One way clutch

Claim 2

A one way clutch comprising an outer member integrally formed of a polymeric resin composition rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having formed therein a longitudinal cavity open at an end thereof, a sleeve of a relatively hard material located in said cavity and interlocked and rotatable with said outer member and having on its inside peripheral face a plurality of circumferentially spaced similarly directed circumferentially radially inclined wedge surfaces, an integrally formed cage member projecting into said cavity and including an outer base section and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed longitudinal columns delineating retainer spaces registering with respective wedge surfaces, said cage and outer members having integrally formed therewith radially relatively resiliently separable complementary fastening means interlocking said members in assembled condition against relative longitudinal movement, a roller element disposed and circumferentially movable in each of said retainer spaces and a shaft coaxially registering with said cage member, the opposite faces of said roller elements confronting the surface of said shaft and respective sleeve wedge surfaces.

Claim 3

The one way clutch of claim 1 wherein said outer member has formed on the surface of said cavity circumferentially spaced longitudinal ribs and said sleeve has formed in its outside peripheral face circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves engaging said ribs.

Claim 4

The one way clutch of claim 1 wherein said cavity has a circular shoulder at its inner end, the inner end face of said sleeve abutting said shoulder and said cage member base having a front annular end face abutting the outer end of said sleeve.

Claim 5

The one way clutch of claim 2 wherein the outer edge of each of said resilient arms and lips is beveled to define an arm flexing cam.

Claim 6

The one way clutch of claim 4 wherein each of said resilient arms is delineated from the wall of said cavity by a pair of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slits formed in said cavity wall and longitudinally extending clearance grooves are formed in the outside face of said cage member base section and are aligned with respective flange openings.

Claim 7

The one way clutch of claim 1 wherein the inside peripheral face of said sleeve is of polygonal transverse cross section and the outside face of each cage column comprises a dihedral angle engaging a respective corner of said sleeve inside face.

Claim 8

The one way clutch of claim 1 wherein said roller elements are cylindrical rollers.

Claim 9

The one way clutch of claim 7 including spring means resiliently urging each of said rollers in a peripheral direction into wedging engagement with said shaft and sleeve.

Claim 10

The one way clutch of claim 8 wherein each of said columns has a recess formed therein opening into a respective retainer space and said spring means comprises a compression leaf spring engaging each of said recesses and entrapped between a column and a respective roller.

Claim 11

The one way clutch of claim 9 wherein said spring is S-shaped.

Claim 12

The one way clutch of claim 9 wherein said leaf spring is in the shape of an open loop.

Claim 13

The one way clutch of claim 9 wherein said spring comprises a cross arm bearing on a respective roller and terminating at opposite ends in S-shaped legs nesting in a respective column recess.

Claim 14

The one way clutch of claim 1 wherein said outer member includes a torque transmitting section integrally formed therewith.

Claim 15

The one way clutch of claim 13 wherein said torque transmitting section comprises a gear coaxial with said outer member.

Claim 16

The one way clutch of claim 13 wherein said torque transmitting member comprises an outwardly transversely projecting actuating arm.

Claim 17

The one way clutch of claim 13 wherein said torque transmitting member comprises a cam.

Claim 18

The one way clutch of claim 1 wherein said outer member has formed therein in communication with the inner end of said cavity a coaxial bore rotatably bearing said shaft.

Claim 19

A one way clutch comprising an outer member integrally formed of a polymeric resin composition rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having formed therein a longitudinal cavity open at an end thereof, a sleeve of a relatively hard material located in said cavity and interlocked and rotatable with said outer member and having an inside peripheral face, an integrally formed cage member projecting into said cavity and including an outer base section and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed longitudinal columns delineating retainer spaces, a rotatable inner drive member coaxial with said sleeve and outer drive member and having an outer peripheral faces delineating with said sleeve inside face a plurality of circumferentially spaced wedge spaces each containing a respective one of said retainer spaces, said cage and outer members having integrally formed therewith relatively radially resiliently movable complementary fastening means interlocking said members in assembled condition against relative longitudinal movement, a roller element disposed and circumferentially movable in each of said retainer spaces between wedging and release positions in respective wedge spaces to respectively drive couple and uncouple said drive members.

