Walk-behind implement having wrap spring wheel clutches
AssigneeTecumseh Products Company
InventorC. Paul Cox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reversible implement including an engine, an axle driven by the engine, a pair of ground engaging wheels with a wheel located at each axle end, a pair of input hubs rotatably fixed to the axle, a pair of wheel hubs with a wheel hub located at each axle end and attached to a ground engaging wheel, and a wrap spring surrounding a portion of each input hub and each wheel hub. Each wrap spring has a relaxed state, wherein the wrap spring is in one of a first position in which the wrap spring is disengaged from the wheel hub, and the input and wheel hubs are not rotatively coupled and a second position in which the wrap spring is engaged with the wheel hub, and the input and wheel hubs are rotatively coupled, and a contracted state, wherein the wrap spring is in the other position.
Claims18
A reversible implement comprising:
- an engine;
- an axle driven by said engine;
- a pair of ground engaging wheels, one of said wheels being located at each end of said axle;
- a pair of input hubs, each said input hub being rotatably fixed to said axle;
- a pair of wheel hubs, one of said wheel hubs being located at each end of said axle and attached to one of said ground engaging wheels;
- and
- a wrap spring surrounding a portion of each said input hub and each said wheel hub, each said wrap spring having a relaxed state wherein said wrap is disengaged from said wheel hub and said input and wheel hubs are not rotatively coupled together, and a contracted state wherein said wrap spring is engaged with said wheel hub and said input and wheel hubs are rotatively coupled together.
An implement comprising:
- an engine;
- an axle driven by said engine, said axle having an input hub attached to each end thereof;
- a pair of ground engaging wheels, one of said wheels being located at each end of said axle, each said wheel having a wheel hub attached thereto;
- a wrap spring disposed around a portion of each said input hub and each said wheel hub, said wrap spring selectively engaging each said wheel hub when contracted;
- and
- a rotatable control collar surrounding each said wrap spring, said control collar having a non-rotating state wherein said wrap spring is disengaged from said wheel hub and a rotating state wherein said wrap spring is in engagement with said wheel hub.
A reversible implement comprising:
- an engine;
- an axle driven by said engine;
- a pair of ground engaging wheels, one of said wheels being located at each end of said axle;
- a pair of input hubs, each said input hub being rotatably fixed to said axle;
- a pair of wheel hubs, one of said wheel hubs being located at each end of said axle and attached to one of said ground engaging wheels;
- and
- a wrap spring surrounding a portion of each said input hub and each said wheel hub, each said wrap spring having a relaxed state wherein said wrap spring is disengaged from said wheel hub and said input and wheel hubs are not rotatively coupled together, and a contracted state wherein said wrap spring is engaged with said wheel hub and said input and wheel hubs are rotatively coupled together;
- and
- a rotatable control collar surrounding each said wrap spring, said control collar being movable between a non-rotating state wherein said wrap spring is in its said relaxed state and a rotating state wherein said wrap spring is urged into its said contracted state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.