Shifting collar apparatus and method for reducing the force required for disengaging a fixed holding feature

A shifting collar apparatus, comprising:

• a clutch shaft comprising a first end portion, a center portion, and a second end portion, wherein a plurality of grooves are located in the center portion;
• a shifting collar having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, wherein the inner periphery has a plurality of grooves which are radially aligned with the clutch shaft center portion plurality of grooves and wherein the clutch shaft center portion extends through the shifting collar inner periphery;
• a cage member positioned between the clutch shaft center portion and the shifting collar inner periphery, the cage member comprising an inner portion, an outer portion, and a plurality of apertures extending from the inner portion to the outer portion;
• a plurality of spheres, wherein each of the plurality of spheres is disposed in an aperture of the cage member plurality of apertures and wherein each of the plurality of spheres contacts the clutch shaft center portion plurality of grooves and the shifting collar inner periphery plurality of grooves;
• and
• an axially biasing member positioned between the clutch shaft and the shifting collar, the axially biasing member contacting at least the cage member
• wherein the clutch shaft, the shifting collar, the cage member, and the biasing member are concentric.

A method for reducing the force required to disengage a shifting collar from a fixed holding feature, comprising:

• providing a shifting collar apparatus comprising a cage member, a clutch shaft, and a shifting collar, wherein the shifting collar is selectively engaged with a fixed holding feature of a vehicle;
• axially biasing the shifting collar apparatus cage member along the clutch shaft opposite the position of the fixed holding feature with a biasing member, wherein the biasing member is disposed within an inner periphery of the shifting collar;
• disengaging the shifting collar from the fixed holding feature to transmit torque through the shifting collar to the clutch shaft, wherein the clutch shaft extends through the shifting collar and has a plurality of axially extending grooves;
• and
• rolling a plurality of spheres within the clutch shaft grooves and within a plurality of grooves on the shifting collar inner periphery in a direction opposite the fixed holding feature, wherein the plurality of spheres are disposed within the cage member so that they do not contact each other.