Radial freewheel clutch and pawl

Abstract

A freewheel clutch includes a race including circumferentially spaced notches, each notch including a first side and a second side, and a pawl; the pawl includes a leg having opposing radially inner and outer surfaces, side surfaces extending between the radially inner and outer surfaces, a thickness between the radially inner and outer surfaces, and a width between the side surfaces greater than the thickness. The pawl further includes a joint portion at a forward portion of the leg, the joint portion having a forward end surface engageable with one of the sides of the recess of the race in a detent position of the pawl relative to the race, and the joint portion configured to mate with the recess of the race, the detent is configured to restrict advancement of the detent into the detent position at a rotational speed exceeding a detent-blocking rotational speed of the race relative to the detent.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is a PCT application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 611,707, filed on December 18, 2023. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to mechanical devices for coupling and decoupling rotating elements, and more particularly to radial freewheel clutches and pawls. Background Art

[0004] Generally speaking, a typical freewheel clutch generally includes at least one rotatable clutch member or race and at least one locking element that can be moved in and out of a pawl with the race to prevent or allow relative rotation between the race and the locking element. In a radial freewheel clutch, the races are radially adjacent such that the outer race circumscribes the inner race, and the locking element is configured for radial engagement of the races and may include balls, rollers, sprags, pawls (radial struts), or other radial locking elements. In an axial freewheel clutch, the races are radially adjacent, and the locking element is configured for axial engagement of the races and may include planar struts or other axial locking elements.

[0005] Some freewheel clutches (e.g., mechanical diodes (MDs)) can be passive couplings having passive locking elements and a race that rotates in a circumferential direction in a freewheel state to overtake these passive locking elements and rotates in an opposite circumferential direction in a driven state to lockingly engage the passive locking elements, wherein the race and passive locking elements rotate together, or wherein both the race and locking elements are stationary in a braked state. However, other freewheel clutches can be active couplings having a race and a pawl that can be passively biased toward or away from a stop position with the race and can be selectively actuated into and / or out of a stop position with the race. In a specific example, an electrically controllable mechanical diode (eCMD) can include a rotatable race and a pawl that can be selectively actuated into or out of a stop position with the rotatable race and can be carried by a fixed race. In another specific example, a dynamically controllable clutch (DCC) can include a first relatively rotatable race and a second relatively rotatable race and one or more pawls carried by at least one of the races and selectively actuated into and / or out of the pawls with at least one of the races to prevent or allow relative rotation between the races in at least one circumferential direction. Some DCCs, and even some eCMDs, can have multiple oppositely oriented pawls, including one or more clockwise oriented pawls and one or more counterclockwise oriented pawls, that are independently actuable to achieve four clutch modes, as follows: 0 / 0—wherein the races are disengaged from one another in a freewheel asynchronous mode; 1 / 0—wherein the first race is engaged to the second race in a first unidirectional synchronous mode; 0 / 1—wherein the second race is engaged to the first race in a second unidirectional synchronous mode; and 1 / 1—wherein the first race and the second race are engaged to one another in a bidirectional synchronous mode, for example to facilitate powertrain drive and regeneration modes or to provide a bidirectional vehicle hill-lock function.

[0006] While this clutch is commercially successful, problems arise when the radial pawl is biased by a compression spring having a coil axis oriented radially relative to the rotational axis of the race. Specifically, when the radial pawl is carried by a race rotating at high speeds (e.g., approximately 7,000 RPM or greater), the radially oriented compression spring may experience significant centrifugal forces and / or friction with adjacent surfaces of the race, which can hinder the performance of the spring in particular and the clutch in general. Another problem can arise when the radial pawl, carried by the first race, is inadvertently allowed to move toward a detent position (where the second race rotates at a different speed relative to the first race). Specifically, when the first and second races rotate with a high speed differential between them, engagement of the radial ratchet into a notch in the second race can cause momentary clutch failure. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a clutch is provided, comprising: a seat ring, a radial pawl, and a torsion spring carried by the seat ring. The seat ring includes a rotational axis and a diameter extending through the rotational axis. The radial pawl is carried by the seat ring. The torsion spring includes: a coil portion having a coil axis oriented transversely relative to the diameter of the seat ring; a first leg extending away from the coil portion and bearing against the seat ring; and a second leg extending away from the coil portion and bearing against the radial pawl.

[0008] According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the clutch of the first aspect further includes any one of the following features, including any technically feasible combination of the following features:

[0009] - a torsion spring biases the radial pawl in a radially outward direction relative to the raceway;

[0010] - The coil axis of the torsion spring is approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the seat ring and approximately perpendicular to the seat ring.

[0011] The diameter of the circle;

[0012] - the torsion spring is a double torsion spring comprising: a first coaxial spring coil and a second coaxial spring coil axially spaced apart along the spring coil axis;

[0013] the first leg of the torsion spring is a split outboard reaction leg comprising a first portion extending tangentially away from an axially outboard portion of the first spring coil and a second portion extending tangentially away from an axially outboard portion of the second spring coil;

[0014] the second leg of the torsion spring is an integral inner acting leg comprising a first portion extending tangentially away from an axially inner portion of the first spring coil and a second portion extending tangentially away from an axially inner portion of the second spring coil;

[0015] - the torsion spring turns each comprise at least three complete revolutions;

[0016] - the first leg and the second leg have a compression angle between -5° and 10° and an extension angle between 10° and 35°;

[0017] - the raceway includes: a radially outer circumferential surface; a radially inner circumferential surface; a first flat surface; a second flat surface; a detent recess between the first and second flat surfaces; and a spring recess between the flat surfaces and open to the detent recess, the spring recess having a coil socket for receiving a coil portion of the torsion spring;

[0018] - the spring recess also has a leg retainer to retain the first leg of the torsion spring;

[0019] - the pawl recess includes: a pawl toe socket having a semi-cylindrical inner surface, a pawl heel seat circumferentially opposite the pawl toe socket, and an actuator pin gap between the pawl toe socket and the pawl heel;

[0020] - the race further comprising: a pawl toe socket wall at least partially defining a pawl toe socket; and a pawl stop projecting radially outwardly relative to the pawl toe socket wall to limit the travel of the pawl;

[0021] - the race further comprising an actuator pin passage extending radially through a portion of the race and into an actuator pin void of the pawl recess;

[0022] - a radial pawl comprising: a toe portion carried in a pawl toe socket and having a semi-cylindrical pivot surface cooperating with a semi-cylindrical inner surface of the pawl toe socket; a heel portion having a rear surface engageable with a pawl heel seat; and a leg portion extending away from the heel portion beyond the toe portion and terminating in a knuckle portion having a detent blocking protrusion;

[0023] - the heel has a flat bottom surface and a protrusion between the bottom surface and the rear surface of the heel; - the rear surface of the heel is curved outwardly, and the pawl heel seat is curved inwardly;

[0024] - the clutch further comprises: a second race circumferentially circumscribing the race and comprising an internal array of circumferentially spaced notches to receive the radial pawls in the deployed position of the radial pawls

[0025] A part of a ratchet;

[0026] - the race can rotate about the axis of rotation and the second race can also rotate relative to the race

[0027] Rotating about the axis of rotation in a circumferential direction or an opposite circumferential direction;

[0028] The clutch further comprises an outward radial pawl disposed radially outwardly relative to the second race and having an engagement end configured to engage the exterior of the circumferentially spaced notches of the second race when in the deployed position of the outward radial pawl.

