"The instant engagement sprag clutch concept isn't new - in cycling or elsewhere. It works with a large number of little 'sprags' inside the hub that act like one-way pawls with rounded cams on the ends. They let the axle rotate freely in one direction with almost no drag (freewheeling). But then, when it spins in the opposite direction, they quickly rotate into place, wedging themselves between the axle & hubshell for positive engagement."
"To work well, you need incredibly precise and strong inner and outer steel rings for lots of tightly-spaced steel sprags to press against. There can't be any imperfections or deformation of any part of the system, so it tends to be difficult to manufacture and heavier than more conventional freehub solutions. We've been covering double-row Onyx clutch hubs since the early days of our platform."
Lavelle produces monocoque 5-spoke gravel and mountain wheels alongside traditionally laced carbon wheels spanning road to BMX, integrating near-instant sprag-clutch hubs. The lineup includes a true 0° clutch option, the Lavelle 1440 POE sprag clutch hub claiming 0.25° engagement, and a 7.5° choice using a machined 48T ratchet. Sprag clutches use many small sprags that freewheel one way and wedge for immediate engagement the other, demanding extremely precise inner and outer steel rings. The approach increases manufacturing complexity and weight but delivers virtually instantaneous engagement. Additional features include hub cooling fins, titanium axles, and wavy carbon rims.
Read at Bikerumor
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