CAM AND SPRING OPERATED POSITIVE CLUTCH

• US 3,753,479 A
• Filed: 01/17/1972
• Issued: 08/21/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard D Williams
• Original Assignee: Richard D Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wyche, Benjamin W.
• Application Number:
  US05/218,191
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 192/89R,89A,67R,95
• US Class Current: 192/69.43
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 11/14 with clutching members movable only axially F16D11/02, F16D11/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/10 Selectively engageable hub to shaft connection

Abstract

A wheel hub clutching mechanism has a dial which, when turned to a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'lock'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position moves an actuator cam to permit primary springs to move the clutch into mesh with the shaft driven pinion. When the dial is moved to a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'free'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position it moves the actuator cam to permit secondary springs to move the clutch out of mesh with the pinion.

Claims

1. In a wheel hub clutching mechanism, a body having internal splining, a pinion having external splining, a clutch ring continuously splined to the body and axially movable between a disengaged position free of the pinion and an engaged position meshing with the external splining, strong spring means, follower means splined to the body and interposed between said strong spring means and said clutch ring, said strong spring means being a predetermined strength urging the follower washer toward the clutch ring and urging the clutch ring toward its engaged position, weak spring means weaker than said predetermined strength urging the clutch ring toward its disengaged position and being isolated from the cam means recited below, and manually operable cam means movable in one direction to retract the follower means positively to a position permitting movement of the clutch ring to its disengaged position and movable in the opposite direction to permit the follower means to move the clutch ring to its engaged position.

2. The wheel hub clutching mechanism of claim 1 wherein the cam means includes a drum cam.

3. The wheel hub clutching mechanism of claim 2 wherein the cam means includes a dial and the cam is cupped and has an end portion secured to the dial and rotatable therewith.

4. The wheel hub clutching mechanism of claim 3 wherein the cam and the dial abut opposite faces of and are rotatable relative to an internal annular flange in the body.

5. The wheel hub clutching mechanism of claim 2 wherein the drum cam has end notches and the follower means comprises a washer having follower tabs adapted to pass through the end notches in the drum cam.

6. The wheel hub clutching mechanism of claim 1 wherein there is a pilot member interposed between said body and said pinion, said weak spring means comprising a compression spring interposed between said pilot member and clutch ring.

7. The wheel hub clutching mechanism of claim 6 including a split ring retainer securing a bushing portion of the pilot member on the pinion.

8. The wheel hub clutching mechanism of claim 2 wherein the follower means comprises a washer fitting closely, rotatably and slidably on the drum cam.

9. In a wheel hub clutching mechanism, a body having internal splining, a pinion, clutch means in the body and splined thereto by the internal splining, and movable from an outer position in which it is disengaged from said pinion to an inner position in which it is engaged with said pinion, and manually operable means having an outer position and an inner position, springs means stressed when the clutch means and manually operable means are in their outer positions so as to normally urge the clutch means toward engagement with the pinion and to a condition stressed when the clutch means and manually operable means are in their inner positions to urge the clutch means toward disengagement from the pinion, said manually operable means in its outer position preventing movement of said clutch ring to its engaged position under the influence of said spring means, and when in its inner position permitting the spring means to urge the clutch means toward engagement with the pinion, and to facilitate stressing said spring means so as to urge disengagement of said clutch means when said clutch means is in its engaged position.