Controllable or selectable coupling assembly having an overrun mode and a retained control element

1. A controllable or selectable coupling assembly having an overrun mode, the assembly comprising:

first and second coupling members including first and second coupling faces, respectively, in close-spaced opposition with one another, wherein at least one of the members is mounted for rotation about an axis, the first coupling face having a plurality of recesses, each of the recesses defining a load-bearing first shoulder, the second coupling face having at least one recess defining a load-bearing second shoulder;

a locking member disposed between the coupling faces of the coupling members, the locking member being movable between first and second positions, the first position being characterized by abutting engagement of the locking member with a respective shoulder of each coupling member and the second position being characterized by a non-abutting engagement of the locking member with at least one of the coupling members;

a control element mounted for controlled movement between the coupling faces and operable to control position of the locking member, the control element having at least one opening which extends completely therethrough to allow the locking member to extend therethrough to the first position in a control position of the control element; and

a retainer mechanism operative to allow limited movement of the control element towards the first coupling face and prevent the control element from contacting the first coupling member in the overrun mode thereby reducing spin losses when the assembly is disengaged.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mechanism includes at least one groove formed in the first coupling member and at least one part integrally formed with the control element to move therewith, the at least one part being slidably received and retained within its respective groove to allow the controlled and limited movements.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the at least one part comprises a hold down tab.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mechanism includes an annular retaining member to retain the second coupling member and the control element together.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the retaining member comprises a snap ring.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one of the coupling members is a notch plate and the other of the coupling members is a pocket plate.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the assembly is a controllable or selectable one-way clutch assembly.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locking member is a reverse strut.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control element is a control or selector plate rotatable about the axis.

10. A controllable or selectable coupling assembly having an overrun mode, the assembly comprising:

first and second coupling members including first and second coupling faces, respectively, in close-spaced opposition with one another, wherein at least one of the members is mounted for rotation about an axis, the first coupling face having a plurality of recesses, each of the recesses defining a load-bearing first shoulder, the second coupling face having at least one recess defining a load-bearing second shoulder;

at least one locking member disposed between the coupling faces of the coupling members, each locking member being movable between first and second positions, the first position being characterized by abutting engagement of the locking member with a respective shoulder of each coupling member and the second position being characterized by a non-abutting engagement of the locking member with at least one of the coupling members;

at least one biasing member carried by the second coupling member to bias its respective locking member toward the first position;

a control element mounted for controlled movement between the coupling faces and operable to control position of each locking member, the control element having at least one opening which extends completely therethrough to allow its respective locking member to extend therethrough to the first position in a control position of the control element wherein each biased locking member applies a locking member force on the control element; and

a retainer mechanism operative to isolate the locking member force of each biased locking member and prevent the control element from contacting the first coupling member in the overrun mode thereby reducing spin losses when the assembly is disengaged wherein the mechanism includes at least one groove formed in the first coupling member and at least one part integrally formed with the control element to move therewith, the at least one part being slidably received and retained within its respective groove to allow the controlled movement.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the at least one part comprises a hold down tab.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 10 , wherein each biasing member includes a biasing spring.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein each recess of the second coupling face includes an inner recess to receive its respective biasing spring.

14. A controllable or selectable coupling assembly having an overrun mode, the assembly comprising:

first and second coupling members including first and second coupling faces, respectively, in close-spaced opposition with one another, wherein at least one of the members is mounted for rotation about an axis, the first coupling face having a plurality of recesses, each of the recesses defining a load-bearing first shoulder, the second coupling face having at least one recess defining a load-bearing second shoulder;

at least one locking member disposed between the coupling faces of the coupling members, each locking member being movable between first and second positions, the first position being characterized by abutting engagement of the locking member with a respective shoulder of each coupling member and the second position being characterized by a non-abutting engagement of the locking member with at least one of the coupling members;

at least one biasing member carried by the second coupling member to bias its respective locking member toward the first position;

a control element mounted for controlled movement between the coupling faces and operable to control position of each locking member, the control element having at least one opening which extends completely therethrough to allow its respective locking member to extend therethrough to the first position in a control position of the control element wherein each biased locking member applies a locking member force on the control element; and

a retainer mechanism operative to isolate the locking member force of each biased locking member and prevent the control element from contacting the first coupling member in the overrun mode thereby reducing spin losses when the assembly is disengaged wherein the mechanism includes a snap ring to retain the second coupling member and the control element together.

15. A controllable or selectable coupling assembly having an overrun mode, the assembly comprising:

first and second coupling members including first and second coupling faces, respectively, in close-spaced opposition with one another, wherein at least one of the members is mounted for rotation about an axis, the first coupling face having a plurality of first recesses, each of the first recesses defining a load-bearing first shoulder, the second coupling face having a plurality of second recesses, each of the second recesses defining a load-bearing second shoulder;

a plurality of locking members disposed between the coupling faces of the coupling members, each of the locking members being movable between first and second positions, the first position being characterized by abutting engagement of a locking member with a respective shoulder of each coupling member and the second position being characterized by a non-abutting engagement of the locking member with at least one of the coupling members;

a control element mounted for controlled movement between the coupling faces and operable to control position of the locking members, the control element having a plurality of openings which extends completely therethrough to allow each of the locking members to extend therethrough to its respective first position in a control position of the control element; and

a retainer mechanism operative to allow limited movement of the control element towards the first coupling face and prevent the control element from contacting the first coupling member in the overrun mode thereby reducing spin losses when the assembly is disengaged.

16. The assembly as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the mechanism includes at least one groove formed in the first coupling member and at least one part integrally formed with the control element to move therewith, the at least one part being slidably received and retained within its respective groove to allow the controlled and limited movements.

17. The assembly as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the at least one part comprises a hold down tab.

18. The assembly as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the mechanism includes an annular retaining member to retain the second coupling member and the control element together.

19. The assembly as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the retaining member comprises a snap ring.

20. The assembly as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the coupling faces are annular coupling faces.

21. The assembly as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the annular coupling faces are oriented to face axially along the axis.