Claims
- 1. A clutch assembly comprising:
a first rotatable member; wherein the first rotatable member comprises a pathway disposed thereon; wherein the pathway having at least one rise and at least one vale; wherein the rise is adjacent the vale; a second rotatable member engagable with the first rotatable member; at least one bearing; wherein a portion of the bearing is positioned on the circular pathway and is movable along the pathway; a retainer attached to the second rotatable member; wherein the retainer receives at least a portion of the at least one bearing such that as the bearing moves along the pathway the retainer maintains receipt of at least a portion of the at least one bearing; and a bias member located adjacent at least a portion of the at least one bearing such that bias from the bias member is directed against the at least one bearing to maintain the at least one bearing substantially on the pathway.
- 2. The clutch assembly of claim 1, wherein the bias member is a disk spring.
- 3. The clutch assembly of claim 1, wherein the bias created by the bias member is adjustable.
- 4. The clutch assembly of claim 1, wherein the pathway is a circular pathway disposed on the first rotatable member.
- 5. The clutch assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one bearing is movable along the rise of the pathway as torque is applied to the assembly.
- 6. The clutch assembly of claim 1, wherein the pathway comprises a peak located adjacent the rise, wherein the at least one bearing traverses the peak when a maximum torque for the assembly is reached.
- 7. The clutch assembly of claim 1, wherein the pathway comprises a plurality of successive vales, rises and peaks.
- 8. A clutch assembly comprising
first and second bodies; wherein the first body is movable relative to the second body; a wedge assembly comprising; a base wedge portion being an inclined plane that is located adjacent the first body; a bias member having a bias force directed toward the base wedge portion; a bearing positioned between the base wedge portion and the bias member; wherein a force exerted on the bearing caused by movement of the first body causes the bearing to become movable along the inclined plane in resistance to the bias force of the bias member.
- 9. The clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the bias member is a disk spring.
- 10. The clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the bias force created by the bias member is adjustable.
- 11. The clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the inclined plane defines a rolling pathway.
- 12. The clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the force exerted on the bearing is torque such that as more torque is applied to the assembly, the more the bearing becomes movable along the inclined plane in resistance to the bias force of the bias member.
- 13. The clutch assembly of claim 8, wherein the base wedge portion comprises a plurality of consecutively positioned basins, inclined planes, and peaks.
- 14. The clutch assembly of claim 8, comprises a peak located adjacent the rise, wherein the at least one bearing traverses the peak when a maximum torque for the assembly is reached.
- 15. A clutch assembly comprising:
first and second movable members; wherein the first movable member is movable relative to the second movable member; an intermediate member located adjacent the first movable member; a bias structure located adjacent the intermediate member; wherein the bias structure creates a bias force directed to the intermediate structure to maintain same adjacent the first movable member; a means for the first movable member to selectively engage the second movable member to move both first and second movable members concurrently; a means for receiving the intermediate structure such that after a maximum threshold has been reached by the clutch assembly, the first and second movable members are disengaged without causing the intermediate member to disengage from the first movable member.
- 16. The clutch assembly of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving the intermediate structure and bias structure prevents the intermediate structure from creating high impact forces against the first movable member when the clutch assembly reaches the maximum threshold.
- 17. The clutch assembly of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving the intermediate structure and bias structure prevents the intermediate structure from hammering when the clutch assembly reaches the maximum threshold.
- 18. A clutch assembly having a movable member comprising:
a circumferentially-oriented pathway disposed onto the movable member; wherein the pathway having a basin portion, an incline portion located contiguous to the basin portion, and a peak portion located contiguous to the incline portion.
- 19. The clutch assembly of claim 18, wherein the circumferentially-oriented pathway further comprises a decline portion located contiguous to the peak portion, and a second basin portion located contiguous the decline portion.
- 20. The clutch assembly of claim 18, further comprising at least one bearing received in the circumferentially-oriented pathway.
- 21. The clutch assembly of claim 20, further comprising a bias member configured to apply a bias toward the bearing to maintain the bearing onto the circumferentially-oriented pathway.
- 22. The clutch assembly of claim 21, wherein the bias member is adjustable to affect an amount of bias applied to the bearing.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Serial No. 60/306,039, filed on Jul. 17, 2001, entitled “ELECTRIC POWERED TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY.” The subject matter disclosed in that provisional application is hereby expressly incorporated into the present application.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60306039 |
Jul 2001 |
US |