Selective drive hub clutch

Claim 1

A clutch assembly for effecting a driving connection between a freely rotatable vehicle wheel and a concentric drive shaft having a splined end, a hub member having an axial passage therethrough of frustoconical configurations, means for attaching said hub member to the vehicle wheel, an internal member of frustoconical configuration complementary to that of said axial passage, said internal member having an axial bore therethrough a configuration to fit the splined shaft for axial sliding movement and being axially movable into engagement with the walls of said axial passage of said hub member, a bearing assembly having inner and outer bearing races and bearings engaging said races and being rotatable therebetween, means for mounting said bearing assembly at one end of said internal member concentric with the axis thereof, said inner race having a concentric cylindrical passage therethrough, readily detachable means for locking said bearing assembly in said mounting means, a closure cap threaded on said hub member on the end thereof adjacent said bearing assembly, a central stub shaft in said cap extending inwardly and through the opening in said inner race whereby said bearing provides an outer bearing for the concentric drive shaft when said members are disengaged, a readily detachable locking element for preventing withdrAwal of said stub shaft from said inner race whereby axial movement of said cap on turning thereof moves said internal member axially with respect to said hub member between an engaged position and a disengaged position of said members.