A three-mode clutch, including: an inner ring; an outer ring including a pocket; a cage radially disposed between the inner and outer rings, rotatable with respect to the outer ring, and including a ramp sloping radially inwardly; and a pawl including a portion disposed in the pocket. In a locked mode of the clutch, the ramp is in contact with the pawl and the inner and outer rings are non-rotatably connected. In a one-way mode of the clutch, the cage is in contact with the pawl and relative rotation of the inner ring with respect to the outer ring is enabled only in a first rotational direction. In a freewheel mode of the clutch, the ramp is in contact with the pawl and the inner ring is rotatable with respect to the outer ring in the first rotational direction and in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

A clutch, including: inner and outer races; a wedge plate; an electromagnetic actuator including a coil and an attenuating circuit. The coil is arranged to be energized by a power source to switch the wedge clutch between: a locked mode in which the inner and races are locked in a circumferential direction and a free-wheel mode in which the inner race is rotatable with respect to the outer race in the circumferential direction. The attenuating circuit includes a capacitor parallel with the coil and a switch wired to the capacitor. During the free-wheel mode: the switch is arranged to connect the capacitor to an electrical ground; and the electrical power source is arranged to energize the coil and charge the capacitor with a voltage. Following initiation of the locked mode: the switch isolates the capacitor from the electrical ground; and the capacitor discharges the voltage through the coil.

A locking clutch ratchet wrench (1) is configured such that a clutch ring (500) forms the mid part of aminate like structure. Under torque applying conditions, the compression forces applied to the clutch ring (500) are substantially dissipated around the circumference (507) of the clutch ring. This inwardly directed force clamp against the inherently strong outer surface 405 of the drive element (400). The resultant pseudo laminate structure of the drive element (400), clutch (500) and housing (201, 202) enables the construction of a proportionately stronger ratchet wrench of reduced height or width.

A clutch assembly for selectively transmitting torque between an engine and a torque converter is provided. A first plate is non-rotatably connected to a torque converter cover. A second plate is configured to receive a torque input from an engine. A wedge clutch is disposed axially between the first and second plates and is configured to selectively transfer torque between the first plate and the second plate. The wedge clutch includes wedge segments that are configured to collectively radially expand and contract to selectively transfer torque between the first plate and the second plate.

A wedge clutch includes first and second races supported for rotation about a common axis. The first race defines a cam surface and circumferentially arranged pockets recessed into the cam surface. A wedge element is formed of circumferentially arranged wedges each having an ear disposed in one of the pockets. Resilient members are disposed in the pockets and act between the ears to bias the wedge element to a contracted position in which the wedge elements collectively contract towards the axis and the clutch is engaged. A cage is axial movable towards the wedge element to engage with the ears to compress the resilient members and move the wedge element to an expanded position in which the wedge elements collectively expand away from the axis and the clutch is disengaged.

This actuator comprises a frame, a motor, an output shaft, and a drive train for driving the output shaft via the motor. The drive train comprises an upstream element, a downstream element, and a device for coupling the upstream element to the downstream element. Said coupling device has a first configuration for transmitting all of the torque exerted by one of the upstream and downstream elements on the coupling device to the other of the upstream and downstream elements when said torque is below a threshold torque, and a second configuration for diverting at least part of said torque exerted by one of the upstream and downstream elements on the coupling device to the frame when said torque is at least equal to the threshold torque.

A wedge clutch, including: outer and inner races; a wedge plate radially between the inner and outer races; and an electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator includes: a coil; a first coil core piece including a first end disposed within the coil and a second end connected to the wedge plate; and a second coil core piece including a first end disposed within the first coil and a second end connected to the wedge plate. In a locked mode of the clutch, the inner race and outer races and the wedge plate are non-rotatably connected for rotation of the inner race in a circumferential direction. In a free-wheel mode of the clutch, the inner race is rotatable, with respect to the outer race, in the circumferential direction. To transition from the locked mode to the free-wheel mode, the electromagnetic actuator is arranged to be energized to radially contract the wedge plate.

A wedge clutch, including: a hub; a carrier; a first wedge plate segment radially located between the hub and the carrier and including a first ramp sloping radially inwardly in a first circumferential direction and including a first circumferential end; a second wedge plate segment radially located between the hub and the carrier and including a second ramp sloping radially inwardly in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction and including a second circumferential end. In a free-wheel mode of the wedge clutch, one of the hub or the carrier is rotatable with respect to the other of the hub or the carrier. In a locked mode of the wedge clutch: the hub and the carrier are non-rotatably connected for rotation of the hub in the first circumferential direction; and the first and second circumferential ends are in contact.

A clutch, including: inner and outer races; a wedge plate; an electromagnetic actuator including a coil and an attenuating circuit. The coil is arranged to be energized by a power source to switch the wedge clutch between: a locked mode in which the inner and races are locked in a circumferential direction and a free-wheel mode in which the inner race is rotatable with respect to the outer race in the circumferential direction. The attenuating circuit includes a capacitor parallel with the coil and a switch wired to the capacitor. During the free-wheel mode: the switch is arranged to connect the capacitor to an electrical ground; and the electrical power source is arranged to energize the coil and charge the capacitor with a voltage. Following initiation of the locked mode: the switch isolates the capacitor from the electrical ground; and the capacitor discharges the voltage through the coil.

A wedge clutch, including: outer and inner races; a wedge plate radially between the inner and outer races; and an electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator includes: a coil; a first coil core piece including a first end disposed within the coil and a second end connected to the wedge plate; and a second coil core piece including a first end disposed within the first coil and a second end connected to the wedge plate. In a locked mode of the clutch, the inner race and outer races and the wedge plate are non-rotatably connected for rotation of the inner race in a circumferential direction. In a free-wheel mode of the clutch, the inner race is rotatable, with respect to the outer race, in the circumferential direction. To transition from the locked mode to the free-wheel mode, the electromagnetic actuator is arranged to be energized to radially contract the wedge plate.