[0029] array;

[0030] - The radial pawls can be selectively actuated, so that the clutch constitutes an integrated dynamically controllable clutch (DCC) and an electrically controllable mechanical diode (eCMD);

[0031] - The radial pawl comprises axially opposite side surfaces and protrusions away from these axially opposite side surfaces.

[0032] The sensor protrusion protrudes;

[0033] - the clutch further comprising: a retainer plate coupled to an axially facing side surface of the raceway and having a sensor window corresponding to one of the sensor protrusions; and / or

[0034] The raceway comprises an axially facing inner side surface facing the axially facing side surface of the radial detent, and a lug recess in the axially facing inner side surface and corresponding to one of the sensor lugs.

[0035] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a freewheel clutch radial pawl comprising a foot, a leg, and a joint portion. The foot comprises a toe having a pivot surface defining a pivot axis of the pawl, a heel having a rear surface, and a middle portion extending in a rearward direction away from the toe and toward the heel. The leg extends in a forward direction away from the heel beyond the toe, and the leg comprises a center of gravity disposed at a forward position of the pawl relative to the pivot axis of the pawl. The joint portion extends away from the leg and has a front end surface.

[0036] According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the freewheel clutch radial pawl of the second aspect further includes any one of the following features, including any technically feasible combination of the following features:

[0037] The joint portion further includes a stopper-blocking projection extending longitudinally between the opposite radially outer surfaces of the leg portion and the front end surface of the joint portion and extending away from the leg portion.

[0038] protruding in the direction of the relative radial outer surface of the portion;

[0039] The joint portion further includes a spring-engaging projection extending longitudinally between the relatively radially inner surface of the leg portion and the front end surface of the joint portion and distal to the leg portion.

[0040] protruding in a direction relative to the radial inner surface;

[0041] The joint portion further comprises axially opposite side surfaces and a conductive portion protruding away from the axially opposite side surfaces.

[0042] sensory bulge;

[0043] - the knuckle portion comprises a raceway engaging corner at the front end surface of the pawl and having a profile with a non-constant radius; and / or

[0044] The profile is a conical transition having a conical shape with a Rho value between 0.1 and 0.9.

[0045] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a freewheel clutch is provided, comprising a seat ring and a pawl. The seat ring comprises a circumferential surface and an array of circumferentially spaced notches in the circumferential surface. Each notch has: a radially facing root; circumferentially opposing first and second side faces extending between the root and the circumferential surface; and a corner transition between the side faces and the circumferential surface. The pawl comprises a leg and a joint portion. The leg extends from a rearward portion toward a forward portion, and the leg has: opposing radial inner and radial outer surfaces facing opposite directions; side surfaces facing opposite axial directions and extending between the radial inner and radial outer surfaces; a thickness between the radial inner and radial outer surfaces; and a width between the side surfaces that is greater than the thickness. The joint portion is located at the forward portion of the leg and includes a front end surface that is capable of engaging with the first or second side face of each of the notches of the seat ring in a stopper position of the pawl relative to the seat ring. The knuckle is configured to cooperate with the notch of the race to limit advancement of the pawl into the stop position when a rotational speed of the race relative to the stopper-blocking rotational speed of the pawl is exceeded.

[0046] According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the freewheel clutch of the third aspect further includes any one of the following features, including any technically feasible combination of the following features:

[0047] the knuckle portion of the pawl includes a stopper-blocking protrusion located longitudinally between the opposite radially outer surfaces of the legs and a front end surface of the knuckle portion of the pawl and protruding radially away from the opposite radially outer surfaces of the legs of the pawl;

[0048] The joint portion further includes a spring-engaging projection extending longitudinally between the relatively radially inner surfaces of the leg portion and the front end surface of the joint portion and extending away from the leg portion.

[0049] protruding in a direction relative to the radial inner surface;

[0050] - The circumferential width of the notch, the radius of the corner transition of the notch, and the angular orientation of the side faces of the notch are configured so that when the speed exceeds the stop blocking speed of the race relative to the pawl

[0051] limiting advancement of the pawl into a stop position;

[0052] - the corner transition has multiple profiles with non-constant radii; and / or

[0053] The profile is a conical transition with a conical shape having a Rho value of

[0054] Between 0.1 and 0.9. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for coupling and decoupling rotating elements illustrating a first axially facing side of a clutch assembly of the device including a first radial freewheel clutch and a second radial freewheel clutch.

[0056] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a second axially facing side of a clutch assembly of a device, the second axially facing side being the same as Figure 1 The first axially facing sides of the clutch assembly are shown to be axially opposite.

[0057] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Axial view of the device, specifically depicting Figure 2 a second axially facing side of the clutch assembly of the device.

[0058] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 An enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the device, specifically depicting the first radial freewheel clutch in an engaged state in which a pawl of the locking mechanism engages a radially recessed yield portion of an outer race of the clutch assembly.

[0059] Figure 5A yes Figure 1 An axial view of a first axially facing side of a clutch assembly of a device in which the retainer plate of the inner race of the clutch assembly is coupled to Figure 1 A first axially facing side condition of the clutch assembly.

[0060] Figure 5B yes Figure 1 An axial view of a first axially facing side of the clutch assembly of the device, as Figure 5A As shown, except not depicted Figure 5A The retainer plate is shown outside of the inner race to show the pawl, spring, and corresponding pawl and spring pockets.

[0061] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a first axially facing side of the device, with the retainer plate removed to reveal two radially engaged actuatable pawl clutch mechanisms, each pawl clutch mechanism having a pawl disposed within an inner race and a spring, wherein the pawl is radially displaceable for selective engagement with a notch in an outer race of the clutch assembly.

