Clamping element freewheel

Abstract

Clamping element freewheel with an inner ring (16) and an outer ring (12) which together form an annular gap which is limited on its inner or outer circumference by a clamping contour (22), a number of clamping elements (20) which are held in a cage (18) in the annular gap, and a spring-loaded device by which the clamping elements (20) are pre-tensioned into a clamping position in which they clamp against the clamping contour (22), characterized in that the spring-loaded device has a spring element (26; 26') which extends axially through the annular gap and engages with one end the cage (18) and with the other end a stop (28) which is formed on the inner ring or the outer ring.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a clamping element freewheel with an inner ring and an outer ring which together form an annular gap which is limited on its inner or outer circumference by a clamping contour, a number of clamping elements which are held in a cage in the annular gap, and a spring-loaded device by which the clamping elements are pre-tensioned into a clamping position in which they clamp against the clamping contour.

[0002] From DE 10 2022 112 702 A1 a clamping element freewheel of this type is known, in which the spring-loaded device is formed by a ring spring which is in frictional contact with the inner ring (or optionally the outer ring) and therefore exerts a torque on the cage in the event of a relative movement between the inner ring and the cage.

[0003] Another known solution is to spring each clamping body individually using spring elements formed in each clamping body cell of the cage.

[0004] The object of the invention is to create a clamping element freewheel which is characterized by a reduced idling torque.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the fact that the spring-loaded device has a spring element which extends axially through the annular gap and engages with one end on the cage and with the other end on a stop which is formed on the inner ring or the outer ring.

[0006] Since the spring element extends axially through the annular gap, it can have a relatively large length and therefore, without compromising stability, can be designed with a very small spring constant. Consequently, it elastically preloads the clamping elements into the clamping position with only a very small force. Therefore, a very small torque in the idling direction is sufficient to release the clamping elements from their clamping position.

[0007] The suspension device is easy to manufacture in this way and requires no additional installation space.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] In one embodiment, the spring element can be a bending spring that is formed in one piece with the cage.

[0010] In another embodiment, the spring element can be designed separately from the cage and can be formed, for example, by an elastic wire that is anchored to the cage at one end.

[0011] The spring element can, for example, be arranged in an empty cage cell that is open at the end facing the stop. Alternatively, two or more spring elements can be provided, resulting in a more symmetrical distribution of the clamping elements.

[0012] If the outer ring has the form of a sleeve that is closed at one end by a base, the stop can be formed on or in this base of the sleeve.

[0013] The following are examples of implementation explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.

[0014] They show: Fig. 1 an axial section through a clamping body freewheel according to the invention; Fig. 2 a cut along line II - II in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 an axial section through a clamping body freewheel according to another embodiment.

[0015] The in Fig. The freewheel shown in Figure 1 has a sleeve 10, the circumferential wall of which forms an outer ring 12 of the freewheel and which is closed at one end by a base 14. A Fig. 1 inner ring not shown 16 ( Fig. 2) forms an annular gap with the outer ring 12, which accommodates a number of clamping elements 20 held in a cage 18. In the example shown, the clamping elements 20 have the shape of rollers.

[0016] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring 12 forms a clamping contour 22, which is shaped such that the annular gap in the vicinity of each of the clamping elements 20 narrows in a clockwise direction. Furthermore, in Fig. 2 to recognize that one of the cells of cage 18, which receives the clamping elements 20, is unoccupied. In Fig. Figure 1 shows this unoccupied cell, designated by reference numeral 24, which, unlike the other cells, is open towards the side of the base 14 of the sleeve 10. A spring element 26 projects centrally from the opposite end of cell 24, extending almost over the entire axial length of the freewheel and bearing against a stop 28 at its free end. In this example, the stop 28 is formed by the edge of a recess 30 in the base 14 of the sleeve 10.

[0017] How Fig. Figure 1 shows that the spring element 26 is elastically deflected, so that it rests against the stop 28 under a certain preload. This exerts a torque on the cage 18, which tends to move the cage clockwise. Fig. 2 to rotate. This results in the clamping elements 20 being moved into a clamping position, in which they are held clamped in the narrowing part of the annular gap between the inner and outer rings. This also prevents the inner ring 16 from rotating clockwise.

[0018] If, on the other hand, a counterclockwise torque acts on the inner ring 16, the clamping elements 20 are carried along in the direction in which the annular gap widens, thereby releasing the clamping force so that the inner ring 16 can rotate freely counterclockwise. During the movement out of the clamped position, the clamping elements 20 rotate the cage 18 slightly counterclockwise against the force of the spring element 26. Fig. 2. During this rotation, cell 24 of the cage moves into Fig. 1 upwards, so that the spring element 26 is deflected more strongly.

[0019] The more rigid the spring element 26 is, the greater the torque required to release the clamping elements 20 from the clamping position and to unblock the freewheel.

[0020] The design of the spring element 26 shown here has the advantage that the free end of the spring element presses against the stop 28 via a long lever arm, so that the force exerted on the stop is correspondingly low. Accordingly, the counter-torque exerted on the cage is also so low that the freewheel can be unlocked with only a small amount of torque. Furthermore, the spring constant of the spring element 26 can be finely adjusted by appropriately selecting its thickness.

[0021] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the example shown in Figure 2, the spring element 26 is formed in one piece with the cage 18. Fig. Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment in which the spring element 26' is formed separately from the cage 18. Fig. 3 The spring element 26' is an elastic wire that penetrates the end wall of the cage 18, which delimits the cell 24. The wire then enters an annular groove 32 in the end face of the cage 18 and then follows this annular groove for a short distance in the circumferential direction, thereby achieving secure anchoring of the spring element in the cage. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2022 112 702 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Clamping element freewheel with an inner ring (16) and an outer ring (12) forming an annular gap which is limited on its inner or outer circumference by a clamping contour (22), a number of clamping elements (20) which are held in a cage (18) in the annular gap, and a spring-loaded device by which the clamping elements (20) are pre-tensioned into a clamping position in which they clamp against the clamping contour (22), characterized by , that the spring-loaded device has a spring element (26; 26') which extends axially through the annular gap and engages at one end the cage (18) and at the other end a stop (28) formed on the inner ring or the outer ring. [2] Clamping element freewheel according to claim 1, wherein the cage (18) has a cell (24) which is open at its end facing the stop (28), and wherein the spring element (26; 26') is anchored to the cage (18) at the opposite end of the cell (24) and extends freely through the interior of the cell. [3] Clamping element freewheel according to claim 2, wherein the cell (24) which receives the spring element (26; 26') and further cells of the cage which receive the clamping elements (20) are arranged in a uniform grid. [4] Clamping element freewheel according to claim 3, with several spring elements which are received in associated cells (24) in positions evenly distributed around the circumference of the cage. [5] Clamping element freewheel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element (26) is a bending spring formed in one piece with the cage (18). [6] Clamping element freewheel according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spring element (26) is a flexible element formed separately from the cage (18) and anchored to the cage. [7] Clamping element freewheel according to claim 6, wherein one end of the spring element (26') is received in an annular groove (32) of the cage (18). [8] Clamping element freewheel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer ring (12) is part of a sleeve (10) closed by a bottom (14) and the bottom (14) of the sleeve forms the stop (28) for the spring element (26; 26').

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