Vehicular actuator arrangement and implementations
AssigneeAmerican Gear Products, LLC
InventorsRichard Nyberg, James R. Preston
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle drive arrangement is controlled with an actuator arrangement. According to an example embodiment, an actuator arrangement includes a rotatable gear having pins thereon that are applied to a latch and rocker arm to selectively engage and lock a vehicle drive system. In some applications, gear is rotated to apply a first pin to move the latch for selective engagement of the vehicle drive system, and to apply the second pin for selective locking of the engagement, during which selective locking the rotation of the first pin does not cause movement of the latch. Other embodiments are directed to vehicle drive systems and vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles, employing drive systems and an actuator.
Claims20
An actuator arrangement comprising:
- a latch coupled to selectively engage a vehicle drive arrangement relative to a translational position of the latch, the latch having a slot therein;
- a rocker arm to selectively lock the engagement of the vehicle drive arrangement relative to a rotational position of the rocker arm about a fulcrum;
- a rotatable gear that rotates in response to a gear input;
- a first pin connected to the rotatable gear and extending into the slot in the latch to engage and move the latch as the rotatable gear rotates;
- a second pin connected to the rotatable gear to engage and rotate the rocker arm about the fulcrum as the rotatable gear rotates;
- and
- a sensor arrangement to sense the position of at least one of the latch and the rocker arm for controlling the rotation of the rotatable gear for selective engagement and locking of the vehicle drive arrangement.
A drive system for selectively operating a vehicle in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, the system comprising:
- a differential to couple power from a power source to drive wheels when engaged in four-wheel drive operation;
- an actuator arrangement including
- a latch coupled to selectively engage the differential, relative to a translational position of the latch, the latch having a slot therein,
- a rocker arm to selectively lock the engagement of the differential relative to a rotational position of the rocker arm about a fulcrum,
- a rotatable gear that rotates in response to a gear input,
- a first pin connected to the rotatable gear and extending into the slot in the latch to engage and move the latch as the rotatable gear rotates,
- a second pin connected to the rotatable gear to engage and rotate the rocker arm about the fulcrum as the rotatable gear rotates, and
- a sensor to sense the position of the latch for controlling the rotation of the rotatable gear for selective engagement and locking of the differential;
- and
- a rotational power source coupled to control the rotation of the rotatable gear for selectively engaging and locking the differential for selectively operating the vehicle in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
An all-terrain vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- wheels that support and move the vehicle over a surface;
- a differential to couple rotational power from the engine to the wheels when engaged in four-wheel drive operation;
- an actuator arrangement including
- a latch coupled to selectively engage the differential, relative to a translational position of the latch, the latch having a slot therein,
- a rocker arm to selectively lock the engagement of the differential relative to a rotational position of the rocker arm about a fulcrum,
- a rotatable gear that rotates in response to a gear input,
- a first pin connected to the rotatable gear and extending into the slot in the latch to engage and move the latch as the rotatable gear rotates,
- a second pin connected to the rotatable gear to engage and rotate the rocker arm about the fulcrum as the rotatable gear rotates, and
- a sensor to sense the position of the latch for controlling the rotation of the rotatable gear for selective engagement and locking of the differential;
- and
- a rotational power source coupled to control the rotation of the rotatable gear for selectively engaging and locking the differential for selectively operating the vehicle in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.