Overrunning Clutch Patents (Class 192/113.32)
  • Patent number: 6708804
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter has a rotary housing which carries a pump assembly and can be driven by the output element of a prime mover in the power train of a motor vehicle, a turbine which is rotatable in the housing and has a hub mounted on the input shaft of a change-speed transmission, and a lockup clutch which, when engaged, can transmit torque from the housing directly to the turbine. The axially movable piston of the clutch is rotatable with the housing; this piston defines a first chamber with the housing and a second chamber with the turbine. The first chamber can receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to cause the piston to disengage the clutch so that the turbine can be rotated by the pump assembly by way of the body of fluid in the housing between the pump assembly and the turbine. The second chamber can receive fluid along at least one first path to engage the clutch by moving the piston toward the housing, and along at least one second path when the clutch is at least partially engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Krause, Bruno Müller
  • Patent number: 6705445
    Abstract: A one-way clutch includes: an inner race; an outer race; a plurality of engaging members disposed between the inner and the outer races; a pair of retainers for retaining the engaging members; springs for urging the engaging members in one direction; and a pair of end bearings which are respectively disposed on both sides between the inner race and the outer race, each of the end bearings being formed into a U-shaped cross section by a first hollow cylindrical portion fitted to an outer peripheral surface of the inner race, a second hollow cylindrical portion fitted to an inner peripheral surface of the outer race, and an annular portion connecting the first and the second hollow cylindrical portions. The one-way clutch is characterized in that recessed portions (11) are formed at least in the inner peripheral surface (8a) of the first hollow cylindrical portion (8) of each of the end bearings (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaaki Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20040035671
    Abstract: A one-way clutch includes: an inner race; an outer race; a plurality of engaging members disposed between the inner and the outer races; a pair of retainers for retaining the engaging members; springs for urging the engaging members in one direction; and a pair of end bearings which are respectively disposed on both sides between the inner race and the outer race, each of the end bearings being formed into a U-shaped cross section by a first hollow cylindrical portion fitted to an outer peripheral surface of the inner race, a second hollow cylindrical portion fitted to an inner peripheral surface of the outer race, and an annular portion connecting the first and the second hollow cylindrical portions. The one-way clutch is characterized in that recessed portions (11) are formed at least in the inner peripheral surface (8a) of the first hollow cylindrical portion (8) of each of the end bearings (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Takaaki Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20040035670
    Abstract: The over-running clutch pulley of a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a sheave member (20), a hub member (22) located substantially concentrically within the sheave member, a clutch member (24), a clutch lubricant (26) located near the clutch member, a bearing member (28) located between the sheave member and the hub member, and a bearing lubricant (30) located near the bearing member, which cooperate to rotationally engage an input device (12) and an output device (14). The sheave member preferably includes a sheave input section (32) adapted to engage the input device, and a sheave clutch section (34) defining a sheave clutch surface (36). Similarly, the hub member preferably includes a hub output section (38) adapted to engage the output device, and a hub clutch section (40) defining a hub clutch surface (42). The clutch lubricant (26) and the bearing lubricant (30) preferably include a base material selected from the group comprising ether, esther, and mineral oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Mary-Jo Liston, John Miller, Randall King
  • Patent number: 6691848
    Abstract: A one-way clutch including at least two concentric rings one of the rings carrying at least one ratchet pawl, and the other of the rings including ratchet teeth which engage the at least one ratchet pawl so as to allow relative rotational movement of the at least two rings in one rotational direction, and to provide a clutch between those rings in the operate rotational direction. At least one of the rings includes two identical half rings which are connected to each other and which at least partly enclose the other rings at axially opposite ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: SKF Engineering & Research Centre B.V.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Jacques Eyraud, Hendrikus Jan Kapaan, Marc Michel Le Calve
  • Patent number: 6679364
    Abstract: A one-way clutch assembly comprising a ratchet one-way clutch portion includes inner and outer races which are disposed in coaxial with each other, a pawl capable of being fitted into a recess provided in the inner or outer race to transmit torque, and a biasing member for biasing the pawl to promote the fitting, and a bearing portion disposed between the inner race and the outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Muramatsu, Nobuhiro Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20030226732
    Abstract: A stator is provided with an impeller and a one-way clutch. The stator includes at least one plain bearing and at least one side plate. The plain bearing is arranged adjacent to and on an axially outer side of a side portion of the one-way clutch and between an inner ring and an outer ring of the one-way clutch, and on its inner and outer peripheries, has flanges with bearing tracks formed thereon. The side plate is arranged on an axially outer side of the plain bearing and at a position adjacent to the plain bearing such that the side plate serves not only as a stopper for the plain bearing but also as a bearing track for a needle bearing. The plain bearing and side plate are provided with engageable portions, respectively, and are maintained in engagement with each other via the engageable portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Taiji Kamiya, Hirobumi Shirataki
  • Patent number: 6640948
