Ratchet one-way clutch with vibration dampening

Abstract

The present invention broadly comprises a stator and one-way clutch assembly including a segment of a stator, a one-way clutch engaged with the segment, and at least one elastically deformable element engaged with the segment and the clutch and arranged to dampen transfer of torque from the stator to the clutch. In some aspects, the clutch includes a first plate and the deformable element is engaged with the segment and the plate. The segment urges the deformable element against the first plate. The first plate is arranged to rotate in response to the urging. The segment and the first plate are arranged to rotationally lock. The first plate and a second plate, connected to a clutch hub, rotationally lock in response to the urging, and the segment and the first plate are arranged to rotationally lock following the locking of the first and second plates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front exploded view of a present invention stator and one-way clutch assembly;

FIG. 2 is a back exploded view of the stator and one-way clutch assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a stator with a present invention stator and one-way clutch assembly;

FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of the stator and present invention stator and one-way clutch assembly shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the housing for the present invention stator and one-way clutch assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the housing shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a back view of the stator in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the stator shown in FIG. 3 along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a back perspective view of a plate in the present invention stator and one-way clutch assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the plate shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a present invention stator and one-way clutch assembly, showing the clutch in a free-wheel mode; and,

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembly shown in FIG. 11, showing the clutch in a locked mode.

Claims

1. A stator and one-way clutch assembly, comprising: a segment of a stator;a one-way clutch engaged with said segment; and,at least one elastically deformable element engaged with said segment and said clutch and arranged to dampen transfer of torque from said stator to said clutch.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said clutch further comprises a first plate and said at least one elastically deformable element is engaged with said segment and said first plate.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said segment is rotatable to urge said at least one elastically deformable element against said first plate.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said at least one elastically deformable element is deformable in response to said urging.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said first plate is arranged to rotate in response to said urging.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said segment is arranged to rotate at a first rate during said urging, said first plate is arranged to rotate at a second rate during said urging, and said first rate is greater than said second rate.

7. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said segment and said first plate are arranged to rotationally lock.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said at least one elastically deformable element is arranged to be in a substantially constant state of deformation when said segment and first plate are locked.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said clutch further comprises a hub and a second plate connected to said hub, said first and second plates are operatively arranged to rotationally lock in response to said urging, and said segment and said first plate are arranged to rotationally lock following said locking of said first and second plates.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said first plate is axially moveable.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said first plate comprises at least one first protrusion, said second plate comprises at least one first receiving structure, and said at least one first protrusion and said at least one first receiving structure are arranged to lockingly engage.

12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said second plate comprises at least one second protrusion, said first plate comprises at least one second receiving structure, and said at least one second protrusion and said at least one second receiving structure are arranged to lockingly engage.

13. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said second plate is formed by stamping.

14. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said segment is arranged to transfer torque to said at least one elastically deformable element and said at least one elastically deformable element is arranged to transfer at least a portion of said torque to said first plate.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said at least one elastically deformable element is arranged to transfer substantially all of said torque to said first plate.

16. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said segment retains said at least one elastically deformable element.

17. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said first plate retains said at least one elastically deformable element.

18. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said segment and said first plate are formed by stamping.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one elastically deformable element further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a spring and a rubber cylinder.

20. A stator and one-way clutch assembly, comprising: a segment of a stator;a portion of a one-way clutch, said portion engaged with said segment; and,at least one elastically deformable element engaged with said segment and said portion and arranged to dampen vibration associated with a rotational locking of said stator and clutch.

21. A stator and one-way clutch assembly in a stator, comprising: a segment for a stator;a first portion of a one-way clutch;a second portion of said one-way clutch, said second portion connected to a hub for said stator; and,at least one elastically deformable element engaged with said segment and said first portion, wherein said segment is rotatable to urge said at least one elastically deformable element against said first portion, said at least one elastically deformable element is arranged to deform in response to said urging, said first portion is arranged to rotate in response to said urging, said first and second portions are operatively arranged to rotationally lock in response to said urging, said segment and said first plate are arranged to rotationally lock following said locking of said first and second plates, and said at least one elastically deformable element is arranged to absorb a portion of the energy associated with said locking of said first and second plates.