Freewheel bearing device with torque limiter

• US 7,766,140 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Skf France (ABet SKF)
• Original Assignee: Skf France (ABet SKF)
• Inventors: Poulle, Thierry, Ponson, Frédéric, Caillault, Claude, Hamada, Virginie, Lescorail, Romuald
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck; Rodney H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holmes; Justin
• Application Number:
  US10/566,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20070074945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,230 Days
• Field of Search: 192/45.1, 192/41.5, 192/55.1, 192/56.2, 192/56.1, 192/56.6, 192/110.B, 464/40, 464/46, 464/30
• US Class Current: 192/45.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/06 with a single row or balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/001 Integrated brakes or clutches for stopping or coupling the relatively movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/07 between two cylindrical surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/206 having axially adjacent coils, e.g. helical wrap-springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 43/211 with radially applied torque-limiting friction surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 7/021 with radially applied torque-limiting friction surfaces F16D7/022 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention concerns a freewheel bearing device including an outer element and inner element arranged inside the outer element, and a free wheel provided with at least a wedging element, arranged between the inner element and the outer element to allow a free rotational movement in one direction between the outer element and the inner element and for transmission of a torque in the other direction between the outer element and the inner element, the free wheel including a ring provided with a cylindrical inner surface and a cylindrical outer surface, substantially aligned on a radial plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the device, and a torque limiting member adapted to limit the torque transmitted by the free wheel, the torque limiting member being arranged radially between said ring and the outer element or the inner element in contact with said ring and said element.

Claims

1. A freewheel bearing device comprising:

an outer element;

an inner element placed in the outer element;

a rolling bearing; and

a freewheel provided with at least one jamming element, the rolling bearing and the freewheel being mounted adjacent between the inner element and the outer element to leave free a rotation movement in one direction and to transmit a torque in the other direction between the outer element and the inner element;

wherein the at least one jamming element is mounted between, and in contact with, one of the outer and inner elements, and a first cylindrical surface of a race of the freewheel, and wherein the jamming elements of the freewheel are cams, rollers or pawls; and

a torque limiter member capable of limiting the torque transmitted by the freewheel, the torque limiter member being placed radially on a second cylindrical surface of the race of the freewheel, between the race and the other one of the outer and inner elements with which the at least one jamming element is not in contact.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque limiter member is mounted in series with the freewheel to limit the torque transmitted by the unidirectional engagement member in the torque transmission position.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein raceways for the rolling elements of the bearing are arranged in the inner and outer elements.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second cylindrical surface comprises two annular ribs,the torque limiter being placed between the ribs.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the freewheel comprises a spring provided with an end fixedly attached to the torque limiter member and coils in friction contact on the inner or outer element.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque limiter member comprises a friction element and an element for prestressing the friction element against the race and/or the outer element or the inner element.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque limiter member is prestressed between two separate pieces.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque limiter member comprises at least one friction element.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the friction element comprises a radial friction surface.

10. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the friction element comprises an axial friction surface delimited by two radial planes.

11. A freewheel bearing device comprising:

an outer element;

an inner element placed in the outer element;

a rolling bearing; and

a freewheel provided with at least one jamming element, the rolling bearing and the freewheel being mounted adjacent between the inner element and the outer element to leave free a rotation movement in one direction and to transmit a torque in the other direction between the outer element and the inner element;

wherein the at least one jamming element is mounted between, and in contact with, one of the outer and inner elements, and a first cylindrical surface of a race of the freewheel; and

a torque limiter member capable of limiting the torque transmitted by the freewheel, the torque limiter member being placed radially on a second cylindrical surface of the race of the freewheel, between the race and the other one of the outer and inner elements with which the at least one jamming element is not in contact, wherein the torque limiter member comprises an open elastic ring provided with an outer friction surface and an inner friction surface.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the open elastic ring is made of steel sheet and has a U-channel provided with two axial flanges.

13. A freewheel bearing device comprising:

an outer element;

an inner element placed in the outer element;

a rolling bearing; and

a freewheel provided with at least one jamming element, the rolling bearing and the freewheel being mounted adjacent between the inner element and the outer element to leave free a rotation movement in one direction and to transmit a torque in the other direction between the outer element and the inner element;

wherein the at least one jamming element is mounted between, and in contact with, one of the outer and inner elements, and a first cylindrical surface of a race of the freewheel; and

a torque limiter member capable of limiting the torque transmitted by the freewheel, the torque limiter member being placed radially on a second cylindrical surface of the race of the freewheel, between the race and the other one of the outer and inner elements with which the at least one jamming element is not in contact, wherein the torque limiter member comprises a plurality of elastic tongues.

14. A freewheel bearing device comprising:

an outer element;

an inner element placed in the outer element;

a rolling bearing; and

a freewheel provided with at least one jamming element, the rolling bearing and the freewheel being mounted adjacent between the inner element and the outer element to leave free a rotation movement in one direction and to transmit a torque in the other direction between the outer element and the inner element;

wherein the at least one jamming element is mounted between, and in contact with, one of the outer and inner elements, and a first cylindrical surface of a race of the freewheel; and

a torque limiter member capable of limiting the torque transmitted by the freewheel, the torque limiter member being placed radially on a second cylindrical surface of the race of the freewheel, between the race and the other one of the outer and inner elements with which the at least one jamming element is not in contact, wherein the torque limiter member comprises an elastic ring made of synthetic material provided with an outer or inner friction surface and a respectively inner or outer attachment surface.

15. A freewheel bearing device comprising:

an outer element;

an inner element placed in the outer element;

a rolling bearing; and

a freewheel provided with at least one jamming element, the rolling bearing and the freewheel being mounted adjacent between the inner element and the outer element to leave free a rotation movement in one direction and to transmit a torque in the other direction between the outer element and the inner element;

wherein the at least one jamming element is mounted between, and in contact with, one of the outer and inner elements, and a first cylindrical surface of a race of the freewheel; and

a torque limiter member capable of limiting the torque transmitted by the freewheel, the torque limiter member being placed radially on a second cylindrical surface of the race of the freewheel, between the race and the other one of the outer and inner elements with which the at least one jamming element is not in contact, wherein the torque limiter member comprises a body in the shape of an open ring.

16. The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the torque limiter member further comprises an elastic element for prestressing the body.