    Abstract: A one-way clutch apparatus is provided with a plurality of rollers interposed as torque-transmitting members between an inner ring and an outer ring and a cam surface formed on an outer peripheral wall of said inner ring such that by a combination of the cam surface and the rollers, transmission of rotating force is performed only in one direction between the inner ring and the outer ring. An inner side wall of a flange of a retainer, said flange being arranged alongside the rollers and inner ring, is provided on a radially inner side thereof with an annular recess. An outer peripheral end wall of the annular recess is located on a radially outer side of the cam surface of the inner ring only at deepest parts of the cam surface to permit supply of lube oil to the rollers through the annular recess of the flange and the deepest parts of the cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Hirobumi Shirataki, Tomoharu Ando
  • Patent number: 6615582
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotor supportable at a side surface thereof by a needle bearing. The side face includes a bearing face with lubricating oil grooves formed therein, and is to be brought into contact with the needle bearing upon assembly. The oil grooves are arranged in a positional relation ship with needles of the needle bearing such that the oil grooves and the needles of the needle bearing do not completely overlap each other along an entire circumference in a direction of rotation. The rotor can be a bush for a one-way clutch, an inner peripheral portion of a stator of a torque converter, or an outer ring of a one-way clutch, said outer ring also serving as an inner peripheral portion of a stator of a torque converter. Preferably, the oil grooves may each be provided with a groove part extending substantially in a direction of a tangent to a raceway circle for said needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: NSK - Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Norihiro Yamamoto, Tsutomu Kawai
  • Publication number: 20030051963
    Abstract: A one-way clutch assembly includes a one-way clutch having an outer ring, an inner ring, sprags and a sprag cage and also a rolling bearing. The one-way clutch assembly also includes a sealing material such as silicone bond, a sealing member such as an O-ring, or an oil retainer for establishing sealing at a boundary between a retainer arranged on an end wall of the one-way clutch and an inner circumferential wall of the outer ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ohishi
  • Patent number: 6530464
    Abstract: A one-way clutch device comprises a plurality of torque transmitting members interposed between an inner race and an outer race for transmitting a rotation between the inner race and the outer race through the torque transmitting members only in one direction of rotation. A side part of the inner race is formed with a plurality of oil paths for supplying lubricating oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ogata, Hirobumi Shirataki, Tomoharu Ando
  • Publication number: 20030024786
    Abstract: A pump mechanism is constituted by a groove which is inclined with respect to a diametrical direction on a side surface of an inner wheel, and a side surface of an inner diameter side extending portion which opposes to the side surface, and a lubricating oil is supplied to an inner wheel raceway surface and a sprag by the pump mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ohishi
  • Publication number: 20030015389
    Abstract: A one-way clutch apparatus is provided with a plurality of rollers interposed as torque-transmitting members between an inner ring and an outer ring and a cam surface formed on an outer peripheral wall of said inner ring such that by a combination of the cam surface and the rollers, transmission of rotating force is performed only in one direction between the inner ring and the outer ring. An inner side wall of a flange of a retainer, said flange being arranged alongside the rollers and inner ring, is provided on a radially inner side thereof with an annular recess. An outer peripheral end wall of the annular recess is located on a radially outer side of the cam surface of the inner ring only at deepest parts of the cam surface to permit supply of lube oil to the rollers through the annular recess of the flange and the deepest parts of the cam surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Hirobumi Shirataki, Tomoharu Ando
  • Publication number: 20020148697
    Abstract: A one-way clutch assembly comprising a ratchet one-way clutch portion includes inner and outer races which are disposed in coaxial with each other, a pawl capable of being fitted into a recess provided in the inner or outer race to transmit torque, and a biasing member for biasing the pawl to promote the fitting, and a bearing portion disposed between the inner race and the outer race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Muramatsu, Nobuhiro Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 6443289
    Abstract: A one-way clutch apparatus comprises an inner race provided with a lubricating oil supply path open to the outer peripheral surface formed thereon, an outer race supported to be coaxial and relatively rotatable with respect to the inner race, a one-way clutch mechanism interposed between the inner race and the outer race; and a pair of retainers fixed to the both ends of the outer race for regulating an axial movement of the one-way clutch mechanism. A lubricating oil passage is formed between at least one of the retainers and the outer race for guiding the lubricating oil in the radially outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sagae, Rikio Kawabe
  • Publication number: 20020112933
    Abstract: An end bearing, a one-way clutch device and a method of manufacturing the end bearing, capable of preventing abrasion or scorching of the end bearing while improving the productivity. The annular end bearing which is interposed between an inner race and an outer race of the one-way clutch device and is in a slidable contact with the inner race or the outer race when it is operated, wherein a recess having the depth of 5 to 30 &mgr;m is formed on a slidable contact surface with inner race or the outer race. The method comprises a blanking step of blanking an annular blank from a metal plate, a recess forming step of forming a recess in a predetermined portion of said blank, and a drawing step of forming a flange on said blank by drawing, wherein the above recess forming step is executed before or after the blanking step, or at the same time with the blanking step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Norihiro Yamamoto, Hirofumi Ogata
