Recent Patents on One-way Bearings

Background: One-way bearings are important components in transmission systems. Their function is to rotate freely forward and stop in reverse. They are widely applied in machines that need to eliminate reversal, vibration, oscillation, and reduce friction. One-way bearings are also called one-way clutches or overturning clutches. With the rapid development of global industrial technology, the requirements for the performance of one-way bearings applied in mechanical equipment are becoming more and more stringent. As a result, there is increasing demand for oneway bearings with advantages such as wear-reducing, wear-resistant, high bearing capacity, high efficiency, high precision, and the ability to withstand high speeds Objective: This paper aims to classify and summarize the theoretical research as well as patents of one-way bearings, analyze the working principles as well as the role of various new types of oneway bearings. It also analyzes the functions and improvements of the structure and performance of one-way bearings, which provides references for scholars and researchers in the future. Methods: This paper reviews the patents and papers related to one-way bearings in recent years. It categorizes the one-way bearings according to the structure and working principle, including roller-type, wedge-type and new structure one-way bearings. It also analyzes the patents of various one-way bearings, and summarizes the problems existing in the development of one-way bearings in recent years. Results: Conclusions are drawn by analyzing the structure and characteristics of different kinds of one-way bearings. The development trends of present one-way bearings and the direction of improvement are summarized. The main problems existing in one-way bearings and the future development trends are pointed out. Conclusion: One-way bearings feature numerous innovative designs. A large number of patents have proposed structural improvements to their components, which reduces friction, extends service life, ensures accurate reverse locking, and enhances reliability