Cage for a sprag freewheel with integrated spring

Abstract

A freewheel cage (100), comprising two substantially circular ring-shaped cheek elements (10, 12) arranged coaxially with respect to one another in the axial direction, a plurality of support regions (20) extending in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage (100) between the cheek elements (10, 12), and a plurality of clamping elements (50) arranged substantially between each two support regions (20), characterized in that each support region (20) comprises a first support element (30) and a second support element (40) extending at least partially between the cheek elements (10, 12) in the axial direction, wherein each first support element (30) comprises a spring element (32), wherein the first support element (30) and the spring element (32) are integral, wherein each first support element (30) is arranged radially spaced from the respective second support element (40),wherein each clamping element (50) is arranged in a form-fitting manner between the first support element (30) of a support region (20) and the second support element (40) as well as the spring element (32) of a support region (20a) adjacent to the support region (20) in the circumferential direction, wherein each clamping element (50) is acted upon by means of a spring force from the spring element (32).

Description

The present invention relates to a freewheel cage having two substantially circular ring-shaped cheek elements which are arranged at a distance from one another coaxially in the axial direction, having a multiplicity of support regions which extend in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage between the cheek elements, and having a multiplicity of clamping elements which are arranged substantially between in each case two support regions.Freewheel cages of this type are known in a wide variety of embodiments and serve, for example, to hold clamping elements arranged in a clamping body freewheel in their position. At the same time, freewheel cages are intended to offer the possibility that the clamping elements can move freely in a pivotable manner in order to enable the clamping elements to slide in the freewheeling direction of rotation of the freewheel cage, while a torque can be transmitted in the blocking direction of rotation of the freewheel cage.In most applications, it is desirable for the freewheel cage to be designed as a rigid structural element and to have resilient elements which exert a resilient return torque on each clamping body. From DE 8012661 U1 a free-wheeling cage is known, in which the free-wheeling cage is in the form of a single one-piece moulding of plastics material with recesses for each clamping element, while a spring of continuous strip material is arranged on the periphery of the free-wheeling cage and acts elastically on the corresponding clamping elements. DE 10 2010 024 447 A1 further discloses a freewheel cage which comprises at least one spring for acting on the clamping elements with a spring force, wherein the spring is designed as a leg spring which is fastened to the outer ring by means of a pin.In the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments, the springs must be arranged and held firmly on the circumference of the freewheel cage, as a result of which freewheel cages of this type are generally relatively complicated to mount.The object of the invention is to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages and to create a particularly simple freewheel cage with which the clamping elements can be acted upon by means of spring elements. In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide a freewheel cage which enables simple installation of the freewheel cage in a freewheel.These objects are achieved by a freewheel cage according to the claims. Such a freewheel cage comprises two substantially circular ring-shaped cheek elements which are arranged spaced apart from one another coaxially in the axial direction, a plurality of support regions which extend between the cheek elements in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage, and a plurality of clamping elements which are arranged substantially between in each case two support regions, each support region comprising a first support element and a second support element which extend at least partially between the cheek elements in the axial direction, each first support element comprising a spring element, wherein the first support element and the spring element are in one part, wherein each first support element is arranged spaced apart radially from the respective second support element, wherein each clamping element is arranged in a form-fitting manner between the first support element of a support region and the second support element and the spring element of a support region adjacent to the support region in the circumferential direction, wherein each clamping element is acted on by the spring element by means of a spring force.According to the invention, the spring elements are thus structurally integrated into the first support elements of the freewheel cage, so that additional elastic elements in addition to the freewheel cage can be dispensed with. Due to the one-piece nature of the first support elements and the respective spring elements, the clamping elements are acted upon by the spring force from the spring elements of the first support elements directly within the freewheel cage. The clamping elements are mounted in the freewheel cage in a form-fitting manner between the first support element of a respective support region and the second support element and the spring element of a support region adjacent to the respective support region in the circumferential direction.The invention creates a freewheel cage which makes it possible for the clamping element to be mounted in a positive-locking, resilient and movable manner between the first support element of a respective support region and the second support element and the spring element of a support region adjacent to the respective support region in the circumferential direction. The clamping elements are sprung via the respective spring element. The freewheel cage enables the clamping elements to be sprung without additional elastic elements, as a result of which a simplified structure and assembly of the freewheel cage is made possible. The spring elements are integrated into the freewheel cage in such a way that the spring elements can exert a spring force on the spring elements without being attached to the circumference of the freewheel cage. The clamping elements, which are each individually acted upon by a spring force of the respective spring element, can move pivotably freely between the respective support regions of the freewheel cage and are mounted captive. This enables a simplified installation of the freewheel cage according to the invention in a freewheel. For example, the support elements and the clamping elements can be arranged between the cheek elements before they are connected to one another. After the connection of the cheek elements, the clamping elements are then mounted captive and functionally.The support regions can be arranged uniformly along the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage between the cheek elements. The support regions each comprise a first support element and a spring element. The support element and the spring element are embodied in one piece. The spring element can be designed as an elastic projection on the support element. The spring element can be formed, for example, as a curved projection, in particular as a v-shaped projection, on the first support element. The spring element can be designed to counteract elastic deformation. The spring element can be designed as a leaf spring on the first support element or can have a suitable elastic shape. The spring element can have a lower modulus of elasticity than the first support element, i.e. can be more elastic than the first support element. By a separate, but one-piece embodiment as a projection or leaf spring, the spring element can have a low elastic modulus compared to the first support element. As a result, a high spring force or a large spring travel can be achieved with simultaneously little deformation of the first support element. According to the invention, it can be provided that the first support elements with the corresponding spring elements are one-piece, simply constructed parts which can be formed from sheet metal, for example, or can also be injection molded integrally from plastic. The one-piece construction of the first support element and spring element enables a simplified construction of the freewheel cage and thereby enables a variable adaptation of the cage construction according to the requirements of the spring force or the spring rate.The freewheel cage can be designed to allow the clamping elements to slide in the freewheeling direction of rotation of the freewheel cage, while a torque can be transmitted in the blocking direction of rotation of the freewheel cage. The freewheel cage can be designed for use in a clamping body freewheel. The freewheel cage can be manufactured from plastic or from sheet metal. The clamping bodies may be made of metal. The cheek elements, the support regions and the clamping elements can each be manufactured from different materials.Advantageous embodiments and developments of the freewheel cage according to the invention are specified below and in the dependent claims.In embodiments, the second support elements are each designed as at least one projection on at least one of the cheek elements. The second support elements can each be designed as at least one projection. Each protrusion may be connected to at least one of the cheek members. The protrusion may extend in the axial direction between the cheek elements. The second support elements can be designed to support the respective clamping elements. The second support elements can spatially limit a movement of the respective clamping elements.In embodiments, the second support elements are each designed as two projections which are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction. The two projections can be arranged on a respectively different cheek element. The two projections can be arranged spaced apart from one another in the axial direction on the cheek elements. In other words, a space may be formed between the two protrusions in the axial direction. The two projections can also be arranged spaced apart from one another in the radial and / or circumferential direction of the freewheel cage.In embodiments, the respective two projections are arranged opposite one another in the axial direction on the cheek elements. The two projections of the respective second support element can be arranged opposite one another in the axial direction on the cheek elements. The two protrusions may be disposed in a substantially same area in the radial direction. The two projections can be embodied in mirror image fashion opposite one another in the axial direction on the cheek elements.In embodiments, the spring elements extend at least partially in an axial region next to the second support element of a respective support region. A respective spring element extends at least partially in an axial region next to the second support element of a respective support region. The spring element can extend at least partially in an axial region next to the respective second support element in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage and / or in the radial direction. The spring element can extend at least partially between the two projections of a respective support region.In embodiments, the spring element of a respective first support element is formed in an axially central region of the first support element. The spring element of a respective first support element can be formed in an axially central region of the first support element. The spring element of a respective first support element can extend in an axially middle region between the cheek elements. The spring element can also extend at least partially in an axial region next to the second support element. The freewheel cage can be designed symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry imaginary between the cheek elements.In embodiments, the first support element of a respective support region is arranged at least partially spaced apart from the second support element of the support region in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage. The first support element can be at least partially spaced apart from the second support element of the respective support region in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage. The first support element can be arranged apart from the spring element in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage from the second support element of the respective support region.In embodiments, the clamping elements each widen in the radial direction from their center of gravity in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage. The clamping elements can each widen in the radial direction from their center of gravity in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage. The clamping bodies can comprise convexly curved surfaces in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage and / or in the radial direction, which surfaces are spring surfaces, support surfaces and / or clamping surfaces. The surfaces of the clamping elements can each form a counter contour supported by a support surface of the first support