Compact One-Way Clutch Using Radial Sliding Claws
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional one-way clutches with planetary gears are large in size due to the accommodation of planetary gears inside the outer member, which poses a challenge in reducing the overall dimensions of the rotary damper device equipped with such clutches.
Innovation Solution
A one-way clutch design featuring an inner member with a first insertion hole, a cylindrical outer member with internal teeth, and a slide member with claws that are slidable in the radial direction, allowing the outer member to turn independently or integrally with the inner member based on the engagement and retreat surfaces, reducing the overall size by eliminating the need for planetary gears.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If planetary gears are accommodated inside the outer member to achieve one-way clutch functionality, then the engagement and disengagement between inner member and outer member is enabled, but the overall size of the one-way clutch increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the planetary gears from the one-way clutch mechanism and replaces them with a simpler pawl-ratchet system. The pawl (engageable member) and ratchet (teeth-formed member) provide the same one-way engagement functionality without requiring the complex planetary gear assembly, thereby reducing the overall size of the clutch mechanism while maintaining reliable one-way torque transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental mechanism type from planetary gears to a pawl-ratchet system, altering the operational parameters and structural configuration. This parameter change enables the same functional outcome (one-way engagement) with significantly reduced dimensional requirements, as the pawl-ratchet mechanism occupies less space than the planetary gear assembly
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively reduces the size of the one-way clutch and the rotary damper device while maintaining the necessary operational functionality, allowing for compact integration in applications.
Implementation Method 1
the claws have a retreat surface that abuts against the internal teeth when the outer member turns toward one side with respect to the inner member, and an engagement surface that abuts against the internal teeth when the outer member turns toward the other side with respect to the inner member
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a one-way clutch and a rotary damper device equipped with the one-way clutch, in which size reduction can be achieved. A claw of a slide member has a retreat surface that abuts against an internal tooth of an outer member when the outer member turns toward one side with respect to an inner member and an engagement surface that abuts against the internal tooth when the outer member turns toward the other side with respect to the inner member. When the internal tooth and the retreat surface abut against each other, the slide member slides in a sliding direction, thus causing the claw to retreat from the internal tooth, and the outer member turns independently of the inner member. When the internal tooth and the engagement surface abut against each other, the internal tooth and the engagement surface are engaged, and the outer member and the inner member integrally turn.