US 4,223,773 A · Drive engaging apparatus

Abstract

A clutch apparatus for a marine drive lower gear case includes a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in a gear case housing. A drive gear for both forward and reverse is positioned in the housing coaxial with the propeller shaft and a clutch member is rotatably fixed on the propeller shaft and movable axially into drive engagement with the drive gear. Clutch engaging elements are provided on opposed portions of the drive gears and the clutch member. Shift means utilizing a positive acting cam means positively move the clutch member into and out of engagement from the drive gears. The shift means also include a releasable latch means to positively maintain the shift means in the engaged position and a preloading means between the shift means and the clutch member to snap the clutch member into engagement.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A clutch apparatus comprising

(a) a housing
(b) an output shaft rotatably mounted in said housing,
(c) a drive member positioned in said housing coaxial with said output shaft,
(d) a clutch member rotatably fixed on said output shaft and moveable axially into drive engagement with said drive member and,
(e) shift means for positively moving the clutch member on said output shaft between a first position with said clutch member disengaged from said drive member and a second position with said clutch member engaged with said drive member, said shift means for positively moving the clutch member including control means directly connected to said clutch member and including:
(A) a rotatable control member movable axially of the output shaft and coupled to the clutch member to rotate with the clutch member;
(B) an engaging two-piece cam means having a first non-rotatable cam follower member movable between first and second control positions, means rotatably connecting said control member to said cam follower member and axially moving said control member in one direction to establish said first position and axially moving said control member in the opposite direction to establish said second position in response to the corresponding movement of the cam follower member, and a second cam member coupled to said first cam follower member for positioning said first cam follower member between said first and second control positions.

4 more elements

A clutch apparatus comprising

(a) a housing
(b) an output shaft rotatably mounted in said housing,
(c) a drive member positioned in said housing coaxial with said output shaft,
(d) a clutch member rotatably fixed on said output shaft and moveably axially into drive engagement with said drive member and,
(e) shift means for positively moving the clutch member on said output shaft between a first position with said clutch member disengaged from said drive member and a second position with said clutch member engaged with said drive member, said shift means for positively moving the clutch member including control means directly connected to said clutch member and including:
(A) a rotatable control member movable axially of the output shaft and coupled to the clutch member;
(B) an engaging cam means having a first non-rotatable cam follower member rotatably coupled to said control member for axially moving of said control member and a second cam member mounted for positioning said first cam member, wherein said drive member includes a pair of oppositely driven and spaced drive members, said clutch member being oppositely movable from a selected neutral position into engagement with either one of said drive members, and wherein one of said cam members is formed with a recess having a cam surface including similar ramps spaced axially of the shaft movement, the other of said cam members being mounted within said recess for relative rotation within the recess and including opposite end cam follower surfaces aligned with said cam ramps in a neutral cam position, said cam members being oppositely rotated to oppositely position said first cam member and move the control member to a clutch member engaging position in response to a fully rotated position.

4 more elements

A clutch apparatus comprising

(a) a housing
(b) an output shaft rotatably mounted in said housing,
(c) a drive member positioned in said housing coaxial with said output shaft,
(d) a clutch member rotatably fixed on said output shaft and moveably axially into drive engagement with said drive member,
(e) clutch engaging elements provided on opposed portions of said drive member and said clutch member,
(f) a control member mounted for reciprocal movement relative to said clutch member,
(g) a coupling member axially moveable on said control member,
(h) resilient means positioned between said control member and said coupling member to
(A) permit initial preloading of said coupling member in the direction of movement and
(B) permit said clutch engaging elements to slip in a rotational direction opposite to the drive direction, and
(i) releasable means between said clutch member and said output shaft to
(A) hold said clutch member to said output shaft and permit initial preloading of said coupling member in response to movement of said control member, and
(j) shift means attached to said control member to positively move said control member to preload said coupling member to overcome said releasable means;
and wherein said clutch member has two radial holes therethrough, said output shaft has two radial slots therethrough corresponding in axial alignment with said holes in said clutch member and an axial opening therethrough, and said control member having an axial opening therethrough in axial alignment with said holes and said slots, said coupling member comprises a cross pin member, said resilient means comprises two compression springs, said control member positioned in said axial opening in said shaft, said two springs positioned in said axial opening in said control member and said cross pin member extending through the slot in said control member between said two springs and through the slot in said output shaft and secured in said holes in said clutch member.

11 more elements

A clutch apparatus comprising

(a) a housing
(b) an output shaft rotatably mounted in said housing,
(c) a drive member positioned in said housing coaxial with said output shaft,
(d) a clutch member rotatably fixed on said output shaft and moveable axially into drive engagement with said drive means and,
(e) shift means for positively moving the clutch member on said output shaft between a first position with said clutch member disengaged from said drive member and a second position with said clutch member engaged with said drive member, said shaft means for positively moving the clutch member including control means directly connected to said clutch member and including:
(A) a rotatable control member movable axially of the output shaft and coupled to the clutch member;
(B) an engaging cam means having a first non-rotatable cam follower member rotatably coupled to said control member for axially moving of said control member and a second cam member mounted for positioning said first cam member,
(f) said shift means additionally includes preloading means for snapping said clutch member into engagement with said drive member, said preloading means including:
(A) a control rod having a radial slot therethrough and recess means to the opposite sides of said slot,
(B) a cross pin member passing through said radial slot,
(C) spring means positioned within said recess means to the opposite sides of said cross pin member and resiliently holding the cross pin member substantially centered within said slot, and
(D) releasable connecting means engaging between said clutch member and said output shaft whereby said spring means is stressed before movement of the clutch member to overcome said releasable connecting means and thereby cooperate to provide a snapping engagement of said clutch member and said drive member and said resilient means provides a slip between said drive member and said clutch member when said output shaft rotates at a speed greater than the speed of said drive means.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Drive engaging apparatus

Life of this patent

Drive engaging apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16