element, a support surface of the second support element and a support surface of the spring element. The clamping bodies can be supported in a positive and resilient manner between the corresponding support surfaces by the counter-contours supported by the support surfaces of the first support element, the second support element and the spring element. The clamping bodies can be mounted at least partially rotatably with respect to an axial axis. The surfaces of the clamping elements formed in the radial direction can form mating contours supported by support surfaces arranged in the radial direction in each case as clamping surfaces. The support surfaces arranged in the radial direction can be, for example, raceways of a clamping body freewheel into which the freewheel cage according to the invention is installed.The clamping elements can be configured to slide in the free-wheeling direction of rotation of the free-wheeling cage on the support surfaces arranged in the radial direction. The clamping elements can be configured to be held captive in the free-wheeling direction of rotation of the free-wheeling cage between the support surfaces which are formed by the first support element, the second support element and the spring element. The clamping elements can be acted upon by a spring force of the respective spring elements in the free-wheeling direction of rotation of the free-wheeling cage.The clamping elements can be configured to transmit a torque in the blocking direction of rotation of the freewheel cage to the support surfaces arranged in the radial direction. The clamping elements can be configured to be held captive between the respective supporting surfaces of the supporting regions in the blocking direction of rotation of the freewheel cage. The clamping elements can be acted upon by a spring force of the respective spring elements in the blocking direction of rotation of the freewheel cage. The clamping elements can be acted upon by a spring force of the respective spring elements independently of the direction of rotation of the freewheel cage. The support surface of the respectively adjacent spring element opposite the surface of the clamping bodies can be in contact with the support surface of the spring element independently of the direction of rotation of the freewheel cage.In embodiments, the clamping elements are sprung by the spring element of a respective support region against the first support element of the respective support region adjacent in the circumferential direction. The respective clamping element can be sprung by the spring element of a respective support region against the first support element of the support region adjacent in the circumferential direction. The respective clamping element can be sprung by the spring element, which faces the clamping element, against a first supporting element of a rearward supporting region, the spring element of which is remote from the clamping element. The respective clamping element can be sprung by the corresponding spring element with a spring force which acts in the circumferential direction and / or in the radial direction.The construction according to the invention enables a compact configuration of the support regions. In other words, the respective first and second support elements can be approximated to the support regions in order to minimize the spatial extent of the support regions. The present invention thus enables the number of clamping elements to be maximized.The one-piece configuration of the first support elements with the respective spring elements also enables a simple construction of the freewheel cage without the use of separate spring elements, which are usually arranged on the freewheel cage and connected to the freewheel cage in an additional assembly step. The construction according to the invention can prevent damage or functional errors in comparison with conventional freewheel cages, which damage can arise as a result of the spring elements and / or holding means which are used for connecting the spring elements to the freewheel cage slipping. At the same time, the one-piece, but separate, configuration of the first support elements with the respective spring elements enables the greatest possible spring travel in the support regions for the spring attachment of the clamping elements. The compact configuration of the support regions and the high spring travel of the respective spring elements enable, on the one hand, the clamping elements to be subjected to a spring force independently of a rotational direction of the freewheel cage and, on the other hand, the clamping elements to be supported by the respective spring element in addition to the support surfaces of the support elements.According to a further aspect, the invention further comprises a clamping body freewheel having a freewheel cage according to the invention. In embodiments, the clamp body freewheel comprises an inner race, an outer race coaxially spaced around the inner race, and a freewheel cage according to one of the previously described embodiments arranged between the inner race and the outer race. One of the raceways may be connectable to a drive element or a drive shaft. The other of the races may be connectable to an output member or an output shaft. The races may have an equal axial width. The freewheel cage may be configured to couple / decouple rotational movement of the inner race and an outer race. The clamping elements can be designed to transmit a torque between the inner race and the outer race in the blocking direction of rotation of the freewheel cage. The clamping elements can be designed to transmit a torque to the support surfaces of the raceways in the blocking direction of rotation of the freewheel cage.In embodiments, the clamping elements are sprung by a respective spring element against at least one of the raceways. The clamping elements can be sprung by a respective spring element against at least one of the raceways. The spring elements can be designed to spring the clamping elements in the radial direction against at least one of the raceways.Exemplary embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 a shows a perspective illustration of a freewheel cage according to an embodiment with two substantially circular ring-shaped cheek elements and a multiplicity of support regions which extend between the cheek elements in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage; FIG. 1 bshows a perspective illustration of a freewheel cage according to the embodiment with a multiplicity of clamping elements which are arranged substantially between in each case two supporting regions; FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a freewheel cage according to the embodiment, showing support portions of the freewheel cage with