[0062] Figure 7 is for a second freewheel radial clutch (such as for Figure 5B and Figure 6 A rear cutaway view of a relatively radially outwardly facing portion of a pawl in the radially engaged actuatable pawl clutch mechanism depicted in FIG.

[0063] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A radial view of a relatively radially outward facing portion of the pawl.

[0064] Figure 9 yes Figure 7-Figure 8 Side view of the pawl.

[0065] Figure 10 yes Figure 7-Figure 9 A tangential view of a relatively radially inwardly facing portion of the pawl.

[0066] Figure 11 yes Figure 7-10 Upper rear perspective view of the pawl.

[0067] Figure 12 yes Figure 7-11 Upper front perspective view of the pawl.

[0068] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a torsion spring used to bias a pawl or locking element radially outward as part of a second freewheel radial clutch.

[0069] Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary axial view of a first axially facing side of the inner race together with the detent and spring pockets.

[0070] Figure 15 yes Figure 1 An enlarged partial cross-sectional perspective view of a first axially facing side of the device, specifically depicting a first radially engaged actuatable pawl clutch mechanism in a disengaged state, wherein the pawls of the inner race are in a radially inward position.

[0071] Figure 16 yes Figure 1 An enlarged partial cross-sectional perspective view of a first axially facing side of the device, specifically depicting a second radially engaged actuatable pawl clutch mechanism in an engaged state, wherein the pawl of the inner race is disposed within a recess of the outer race.

[0072] Figure 17 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a first axial side of the pawl having a front end surface proximate the recess of the outer race and in a position where the pawl begins to drop into the recess.

[0073] Figures 18A-18C Each depicts the front end surface of a pawl or locking element, wherein Figure 18A With a ratio Figure 18BThe lower pawl or locking element pawl engagement corner Rho value shown, and wherein Figure 18C With intermediate Rho values ​​shown arranged between the dashed edges (at Figures 18A-18B Rho values ​​between Figure 18C Pictured Figures 18A-18B The pawl engages the contour of the corner edge.

[0074] Figure 18D is a graph illustrating curves of different Rho values ​​including curves of an ellipse, a parabola, and a hyperbola.

[0075] Figures 19A-19D Each is an enlarged partial side view of a first axially facing side of the second freewheel radial clutch, specifically depicting different embodiments of clutch engagements for the second freewheel radial clutch (i.e., those between the pawl engagement corners of the pawl and the corresponding notches of the outer race of the second freewheel radial clutch). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] In general, a radial freewheel clutch and pawl will be described using one or more examples of illustrative embodiments of a dynamically controllable clutch (DCC) including a radially outward acting pawl and an electrically controllable mechanical diode (eCMD) including a radially inward acting pawl. However, it will be understood as the description proceeds that the radial freewheel clutch and pawl are useful in many different applications and can be implemented in many other embodiments. In this regard, and as used herein and in the claims, it will be understood that the clutch and pawl are not limited to the specific radial orientations disclosed herein and can be oriented for radially inward engagement and / or radially outward engagement for any given application, and that the eCMD can include multiple pawls that can be oriented circumferentially opposite each other.

[0077] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to the Figure 1-Figure 3 , discloses and illustrates an apparatus 10 for coupling and decoupling rotating elements, such as input and output shafts, drums, hubs, planet carriers, clutch plates, or any other suitable rotating element (not shown). The apparatus 10 may include a clutch assembly 12, which may include one or more radial freewheel clutches, such as a first radial freewheel clutch 14 and a second radial freewheel clutch 16. The clutches 14, 16 may be selectively actuated such that the first radial freewheel clutch 14 may constitute an electrically controllable mechanical diode (eCMD) and the second radial freewheel clutch 16 may constitute a dynamically controllable clutch (DCC) that shares a common race with the eCMD, such that the entire apparatus 10 may constitute a combined eCMD / DCC apparatus.

[0078] The first radial freewheel clutch 14 includes a first or outer race 18 which may be an annular or cylindrical member including a central axis 20 and a diameter 22 ( Figure 3 ); and a locking mechanism 24 that can be selectively actuated to stop the outer race 18 from rotating about the central axis 20 relative to the locking mechanism 24. The outer race 18 also includes a radially outer circumferential surface 26 and a radially inner circumferential surface 28, the radially outer circumferential surface 26 facing in a radially outward direction and the radially inner circumferential surface 28 facing in a radially inward direction opposite to the radially outward direction. The outer race 18 also includes a first flat surface 30 ( Figure 1 ) and a second plane 32 ( Figure 2 ). The radially outer circumferential surface 26 may include a radially outermost surface 34, which may be cylindrical and may include one or more radially recessed relief portions (e.g., detent notches) 36 in the radially outermost surface 34 to facilitate coupling of the outer race 18 with some other component. For example, the relief portion 36 may include a circumferential array of radially outer notches, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, such that the outer race 18 may be referred to as a notch plate.

[0079] Now see Figure 4 The locking mechanism 24 includes a locking element, which may be a radial post or pawl 38 that is selectively displaceable into and / or out of engagement with the outer race 18. The locking mechanism 24 may also include a pocket housing 40 that establishes a pawl pocket 42 in which the pawl 38 is carried; a pawl retainer plate 44 for retaining the pawl 38 in the pawl pocket 42 of the pocket housing 40; and the pawl 38 pivotally carried in the pocket 42 about a pawl pivot or pivot axis 46. The locking mechanism 24 may also include an actuating plunger (e.g., a compression spring or rod) 48 carried in a through passage 50 of the housing 40 to move the pawl 38 toward the engaged position relative to the outer race 18, and a return spring 52 carried in a spring recess 54 of the housing 40 to bias the pawl 38 toward the disengaged position relative to the outer race 18. The retainer plate 44 may be part of a retainer pawl 56 having axially opposed gripping portions that frictionally engage axial sides 58 ( Figure 1-Figure 2) engage with each other. The retainer plate 44 may also at least partially establish a pivot or pivot axis 46 for the pawl 38. The pocket housing 40 may be assembled and / or coupled to a larger housing, such as a clutch housing, a transmission housing, or the like (not shown). Although not shown in the illustrated embodiment, the first clutch 14 may also include a pawl actuator that may drive an actuating plunger 48 into engagement and / or continued engagement with the pawl 38 to actuate the pawl 38 into an engaged position relative to the outer race 18. The pawl actuator may include a solenoid, other electromechanical device, a hydromechanical device, or any other device suitable for actuating a clutch.

