US3645153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Differential drive mechanism for vehicles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-04-07
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1990-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A differential gear drive mechanism for a vehicle employing an input drive shaft and a differential pinion shaft journaled for rotation about spaced parallel axes within a differential housing and meshing gears mounted on each shaft for connecting the two. The gear may quickly be replaced to change the drive ratio of the mechanism by removing a cover plate over an access opening in the housing adjacent one end of the two shafts. A selectively operable coupling device is provided to connect and disconnect one of the shafts from the gear train, and parallel gear trains may be employed between the two shafts with the coupling device being operable to connect one or the other gear trains alternatively to the associated shaft to permit the drive ratio to be changed without opening the differential housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray V Northcraft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:08
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H57/00; F16H57/02; F16H57/031; F16H37/00; F16H37/02; F16H37/06; F16H37/08; F16H57/037; F16H48/00; F16H48/38; F16H48/42; F16H2048/423; F16H2048/426; F16H2057/02039; F16H2057/02043; F16H57/023; F16H2057/0235; F16H2702/00; F16H2702/02; F16H2702/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19219; Y10T74/19377; Y10T74/19414; Y10T74/19419; Y10T74/19442; Y10T74/19451; Y10T74/19456
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A differential drive gear mechanism for a vehicle comprising rising a housing, an access opening in one wall of said housing, a removable cover plate mounted on said housing and sealing said access opening, an input shaft extending into said housing through an opening in another wall thereof, a pinion shaft within said housing, bearing means in said housing journaling said input shaft and said pinion shaft for rotation about spaced parallel axes, first and second drive gears, means mounting said drive gears on said input shaft, first and second driven gears, means mounting said driven gears on said pinion shaft with said first driven gear meshing with first drive gear and said second driven gear meshing with said second drive gear, said gears mounted on one of said shafts being mounted for free rotation thereon and said gears mounted on the other of said shafts being connected thereto for rotation therewith, and coupling means operable to selectively couple one or the other of said gears on said one shaft to said one shaft for rotation therewith, said gears each being removable from said housing through said access opening upon removal of said cover plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A differential drive gear mechanism for a vehicle comprising rising a housing, an access opening in one wall of said housing, a removable cover plate mounted on said housing and sealing said access opening, an input shaft extending into said housing through an opening in another wall thereof, a pinion shaft within said housing, bearing means in said housing journaling said input shaft and said pinion shaft for rotation about spaced parallel axes, first and second drive gears, means mounting said drive gears on said input shaft, first and second driven gears, means mounting said driven gears on said pinion shaft with said first driven gear meshing with first drive gear and said second driven gear meshing with said second drive gear, said gears mounted on one of said shafts being mounted for free rotation thereon and said gears mounted on the other of said shafts being connected thereto for rotation therewith, and coupling means operable to selectively couple one or the other of said gears on said one shaft to said one shaft for rotation therewith, said gears each being removable from said housing through said access opening upon removal of said cover plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The differential drive gear mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a coupling member mounted on said one of said shafts for rotation therewith and for axial movement therealong to alternatively couple said one of said shafts to one or the other of the gears mounted thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The differential drive gear mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a coupling member mounted on said one of said shafts for rotation therewith and for axial movement therealong to alternatively couple said one of said shafts to one or the other of the gears mounted thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The differential drive mechanism defined in claim 2 wherein said coupling means further comprises actuator means operably connected to said coupling member and movable between first and second coupling positions to alternatively couple said one of said shafts to one or the other of said gears mounted thereon and an uncoupled position in which said one of said shaft is uncoupled from both of said gears mounted thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The differential drive mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said drive gears are fixed on said input shaft for rotation therewith and said driven gears are mounted for free rotation on said pinion shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The differential drive mechanism defined in claim 4 wherein said drive gears are mounted on said input shaft in axially spaced relation to one another and said driven gears are mounted on said pinion shaft in axially spaced relation to one another, and wherein said coupling means includes a coupling member and means mounting said coupling member on said pinion shaft intermediate said driven gears for rotation with said pinion shaft and for axial movement therealong.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
The differential drive gear mechanism defined in claim 5 wherein said coupling means comprises a yolk engaging said coupling member, actuator means operatively connected to said yolk for moving said coupling member axially along said pinion shaft, and detent means for releasably retaining said actuator in a first coupling position in which said coupling member is engaged with said first driven gear, a second coupling position in which said coupling member is engaged with said second driven gear, and an uncoupled position in which said coupling member is disengaged from both said first and said second driven gears.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The differential drive gear mechanism defined in claim 6 wherein said coupling member comprises a crown gear having an annular row of crown gear teeth formed on both radial faces thereof and wherein said first and said second driven gears each have an annular row of crown gear teeth thereon in position to engage one row of gear teeth on said crown gear.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The differential drive gear mechanism defined in claim 6 wherein said bearing means comprises antifriction bearings supporting an end of said input and said pinion shafts adjacent said access opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The differential drive gear mechanism defined in claim 8 wherein said antifriction bearings are supported on said cover plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
The differential drive gear mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said means mounting said driven gears on said pinion shaft comprises a first elongated sleeve member splined on said pinion shaft for rotation therewith, said sleeve having an enlarged central portion having external splines formed thereon, an internally splined crown gear mounted on said central portion for rotation therewith and for axial movement therealong, said crown gear having an annular row of crown gear teeth formed on opposed radial faces of said driven gears, said driven gears being mounted for free rotation on opposed ends of said sleeve adjacent said central portion, and means for axially moving said crown gear axially along said enlarged portion to drivingly engage said driven gears alternatively, said sleeve being removable from said pinion shaft through said access opening to simultaneously remove both said driven gears from said pinion shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
97 words
The differential drive gear mechanism defined in claim 10 wherein said means mounting said driven gears on said input shaft comprises a second elongated sleeve member similar to said first sleeve member and splined on said input shaft for rotation therewith, an annular row of crown gear teeth formed on each of said driven gears, and a second crown gear member mounted on the central portion of said second sleeve, and second crown gear member engaging the crown gear teeth of both said driven gears to continuously lock said driven gears against rotation relative to said sleeve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The differential drive gear mechanism defined in claim 11 wherein said drive gears and said driven gears are interchangeable whereby a drive gear may be installed on said pinion shaft as a driven gear, and a driven gear may be installed on said input shaft as a drive gear.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
The differential drive gear mechanism defined in claim 12 wherein said coupling means comprises a yolk engaging said coupling member, actuator means operatively connected to said yolk for moving said coupling member axially along said pinion shaft, and detent means for releasably retaining said actuator in a first coupling position in which said coupling member is engaged with said first driven gear, a second coupling position in which said coupling member is engaged with said second driven gear, and an uncoupled position in which said coupling member is disengaged from both said first and said second driven gears.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |