Granted Patent B2

US 8,042,670 · App. 12/271,987 · Granted Oct 25, 2011

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A selectable one-way clutch assembly (SOWC) comprising:

a first race surrounding a first axis;

a second race surrounding said first axis;

a plurality of rockers each configured for selectively holding torque in one of a first and a second rotational direction to establish one of a plurality of different clutch operating modes;

wherein said first race defines a plurality of pockets and each of said rockers are at least partially operatively disposed in a respective one of said pockets; and

a selector ring defining a plurality of windows, said selector ring configured for rotating about said first axis to thereby align at least one of said plurality of windows relative to at least one of said plurality of rockers to establish one of said plurality of different clutch operating modes;

wherein said plurality of rockers are operatively disposed between said first race and said selector ring; and

a biasing device operatively disposed in each of said rocker pockets between said first race and a respective one of said rockers and configured to bias said respective rocker in a radial direction toward said first axis;

wherein at least one of said plurality of rockers selectively moves radially through a respective one of said windows and into engagement with said second race in response to rotating said selector ring about said first axis to align said at least one of said plurality of windows in a predetermined manner;

wherein the SOWC is engaged by rotating said selector ring about said first axis to thereby align said at least one of said plurality of windows in said predetermined manner such that at least one of said rockers engages said second race in the radial direction with respect to said first axis to hold torque in at least one rotational direction.

2. A SOWC, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the SOWC is disengaged by rotating said selector ring about said first axis to thereby align said plurality of windows in a predetermined manner such that each of said rockers disengages said second race in a radial direction with respect to said first axis to allow a freewheeling of torque in both rotational directions.

3. A SOWC, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of rockers are rotatably disposed within said respective pocket about a second axis and configured to rotate about said second axis to radially engage said second race.

4. A SOWC, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein each of said plurality of rockers includes a cylinder extending along said second axis;

wherein a first arm and a second arm extend radially outward from said cylinder in generally opposing directions;

wherein at least one of said plurality of rockers selectively rotates about said second axis such that one of said arms engages said second race.

5. A SOWC, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said first arm extends along an inward first surface to a first free end and said second arm extends along an inward second surface to a second free end;

wherein at least one of said plurality of rockers selectively rotates about said second axis such that one of said ends engages said second race.

6. A SOWC, as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said inward first surface and said inward second surface form a general V-shape.

7. A SOWC, as set forth in claim 5 , wherein each of said arms tapers from said cylinder to said respective end.

8. A SOWC, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said second race includes a plurality of notch teeth extending radially from said second race and circumferentially surrounding said first axis;

wherein a rocker notch is defined between each adjacent pair of said notch teeth;

wherein one of said free ends of at least one of said rockers moves selectively radially to engage said respective rocker notch of said second race.

9. A SOWC, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein a quantity of said rockers is equal to a quantity of said rocker notches and to a quantity of said rocker pockets.

10. A SOWC, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said biasing device is a spring.

11. A SOWC, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said selector ring includes a radially extending selector lever and said first race includes a first face opposing a second face;

wherein said second face defines a radial slot;

wherein said selector lever is disposed in said radial slot and rotatable about said first axis between a first position and a second position to thereby align at least one of said plurality of windows in a predetermined manner to establish one of said plurality of different clutch operating modes.

12. A selectable one-way clutch assembly (SOWC assembly) comprising:

a first race surrounding a first axis and defining a plurality of rocker pockets;

a second race surrounding said first axis;

a plurality of rockers disposed within said respective rocker pocket;

wherein each of said plurality of rockers are configured for selectively holding torque in one of a first and a second rotational direction to establish one of a plurality of different clutch operating modes;

a plurality of biasing devices disposed within said respective rocker pocket between said first race and a respective one of said plurality of rockers and configured to bias said respective rocker radially toward said first axis; and

a selector ring defining a plurality of windows, said selector ring configured for rotating about said first axis to thereby position at least one of said plurality of windows relative to at least one of said plurality of rockers to establish one of said plurality of different clutch operating modes;

wherein the SOWC assembly is engaged by rotating said selector ring about said first axis to thereby align said at least one of said plurality of windows in a predetermined manner such that at least one of said rockers engages said second race in a radial direction with respect to said first axis to hold torque in at least one rotational direction.

13. A selectable one-way clutch assembly (SOWC assembly) comprising:

a first race surrounding a first axis and defining a plurality of rocker pockets;

a second race surrounding said first axis and defining a plurality of notches;

a plurality of rockers disposed within a respective one of said rocker pockets;

wherein each of said plurality of rockers are configured for selectively holding torque in one of a first and a second rotational direction to establish one of a plurality of different clutch operating modes;

a plurality of biasing devices disposed within a respective one of said rocker pockets between said first race and a respective one of said plurality of rockers and configured to bias said respective rocker radially toward said first axis such that said respective rocker rotates about a second axis; and

a selector ring defining a plurality of windows, said selector ring configured for rotating about said first axis to thereby align at least one of said plurality of windows with at least one of said rockers to establish one of said plurality of different clutch operating modes;

wherein the SOWC assembly is engaged by rotating said selector ring about said first axis to thereby align said at least one of said plurality of windows with at least one of said rockers such that said at least one of said rockers engages a respective one of said notches defined in said second race to hold torque in at least one rotational direction.

Assignments (12)