[0080] Now refer to Figures 5A-6 The second radial freewheel clutch 16 includes a second or inner race 60 for coupling to a rotating element (not shown), and the first or outer race 18 circumferentially circumscribes the inner race 60. The second radial freewheel clutch 16 also includes a plurality of locking elements ( Figure 6 B) and a plurality of springs 64 ( Figure 5B ), the locking elements may be radial struts or pawls 62 that may be carried by the inner race 60 for selectively engaging and / or disengaging with the outer race 18, and the springs may be carried by the inner race 60 to bias respective ones of the plurality of pawls 62 toward engagement and / or disengagement with the outer race 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the springs 64 ( Figure 5B ) biases the pawl 62 toward the deployed position of the pawl 62, in which the pawl 62 pivots and engages the outer race 18 in a detent engagement with the outer race 18 or in a ratcheting engagement or detent blocking engagement with the outer race 18, as will be described below. The second radial freewheel clutch 16 may also include a retainer plate 66 ( Figure 5A ) and fastener 68( Figure 5A ), the retainer plate is coupled to the inner race 60 to retain the pawl 62 and the spring 64, and the fastener is used to secure the retainer plate 66 to the inner race 60. Additionally, the second radial freewheel clutch 16 may include a plurality of actuator pins 70 to actuate the pawl 62 to engage and / or disengage the outer race 18.

[0081] Now refer to Figure 7-12Each pawl 62 may include a foot 72 including a toe 74 having a pivot surface 76, a heel 80 having a rear surface 82, and an intermediate portion 84 extending in a rearward direction away from the toe 74 and toward the heel 80. The pivot surface 76 defines a pivot or pivot axis 78 for the pawl 62 and may be semi-cylindrical. Furthermore, each pawl 62 may include a leg 86 extending in a forward direction away from the rearward portion (e.g., the heel 80) beyond the toe 74 toward the forward portion of the pawl 62 and having a center of gravity 88 disposed at a forward position of the pawl 62 relative to the pivot axis 78 of the pawl 62. The leg 86 may include opposing radially inner and outer surfaces 90, 92 facing in opposite directions and a plurality of side surfaces 94 facing in opposite axial directions and extending between the radially inner and radially outer surfaces 90, 92. The relatively radially outer surface 92 may be referred to as a relatively radially distal surface because it is distal relative to the root 72 of the pawl 62. The leg 86 may also include a thickness 96 ( Figure 9 ) and a width 98 between the plurality of side surfaces 94 greater than the thickness 96 ( Figure 10 ). In addition, each pawl 62 can terminate in a knuckle portion 100 that extends away from the leg 86 and has a front end surface 102.

[0082] As will be explained in further detail below with reference to the function of the clutch 16, and in particular with reference to Figure 9, the joint portion 100 may include a ratchet engaging or stopper blocking protrusion 104, which is longitudinally located between the relative radial outer surface 92 of the leg 86 and the front end surface 102 of the joint portion 100 and protrudes in a direction away from the relative radial outer surface 92 of the leg 86. The protrusion 104 may include a forward-facing conical surface 106, which may be a straight conical surface as shown or may be a beveled conical or crowned surface. The protrusion 104 may also include a rearward-facing conical surface 108, which may be a straight conical surface as shown or may be a beveled conical or crowned surface. The circumferential length of the forward-facing conical surface 106 may generally be longer than the circumferential length of the rearward-facing conical surface 108. The ratio of the length of the forward-facing tapered surface 106 to the length of the rearward-facing tapered surface 108 can be approximately 1.5:1, for example, between 0.75:1 and 3:1 (including all ranges, subranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, for example, between 1:1 and 2:1 or between 1.25:1 and 1.75:1). Additionally, the protrusion 104 can include a rounded or cornered transition 110 between the forward-facing tapered surface 106 and the rearward-facing tapered surface 108. The rearward-facing tapered surface 108 can be arranged at a steeper angle than the angle of the forward-facing tapered surface 106. The cornered transition 110 can have a fixed radius.

[0083] Likewise, and continuing with reference to Figure 7-12 , the knuckle portion 100 may also include a spring-engaging protrusion 112 that is longitudinally located between the relatively radially inner surface 90 of the leg 86 and the front end surface 102 of the knuckle portion 100 and protrudes in a direction away from the relatively radially inner surface 90 of the leg 86. The spring-engaging protrusion 112 may include a tapered surface 114 that is away from the relatively radially inner (proximal) surface 90 of the leg 86 and angled in a relatively radial direction toward the root 72 of the pawl 62 so that the knuckle portion 100 of the pawl 62 becomes thicker than the leg 86. The tapered surface 114 may be a straight tapered surface as illustrated or may be an oblique tapered or crowned surface.

[0084] In addition, the heel 80 can have a flat bottom surface 116 and a heel protrusion 118 between the rear surface 82 of the heel 80 and the bottom surface 116, and the rear surface 82 of the heel 80 can be outwardly curved. Additionally, the pawl 62 can include axially opposed side surfaces 94 and a sensor protrusion 122 that protrudes away from the axially opposed side surfaces 94, for example, as will be described in further detail below with respect to the functionality of the clutch 16. The sensor protrusion 122 can extend away from the joint 100 of the pawl 62 (as shown in the illustrated embodiment) or extend away from the heel 80 in other embodiments. Figure 5A, the retainer plate 66 may include a sensor window 124 corresponding to the sensor protrusion 122, and although not shown, the clutch 16 may include one or more sensors to sense when the sensor protrusion 122 disappears from the sensor window 124 of the retainer plate 66 to indicate that the pawl 62 is in the deployed / engaged position and to sense when the sensor protrusion 122 appears in the sensor window 124 of the retainer plate 66 to indicate that the pawl 62 is in the non-deployed / disengaged position.

[0085] Reference Figure 13 Each torsion spring 64 may include a coil portion 126 having a coil axis 128 that may be oriented relative to the seat ring 60 ( Figure 5B ) is oriented transversely to the diameter of the race 60. For example, the coil axis 128 can be generally parallel to the rotational axis 20 of the race 60 and generally perpendicular to the diameter of the race 60. As used herein with respect to angular orientation, the term "generally" means within ±10 degrees. Each torsion spring 64 can also include a first leg 130 extending away from the coil portion and bearing against the inner race 60, and a second leg 132 extending away from the coil portion 126 and bearing against the radial detent 62. The torsion spring 64 can have a single coil or any suitable number of coils, but in the illustrated embodiment, the torsion spring can be a dual torsion spring that can include a first coaxial coil 134 and a second coaxial coil 136 axially spaced apart along the coil axis 128. The first leg 130 of the torsion spring 64 can be a split, outboard reaction leg including a first portion 138 extending tangentially away from an axially outboard portion of the first coil 134 and a second portion 140 extending tangentially away from an axially outboard portion of the second coil 136. In contrast, the second leg 132 of the torsion spring can be an integral, inboard action leg including a first portion 142 extending tangentially away from an axially inboard portion of the first coil 134 and a second portion 144 extending tangentially away from an axially inboard portion of the second coil 136. Each torsion spring coil can include at least three complete revolutions. The first and second legs 130, 132 can have a compression angle 146 between -5° and 10° (including all ranges, subranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, e.g., between 0° and 5°) and an extension angle 148 between 10° and 35° (including all ranges, subranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, e.g., between 15° and 30° or between 20° and 25°). The torsion spring biases the radial pawl 62 in a radially outward direction relative to the race 60.

