. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein:
the first displacement element is a resilient element and the second displacement element is a piston; or,
the first displacement element is a piston and the second displacement element is a resilient element.

10. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein:
each segment in the plurality of segments includes an inner circumferential surface with a first plurality of circumferentially sloping ramps;
the inner hub includes an outer circumferential surface with a second plurality of circumferential sloping ramps engaged with the first pluralities of circumferentially sloping ramps;
in response to displacement of the wedge element in the first axial direction the respective first pluralities of ramps are arranged to slide across the second plurality of ramps to urge the plurality of segments radially outward; and,
in response to displacement of the wedge element in the second axial direction:
the respective first pluralities of ramps are arranged to slide across the second plurality of ramps; and,
the outer ring is arranged to contract radially inward to reduce or break contact between the outer ring and the outer hub.

11. A wedge clutch, comprising:
an inner hub;
an outer hub;
a wedge element including a plurality of separate circumferentially disposed segments located radially between the inner and outer hubs, each segment including a respective outer circumferential surface sloping radially inward in a first axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation for the wedge clutch;
an outer ring:
disposed radially between the wedge element and the outer hub;
non-rotatably connected to the plurality of segments;
including an inner circumferential surface sloping radially inward in the first axial direction; and,
urging the plurality of segments radially inward into contact with the inner hub;

a first displacement element; and,
a second displacement element, wherein:
for a closed mode for the wedge clutch, the first displacement element is arranged to urge the wedge element in the first axial direction to non-rotatably connect the inner and outer hubs, the wedge element, and the outer ring; and,
for an open mode for the wedge clutch, the second displacement element is arranged to displace the wedge element in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, to enable relative rotation between the outer ring and the outer hub.

12. The clutch of claim 11 , wherein:
each segment from the plurality of segments includes an outer circumferential surface including at least one radially inwardly extending indent; and,
the outer ring includes an inner circumferential surface with a plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions at least partially disposed in the at least one radially inwardly extending indents to non-rotatably connect said each segment to the outer ring.

13. The clutch of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of radially inwardly extending protrusions are arranged to hold each segment from the plurality of segments such that said each segment is separated, by respective spaces in a circumferential direction, from circumferentially adjacent segments from the plurality of segments by respective spaces.

14. The clutch of claim 11 , wherein:
the outer ring includes a radially outermost portion with first and second surfaces tapering toward each other in a radially outward direction; and,
the outer hub includes a radially innermost portion with a circumferentially disposed groove including third and fourth surfaces tapering toward each other in the radially outward direction.

15. A wedge clutch, comprising:
an inner hub;
an outer hub including a radially innermost portion with a circumferentially disposed groove including first and second surfaces tapering toward each other in a radially outward direction;
a wedge element including a plurality of separate circumferentially disposed segments located radially between the inner and outer hubs;
an outer ring:
disposed radially between the wedge element and the outer hub;
non-rotatably connected to the plurality of segments;
including a radially outermost portion with third and fourth surfaces tapering tow

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co Kg
• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Lee Brian
• Ohr Carsten

Classifications

• F16D13/04

  with means for actuating or keeping engaged by a force derived at least partially from one of the shafts to be connected (automatic clutches F16D43/00) · CPC title

• F16D15/00

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

• F16D13/22

  with axially-movable clutching members (similar brakes F16D55/00) · CPC title

• F16D13/14 Primary

  with outwardly-movable clutching members co-operating with the inner surface of a drum or the like (F16D13/02, F16D13/06, F16D13/12 take precedence; similar brakes F16D51/00) · CPC title

• F16D13/16

  shaped as radially-movable segments · CPC title