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US 5,394,967 AGranted
Connect/disconnect mechanism for a vehicle drive train
AssigneeWarn Industries, Inc.
InventorJon A. Bigley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hub locking mechanism for a wheeled vehicle is provided for selectively coupling and uncoupling driving and driven members. A clutch ring is in permanent engagement with one of the members and is axially moveable to engage the other member. Engagement of the clutch ring and the engageable member is enhanced by the provision of tandem rows of engaging formations on the clutch ring and the engageable member. The mechanism for affecting movement of the clutch ring has an improved one piece friction shoe for the moving cam and an improved cage enclosing the clutch ring and actuating spring.
Claims14
A connect/disconnect mechanism for a drive line of a vehicle comprising;
- a drive component and a driven component, both forming a part of a drive line of a vehicle, said drive component and said driven component rotatable around a common axis, splines provided on said drive component and said driven component,
- a clutch member between said drive component and driven component, first splines on said clutch member permanently engaged with the splines of one of said components, and having axial sliding movement relative thereto, and second splines on said clutch member engageable with the splines of the other of said components and having limited axial sliding movement relative thereto,
- said clutch member axially slidable between first and second positions and a shift member that selectively shifts said clutch member between said first and second positions,
- said second splines on said clutch member including at least two spline rows in tandem, spaces adjacent said spline rows being free of splines, and said splines on said other of said components including at least two spline rows in tandem and spaces adjacent said spline rows being free of splines, said second splines on said clutch member and said splines on said other of said components cooperatively arranged for inter-engagement of the two spline rows of the clutch member with the two spline rows of said other of said components with the clutch member in said first position to thereby connect the first and second components for cooperative mutual driving engagement of both spline rows of said clutch member with both spline rows of said other of said components, and said rows of splines being disengaged and located in the adjacent spaces with the clutch ring in said second position.
1 more element
A clutch mechanism for selectively locking a wheel hub and a drive axle of a vehicle for unity of rotation and unlocking said wheel hub and said drive axle for independent rotation comprising:
- a wheel hub;
- a drive axle received in said wheel hub;
- a clutch ring axially movable relative to said wheel hub and said axle, said clutch ring permanently coupled for unity of rotation with one of said wheel hub and said axle, said ring selectively coupled to other of said wheel hub and said axle to provide unity of rotation and uncoupled from other of said wheel hub and said axle to provide independent rotation by axial movement of said clutch ring;
- first multiple formations arranged axially in spaced relation formed on said ring;
- second multiple formations arranged axially in spaced relation formed on the other of said wheel hub and said axle and mateable to said first multiple formations;
- and
- said first multiple formations matingly engaged with said second multiple formations when said ring is moved axially to couple said ring to said other of said wheel hub and said axle for cooperative mutual driving engagement between all of said multiple formations of said ring and all of said multiple formations of said other of said wheel hub and said axle.
4 more elements
A clutch mechanism for selectively locking a wheel hub and a drive axle of a vehicle for unity of rotation and unlocking said wheel hub and said drive axle for independent rotation comprising:
- a wheel hub;
- a drive axle received in said wheel hub;
- a clutch ring axially movable relative to said wheel hub and said axle, said clutch ring permanently coupled for unity of rotation with one of said wheel hub and said axle, said ring selectively coupled to the other of said wheel hub and said axle to provide unity of rotation, and uncoupled from said other of said wheel hub and said axle to provide independent rotation by axial movement of said ring;
- first multiple formations arranged axially in tandem formed on said ring;
- second multiple formations arranged axially in tandem formed on other of said wheel hub and said axle and mateable to said first tandem formations;
- a shift mechanism connected to said clutch ring for moving said ring axially;
- and
- said multiple formations on said ring matingly engaged with said multiple formations on said other of said wheel hub and said axle when said ring is moved axially to couple said ring to said other of said wheel hub and said axle for cooperative mutual driving engagement between all of said multiple formations on said ring and all of said multiple formations on said other of said wheel hub and said axle.
5 more elements
A clutch mechanism for a four wheel drive vehicle comprising:
- a rotatable axle rotatively mounted to the vehicle;
- a rotatable hub surrounding said axle;
- a clutch ring moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the axle and hub for coupling said axle and hub in said first position and decoupling said axle and hub in said second position;
- an actuating mechanism for selectively positioning said clutch ring between said first and second positions, said actuating mechanism including a fixed cam actuator fixedly mounted to said vehicle, a resistively rotatable cam actuator, and a cam follower, said cam follower rotatively fixed to said rotatable axle whereby rotation of the axle and thereby rotation of the follower forces axial sliding of the follower to urge the clutch ring to the first position, and said rotatable cam actuator engaging said cam follower to urge and maintain a spacing between said follower and said fixed cam actuator;
- and
- a member fixedly mounted to said vehicle having a cylindrical outer bearing surface, said resistively rotatable cam actuator including an integral friction shoe that substantially surrounds the cylindrical surface and is closable against said cylindrical surface, and biasing means urging said friction shoe to close against and into frictional engagement with said bearing surface to resist rotation and thereby urge separation of the follower and fixed cam actuator, while permitting rotation when engaged by said follower to maintain said spacing between the follower and fixed cam.
3 more elements
A clutch mechanism for selectively locking a wheel hub and a drive axle of a vehicle for unity of rotation and unlocking said wheel hub and said drive axle for independent rotation comprising:
- a wheel hub;
- a drive axle received in said wheel hub;
- a clutch ring axially movable relative to said wheel hub and said axle, said clutch ring permanently coupled for unity of rotation with one of said wheel hub and said axle, said ring selectively coupled to the other of said wheel hub and said axle to provide unity of rotation, and uncoupled from said other of said wheel hub and said axle to provide independent rotation by axial movement of said ring;
- and
- a shift mechanism connected to said clutch ring for moving said clutch ring axially, said shift mechanism including a cage having a base and rails attached at one end to the base and extending from the base and terminating in opposed configured rail ends, said cage surrounding said clutch ring, a first spring between the base and clutch ring within said cage and urging the clutch ring away from the base and toward the configured rail ends, and a second spring outside the cage and acting against the configured rail ends, the configured rail ends configured to receive the second spring which urges movement of the cage and clutch ring in a first direction, and an actuator acting against the base to urge the cage and clutch ring in the opposite direction.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.