[0086] Reference Figure 5B and Figure 14 The inner race 60 may be an annular or cylindrical member and may include a ring that can be aligned with the outer race 18 ( Figure 5B ) and an inner diameter 152 passing through the rotational axis 150 and can be referred to as a pocket plate. The inner race 60 includes a radially outer circumferential surface 154 facing in a radially outward direction, a radially inner circumferential surface 156 facing in a radially inward direction opposite to the radially outward direction, a first flat surface 158 facing in a first axial direction, and a second flat surface 160 facing in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction ( Figure 2 ). The radially inner circumferential surface 156 may include a radially innermost surface 162, which may be cylindrical and may include one or more radially recessed portions 164, which in turn may include one or more internal splines, for example to facilitate coupling the inner race 60 to some other rotating element. Figure 5B , the inner race 60 may also include one or more axial recesses 166 in the first flat surface 158 and corresponding fastener passages 168 in the axial recesses 166. The fastener passages 168 may be threaded for mating with threads of the plate fasteners 68 of the retainer plate 66 (also referred to as "retainer plate fasteners 68"), and the axial recesses 166 may be shaped, sized, and / or otherwise configured to receive the heads of the retainer plate fasteners 68.

[0087] Reference Figure 14-16 , the inner race 60 also includes one or more detent pockets 170 and one or more spring pockets 172 between the first flat surface 158 and the second flat surface 160. The detent pockets 170 and the spring pockets 172 can be open to the first flat surface 158, for example, to facilitate assembly of the detent 62 and the spring 64 therein. The detent pockets 170 and the spring pockets 172 can include an axially facing inner side surface 174, which can be established by a portion of the inner race 60 itself, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, or in other embodiments, the inner side surface 174 can be established by a portion of the inner race 60 itself, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, or in other embodiments, the inner side surface 174 can be established by a portion of the second flat surface 160 ( Figure 2 ) is established by a partition plate (not shown) coupled to the inner race 60 at the radially outer circumferential surface 154. The pawl recess 170 can be open to the radially outer circumferential surface 154, and the spring recess 172 can be open to the pawl recess 170.

[0088] The pawl recess 170 may include a pawl toe socket 176 defined at least in part by a pawl toe socket wall 178 of the race 60, a pawl heel seat 180 defined at least in part by a pawl heel seat wall 182 of the race 60 circumferentially opposite the pawl toe socket 176, and an actuator pin void 184 between the pawl toe socket 176 and a portion of the pawl 62 (e.g., the root 80 of the pawl 62). Figure 16). The pawl toe socket 176 may include a semi-cylindrical inner surface 186, for example, to facilitate the pawl 62 ( Figure 16 ) is retained and pivoted therein. The race 60 may also include a pawl stop 188 that projects radially outwardly relative to the pawl toe socket wall 178 and is shaped and positioned to abut the leg 86 of the pawl 62 to limit the travel of the pawl 62. Additionally, the race 60 may include a pawl protrusion recess 190 that may be disposed in the axially facing inner side surface 174 of the pawl recess 170. The pawl protrusion recess 190 may be shaped as illustrated in the figures or may have any other shape suitable for accommodating the sensor protrusion 122.

[0089] Continue to refer to Figure 14-16 The spring recess 172 may include one or more coil pockets 192, wherein each coil pocket 192 is at least partially defined by a coil pocket wall 194 of the seat ring 60 to receive a coil portion of the torsion spring 64. The spring recess 172 may also include a leg retainer 196 for retaining the first leg 130 of the torsion spring 64 and a leg stop 198 for limiting extension of the second leg 132 of the torsion spring 64. The leg retainer 196 may include a circumferentially extending protrusion 200 that at least partially establishes a first leg pocket 202 for the first leg 130 of the torsion spring 64.

[0090] In the illustrated embodiment, the race 60 may additionally include an actuator pin channel 204 ( ) extending through a portion of the race 60 and into the actuator pin void 184 of the pawl recess 170. Figure 16 ). The actuator pin channel 204 can extend radially through the radially innermost surface 162 of the race 60. Although not shown, the clutch 16 can also include a radially acting actuator to drive the actuator pin 70 in the actuator pin channel 204 into engagement and / or continued engagement with the pawl 62. In other embodiments, other actuators can be used to engage or further engage the pawl 62, for example, an axially acting actuator including an axial plunger with a cam head to radially displace the pawl 62. In other embodiments, any type and configuration of actuator can be used to selectively actuate the pawl 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator pin 70 is configured to advance radially outward to disengage the pawl 62 from the outer race 18.

[0091] Continue to refer to Figure 15 and Figure 16, and in the illustrated embodiment, the outer race 18 can be rotatable in the same or opposite circumferential direction as the inner race 60 and / or can be fixed against rotation, for example, by being selectively locked relative to a stationary housing (not shown), as will be described in further detail below. In other embodiments that may not include an eCMD, the outer race 18 can be fixed against rotation solely by being splined to the stationary housing or by being integral with the stationary housing. In such embodiments, the relief portion 36 can be an external spline for rotationally securing the outer race 18 to the stationary housing, rather than a detent recess, which can include, for example, a clutch housing, a transmission housing, or any other suitable housing. The radially inner circumferential surface 28 can include a radially innermost surface 208, which can be cylindrical and can include one or more recesses 210. For example, the radially innermost surface 208 may include a circumferential array of notches 210 to receive a portion of the pawl 62 therein in its deployed position, wherein the pawl 62 is urged into a detent having the notches 210 to facilitate coupling of the outer race 18 with the inner race 60. Each notch 210 may include a radially facing root 212, circumferentially opposed first and second side surfaces 214 extending between the root 212 and the radially innermost surface 208, and a radius 216 between the side surfaces 214 and the radially innermost surface 208.