Claim 20

A one way clutch comprising an outer member integrally formed of a polymeric resin composition rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having formed therein a longitudinal cavity open at an end thereof, a sleeve of a relatively hard material located in said cavity and interlocked and rotatable with said outer member and having an inside peripheral face, an integrally formed cage member projecting into said cavity and including an outer base section and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed longitudinal columns delineating retainer spaces, a rotatable inner drive member coaxial with said sleeve and outer drive member and having an outer peripheral faces delineating with said sleeve inside face a plurality of circumferentially spaced wedge spaces each containing a respective one of said retainer spaces, said cage and outer members having integrally formed therewith relatively radially resiliently movable complementary fastening means interlocking said members in assembled condition against relative longitudinal movement, a roller element disposed and circumferentially movable in each of said retainer spaces between wedging and release positions in respective wedge spaces to respectively drive couple and uncouple said drive members.

Claim 21

A one way clutch comprising an outer member integrally formed of a polymeric resin composition rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having formed therein a longitudinal cylindrical cavity open at an end thereof and having a peripheral groove formed therein at said end, a sleeve of a relatively hard material located in said cavity and interlocked and rotatable with said outer member and having on its inside peripheral face a plurality of circumferentially spaced similarly directed circumferentially radially inclined wedge surfaces, an integrally formed cage member projecting into said cavity and including an outer cylindrical base section telescoping said cavity and having a peripherally extending rib snap fit into engagement with said peripheral groove, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed longitudinal columns delineating retainer spaces registering with respective wedge surfaces, said cage and outer members having integrally formed therewith complementary fastening means interlocking said members in assembled condition against relative longitudinal movement, a roller element disposed and circumferentially movable in each of said retainer spaces and a shaft coaxially registering with said cage member, the opposite faces of said roller elements confronting the surface of said shaft and respective sleeve wedge surfaces.

Claim 22

A one way clutch comprising an outer member integrally formed of a polymeric resin composition rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having formed therein a longitudinal cylindrical cavity open at an end thereof and having a peripheral groove formed therein at said end, a sleeve of a relatively hard material located in said cavity and interlocked and rotatable with said outer member and having on its inside peripheral face a plurality of circumferentially spaced similarly directed circumferentially radially inclined wedge surfaces, an integrally formed cage member projecting into said cavity and including an outer cylindrical base section telescoping said cavity and having a peripherally extending rib snap fit into engagement with said peripheral groove, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed longitudinal columns delineating retainer spaces registering with respective wedge surfaces, said cage and outer members having integrally formed therewith complementary fastening means interlocking said members in assembled condition against relative longitudinal movement, a roller element disposed and circumferentially movable in each of said retainer spaces and a shaft coaxially registering with said cage member, the opposite faces of said roller elements confronting the surface of said shaft and respective sleeve wedge surfaces.

Claim 23

A one way clutch comprising an outer member integrally formed of a polymeric resin composition rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having formed therein a longitudinal cavity open at an end thereof, a sleeve of a relatively hard material located in said cavity and interlocked and rotatable with said outer member and having its inside peripheral face a plurality of circumferentially spaced similarly directed circumferentially radially inclined wedge surfaces, an integrally formed cage member projecting into said cavity and including an outer base section having at its outer end a peripheral flange with peripherally spaced openings and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed longitudinal columns delineating retainer spaces registering with respective wedge surfaces, said outer member having integrally formed therewith longitudinally extending resilient arms projecting through the respective flange openings and terminating in radially outwardly projecting lips bearing on the outside face of said flange and defining therewith fastening means interlocking said members in assembled condition against relative longitudinal movement, a roller element disposed and circumferentially movable in each of said retainer spaces and a shaft coaxially registering with said cage member, the opposite faces of said roller elements confronting the surface of said shaft and respective sleeve wedge surfaces.

Claim 24

A one way clutch comprising an outer member integrally formed of a polymeric resin composition rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having formed therein a longitudinal cavity open at an end thereof, a sleeve of a relatively hard material located in said cavity and interlocked and rotatable with said outer member and having its inside peripheral face a plurality of circumferentially spaced similarly directed circumferentially radially inclined wedge surfaces, an integrally formed cage member projecting into said cavity and including an outer base section having at its outer end a peripheral flange with peripherally spaced openings and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed longitudinal columns delineating retainer spaces registering with respective wedge surfaces, said outer member having integrally formed therewith longitudinally extending resilient arms projecting through the respective flange openings and terminating in radially outwardly projecting lips bearing on the outside face of said flange and defining therewith fastening means interlocking said members in assembled condition against relative longitudinal movement, a roller element disposed and circumferentially movable in each of said retainer spaces and a shaft coaxially registering with said cage member, the opposite faces of said roller elements confronting the surface of said shaft and respective sleeve wedge surfaces.