  • Patent number: 6435326
    Abstract: An end bearing for a one-way clutch provided with non-through-holes on at least one of its inner peripheral wall and outer peripheral wall. These non-through-holes are arranged on and along plural imaginary lines, for example, straight or curved lines, which extend at a predetermined angle relative to a circumferential direction of the at least one peripheral wall. Also disclosed are a one-way clutch provided with one or two of such end bearings and a manufacturing process of such end bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Hirobumi Shirataki, Hirofumi Ogata
  • Patent number: 6401893
    Abstract: A one-way clutch assembly comprises an outer race having a substantially annular inner peripheral raceway surface, an inner race radially spaced apart from the outer race and disposed concentrically therewith for rotation relative thereto, and having a substantially annular outer peripheral raceway surface, and a plurality of torque transmitting members disposed between the outer race and the inner race and engaged with the inner peripheral raceway surface and the outer peripheral raceway surface for transmitting torque between the inner and outer races, and is provided with a lubricant reservoir extending from the diameter of the outer peripheral raceway surface of the inner race to the inner diameter side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventor: Yoshio Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20020050432
    Abstract: A one-way clutch includes: an inner race; an outer race; a plurality of engaging members disposed between the inner and the outer races; a pair of retainers for retaining the engaging members; springs for urging the engaging members in one direction; and a pair of end bearings which are respectively disposed on both sides between the inner race and the outer race, each of the end bearings being formed into a U-shaped cross section by a first hollow cylindrical portion fitted to an outer peripheral surface of the inner race, a second hollow cylindrical portion fitted to an inner peripheral surface of the outer race, and an annular portion connecting the first and the second hollow cylindrical portions. The one-way clutch is characterized in that recessed portions (11) are formed at least in the inner peripheral surface (8a) of the first hollow cylindrical portion (8) of each of the end bearings (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventor: Takaaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6343682
    Abstract: A one-way clutch has an annular space through which an outer ring and an inner ring face each other, the outer ring and the inner ring being disposed inside and outside each other in a diameter direction and concentrically with each other. A lubricant for lubricating an inner peripheral face of the outer ring and an outer peripheral face of the inner ring on which rollers roll is prepared by mixing a urea-based consistency increasing agent into ester-based or synthetic oil-based base oil with a pressure viscosity coefficient (at a temperature of 25° C.) set at 12 GPa−1 or more. The lubricant provides for movement of state switching components to be stabilized even at a low temperature and wear of the state switching components and operating faces can be suppressed even at a high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Terada, Hajime Tazumi, Yoshitaka Nakagawa, Hideki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20010011623
    Abstract: A one-way clutch device comprises a plurality of torque transmitting members interposed between an inner race and an outer race for transmitting a rotation between the inner race and the outer race through the torque transmitting members only in one direction of rotation. A side part of the inner race is formed with a plurality of oil paths for supplying lubricating oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: Hirofumi Ogata, Tomoharu Ando
  • Publication number: 20010001996
    Abstract: An end bearing for a one-way clutch provided with non-through-holes on at least one of its inner peripheral wall and outer peripheral wall. These non-through-holes are arranged on and along plural imaginary lines, for example, straight or curved lines, which extend at a predetermined angle relative to a circumferential direction of the at least one peripheral wall. Also disclosed are a one-way clutch provided with one or two of such end bearings and a manufacturing process of such end bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Applicant: NSK-Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Hirobumi Shirataki, Hirofumi Ogata
  • Patent number: 6189671
    Abstract: Freewheel device 1 of the type comprising an outer ring 2 having an inner sliding path 3 , an inner ring 4 or a shaft having an outer sliding path 5, a freewheel 6 disposed between the sliding path of the outer ring and the sliding path of the inner ring and comprising a plurality of cams 7 disposed in windows 9 in a cylindrical part 8a of at least one cage 8 and assuring unidirectional coupling between the outer and inner rings, and at least one bearing member 11 disposed radially between the outer and inner rings for maintaining said outer and inner rings concentric, said bearing member having a radial part 11a provided with at least two holes for circulation of lubricant. At least one hole is near the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: SKF France
    Inventors: Marc Le Calve, Christophe Houdayer
  • Patent number: 6186299
    Abstract: An overrunning coupling assembly includes a notch plate and an annular coupling pocket plate positioned in face-to-face relationship with respect to each other along a common axis. The pocket plate has strut pockets disposed at angularly spaced positions about the common axis. The notch plate has notch recesses at angularly spaced positions about the common axis and positioned in juxtaposed relationship with respect to the strut pockets. Torque-transmitting struts are positioned in each of the strut pockets. Each strut has first and second ears at one edge thereof for enabling pivotal motion of the struts about an ear axis intersecting the ears. The opposite edge of each strut is movable between disengaged and engaged positions with respect to one of the notch recesses whereby one-way torque transfer may occur between the plates. A lubricant flows between the notch plate and pocket plate. A spring is positioned in each strut pocket and biases the respective strut toward the notch plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen M. Ruth