[0092] Now refer to Figure 17 , the pawls 62 and the notches 210 are configured to cooperate with each other to allow each pawl 62 to travel (raise or lower) into circumferential engagement with each notch 210 in the detent position. Each pawl 62 includes a front end surface 102 that can engage with a corresponding side surface 214 of each of the notches 210 of the race 18 in the detent position. In addition, each pawl 62 includes a portion located rearward of the front end surface 102 and diametrically opposite the toe 74, wherein the portion abuts the bottom of the root 212 of the notch 210.

[0093] The pawl 62 and the notch 210 are also configured to cooperate with each other to control the available circumferential window of detent engagement between the pawl 62 and the notch 210 at speeds exceeding the ratcheting or detent-blocking speed of the outer race 18 relative to the pawl 62. As used herein, the terms "ratcheting" and "detent blocking" are used interchangeably. The pawl 62 can operate in a "ratcheting" or "ratcheting" state when the relative speed between the pawl 62 and the corresponding race 18 is sufficient to block or prevent the pawl 62 from falling into the detent in the notch 210 of the race 18, thereby stopping relative rotational movement between the races 18, 60. The pawl 62 relatively circumferentially clears the notch 210 rather than falling into the detent in the notch 210, thereby allowing continued relative movement between the races 18, 60. The term "ratcheting" can also be used to describe a clutch or pawl associated with a ratcheting state. For example, the clutch can be ratcheting, the pawl can be ratcheting, or the pawl can be a ratcheting pawl. Different pawl and notch configurations, shapes, and / or characteristic dimensions can enable the pawl to ratchet. For example, the configuration of the pawl 62 and / or notch 210 prevents the deployed pawl 62 from falling into a detent in the corresponding notch 210 until a relative speed between the races 18, 60 is achieved that is safe for such detent engagement, e.g., such that the pawl 62 and / or races 18, 60 will not break, become damaged, etc. Conversely, the pawl 62 ratchets at a relative speed between the races 18, 60 that is above the safe relative speed.

[0094] For example, the detent engagement of the pawl 62 into the recess 210 can occur at a relative rotational speed of 500 RPM or less between the races 18, 60, for example, 300 RPM to 500 RPM (including all ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, more specifically, between 325 RPM and 475 RPM, or between 350 RPM and 450 RPM, or between 375 RPM and 425 RPM). In another example, the detent engagement of the pawl 62 into the recess 210 can occur at a relative rotational speed of 300 RPM or less between the races 18, 60, for example, 100 to 300 RPM (including all ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, more specifically, between 125 RPM and 275 RPM, or between 150 RPM and 250 RPM, or between 175 RPM and 225 RPM). In another example, the detent engagement of the pawl 62 into the recess 210 can occur at a relative rotational speed of 100 RPM or less between the races 18, 60, for example, 50 RPM to 100 RPM (including all ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, more specifically, between 25 RPM and 75 RPM). In another example, the detent engagement of the pawl 62 into the recess 210 can occur at a relative rotational speed of 50 RPM or less between the races 18, 60. More specifically, each joint portion 100 can include a detent-blocking protrusion 104 that can be positioned, sized, and / or shaped relative to the recess 210 of the outer race 18 on the pawl 62 in a manner that blocks the joint portion 100 from entering the recess 210 at speeds above a desired detent-blocking rotational speed, to the extent that the pawl 62 will be allowed to fall into the detent of the outer race 18. The specific location, geometry, and / or dimensions of the protrusion 104 can be modified to achieve the desired detent-blocking capability. In another example, the circumferential width of the recess 210, the radial depth of the recess 210, the radius of the fillet 216 of the recess 210, and / or the angle of the side 214 of the recess 210 can be configured to limit the advancement of the pawl 62 into the detent position at rotational speeds that exceed the detent-blocking rotational speed of the outer race 18 relative to the pawl 62.

[0095] Even more specifically, to reduce or even minimize the rotational speed at which the pawl 62 enters the detent (circumferentially drives into engagement) relative to the notch 210, it may be desirable to reduce or even minimize the entry clearance angle 218 between the front end surface 102 of the pawl 62 and the corresponding circumferentially opposed sides 214 of the notch 210 and / or to increase or even maximize the corner transitions or “radii” of corresponding portions of the pawl 62 and / or notch 210, specifically, at least in this embodiment, those corresponding radii 216 of the corner transitions 110 of the pawl 62 and the notch 210. As illustrated, the entry clearance angle 218 may be measured when the pawl 62 is at a circumferential position at which the pawl 62 begins to travel (descend or ascend) into the notch 210, as shown in FIG. Figure 17 As shown. In this position, there is a corresponding radial distance that the pawl 62 can pivot without the pawl 62 entering the detent with the notch 210, so that the clutch 16 can be in the ratchet coupling engagement mode. The entry clearance angle 218 can be between 0.1 degrees and 10 degrees (including all ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, for example, between 0.5 degrees and 5 degrees or between 1 degree and 2 degrees).

[0096] Reference Figure 18A The raceway-engaging corner 220 at the front end surface 102 of the pawl 62 (and diametrically opposite the toe 74) can be configured to have a profile 222 extending from the front end surface 102 of the pawl 62 to a rear end 224 of the profile 222. The rear end 224 of the profile 222 can terminate at the forward-facing tapered surface 106 of the detent blocking protrusion 104. The profile 222 can simply be a "rounded" shape with a constant radius, as is commonly provided on clutch components. However, as illustrated, the profile 222 can have a non-constant radius (e.g., a variable radius) and can be a conical transition with a conical shape having an Rho value between 0.1 and 0.9 (including all ranges, subranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, e.g., between 0.2 and 0.8 or between 0.4 and 0.6). More specifically, the conical shape can be elliptical, parabolic, or hyperbolic. Figure 18A The pawl 62 shown in FIG. 5 has an elliptical shape with a Rho value of 0.2. Figure 18B Another pawl 362 is illustrated having a raceway engaging corner 220' with a different profile 222' having a hyperbolic shape having a Rho value of 0.8. Figure 18C Another pawl 462 is illustrated having a raceway engaging corner 220" having a different profile 222" that is parabolic in shape with a Rho value of 0.5.

[0097] Moreover, the seat ring engagement corner 220, 220', 220" can have a length that can extend from the front end surface 102 of the pawl 62, 362, 462 to the rear end 224, 224', 224" of the profile 222, 222', 222" and a height that can extend between the rear end 224, 224', 224" of the profile 222, 222', 222" and the engagement portion 226, 226', 226", the engagement portion 226, 226', 226" between the front end surface 102 and the profile 222, 222', 222". The length can be between 0.25 mm and 6 mm (including all ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints and values ​​therebetween, for example, between 0.5 mm and 4 mm or between 1 mm and 2 mm). The height can be between 0.25 mm and 3 mm (including all ranges, subranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, for example, between 0.5 mm and 2 mm or between 1 mm and 1.5 mm). The length-to-height ratio can be between 3:1 and 1.5:1 (including all ranges, subranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, for example, between 2.5:1 and 2:1).

