US3577803A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable torque transmission
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-05-12
•
Granted: 1971-05-04
•
Expires: 1989-05-12
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for a four or six wheel drive motor vehicle which includes a variable ratio torque transmission assembly connected by drive shafts to front and rear axles. The variable ratio torque transmission assembly has a rotary input member which receives torque from the engine, and first and second rotary output members connected to the front and rear axles respectively. The output members are coupled together by a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism which includes means for selectively setting the ratio of the input torque that is transmitted to the two output members and thereby to the front and rear axles. This arrangement permits any desired ratio of torque transmission, such as one-third of the torque being transmitted to the front axle and two-thirds of the torque being transmitted to the rear axle. The assembly also includes a remote control means whereby the driver of the vehicle can lock the mechanism between the two output members so that full or maximum torque is transmitted to the front axle.
Inventors
- 👤 Otto Mueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:26
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/34; B60K17/348; B60K17/35; B60K17/3505; F; F16; F16D; F16D31/00; F16D31/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19023; Y10T74/19074; Y10T74/19079; Y10T74/19112; Y10T74/19116
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A torque transmitting assembly comprising a rotary input member, a pair of rotary output members, said input member being drivingly connected to one of said output members, a torque transmitting mechanism operatively coupled between the other of said output members and the connected input member and one output member, said torque transmitting mechanism including selector means for selectively proportioning the torque transmitted by said input member to said output members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A torque transmitting assembly comprising a rotary input member, a pair of rotary output members, said input member being drivingly connected to one of said output members, a torque transmitting mechanism operatively coupled between the other of said output members and the connected input member and one output member, said torque transmitting mechanism including selector means for selectively proportioning the torque transmitted by said input member to said output members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A torque transmitting assembly as is defined by claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes remotely controlled means for selectively locking the mechanism in a position wherein the torque is transmitted substantially equally to said output members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
A torque transmitting assembly as is defined by claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes a first rotary element connected to said input member for rotation therewith, a second rotary element connected to the other of said output members for rotation therewith, and hydraulic means having a normally closed circuit coupling said rotary elements together for corotation while said circuit is closed and permitting limited differential action of said rotary elements while said circuit is open, said selector means being responsive to the pressure of the fluid in said hydraulic means above a selected magnitude corresponding to the selected setting of the selector means to open said circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A torque transmitting assembly as is defined by claim 3, wherein said selector means includes a valve element in said circuit, a biasing element normally urging the valve element to a closed position for maintaining the circuit closed, and an adjustment element for selectively varying the magnitude of the pressure by which the biasing element urges the valve element closed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
156 words
A torque transmitting assembly comprising a stationary housing, a first rotary element journaled in said housing, a rotary input member extending into said housing connected for rotation with said first rotary element, a secondary rotary element coaxially disposed adjacent to said first rotary element, a first rotary output member extending into said housing connected for rotation with said second rotary element, a second rotary output member connected for rotation with said input member, hydraulic means normally coupling said rotary elements together and operable under predetermined hydraulic fluid pressure conditions to transmit a selected ratio of the input torque from the input member to said first rotary output member with the remainder of the torque being transmitted from the input member to said second rotary output member, and selector means for setting the predetermined hydraulic pressure conditions under which said hydraulic means will operate so as to set the ratio of torque transmitted to said output members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
156 words
A torque transmitting assembly comprising a stationary housing, a first rotary element journaled in said housing, a rotary input member extending into said housing connected for rotation with said first rotary element, a secondary rotary element coaxially disposed adjacent to said first rotary element, a first rotary output member extending into said housing connected for rotation with said second rotary element, a second rotary output member connected for rotation with said input member, hydraulic means normally coupling said rotary elements together and operable under predetermined hydraulic fluid pressure conditions to transmit a selected ratio of the input torque from the input member to said first rotary output member with the remainder of the torque being transmitted from the input member to said second rotary output member, and selector means for setting the predetermined hydraulic pressure conditions under which said hydraulic means will operate so as to set the ratio of torque transmitted to said output members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
159 words
A torque transmitting assembly as is defined by claim 5, wherein one of said rotary elements contains a plurality of radially opening pressure chambers facing the other rotary element, said other rotary element including radially directed rise and fall cam surfaces, and said hydraulic means includes pistons in said chambers in engagement with said cam surfaces and reciprocable in response to differential rotation of said elements, said pistons and their associated chambers being in a plurality of sets, passage means in fluid communication with the chambers of each set through which hydraulic fluid will flow from one set of chambers to another when said pistons reciprocate, and a normally closed spring loaded valve element in said passage means preventing fluid communication between said sets of chambers when closed and when open regulating the rate that fluid can flow between said sets of chambers, said selector means including an adjustment element for selectively setting the spring-loading of said valve element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A torque transmitting assembly as is defined by claim 6, wherein remote control means are operatively connected to said valve element and movable to a first position for holding the same in a closed position and to a second position wherein the valve element is released to its selectively set condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A torque transmitting assembly as is defined by claim 5, wherein said rotary input member and said first rotary element are connected by meshed gears.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A torque transmitting assembly as is defined by claim 8, wherein said gears include an external ring gear removably mounted on said first rotary element and an input gear removably mounted in mesh therewith so that the pair of removable gears can be changed with another set.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3495477A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-03 | 1974-11-02 | 1975-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-03 | 1978-11-02 | 1979-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-03 | 1982-11-02 | 1983-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |