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US 2026/0285148 A1Published application
Inline drive assembly for four-wheel drive vehicle
AssigneeThe Hilliard Corporation
InventorsKelly P. HEATH, James E. PALMER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive assembly for a vehicle is disclosed that is selectively operable in (i) a full 4×4 configuration, (ii) a 2×4 configuration, and (iii) a 4×4 overrunning configuration. The drive assembly includes an input shaft, an output shaft, an overrunning clutch coupling the input shaft and the output shaft, an input coupler, and an output coupler. The input coupler and the output coupler being engageable with the overrunning clutch.
Claims23
A drive assembly for a vehicle, the drive assembly comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- an overrunning clutch coupling the input shaft and the output shaft, the overrunning clutch comprising:
- a clutch hub rotatable relative to the input shaft;
- a clutch input coupled to the clutch hub;
- a clutch output rotatably secured relative to the output shaft;
- an input coupler rotatably secured relative to and translatable along the input shaft from a first input position to a second input position and vice versa, (I) in the first input position the input coupler being engaged with the clutch hub and thereby configured to transmit power from the input shaft to the clutch hub, and (II) in the second input position the input coupler being disengaged from the clutch hub and thereby inhibiting power transmission from the input shaft to the clutch hub;
- and
- an output coupler translatable along the output shaft from a first output position to a second output position and vice versa, (III) in the first output position the output coupler being engaged with the clutch hub, and if the input coupler is in the first input position, thereby configured to transmit power from the clutch hub to the output coupler, the clutch output, and the output shaft, and (IV) in the second output position the output coupler being disengaged from the clutch hub and, if the input coupler is in the first input position, thereby operatively coupling the input shaft and the output shaft via the overrunning clutch such that (A) if the input shaft and the clutch input rotate faster than the output shaft and the clutch output, the clutch input causes the clutch output and the output shaft to accelerate and thereby rotate together with the input shaft, the input shaft thereby being configured to transmit power to the output shaft, and (B) if the output shaft and the clutch output rotate faster than the input shaft and the clutch input, the clutch output slips over the clutch input and the input shaft and the output shaft thereby rotate relative to each other.
6 more elements
A drive assembly for a vehicle, the drive assembly comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- a coupler;
- and
- an overrunning clutch;
- wherein the drive assembly is operable in a power transmitting and non-overrunning configuration, a non-power transmitting configuration, and a power transmitting and overrunning configuration, and:
- (I) in the power transmitting and non-overrunning configuration the input shaft and the output shaft are operatively coupled via the coupler and thereby rotatably secured relative to each other;
- (II) in the non-power transmitting configuration the input shaft and the output shaft are operatively decoupled and thereby rotatable relative to each other;
- and
- (III) in the power transmitting and overrunning configuration the input shaft and the output shaft are operatively coupled via the overrunning clutch such that (A) if the input shaft rotates faster than the output shaft, the overrunning clutch causes the output shaft to accelerate and thereby rotate together with the input shaft, and (B) if the output shaft rotates faster than the input shaft, the overrunning clutch permits the input shaft and the output shaft to rotate relative to each other.
7 more elements
A drive assembly for a vehicle, the drive assembly comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft;
- an overrunning clutch coupling the input shaft and the output shaft;
- an input coupler rotatably secured relative to and translatable along the input shaft from a first input position to a second input position and vice versa;
- and
- an output coupler translatable along the output shaft from a first output position to a second output position and vice versa;
- wherein:
- (I) in the first input position the input coupler operatively engages the overrunning clutch and in the first output position the output coupler operatively engages the overrunning clutch, the input coupler and the output coupler thereby inhibiting overrunning operation of the overrunning clutch, the input shaft and the output shaft thereby being rotatable together;
- (II) in the second input position the input coupler operatively disengages the overrunning clutch, the input shaft and the output shaft thereby being rotatable relative to each other;
- (III) in the first input position the input coupler operatively engages the overrunning clutch and in the second output position the output coupler operatively disengages the overrunning clutch, the input coupler and the output coupler thereby permitting overrunning operation of the overrunning clutch including:
- (A) if the input shaft rotates faster than the output shaft, the overrunning clutch causes the output shaft to accelerate and thereby rotate together with the input shaft;
- and
- (B) if the output shaft rotates faster than the input shaft, the overrunning clutch permits the input shaft and the output shaft to rotate relative to each other.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.