An electro-mechanical clutch apparatus includes a stationary member (22,122) having a center portion extending along an axis A and a stationary coil assembly (34,134) fixed about the center portion. A rotatable member (46,146) extends along the axis A and includes an annular projection (52,152) radially spaced from the coil assembly. A ratchet surface (29,129) presents a plurality of teeth disposed in axially aligned and radially spaced relationship with the annular projection. The rotatable member includes a magnetic pole piece (62,162) disposed in radially spaced and concentrically aligned relationship with said coil assembly. The rotatable member includes a locking member (58,158) pivotably attached to the annular projection and pivotable between an engaged position in engagement with one of the teeth in response to the coil assembly being de-energized and a released position displaced from engagement with the teeth and attracted towards the magnetic pole piece in response to the coil assembly being energized.

An electro-mechanical clutch apparatus includes a stationary member (22,122) having a center portion extending along an axis A and a stationary coil assembly (34,134) fixed about the center portion. A rotatable member (46,146) extends along the axis A and includes an annular projection (52,152) radially spaced from the coil assembly. A ratchet surface (29,129) presents a plurality of teeth disposed in axially aligned and radially spaced relationship with the annular projection. The rotatable member includes a magnetic pole piece (62,162) disposed in radially spaced and concentrically aligned relationship with said coil assembly. The rotatable member includes a locking member (58,158) pivotably attached to the annular projection and pivotable between an engaged position in engagement with one of the teeth in response to the coil assembly being de-energized and a released position displaced from engagement with the teeth and attracted towards the magnetic pole piece in response to the coil assembly being energized.

A clutch module which includes a first rotating member including at least one strut actuation module and a second engaged member including cam surfaces thereon for engagement by said strut actuation module. The strut actuation module includes a frame with a strut pivotally movable with respect to the frame. The strut includes an engagement end and a base end including a first side and a second side thereof. A pin or post portion extends from the frame and has an insulated bobbin with an energizable coil surrounding the bobbin. A U-shaped member including a pair of actuation legs is attached to the pin member and forms a magnetic gap between the base end of the strut and peripheral ends of the legs, such that when the coil is energized the peripheral ends of the legs are polarized in a first polarity and the frame and the strut are polarized with an opposite polarity thereby biasing the strut toward the peripheral ends and pivoting the actuation end into engagement with a cam surface of the engagement member.

A clutch module which includes a first rotating member including at least one strut actuation module and a second engaged member including cam surfaces thereon for engagement by said strut actuation module. The strut actuation module includes a frame with a strut pivotally movable with respect to the frame. The strut includes an engagement end and a base end including a first side and a second side thereof. A pin or post portion extends from the frame and has an insulated bobbin with an energizable coil surrounding the bobbin. A U-shaped member including a pair of actuation legs is attached to the pin member and forms a magnetic gap between the base end of the strut and peripheral ends of the legs, such that when the coil is energized the peripheral ends of the legs are polarized in a first polarity and the frame and the strut are polarized with an opposite polarity thereby biasing the strut toward the peripheral ends and pivoting the actuation end into engagement with a cam surface of the engagement member.

A washing machine includes a washing tub rotatably disposed to accommodate laundry, a pulsator rotatably disposed in the washing tub, a drive shaft to rotate the pulsator, a dehydration shaft to be connected to the washing tub and through which the drive shaft passes, a solenoid to form a magnetic field when a current is applied, a fixing core to surround the solenoid, and a clutch to couple and uncouple the drive shaft and the dehydration shaft. The clutch includes an armature to be lifted by a magnetic force of the solenoid, and a clutch coupler to be elevated along the dehydration shaft, perform coupling between the drive shaft and the dehydration shaft in a first position, and perform uncoupling between the drive shaft and the dehydration shaft in a second position lifted from the first position.

A washing machine includes a washing tub rotatably disposed to accommodate laundry, a pulsator rotatably disposed in the washing tub, a drive shaft to rotate the pulsator, a dehydration shaft to be connected to the washing tub and through which the drive shaft passes, a solenoid to form a magnetic field when a current is applied, a fixing core to surround the solenoid, and a clutch to couple and uncouple the drive shaft and the dehydration shaft. The clutch includes an armature to be lifted by a magnetic force of the solenoid, and a clutch coupler to be elevated along the dehydration shaft, perform coupling between the drive shaft and the dehydration shaft in a first position, and perform uncoupling between the drive shaft and the dehydration shaft in a second position lifted from the first position.

An electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly is disclosed herein. The decoupling hub assembly has an axle and a hub shell rotationally positioned about the axle. A controller provides automatic activation/deactivation signals to an inductor. The decoupling hub assembly has a bearing rotationally positioned about the axle and a cassette body assembly, having a plurality of teeth, rotationally positioned about the bearing. One or more pawls are provided to engage with at least some of the teeth of the cassette body assembly and a seal is used to contain the pawls within the decoupling hub assembly. A cassette body assembly is coupled with the ratchet ring and an end cap is used to prevent a contaminant from entering into the decoupling hub assembly.

An electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly is disclosed herein. The decoupling hub assembly has an axle and a hub shell rotationally positioned about the axle. A controller provides automatic activation/deactivation signals to an inductor. The decoupling hub assembly has a bearing rotationally positioned about the axle and a cassette body assembly, having a plurality of teeth, rotationally positioned about the bearing. One or more pawls are provided to engage with at least some of the teeth of the cassette body assembly and a seal is used to contain the pawls within the decoupling hub assembly. A cassette body assembly is coupled with the ratchet ring and an end cap is used to prevent a contaminant from entering into the decoupling hub assembly.

A clutch includes a first race, a second race, a pawl, a post, and a shoe. The second race defines a cam surface. The pawl is supported in the first race to pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position such that contact between the cam surface and the pawl in the engaged position prevents relative rotation between the first and second races in at least one direction. The post is supported in the first race to slide between a first and a second position such that in the first position the post forces the pawl into the disengaged position. The shoe is configured to pivot with respect to the first race in response to a magnetic field to slide the post into the second position.

A clutch includes a first race, a second race, a pawl, a post, and a shoe. The second race defines a cam surface. The pawl is supported in the first race to pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position such that contact between the cam surface and the pawl in the engaged position prevents relative rotation between the first and second races in at least one direction. The post is supported in the first race to slide between a first and a second position such that in the first position the post forces the pawl into the disengaged position. The shoe is configured to pivot with respect to the first race in response to a magnetic field to slide the post into the second position.