When relative positions of cages are changed from first positions to second positions, rollers are moved toward each other against an elastic biasing force of an elastic member such that an off state is achieved in which the rollers are disengaged from a cam surface or an inner peripheral surface portion to have a clearance therefrom. When the relative positions of the cages are changed from the second positions to the first positions, the rollers are moved away from each other by the elastic biasing force such that an on state is achieved in which one of the rollers on a downstream side engages with the cam surface or the inner peripheral surface portion without any clearance while the other of the rollers on an upstream side has a clearance from the cam surface or the inner peripheral surface portion.

A clutch apparatus comprises a first race, a second race arranged coaxial with and rotatable relative to the first race, and an engagement mechanism provided between the first race and the second race for engagement of the first race and said second race. The engagement mechanism comprising a first clutch allowing rotation of the first race in only one direction, and a second clutch arranged axially adjacent to the first clutch, the second clutch comprising a rotary member that is provided on the second race in a rotatable and axially immovable manner and a movable member that is movable in the axial direction, and a cam mechanism disposed between the rotary member and the movable member, and the movable member being engaged with the first race by being moved in the axial direction by the cam mechanism.

A slip clutch assembly includes a clutch carrier, a one-way clutch assembly, and a preloaded clutch assembly. The one-way clutch assembly has a portion fixed to the clutch carrier. The preloaded clutch assembly has a first clutch plate, a second clutch plate, and a resilient element. The first clutch plate is drivingly engaged with the carrier. The second clutch plate is arranged for driving engagement with a first portion of a transmission. The resilient element is for compressing the first and second clutch plates. In some example embodiments, the one-way clutch assembly has an outer race, an inner race, and a plurality of blocking elements. The outer race is fixed to the clutch carrier. The inner race is arranged to engage a second portion of the transmission. The blocking elements are selected from the group of rollers or sprags for selectively locking the outer race to the inner race and are disposed radially between the outer race and inner race.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cam clutch capable of switching from one operating mode to another with a simple structure and with high responsiveness, and of securing an expected torque capacity. The cam clutch of the present invention includes an operating mode switch mechanism (140) for switching between a free state that allows relative rotation between an inner race (110) and an outer race (120) and a locked state that prohibits relative rotation between the inner race (110) and the outer race (120). The operating mode switch mechanism (140) includes a cam attitude change part (142) that is movable circumferentially, radially, or axially independently of the rotation of the inner race (110) and the outer race (120) to forcibly tilts a plurality of cams (131) circumferentially arranged between the inner race (110) and the outer race (120).

An object of the present invention is to provide a cam clutch capable of switching from one operating mode to another and offering improved stability of clutch operations and high responsiveness. The object is achieved by an operating mode switching means (180) having a cam attitude change part (185) being drivable independently of rotation of the inner race (110) and outer race (120). A load support point (Sp) is located radially between a load application point (Ap) of the cam attitude change part (185) on the cam (140) and a distal contact point (Ep) of the cam (140) on a raceway positioned on a radially distal side relative to the load application point (Ap). The radial distance (d1) between the load application point (Ap) and the load support point (Sp) is larger than the radial distance (d2) between the load support point (Sp) and the distal contact point (Ep).

A variable compression ratio mechanism of an internal combustion engine includes an operation element, an input actuator, and a reverse input torque cutoff clutch. The reverse input torque cutoff clutch includes a fixed member, a movable member, clearance, a wedge member, and a moving device. A peripheral surface of the fixed member is formed such that the clearance is formed with: a rotation prevention area that prevents the movable member from rotating in a reverse input torque acting direction. When the movable member moves in the direction to change a mechanical compression ratio, the moving device moves the wedge member from the rotation prevention area to the rotation allowable area in an opposite direction and holds the wedge member in the rotation allowable area.

A roller clutch including an outer race, an inner race, a first engagement member situated between the outer race and the inner race, and a second engagement member situated between the outer race and the inner race. The first engagement member is configured to engage the outer race and the inner race to transmit torque between the outer race and the inner race only in response to the inner race turning in a positive direction and applying negative torque to the first engagement member. The second engagement member is configured to engage the outer race and the inner race to transmit torque between the outer race and the inner race in response to the inner race applying positive torque to the second engagement member while the outer race applies negative torque to the second engagement member.

A torque assembly including an inner member; an outer member; a first torque member disposed between the inner member and the outer member; and a second torque member disposed radially exterior or interior to the first torque member; where upon rotation in a first circumferential direction, the first torque member is allowed to generally freely rotate and in a second circumferential direction, the first torque member is radially shifted to impede or prevent rotation, and where the second torque member provides a circumferential slip interface between the inner member and the outer member to allow rotation in the second circumferential direction.

A bi-directional coupler that selectively couples and de-couples a driving element to a driven element. The coupler includes an outer shaft having an outer shaft slot and an inner shaft having an inner shaft slot, where the inner and outer shafts are configured to rotate independently of each other. The coupler also includes a ball bearing provided within the inner shaft slot and having a size so that when the ball bearing is located at a center portion of the inner shaft slot it does not interfere with rotation of the outer shaft, where the ball bearing is held in that location by a magnet located in the inner shaft. Rotation of the inner shaft above a predetermined rotational speed causes the ball bearing to engage the outer shaft slot so as to cause the inner shaft to be locked to the outer shaft and rotate therewith.

A bi-directional overrunning clutch for transmitting torque to drive axle halves includes a clutch housing that attaches to an input gear, and hubs that attach to the axle halves. A pair of roll cages located within the housing adjacent to the hubs have rollers. The rollers wedge between the hubs and first tapered portions on the clutch housing when the roll cage is rotated forward relative to the housing, and between the hubs and second tapered portions on the clutch housing when the roll cage is rotated in the opposite direction. Springs hold the rollers engaged with recesses in the hubs, but let the rollers lift to permit relative rotation of the hubs and roll cages. Relative rotation between the roll cages is limited: when one roll cage is wedged, the other can move only as far as a free position midway between the first and second tapered portions.