Live spindle wheel assembly with torque responsive drive engagement means
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a wheel assembly having a live spindle, said spindle having a central aperture and said spindle being mounted for rotation in a bore of a mounting member, a drive axle extending into said aperture in said spindle, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a substantially annular space between said drive axle and a surface defining said central aperture in said spindle;
a passive member within said annular space and in a radially spaced relationship from each said aperture defining surface and said axle and means for preventing said passive member from rotating; and
clutch means engaged with said passive member and said axle whereby when said axle is forced to rotate said clutch means is operated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle wheel assembly of the live spindle type is rendered driven or free wheeling by a torque responsive hub clutch. The hub clutch operates in response to the presence or absence of relative rotary motion between a driveable axle and a passive or stationary member in the wheel assembly.
11 Citations
13 Claims
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1. In a wheel assembly having a live spindle, said spindle having a central aperture and said spindle being mounted for rotation in a bore of a mounting member, a drive axle extending into said aperture in said spindle, wherein the improvement comprises:
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a substantially annular space between said drive axle and a surface defining said central aperture in said spindle; a passive member within said annular space and in a radially spaced relationship from each said aperture defining surface and said axle and means for preventing said passive member from rotating; and clutch means engaged with said passive member and said axle whereby when said axle is forced to rotate said clutch means is operated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a vehicle wheel assembly having a mounting member affixable to a portion of a vehicle, said mounting member having a bore, a live spindle mounted for rotation in said bore of said mounting member, said live spindle having a central aperture, the improvement comprising, in combination:
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spindle drive means affixed to said live spindle; assembly maintenance means in said central aperture of said live spindle, said assembly maintenance means having a central aperture; passive means fixedly engaged with said mounting member and extending axially through said central aperture in said assembly maintenance means, said passive means being radially inwardly spaced from said central aperture in said assembly maintenance means and said passive means having a central aperture; a drive axle extending through said central aperture in said passive means, said drive axle being radially inwardly spaced from said central aperture in said passive means; and torque responsive clutch means having a first actuating means non-rotatably engaged to said passive means and a second actuating means having a drive means drivingly engaged with said drive axle whereby when torque is applied to said drive axle said clutch means causes said means of said second actuating means to drivingly engage said spindle drive means for rendering said live spindle a driven live spindle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification