RIBBON SPRING FOR SPRAG-TYPE ONE-WAY CLUTCH, AND SPRAG-TYPE ONE-WAY CLUTCH

摘要

A ribbon spring of a sprag type one-way clutch is an elongated strip (51) of sheet metal, and includes tongues (54) which bias the sprags (30) in the direction in which the sprags (30) engage, and which can smoothly slide on the sprags (30). The strip (51) includes a plurality of pockets (52) formed by punching, which is a kind of shearing, so as to be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the strip (51), to define bridges (53) between respective adjacent pairs of the pockets (52). Each tongue (54) protrudes from one circumferential side of one of the bridges (53) into the pocket (52). The strip (51) is mounted between an outer ring (10) and an inner ring (20), while being bent in a circular shape such that the sprags (30), which are inserted in the respective pockets (52), are biased by the respective tongues (54) in the direction in which the sprags (30) engage. Each tongue (54) has a cut surface formed by shearing at its distal end, and including a droop (58). The strip (51) is bent in the circular shape such that each droop (58) is located on the radially outer side of the cut surface, and in contact with the sprag (30). This ensures smooth sliding of the tongues (54).