JPH0232893Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to an overrunning clutch.
More particularly, it relates to a cage for an overrunning clutch. It is common in overrunning clutches to have concentric inner and outer races with an annular space between the races in which a plurality of wedge members are placed. The cage is
A suitable biasing spring arrangement is often used to maintain the wedge members at a desired circumferential spacing and to bias the wedge members into wedging engagement with the race. Often the cage, wedge member and biasing spring device are preassembled and handled as a subassembly that is mounted in the annular space between a pair of concentric races. To prevent the cage and wedge member auxiliary assembly from inadvertently moving axially relative to the race,
It is desirable to provide some type of retention device.

In the prior art, the wedge member and biasing device auxiliary assembly is provided within a fairly rigid cage that is inserted lengthwise into a recess defined by a race and an end wall, and the open end of the recess is closed. It is known to secure the auxiliary assembly against axial movement by bolted cover plates. It is also known to provide a pair of axially spaced retaining rings within the groove of one of the races. In the latter construction, the rear retaining ring is provided in the rear groove, the auxiliary assembly is mounted vertically against the rear retaining ring, and finally the front retaining ring and the auxiliary assembly are attached to the front and rear retaining rings. mounted in the front groove to prevent axial movement due to The latter construction requires handling and installation of two retaining rings in addition to auxiliary assembly, and in some instances, installation and removal of the rear retaining ring is difficult and time consuming.

The present invention provides an overrunning clutch for an overrunning clutch that can be secured during installation to the clutch to engage a retaining groove in the race and thereby prevent unintentional axial movement of the cage subassembly with respect to the race. A resilient bendable cage member is provided.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the figure, an overrunning clutch 20
are outer lace member 21 and inner lace member 22
and a cage assembly 23. Cage assembly 23 includes a plurality of wedging members 24 and biasing springs 26 along with cage member 27 .
In this embodiment, the outer race member 21 includes a race formed by a circumferential series of arcuate surfaces 28 and cam surfaces 29 connected by a surface 30, the cam surfaces 29 and surfaces 30 being forming a series of recesses in the direction. Wedge stopper member 24
is a cylindrical wedging roller engageable with cam surface 29 and smooth cylindrical surface 32 of inner race member 22 . In another form of clutch, the camming surface may be on the inner race member and the smooth race may be on the outer race member. The retaining groove 33 extending in the circumferential direction is formed on either one of the race members, but here, it is disposed radially outward and axially forward of the cam surfaces 29 and 29 and is formed on the outer race member 21. ing. If desired, the retaining groove may be formed in a race member having a smooth race.

The bendable resilient cage member 27 is attached to an outer spacer bar 37 at each of a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations surrounding the side plate 36 .
An annular side plate 36 having an inner spacer member or bar 38 extending axially from 7 is provided. The side plate 36 has an adjacent arcuate surface 28 and a cam surface 29.
It is provided with a plurality of radially projecting ears 41 which engage recesses 31 formed by connecting surfaces 30 therebetween. Each lower spacer bar 38 has a radial wall 42
and a circumferential finger 39 extending parallel to and axially spaced from the side plate. The radial wall 42 acts as an attachment device for securing one end of the pleated biasing spring 26.
When the cage subassembly 23 is handled as a unit, the pleated spring 26 biases the next adjacent roller 24 to the next pair of spacer bars 37,38.
and in this way the side plate 36 at the rear, the finger 39 at the front, the left radial wall 42
and holding the roller in a pocket defined by spacer rods. When the cage subassembly 23 is attached to a race member having a cam surface, the biasing spring 26 biases the wedging member 24 into engagement with the cam surface. When both races are assembled, the wedging members engage the smooth race 32 and the camming surfaces 29 and the spacer bars 37,38.
and leaves.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, some of the outer spacer bars 37 have radial retention tabs 43 extending parallel to and axially spaced from the side plates 36. There is. Four retaining tabs 43 are shown equally spaced around cage 27 in FIG. Figures 1 and 2
In the figures, retention tabs 43 are shown received within retention grooves 33. 3-6 illustrate the elastic deflection of the retaining tab allowing it to engage the retaining groove, which elastic deflection is due in part to the curvature of the side plate 36. FIGS.

