Adjustable shift fork system for efficient assembly and disassembly of a clutch assembly
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
InventorsJustin Hall, Mark W. Leber, Michael D. Cook, Shane T. Smith, Robert L. Vailliencourt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Shift fork system and method. The shift fork system includes multiple fork guides that are removably coupled to a shift fork body. Each fork guide is configured to removably mate with a clutch assembly, including a hub, to enable the clutch assembly to be adjusted. Further, multiple attachment devices in the shift fork system are each be configured to releasably fix a position of one of the fork guides in relation to the clutch assembly.
Claims19
A shift fork system, comprising:
- a plurality of fork guides adjustably coupled to a shift fork body;
- a plurality of attachment devices which are each configured to releasably fix a position of one of the plurality of fork guides in relation to a clutch assembly;
- wherein each fork guide, in a first position, is configured to mate with and adjust the clutch assembly;
- wherein the clutch assembly includes a hub;
- and
- wherein the plurality of attachment devices mate with grooves in stems of the plurality of fork guides in a configuration that fixes the position of the plurality of fork guides in relation to the clutch assembly wherein the plurality of attachment devices are shoulder bolts, wherein the grooves extend around at least portions of circumferences of the stems of the plurality of fork guides;
- and wherein shanks of the plurality of attachment devices are positioned at least partially within the grooves in the stems of the plurality of fork guides when they are in the configuration that fixes the position of the plurality of fork guides in relation to the clutch assembly.
A shift fork system, comprising:
- a plurality of fork guides removably coupled to a shift fork body, each fork guide having a stem and a groove extending around at least a portion of a circumference of the stem;
- wherein each fork guide is configured to:
- in an extended position mate with a clutch assembly and enable the clutch assembly to be adjusted by the plurality of fork guides;
- and
- in a retracted position decouple from the clutch assembly;
- and
- a plurality of attachment devices, each attachment device having a shank,
- wherein the shanks of the attachment devices are positioned at least partially into the grooves of the fork guides to retain the plurality of fork guides in their extended positions.
A method for assembling a shift fork system, comprising:
- assembling a clutch assembly that includes a hub and a sliding sleeve;
- mating the clutch assembly with a shaft;
- urging a plurality of fork guides into an extended position to mate with the clutch assembly, each fork guide having a stem and a groove extending around at least a portion of a circumference of the stem;
- and
- fixing the plurality of fork guides in the extended position by installing a plurality of attachment devices into a shift fork body and the plurality of fork guides, each attachment device having a shank, and the shanks of the attachment devices being positioned at least partially into the grooves of the stems of the fork guides to fix the plurality of fork guides in the extended position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.