US RE37,697 E1Granted

Self-energizing synchronizer with force limiting

AssigneeEaton Corporation

InventorsRichard A. Nellums, Eugene R. Braun

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Abstract

A pin-type, double-acting synchronizer mechanism (22) includes friction clutches (24,36 and 26,38), jaw clutches (28,14b,16b), self-energizing ramps, (13f,13g,13h,13i and 29e,29f,29g,29h), and springs (33) to limit the maximum self-energizing or additive force provided by the ramps. The ramps act between a shaft (12) and jaw clutch (28). A shift flange (32) is rotatably fixed to the jaw clutch (28) by splines which allow relative axial movement against the force of the springs (33). The jaw clutch (28) and the shaft (12) include mating splines (29,13) divided into spline portions (29a,29b,29c,29d and 13a,13b,13c,13d,13e) to define the ramps to control limited relative rotation between the jaw clutch (28) and shaft (12), and to provide surface area and structural strength for transmitting full torque to the shaft and gears.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A self-energizing synchronizer mechanism for a first gear secured against axial movement on a shaft having an axis about which the gear and shaft rotate relative to each other, the mechanism comprising:

first friction and jaw means respectively engagable with friction and jaw means affixed to the first gear for respectively synchronizing and positive connecting the first gear to the shaft in response to a shift force (Fo) axially directed toward the first gear moving a shift means toward the first gear;
means connecting the first jaw means for axial movement with the shift means;
first and second blocker means operative when engaged for preventing engagement of the jaw means prior to the synchronizing;
pre-energizing means for engaging the friction means in response to initial axial movement of the shift means by the shift force (Fo) from a neutral position toward the first gear for engaging the blocker means in response to engagement of the friction means producing an initial synchronizing torque (To) and for transmitting the shift force (Fo) to the first friction means via the blocker means to increase the engaging force of the friction means;
first self-energizing means including first and second ramp means engagable in response to synchronizing torque (To) in one direction for reacting the synchronizing torque between the friction means and the shaft and for producing an axial additive force (Fa) for further increasing the force engaging the first friction means;
characterized by:
resilient means engaged by the axial additive force (Fa) for limiting the axial additive force (Fa). ;
means for providing a force path for the shift force (Fo) to the first friction means independent of the resilient means.

5 more elements

A pin-type synchronizer mechanism for the first and second gears mounted for rotation and secured against movement on a shaft having an axis about which the gears and the shaft rotate, the mechanism comprising:

gear friction and jaw means affixed to each gear, the friction means engagable with first and second axially spaced apart and axially movable friction means for respectively synchronizing the first and second gears with the shaft, and the jaw means engagable with axially movable first and second jaw means connected for rotation with the shaft;
shift means for axially moving the axially movable friction and jaw means into said engagement in response to an axially bi-directional shift force (Fo) applied to the shift means, means connecting the first and second jaw means for axial movement with the shift means;
blocker means operative when engaged for preventing engagement of the jaw means prior to the synchronizing;
pre-energizer means for engaging either one of the first and second friction means in response to initial axial movement of the shift means by the shift force (Fo) from a neutral position toward one of the gears for engaging the blocker means in response to engagement of the friction means producing an initial synchronizing torque (To), and for transmitting the shift force (Fo) to the engaged friction means via the engaged blocker means to increase the engaging force of the engaged friction means;
first self-energizing means including first and second ramp means engagable in response to synchronizing torque in one direction for reacting the synchronizing torque between the shaft and friction means associated with first gear and for producing an axial additive force (Fa) for further increasing the force engaging the first friction means;
second self-energizing means including third and fourth ramp means engagable in response to synchronizing torque in the one direction for reacting the synchronizing torque between the shaft and the friction means associated with the second gear and for producing an axial additive force for further increasing the force engaging the second friction means;
characterized by:
resilient means for limiting the axial additive forces (Fa) increasing the force engaging the first and second friction means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.