Back to results
US 2007/0163854 A1Published application
Central Differential For a Working Vehicle
AssigneeKanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
InventorsKoji IRIKURA, Donald Wieber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Presented herein are four-wheel drive systems incorporating a bi-directional overrunning clutch design to control the torque transmission between front and rear transaxles. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a four-wheel drive system comprising a front transaxle, a rear transaxle, a transmission receiving drive power from a prime mover, and a bi-directional overrunning clutch drivingly coupled to an output shaft of the transmission and selectively coupled to the front and rear transaxle.
Claims20
A four-wheel drive system comprising:
- a front transaxle;
- a rear transaxle;
- a transmission receiving drive power from a prime mover, and having an output shaft;
- and
- a bi-directional overrunning clutch drivingly coupled to the output shaft of the transmission and selectively coupled to the front transaxle and rear transaxle, wherein the bi-directional overrunning clutch includes,
- an input gear drivingly coupled to the output shaft of the transmission,
- a roller assembly, disposed within the input gear, including
- a roll cage, and
- a spring extending from the roll cage,
- a first hub located at least partially within the roller assembly and selectively coupled with an end of a forward shaft segment, wherein the forward shaft segment delivers torque to the front transaxle,
- a second hub located at least partially within the roller assembly and coupled with an end of a rearward shaft segment, wherein the rearward shaft segment delivers torque to the rear transaxle, and
- a friction member disposed adjacent the roller assembly and at least one of the hubs, wherein the spring exerts a force on the friction member, thereby creating a frictional engagement between the roller assembly and the hub.
9 more elements
A four-wheel drive system comprising:
- a front transaxle;
- a rear transaxle;
- a transmission receiving drive power from a prime mover, and having an output shaft;
- and
- a bi-directional overrunning clutch drivingly coupled to the output shaft of the transmission and selectively coupled to the front transaxle and rear transaxle, wherein the bi-directional overrunning clutch includes,
- an input gear drivingly coupled to the output shaft of the transmission,
- a roller assembly, disposed within the input gear, including
- a roll cage, and
- a spring extending from the roll cage,
- a first hub located at least partially within the roller assembly and coupled with an end of a forward shaft segment, wherein the forward shaft segment delivers torque to the front transaxle,
- a second hub located at least partially within the roller assembly and selectively coupled with an end of a rearward shaft segment, wherein the rearward shaft segment delivers torque to the rear transaxle, and
- a friction member disposed adjacent the roller assembly and at least one of the hubs, wherein the spring exerts a force on the friction member, thereby creating a frictional engagement between the roller assembly and the hub.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.