Free wheeling coupling

Claim 2

A free wheeling coupling comprising an input member rotatable about a given axis of rotation, an output member loosely received on said input member for rotation relative to said input member about said axis of rotation, a coupling member on said input member, said coupling member and said output member having coengageable axially facing sets of clutch teeth extending generally radially of and surrounding said axis of rotation, first means for moving said coupling member axially toward said output member to engage said two sets of clutch teeth in response to movement of said output member in one direction of rotation relatiVe to said input member and for moving said coupling member axially away from said output member to disengage said two sets of clutch teeth in response to movement of said output member in the opposite direction of rotation relative to said input member, and means defining a generally radially extending first seating surface on said input member axially facing said output member, said output member being located between said first seating surface and said coupling member and having a second seating surface generally complementary to said first seating surface whereby when said coupling member is moved axially toward said output member it urges said two seating surfaces into coengagement and clamps said output member between said first seating surface and said coupling member.

Claim 3

A free wheeling coupling as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said first means comprising helical splines on said input member and said coupling member for causing said coupling member to move axially of said input member in response to relative rotation between said coupling member and said input member, and a ratchet and pawl mechanism between said coupling member and said output member permitting said coupling member to move in one direction relative to said output member and preventing said coupling member from moving in the opposite direction relative to said output member.

Claim 4

A free wheeling coupling as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said first and second seating surfaces being generally conical with their axes coincident with said axis of rotation.

Claim 5

A free wheeling coupling as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said output member including a set of bevel gear teeth for cooperation with a bevel gear connected to a driven part, said bevel teeth facing generally axially in the direction opposite from said clutch teeth of said output member.

Claim 6

A free wheeling coupling comprising an input member rotatable about a given axis of rotation and adapted for connection to a power source which normally rotates it in one direction of rotation, an output member loosely received on said input member for rotation relative to said input member about said axis of rotation, a coupling member, coengaging helical splines on said input member and said coupling member connecting said coupling member to said input shaft and causing said coupling member to be moved axially of said input member as said coupling member is moved angularly relative to said input member, said output member having a set of generally radially extending clutch teeth surrounding said axis of rotation and said coupling member having a complementary set of generally radially extending clutch teeth surrounding said axis of rotation, each of said sets of clutch teeth having generally radially extending valleys between the individual teeth thereof, said two sets of clutch teeth being arranged to axially face one another and said coupling member as a result of its axial movement relative to said input member being movable between an engaged position at which said two sets of clutch teeth mesh with one another to lock said output member against rotation relative to said input member and a disengaged position at which said two sets of teeth are out of mesh with one another to permit said output member to rotate relative to said input member, said coengaging helical splines on said input member and said coupling member being arranged so that rotation of said coupling member relative to said input member in said one direction of rotation moves said coupling member axially toward said disengaged position, and a ratchet and pawl mechanism between said coupling member and said output member which permits said output member to move relative to said coupling member in the direction opposite to said one direction of rotation and which prevents said coupling member from moving relative to said output member in said one direction of rotation.

Claim 7

A free wheeling coupling comprising an input member rotatable about a given axis of rotation and adapted for connection to a power source which normally rotates it in one direction of rotation, an output member loosely received on said input member for rotation relative to said input member about said axis of rotation, a coupling member, coengaging helical splines on said input member and said coupling member connecting said coupling member to said input shaft and causing said coupling member to be moved axially of said input member as said coupling member is moved angularly relative to said input member, said output member having a set of generally radially extending clutch teeth surrounding said axis of rotation and said coupling member having a complementary set of generally radially extending clutch teeth surrounding said axis of rotation, each of said sets of clutch teeth having generally radially extending valleys between the individual teeth thereof, said two sets of clutch teeth being arranged to axially face one another and said coupling member as a result of its axial movement relative to said input member being movable between an engaged position at which said two sets of clutch teeth mesh with one another to lock said output member against rotation relative to said input member and a disengaged position at which said two sets of teeth are out of mesh with one another to permit said output member to rotate relative to said input member, said coengaging helical splines on said input member and said coupling member being arranged so that rotation of said coupling member relative to said input member in said one direction of rotation moves said coupling member axially toward said disengaged position, and a ratchet and pawl mechanism between said coupling member and said output member which permits said output member to move relative to said coupling member in the direction opposite to said one direction of rotation and which prevents said coupling member from moving relative to said output member in said one direction of rotation.