In FIG. 3, the cage subassembly 23 is shown in front of the outer race member 21 in preparation for the explanation of its subassembly with the race member. In FIG. 4, the cage assembly is moved end-first into outer race member 21 with ears 41 engaging recesses 31. In FIG. 5, the radial retaining tabs are deflected toward the axis, thereby causing a temporary curvature of the annular side plate 36. In FIG. FIG. 6 shows the cage subassembly mounted within the outer race member 21, where the cage member 27 has recovered from the curvature of FIG.
It has regained its normal shape with the retaining tab 43 engaged with. FIG. 7 shows the inner race member 22 inserted into the cage subassembly 23 after the cage subassembly has resumed its normal shape, and further shows the retaining tabs engaging the grooves 33 in the cage subassembly. This shows the advantage of preventing axial movement of the As long as the retaining tabs 43 secure the cage against movement in both axial directions, the side plates 36
No additional retaining device adjacent to the is required.

Removal of the cage subassembly is accomplished by reversing the steps shown in FIGS. 1-7. That is, the inner race member is removed, the cage is bent to remove the retaining tabs 43 from the retaining grooves 33, and the cage subassembly 23 is pivoted out of the outer race assembly 21.

An alternative construction is shown in FIG. 8, in which the retaining tab 44 is formed on the finger 39 and therefore receives its support from the spacer bar 38 and the radial wall 42 rather than from the spacer bar 37.

FIG. 9 shows a variation similar to FIG. 8, but in which the retaining tab 46 is attached to the inner race member
It extends radially inward so as to engage with the retaining groove 47 of.

FIG. 10 shows a further alternative construction of fingers 48 and retaining tabs 49.

FIG. 11 shows a modification of the retaining tab 43 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, in which a tool receiving notch 51 is formed in the tab to provide a recess for insertion of a tool; There, the tab can be deflected radially inward to release it from the retaining groove 33. FIG. 12 shows a tab structure similar to FIG. 11, in which the tool receiving recess has a notch 5
1 but by a tool hole 52.

FIG. 13 shows that the annular side plate 36 is split to provide two adjacent ends 53 and 54 defining a split ring structure. Another modification of the cage member is shown. The split ring construction facilitates bending of the side plates 36 and is particularly useful for small diameter clutches.

In the foregoing, a cage for an overrunning clutch has been described with an integral retention device, the cage being resiliently bent to releasably engage the retention tabs with the retention grooves of one of the race members. It is possible to sing.

According to the present invention, even in an overrunning clutch having a structure that can effectively prevent the cage assembly including the cage member and the wedge member from slipping out in the axial direction, it is possible to prevent the cage assembly from being attached to and detached from both races. It is advantageous that the cage assembly can be made extremely simple to flex, making it suitable for small overrunning clutches.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is an axial end elevational view of an overrunning clutch having a generally bendable cage according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of a portion of the clutch shown in FIG. 1; 3 to 6 are views showing the installation sequence of the cage auxiliary assembly to the clutch race in which the cage is elastically bendable to engage the retaining groove; FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6; FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial views of a variant of the retaining tab; FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIGS. 8 and 9; Figures 11 and 12 show further variations of the retaining tabs; Figures 11 and 12 show tool recesses in the cage member to facilitate bending of the cage to remove the cage from the clutch race; Figure 13; 1 is a partial view of a cage having a split ring side plate structure that facilitates bending of the cage; FIG. 20: Overrunning clutch, 21: Outer race member, 22: Inner race member, 2
3: cage auxiliary assembly, 24: wedge stopper member,
27: Cage member, 28: Arc surface, 29: Cam surface, 33: Holding groove, 36: Side plate, 37, 38: Spacer rod, 39: Finger, 43: Holding tab.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A concentric inner race 22 and a concentric outer race 21, one of which has a retaining groove 33 or 47 extending in the circumferential direction, and a race disposed between the inner race and the outer race. a generally annular side plate extending circumferentially of the race; and a cage assembly 23 for holding the wedging members circumferentially apart; 36, said cage member 27 is circumferentially divided such that said side plates 36 form a split ring, and said split ring portions are arranged in a pair of adjacent end portions 53, 54, each of said segmented cage member portions being radially adjacent to each other so as to define at least one circumferentially spaced pocket for receiving said wedging member. at least a pair of spacer bars 37 spaced apart and extending axially from the side plates;
38 and at least one finger circumferentially spaced from the spacer bar and axially spaced from the side plate to receive the wedging member between the side plate and the finger.
9 and at least one radially extending retention tab 43, 44, 46, 48 or 49 arranged substantially parallel to said side plate and adapted to engage a retention groove 33 or 47 formed in said race.
and at least one ear extending radially from the side plate, the pair of spacer bars being engageable with the wedging member received within the pocket; , an overrunning clutch facilitating deflection of the cage member to releasably engage the retaining tab with the retaining groove 33 or 47.