[0098] Now refer to Figure 19A The pawl engagement corner 228 at the open end of the notch 210 between the notch side 214 and the radially innermost surface 208 of the outer race 18 (opposite the closed or root end of the notch 210) can be configured to have a profile that extends from the notch side 214 to the race inner diameter 22. The profile can simply be a "rounded" with a constant radius, as is typically provided. However, as illustrated, the profile can be as described above with respect to the profile 222 of the race engagement corner 220 of the pawl 62. The shape and size of the pawl engagement corner 228 of the outer race 18 can be the same as or different from the shape and size of the race engagement corner 220 of the pawl 62. However, when it is desired to increase the strength of the corner between the notch root 212 and the notch side 214, it may be desirable to incorporate the majority of the quantitative corner transition into the pawl 62 rather than the outer race 18.

[0099] The radial extent of the stopper blocking protrusion 104 can be increased or even maximized to achieve the desired inlet clearance angle. The radial extent of the stopper blocking protrusion 104 can be measured from the relatively radially outer surface 92 of the leg 86 to the corner transition 110 of the protrusion 104. The ratio of the radial extent of the protrusion 104 to the radial extent of the front end surface 102 of the pawl 62 can be in the range of from 0.5:1 to 2:1 (including all ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween). The ratio of the radial extent of the protrusion 104 to the radial extent or thickness 96 of the leg 86 of the pawl can be in the range of from 0.25:1 to 0.75:1 (including all ranges, sub-ranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, for example, between 0.4:1 and 0.6:1).

[0100] Reference Figures 19A-19D When the pawls 62, 62', 362, 362' are in the detent position in the recesses 210, 210', the circumferential extent of the portion of each pawl 62, 62', 362, 362' (including the detent blocking protrusion 104) that occupies the recesses 210, 210' can be sized to occupy a desired amount of the circumferential extent of the recesses 210, 210' averaged over the radial extent of the recesses 210, 210'. The desired amount can be between 82% and 94% (including all ranges, subranges, endpoints, and values ​​therebetween, such as between 85% and 91% or between 87% and 89%). The clearance varies between the sides 214 of the recesses 210, 210' and the surfaces 108 of the articulations 100, 100', 400, 400' of the pawls 62, 62', 362, 362', and the pawls 62, 62', 362, 362' may have articulations 100, 100', 400, 400' of different circumferential sizes to occupy less or more of the corresponding recesses 210, 210'.

[0101] Although not shown, the functionality of the pocket plate and the notch plate can be reversed, such that the outer race can be a pocket plate including a pocket and a radially inwardly acting pawl and spring carried in the pocket, and the inner race can be a notch plate including a radially outer notch configured to mate with the pawl.

[0102] Furthermore, the dynamically controllable clutch of the present disclosure can be configured such that the pawl can be moved into engagement / detent engagement with the outer race until the desired rotational speed of the inner race (e.g., approximately 4,000 RPM), and remain in engagement / detent engagement with the outer race until the desired rotational speed of the inner and outer races is (e.g., at least 7,000 RPM and up to 15,000 RPM). One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that these specific rotational speed thresholds will vary greatly between different applications depending on a variety of variables, including pawl size, geometry, location of the center of gravity relative to the pawl pivot, spring force, notch configuration, etc. Nevertheless, the present teachings are applicable to a wide variety of applications to provide improved clutch performance.

[0103] As used herein, the terms "for example," "eg," "for instance," "like," "such as," "comprising," "having," "including," and the like, when used with a list of one or more elements, should be interpreted as open-ended, meaning that the list does not exclude additional elements. As used herein, permissive terms such as "may" and "can" are merely convenient ways to indicate, for example, the optional nature of the disclosed embodiments, elements, features, and the like, and should not be interpreted as making any disclosure herein uncertain. In addition, directional terms such as front, back, top, bottom, up, down, radial, circumferential, axial, lateral, longitudinal, vertical, horizontal, transverse, and the like are used as examples and not as limitations. In addition, the term "and / or" is interpreted as including or. Thus, for example, the phrase "A, B and / or C" should be interpreted to include all of the following: "A"; "B"; "C"; "A and B"; "A and C"; "B and C"; and "A, B and C".

[0104] Finally, the subject matter of the present application is currently disclosed using different terms in conjunction with several clear illustrative embodiments and modifications to these embodiments. Unless used in a context requiring different interpretations, all terms used herein are intended to be descriptive only, not necessarily restrictive, and are interpreted and understood according to their common and customary meanings in the art. And for convenience, each clear illustrative embodiment and modification is incorporated herein by reference, incorporated into one or more of the other clear illustrative embodiments and modifications. As such, many other embodiments, modifications, and their equivalents now exist or remain to be discovered, and therefore, it is neither intended nor possible to describe all such themes at present, which will be easily suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure. On the contrary, this disclosure is intended to cover all such embodiments and modifications and their equivalents of the subject matter of the present application that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A clutch comprising: a raceway including an axis of rotation and a diameter extending through the axis of rotation; a radial pawl carried by the race; as well as a torsion spring carried by the seat ring and comprising: a coil portion having a coil axis oriented transversely relative to a diameter of the race, a first leg extending away from the coil portion and bearing against the seat ring, and A second leg extends away from the coil portion and bears against the radial detent.

2. The clutch according to claim 1, wherein: The torsion spring biases the radial pawl in a radially outward direction relative to the race.

3. The clutch according to claim 1, wherein: The coil axis of the torsion spring is generally parallel to the rotational axis of the race and generally perpendicular to a diameter of the race.

4. The clutch according to claim 1, wherein: The torsion spring is a double torsion spring, and the double torsion spring comprises: a first spring coil and a second spring coil axially spaced apart along the spring coil axis, wherein the first leg of the torsion spring is a split outboard reaction leg comprising a first portion extending tangentially away from an axially outboard portion of the first coil and a second portion extending tangentially away from an axially outboard portion of the second coil, and The second leg of the torsion spring is an integral inner acting leg, comprising a first portion extending tangentially away from an axially inner portion of the first spring coil and a second portion extending tangentially away from an axially inner portion of the second spring coil.

5. The clutch according to claim 4, wherein: The first spring coil and the second spring coil each include at least three complete revolutions.

