Sector clutch

1. A clutch for selectively preventing rotatory movement of a cogged gear about an axis, the clutch comprising:

an actuator;

a pivotally movable pawl, the pawl being interactive with the cogged gear;

a plunger radially movable within and by the actuator, the plunger oriented orthogonally relative to the axis to control pawl movement;

a pair of axially spaced sidewalls, each sidewall including an opposed radially extending slot;

a pawl pusher radially movable between the plunger and the pawl, the pawl pusher including a pair of axially extending wing portions, each wing portion slidably supported in one of the opposed slots to limit movement of the pawl pusher to radial, only;

wherein axial and/or circumferential force loads transmitted to the pawl pusher member by the pawl are not transferred to the radially movable plunger.

2. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the plunger has radially spaced proximal and distal ends with a boss situated at its proximal end, wherein the boss directly contacts and moves the pawl pusher member.

3. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the pawl pusher member has a four-bar cross-section.

4. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the pawl pusher member is configured to float radially between the boss and the pawl.

5. The clutch of claim 1 , wherein the clutch is a sector clutch, and each pawl includes a heel and a toe.

6. The clutch of claim 1 , further comprising a spring biased against a heel of the pawl, and wherein the pawl pusher biases the toe of the pawl.

7. The clutch of claim 1 , further comprising a spring biased against a toe of the pawl, and wherein the pawl pusher biases the heel of the pawl.

8. A pawl pusher for a clutch configured to selectively prevent rotational movement of a gear, the pawl pusher comprising:

a cross-shaped member adapted to be radially disposed between a control plunger of the clutch and a pivotal pawl of the clutch, wherein the member is limited to only radial movement within the clutch.

9. The pawl pusher of claim 8 , wherein the control plunger has radially spaced proximal and distal ends with a boss situated at its proximal end, wherein the boss directly contacts and moves the pawl pusher member.

10. The pawl pusher of claim 8 , further comprising a four-bar cross-section.

11. The pawl pusher of claim 8 , further configured to float radially between the boss and the pawl.

12. The pawl pusher of claim 8 , wherein the clutch is a sector clutch, and wherein each pawl includes a heel and a toe.

13. The pawl pusher of claim 8 , wherein the clutch further comprises a spring biased against a heel of the pawl, and wherein the pawl pusher biases the toe of the pawl.

14. The pawl pusher of claim 8 , wherein the clutch further comprises a spring biased against a toe of the pawl, and wherein the pawl pusher biases the heel of the pawl.

15. A method of making a sector clutch for selectively preventing rotatory movement of a cogged gear about an axis; the method comprising the steps of:

forming an actuator support block, and installing an actuator within the support block;

forming a pair of axially spaced sidewalls, each having a slot oriented radially with respect to the axis;

securing the sidewalls to the support block;

forming a pivotally movable pawl to be interactive with cogs on the gear, the pawl having axial ends pivotally anchored in each sidewall;

forming a radially movable plunger oriented orthogonally relative to the axis, the plunger being adapted to control pawl movement;

securing the plunger to the actuator;

forming a pawl pusher configured to float radially between the plunger and the pawl, with the pawl pusher including a pair of axially extending wing portions, each wing portion being slidably supported in one of the opposed slots to accommodate movement of the pawl pusher;

wherein axial and/or circumferential force loads transmitted to the pawl pusher member by the pawl are not transferred to the radially movable plunger.