clamping elements.In the figures, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.FIGS. 1 aand 1 b show perspective views of a freewheel cage 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1 a, the freewheel cage 100 comprises two substantially circular ring-shaped cheek elements 10, 12. Between the cheek elements 10, 12 a plurality of alternating support regions 20, 20 aextend in a uniformly distributed manner in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage 100. The support regions 20 aare identical to the support regions 20 and numbered differently only for clarity. In other words, the freewheel cage 100 is configured in the circumferential direction in the form of a conductor. As shown in FIG. 1 a, the cheek elements 10, 12 with the support regions 20, 20 aare configured to receive a plurality of clamping elements. In other words, the freewheel cage is configured to accommodate a clamping element between two support regions 20, 20 a, each of which is designed in the manner of ladder bars. As shown in FIG. 1 b, a set of clamping elements 50 is correspondingly accommodated in the freewheel cage. The clamping elements 50 are clamping elements. The support regions 20, 20 acomprise in each case a first support element 30 and a second support element 40. The first support elements 30 and the second support element 40 extend in the axial direction between the cheek elements 10, 12. Each first support element 30 comprises a respective spring element 32. The second support elements 40 are each designed as two projections 42, 44. The two projections 42, 44 are each arranged on different cheek elements 10, 12. The two projections 42, 44 are arranged spaced apart from one another in the axial direction on the respective cheek elements 10, 12. The two projections 42, 44 are arranged opposite each other in the axial direction on the cheek elements 10, 12. The spring element 32 of a respective first support element 30 is formed in an axially central region of the first support element 30. The spring element 32 of a respective support region 20, 20 aextends partially in an axial region next to the second support element 40 of the support region. The spring element 32 of a respective first support element 30 extends in an axially middle region between the cheek elements 10, 12.FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional illustration of a freewheel cage 100 according to one embodiment. The clamping elements 50 are each arranged between two adjacent support regions 20, 20 a. The support regions 20, 20 acomprise in each case a first support element 30, which is embodied in one piece with a respective spring element 32. The spring elements 32 have a lower spring rate than the first support elements 30. The spring elements 32 are each designed as a v-shaped projection on a first support element. The support regions 20, 20 acomprise in each case a second support element 40. the second support elements 40 are in each case designed as projections 42, 44. The two projections 42, 44 are each arranged on different cheek elements 10, 12. The two projections 42, 44 are arranged spaced apart from one another in the axial direction on the respective cheek elements 10, 12. The two projections 42, 44 are arranged opposite each other in the axial direction on the cheek elements 10, 12. The first support members 30 are radially spaced from the second support members 40. The first support elements 30 are partially spaced apart from the second support elements 40 in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage 100. The spring element 32 of a respective first support element 30 extends in an axially middle region of the first support element 30 between the cheek elements 10, 12. The spring element 32 of a respective support region 20, 20 aextends partially in an axial region between the projections 42, 44 of the second support element 40 of the respective support region 20, 20 a. The spring element 32 of a respective support region 20, 20 ais arranged spaced apart from the projections 42, 44 of the second support element 40 in the axial direction.The clamping elements 50 each widen in the radial direction from their center of gravity in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage 100. A respective clamping element 50 comprises a spring surface 54 which forms a mating contour supported by a support surface 34 of the spring element 32 of a respective support region 20, 20 a. A respective clamping element 50 comprises a support surface 58, which forms a counter contour supported by a support surface 48 of the second support element 40 of a respective support region 20, 20 a. The projections 42, 44 of the second support element 40 each form a support surface 48. A respective clamping element 50 comprises a support surface 56, which forms a mating contour supported by a support surface 36 of the first support element 30 of a support region 20 a, 20 adjacent in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage 100. The clamping elements 50 are supported in a form-fitting and spring-elastic manner between the support surfaces 48 of the projections 42, 44 of the second support element 40 and the support surface 34 of the spring element 32 of a respective support region 20, 20 aand the support surface 36 of the first support element 30 of a support region 20 a, 20 adjacent in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage 100. The clamping elements 50 are movably mounted and pivotable. The clamping elements 50 have clamping surfaces 60, 62 convexly curved in the radial direction. In the blocking direction of rotation of the freewheel cage, the clamping elements 50 transmit a torque via the clamping surfaces 60, 62 arranged in the radial direction. The clamping elements 50 are acted upon by a spring force by the spring element 32 of a respective support region 20, 20 a, which faces the clamping element. The clamping elements 50 are sprung by the spring element 32 of a respective support region 20, 20 atoward a first support element 30 of a rearward support region 20 a, 20, the spring element 32 aof which is remote from the clamping element 50. The clamping elements 50 are acted upon by a spring force of the respective spring elements 32 independently of the direction of rotation of the freewheel cage 100. The respective spring surface 54 of the clamping elements 50 is in contact with the support surface 34 of the corresponding spring element 32 independently of the direction of rotation of the freewheel cage 100.The subject matter of the invention is not limited to the features of the individual embodiments, but can also include any desired and technically possible combination of the described embodiments, which falls under the claims.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 8012661 U1

