Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth a one-way clutch. The one-way clutch can function with one or no races as opposed to conventional prior art one-way clutches. In so doing, the overall size and weight requirements of the one-way clutch are drastically reduced, which in turn drastically reduces the overall size and weight requirements of the transmission and vehicle employing the transmission as well. The present disclosure also provides a one-way clutch having an outer race provided by axially spaced plates. An inner race is rotatably mounted with respect to one of the plates and the inner race has a ratchet surface. Ratchet pawls are pivotably mounted with respect to the plates and have unidirectional engagement with the ratchet surface of the inner race. In addition to reducing material and labor production costs, such lessened size and weight penalties translate into higher transmission efficiency and better vehicle fuel economy.

Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth a one-way clutch. The one-way clutch can function with one or no races as opposed to conventional prior art one-way clutches. In so doing, the overall size and weight requirements of the one-way clutch are drastically reduced, which in turn drastically reduces the overall size and weight requirements of the transmission and vehicle employing the transmission as well. The present disclosure also provides a one-way clutch having an outer race provided by axially spaced plates. An inner race is rotatably mounted with respect to one of the plates and the inner race has a ratchet surface. Ratchet pawls are pivotably mounted with respect to the plates and have unidirectional engagement with the ratchet surface of the inner race. In addition to reducing material and labor production costs, such lessened size and weight penalties translate into higher transmission efficiency and better vehicle fuel economy.