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US 12,617,231 B2Granted
Electric actuable wheel hubs
AssigneeWarn Automotive, LLC
InventorsBryan M. Averill, Craig Feusse, Russell Conine, Bryce Gould
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A forked linkage includes a forked end and a control end. An axially translatable spline coupling is supported and carried by the forked end. A pivot is between the forked end and the control end. A cam is configured to interact with the control end of the forked linkage. The cam includes a profile that defines an axial position of the spline coupling relative to an angular position of the cam. A bias biases the control end towards the cam.
Claims20
An actuable wheel coupling comprising:
- an axially translatable spline coupling;
- a forked linkage comprising a forked end and a control end, the axially translatable spline coupling being supported and carried by the forked end;
- a cam configured to rotate and thereby interact with the control end of the forked linkage, the cam comprising a profile that defines an axial position of the spline coupling relative to an angular position of the cam;
- and
- a bias biasing the control end towards the cam.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- engaging a wheel hub to a drive axle by a spline coupling at a first rate, wherein engaging the wheel hub to the drive axle comprises:
- rotating a cam,
- translating an end of a linkage, by a bias, responsive to rotating the cam, and
- laterally translating the spline coupling responsive to translating the end of the linkage;
- and
- disengaging the wheel hub from the drive axle by the spline coupling at a second rate, wherein disengaging the wheel hub from the drive axle comprises:
- rotating a cam,
- translating an end of a linkage by rotating the cam, and
- laterally translating the spline coupling responsive to translating the end of the linkage, wherein the second rate is slower than the first rate.
6 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a wheel hub;
- a drive axle;
- an actuable wheel coupling configured to actuably couple the wheel hub and the drive axle to rotate in unison with one another, the actuable wheel coupling comprising:
- an axially translatable spline coupling configured to be translated between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the engaged position coupling the wheel hub and drive axle, the disengaged position decoupling the wheel hub and drive axle;
- a forked linkage comprising a forked end and a control end, the axially translatable spline coupling being supported and carried by the forked end;
- a cam configured to rotate and thereby interact with the control end of the forked linkage, the cam comprising a profile that defines an axial position of the spline coupling relative to an angular position of the cam;
- and
- a bias biasing the control end towards the cam.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.