[0003] DE 10 2010 024 447 A1

[0003]

Claims

A freewheel cage (100) comprising two substantially circular ring-shaped cheek elements (10, 12) which are arranged spaced apart from one another coaxially in the axial direction, a plurality of support regions (20) which extend in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage (100) between the cheek elements (10, 12), and a plurality of clamping elements (50) which are arranged substantially between in each case two support regions (20), characterized in that each support region (20) comprises a first support element (30) and a second support element (40) which extend in the axial direction at least partially between the cheek elements (10, 12), wherein each first support element (30) comprises a spring element (32), wherein the first support element (30) and the spring element (32) are in one piece, wherein each first support element (30) is arranged spaced apart radially from the respective second support element (40), wherein each clamping element (50) is arranged in a form-fitting manner between the first support element (30) of a support region (20) and the second support element (40) and the spring element (32) of a support region (20a) adjacent to the support region (20) in the circumferential direction, wherein each clamping element (50) is acted upon by the spring element (32) by means of a spring force.Freewheel cage (100) according to Claim 1, wherein the second support elements (40) are each designed as at least one projection (42, 44) on at least one of the cheek elements (10, 12).Freewheel cage (100) according to Claim 2, wherein the second support elements (40) are each designed as two projections (42, 44) which are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction.Freewheel cage (100) according to Claim 3, wherein the respective two projections (42, 44) are arranged opposite one another in the axial direction on the cheek elements (10, 12).Free-wheeling cage (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the spring elements (32) extend at least partially in an axial region next to the second support element (40) of a respective support region (20).Freewheel cage (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element (32) of a respective first support element (30) is formed in an axially central region of the first support element (30).Freewheel cage (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first support element (30) of a respective support region (20) is arranged at least partially spaced apart from the second support element (40) of the support region (20) in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage (100).Freewheel cage (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping elements (50) each widen in the circumferential direction of the freewheel cage (100) from their centre of gravity in the radial direction.Freewheel cage (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping elements (50) are sprung by the spring element (32) of a respective support region (20) against the first support element (32) of the respective support region (20a) adjacent in the circumferential direction.A clamping body freewheel (200) having an inner race (70) and an outer race (72) which surrounds the inner race (70) in a coaxially spaced manner, comprising a freewheel cage (100) according to one of the preceding claims arranged between the inner race (70) and the outer race (72).Clamping body freewheel (200) according to Claim 10, wherein the clamping elements (60) are sprung by a respective spring element (50) against at least one of the raceways (70, 72).

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