Integrated gearbox lockout device
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsMatthew M. Wilcox, Jacob P. Speed, Cody C. Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are described for a gearbox lockout device. It may be desirable in certain vehicles to lock a drive shaft within a gearbox for a period of time. Lockout embodiments under the present disclosure include a shaft configured to selectively engage the drive shaft via teeth. An inner and outer collar surrounding the shaft can be manipulated to restrict the movement of the shaft once the shaft's teeth are engaged with the teeth of the drive shaft. The system can be torqued up and locked in place. This can allow for more safe transporting of the vehicle, easier maintenance, or other advantages.
Claims20
A lockout device for a gearbox, comprising:
- a housing comprising a hole therethrough and configured to be fixedly coupled to the gearbox;
- a shaft configured to pass through the hole, the shaft being configured to engage a portion of a drive train within the gearbox and transmit rotation from the shaft to the drive train;
- an inner collar configured to sit around the shaft and at least partially between the shaft and the housing, the inner collar comprising at least one hole;
- and
- an outer collar configured to sit around the shaft and at least partially between the inner collar and the housing, the outer collar comprising at least one threaded opening configured to receive at least one bolt passing through the at least one hole, wherein rotation of the at least one bolt can adjust a relative position of the inner collar and the outer collar to thereby restrict a displacement of the shaft within the hole.
An apparatus for torquing and locking a drive train within a gearbox, comprising:
- a shaft translatable along its axis between engagement with the drive train and disengagement with the drive train, the shaft configured to transmit torque and motion in the shaft to the drive train;
- an inner collar coupled around the shaft and comprising at least one threadless hole configured to receive at least one threaded coupling member therethrough;
- an outer collar coupled at least partially exterior to the inner collar and comprising at least one threaded hole configured to receive the at least one threaded coupling member therethrough, wherein rotation of the at least one threaded coupling member adjusts a relative position of the inner collar and the outer collar, wherein pulling the inner collar and the outer collar together causes the inner collar to restrict the translation of the shaft along its axis;
- and
- a housing disposed at least partially exterior to the outer collar and coupled to the gearbox and to the inner collar.
A method of performing a lockout operation to torque and lock a drive train within a gearbox, the method comprising:
- detaching a cover from its coupling to a housing, the housing comprising a hole therethrough and configured to be fixedly coupled to the gearbox;
- uncoupling the cover from a shaft, the shaft configured to pass through the hole, the shaft configured to be translatable along its axis, wherein coupling the shaft to the cover prevents the shaft from engaging the drive train;
- manipulating the shaft so as to inhibit rotation from the shaft to the drive train;
- applying a torque to the drive train by rotating the shaft;
- and
- rotating at least one threaded bolt coupled to at least one threadless hole in an inner collar and at least one threaded hole in an outer collar, the inner collar configured to sit around the shaft and at least partially between the shaft and the housing, the outer collar configured to sit around the shaft and at least partially between the inner collar and the housing, wherein rotating the at least one threaded bolt can adjust a relative position of the inner collar and the outer collar, wherein as the inner collar and the outer collar are pulled closer together the inner collar is pushed against the shaft and restricts a displacement of the shaft within the hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.