6. The clutch according to claim 4, wherein: The first leg and the second leg have a compression angle between -5° and 10° and an extension angle between 10° and 35°.

7. The clutch according to claim 1, wherein: The seat ring includes: radially outer circumferential surface, radial inner circumferential surface, The first plane, The second plane, a detent recess between the first plane and the second plane, and A spring recess is between the first and second planes and is open to the pawl recess, and the spring recess has a coil socket to receive the coil portion of the torsion spring.

8. The clutch according to claim 7, wherein: The spring pocket also has a leg retainer to retain the first leg of the torsion spring.

9. The clutch according to claim 8, wherein: The leg retainer includes a circumferentially extending protrusion that establishes a first leg socket for the first leg of the torsion spring.

10. The clutch according to claim 7, wherein: The spring recess also has a leg stop to limit the extension of the second leg of the torsion spring.

11. The clutch according to claim 7, wherein: The pawl recess comprises: a pawl toe socket having a semi-cylindrical inner surface, a pawl heel seat circumferentially opposite the pawl toe socket, and An actuator pin void is provided between the pawl toe socket and the pawl heel seat.

12. The clutch according to claim 11, wherein: The seat ring also includes: a pawl toe socket wall at least partially defining the pawl toe socket, and A pawl stop protrudes radially outward relative to the pawl toe socket wall to limit the travel of the pawl.

13. The clutch according to claim 11, wherein: The race also includes an actuator pin passage extending radially through a portion of the race and into the actuator pin void of the pawl pocket.

14. The clutch according to claim 11, wherein: The radial pawl comprises: a toe portion carried in the pawl toe socket and having a semi-cylindrical pivot surface that mates with a semi-cylindrical inner surface of the pawl toe socket, a heel having a rear surface engageable with the pawl heel seat, and A leg extends away from the heel beyond the toe and terminates in a joint having a stopper-blocking protrusion.

15. The clutch according to claim 14, wherein: The heel has a flat bottom surface and a protrusion between the bottom surface and the rear surface of the heel, and wherein the rear surface of the heel is outwardly curved and the pawl heel seat is inwardly curved.

16. The clutch of claim 1 further comprising: A second race circumferentially circumscribes the race and includes an internal array of circumferentially spaced notches to receive a portion of the radial pawl in its deployed position.

17. The clutch according to claim 16, wherein: The race is rotatable about the rotation axis, and the second race is also rotatable about the rotation axis in the same or opposite circumferential direction relative to the race.

18. The clutch of claim 17, further comprising: An outward radial pawl is disposed radially outwardly relative to the second race and has an engagement end configured to engage the outer array of circumferentially spaced notches of the second race in a deployed position of the outward radial pawl.

19. The clutch according to claim 18, wherein: The radial pawls are selectively actuatable such that the clutch constitutes an integrated dynamically controllable clutch (DCC) and electrically controllable mechanical diode (eCMD).

20. The clutch of claim 1 further comprising a retainer plate coupled to an axially facing side surface of the race, the retainer plate having a sensor window.

21. The clutch of claim 1, wherein: The raceway includes an axially facing inner side surface facing the axially facing side surface of the radial pawl, and a projection recess in the axially facing inner side surface.

22. A freewheel clutch radial pawl comprising: A foot, the foot comprising: a toe portion having a pivot surface defining a pivot axis of the freewheel clutch radial pawl, a heel having a rear surface, and a middle portion extending in a rearward direction away from the toe and toward the heel, a leg extending in a forward direction away from the heel beyond the toe, the leg including a center of gravity disposed forward of the freewheel clutch radial pawl relative to a pivot axis of the freewheel clutch radial pawl; and A joint portion extends away from the leg portion and has a front end surface.

23. The freewheel clutch radial pawl of claim 22, wherein: The joint portion further includes a stopper-blocking protrusion that extends longitudinally between the relatively radially outer surfaces of the leg portions and the front end surface of the joint portion and protrudes in a direction away from the relatively radially outer surfaces of the leg portions.

24. The freewheel clutch radial pawl of claim 22, wherein: The joint portion further includes a spring-engaging protrusion extending longitudinally between the relatively radially inner surfaces of the leg portions and the front end surface of the joint portion and protruding in a direction away from the relatively radially inner surfaces of the leg portions.

25. The freewheel clutch radial pawl of claim 22, wherein: The knuckle portion includes a race engaging corner at the front end surface of the pawl, the race engaging corner having a profile with a non-constant radius.

26. The freewheel clutch radial pawl of claim 25, wherein: The profile is a conical transition with a conical shape having a Rho value between 0.1 and 0.

9.

27. A freewheel clutch comprising: A seat ring, comprising: circumferential surface, and an array of circumferentially spaced notches in the circumferential surface, and at least some of the notches having: Radially facing roots, circumferentially opposed first and second side surfaces extending between the radially facing root and the circumferential surface, and a corner transition between the side and the circumferential surface; and A pawl, the pawl comprising: a leg extending in a rearward direction toward the forward portion and having: Opposing radially inner surfaces and opposing radially outer surfaces facing in opposite directions, side surfaces facing in opposite axial directions and extending between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface, the thickness between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface, and a width between the side surfaces that is greater than the thickness, and a knuckle portion at the forward portion of the leg and including a front end surface engageable with the first side or the second side of the recess of the seat ring in a detent position of the pawl relative to the seat ring, and the knuckle portion being configured to cooperate with the recess of the seat ring to limit advancement of the pawl into the detent position at rotational speeds exceeding a brake-blocking rotational speed of the seat ring relative to the pawl.

28. The freewheel clutch of claim 27, wherein: The joint portion of the pawl includes a brake blocking protrusion, which is longitudinally located between the relative radial outer surfaces of the leg and the front end surface of the joint portion of the pawl and protrudes away from the relative radial outer surfaces of the leg of the pawl in a radial direction.

29. The freewheel clutch of claim 28, wherein: The joint also includes a spring-engaging protrusion extending longitudinally between the relatively radially inner surfaces of the leg and the front end surface of the joint and protruding in a direction away from the relatively radially inner surfaces of the leg.

30. The freewheel clutch of claim 27, wherein: The circumferential width of the notch, the radius of the corner transitions of the notch, and the angular orientation of the sides of the notch are configured to limit advancement of the pawl into the detent position at rotational speeds exceeding a detent blocking rotational speed of the race relative to the pawl.

31. The freewheel clutch of claim 27, wherein: The corner transition has a profile with a non-constant radius.

32. A freewheel clutch according to claim 31, wherein: The profile is a conical transition with a conical shape having a Rho value between 0.1 and 0.9.

Images