Free-wheel mechanisms and free wheels incorporating such mechanisms

Abstract

Abstract The present invention is concerned with improvements in freewheel mechanisms adapted to couple together or to disconnect two members capable of relative rotation. The free-wheel mechanism is intended to cooperate with two circular tracks, an inner track and an outer track, one of said tracks comprising ramp means, a plurality of jamming members such as rollers, an assembly cage for said jamming members, said cage having a circular series of windows adapted to receive said jamming members, elastic means such as a ring for urging said members directly or indirectly into the jamming position, abutment means carried by said cage and provided so as to limit the radial movement of said jamming members, said mechanism further comprising, at least on one side, an abutment side-plate immobilized in rotation with respect to said track with ramps by means of a part of said elastic ring adapted to co-operate with a groove formed in said abutment sideplate. These free-wheel mechanisms find numerous advantageous applications in transmission systems for vehicles, for example, in hydraulic torque converters.

Inventors

• 👤 M Rist

Bibliographic Details