Claim 8

A free wheeling coupling as defined in claim 5 further characterized by saiD two sets of clutch teeth having torque transmitting faces which in said engaged position of said coupling member engage one another and which are inclined relative to said axis of rotation, said two sets of clutch teeth being so arranged relative to said ratchet and pawl mechanism that as a result of said inclination said two sets of clutch teeth upon moving into full engagement with one another unload said ratchet and pawl mechanism.

Claim 9

A free wheeling coupling as defined in claim 5 further characterized by means defining a generally radially extending first seating surface on said input member axially facing said output member, said output member being located between said first seating surface and said coupling member and having a second seating surface generally complementary to said first seating surface whereby when said coupling member is axially moved to said engaged position it urges said two seating surfaces into tight coengagement and clamps said output member between said first seating surface and said coupling member.

Claim 10

A free wheeling coupling as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said two seating surfaces being generally conical in shape and concentric with said axis of rotation whereby their coengagement exerts a centering influence on said output member.

Claim 11

A free wheeling coupling comprising an input member rotatable about a given axis of rotation, an output member loosely received on said input member for rotation relative to said input member about said axis of rotation, a coupling member on said input member, said coupling member and said output member having coengageable sets of clutch teeth which are brought into engagement and disengagement with one another by movement of said coupling member axially toward and away from said output member, first means for moving said coupling member axially toward said output member to engage said two sets of clutch teeth in response to movement of said output member in one direction of rotation relative to said input member and for moving said coupling member axially away from said output member to disengage said two sets of clutch teeth in response to movement of said output member in the opposite direction of rotation relative to said input member, and means defining a generally radially extending first seating surface on said input member axially facing said output member, said output member being located between said first seating surface and said coupling member and having a second seating surface generally complementary to said first seating surface and said coupling member being limited in its axial movement toward said output member by engagement with said output member whereby when said coupling member is moved axially toward said output member it urges said two seating surfaces into coengagement and clamps said output member between said first seating surface and said coupling member.

Claim 12

A free wheeling coupling comprising an input member rotatable about a given axis of rotation, an output member loosely received on said input member for rotation relative to said input member about said axis of rotation, a coupling member on said input member, said coupling member and said output member having coengageable sets of clutch teeth which are brought into engagement and disengagement with one another by movement of said coupling member axially toward and away from said output member, first means for moving said coupling member axially toward said output member to engage said two sets of clutch teeth in response to movement of said output member in one direction of rotation relative to said input member and for moving said coupling member axially away from said output member to disengage said two sets of clutch teeth in response to movement of said output member in the opposite direction of rotation relative to said input member, and means defining a generally radially extending first seating surface on said input member axially facing said output member, said output member being located between said first seating surface and said coupling member and having a second seating surface generally complementary to said first seating surface and said coupling member being limited in its axial movement toward said output member by engagement with said output member whereby when said coupling member is moved axially toward said output member it urges said two seating surfaces into coengagement and clamps said output member between said first seating surface and said coupling member.

Claim 13

A free wheeling coupling as defined in claim 9 further characterized by said first means comprising helical splines on said input member and said coupling member for causing said coupling member to move axially of said input member in response to relative rotation between said coupling member and said input member, and a ratchet and pawl mechanism between said coupling member and said output member permitting said coupling member to move in one direction relative to said output member and preventing said coupling member from moving in the opposite direction relative to said output member.