Differential drive mechanism

Claim 2

A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, rotatable carrier means connected with said gear means, said carrier means being rotatable about a first axis during the transmission of drive forces between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, and actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition in response to a predetermined rate of relative rotation between the driving and driven members, said actuator means being rotatable with said carrier means about said first axis and including a rotatable first flyweight, dRive means for rotating said first flyweight about a second axis at a speed which varies as a function of variations in the speed of relative rotation between the driving and driven members, means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition upon outward movement of said first flyweight away from said second axis, and means for preventing outward movement of said first flyweight away from said second axis under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from rotation of said first flyweight about said first axis with said carrier means and for enabling said first flyweight to move outwardly away from said second axis under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from rotation of said first flyweight about said second axis.

Claim 3

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator means further includes a second flyweight, said means for preventing outward movement of said first flyweight including a portion of said second flyweight.

Claim 4

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 further including pivot means for supporting said first flyweight for pivotal movement about a third axis, said first flyweight including a first portion disposed on one side of said pivot means and a second portion disposed on another side of said pivot means, said means for preventing outward movement of said first flyweight including means for engaging said second portion of said first flyweight and preventing pivotal movement of said first flyweight about said third axis.

Claim 5

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said actuator means further includes stop means for engaging said first portion of said first flyweight upon outward movement of said first flyweight away from said second axis and for stopping rotation of said first flyweight about said second axis upon outward movement of said first flyweight.

Claim 6

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first flyweight includes first surface means for engaging said stop means upon outward movement of said first flyweight during rotation of said first flyweight in one direction about said second axis and second surface means for engaging said stop means upon outward movement of said first flyweight during rotation of said first flyweight about said second axis in a direction opposite to said one direction.

Claim 7

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein said actuator means includes means for effecting operation of said main clutch means to the engaged condition in response to a stopping of rotation of said first flyweight about said second axis.

Claim 8

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 3 further including means for engaging said first portion of said first flyweight and limiting the extent of outward movement of said first flyweight under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from rotation of said first flyweight about said second axis.

Claim 9

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes a rotatable second flyweight, said drive means being effective to rotate said second flyweight about said second axis at a speed which varies as a function of variations in the speed of relative rotation between the driving and driven members, said means for preventing outward movement of said first flyweight comprising a portion of said second flyweight which is engaged by said first flyweight, and means for preventing outward movement of said second flyweight away from said second axis under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from rotation of said second flyweight about said first axis with said carrier means, said means for preventing outward movement of said second flyweight comprising a portion of said first flyweight which is engaged by said second flyweight.

Claim 10

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 8 further including biasing means for applying a biasing force to said first and second flyweights to yieldingly restrain said first and second flyweights against outward movement, said biasIng means including an annular spring which circumscribes said first and second flyweights.

Claim 11

A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, and actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said actuator means including first and second flyweights, means for supporting said first and second flyweights for outward movement from a retracted condition to an extended condition under the influence of centrifugal force, and means for preventing outward movement of one of said flyweights under the influence of a centrifugal force which tends to move only said one of said flyweights outwardly and for enabling both of said flyweights to move simultaneously outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force which tends to move both of said flyweights outwardly.

Claim 12

A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, and actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said actuator means including first and second flyweights, means for supporting said first and second flyweights for outward movement from a retracted condition to an extended condition under the influence of centrifugal force, and means for preventing outward movement of one of said flyweights under the influence of a centrifugal force which tends to move only said one of said flyweights outwardly and for enabling both of said flyweights to move simultaneously outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force which tends to move both of said flyweights outwardly.

Claim 13

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for preventing outward movement of one of said flyweights includes first surface means disposed on said first flyweight for engaging said second flyweight and retaining said second flyweight against outward movement under the influence of a centrifugal force which tends to move said second flyweight outwardly and said first flyweight inwardly, and second surface means disposed on said second flyweight for engaging said first flyweight and retaining said first flyweight against outward movement under the influence of a centrifugal force which tends to move said first flyweight outwardly and said second flyweight inwardly.

Claim 14

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for supporting said first and second flyweights includes first pivot means for supporting said first flyweight for pivotal movement between the retracted and extended conditions and second pivot means for supporting said second flyweight for pivotal movement between the retracted and extended conditions, said first flyweight including a first end portion extending in one direction from said first pivot means and a second end portion extending in another direction from said first pivot means, said first flyweight having a configuration such that its center of gravity is disposed in said first end portion, said first surface means being disposed on said second end portion of said first flyweight, said second flyweight including a third end portion extending in one direction from said second pivot means and a fourth end portion extending in another direction from said second pivot means, said second flyweight having a configuration such that its center of gravity is disposed in said third end portion, said second surface means being disposed on said fourth end portion of said second flyweight.

Claim 15

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first surface means is engagable with said third end portion of said second flyweight to prevent outward movement of said second flyweight from the retracted condition to the extending condition, said second surface means being engagable with said first end portion of said first flyweight to prevent outward movement of said first flyweight from the retracted condition to the extended condition.

Claim 16

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 10 further including spring means circumscribing said first and second flyweights for urging said first and second flyweights toward the retracted condition.

Claim 17

A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, rotatable carrier means connected with said gear means, said carrier means being rotatable about a first axis during the transmission of drive forces between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, and actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition in response to a predetermined rate of relative rotation between the driving and driven members, said actuator means being rotatable with said carrier means about said first axis and including a first and second rotatable flyweights, drive means for rotating said first and second flyweights about a second axis at a speed which varies as a function of variations in the speed of relative rotation between the driving and driven members, means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition upon outward movement of at least one of said flyweights from said second axis, first means connected with said first flyweight for preventing outward movement of said second flyweight under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from rotation of said second flyweight about said first axis, and second means connected with said second flyweight for preventing outward movement of said first flyweight under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from rotation of said first flyweight about said first axis.

Claim 18

A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, rotatable carrier means connected with said gear means, said carrier means being rotatable about a first axis during the transmission of drive forces between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, and actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition in response to a predetermined rate of relative rotation between the driving and driven members, said actuator means being rotatable with said carrier means about said first axis and including a first and second rotatable flyweights, drive means for rotating said first and second flyweights about a second axis at a speed which varies as a function of variations in the speed of relative rotation between the driving and driven members, means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition upon outward movement of at least one of said flyweights from said second axis, first means connected with said first flyweight for preventing outward movement of said second flyweight under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from rotation of said second flyweight about said first axis, and second means connected with said second flyweight for preventing outward movement of said first flyweight under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from rotation of said first flyweight about said first axis.

Claim 19

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first means includes first surface means disposed on said first flyweight for engaging said second flyweight and retaining said second flyweight against outward movement, said second means including second surface means disposed on said second flyweight for engaging said first flyweight and retaining said first flyweight against outward movement.

Claim 20

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first and second means are ineffective to prevent simultaneous outward movement of said first and second flyweights under the influence of centrifugal force resulting from rotation of said first and second flyweights about said second axis.

Claim 21

A drive means as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for effecting operation of said clutch means includes a stop member, said first and second flyweights each including a first stop surface for engaging said stop member upon outward movement of said flyweights during rotation of said flyweights in a first direction about said second axis and a second stop surface for engaging said stop member upon outward movement of said flyweights during rotation of said flyweights in a second direction about said second axis.

Claim 22

A drive means as set forth in claim 15 further including spring means circumscribing said first and second flyweights for applying a biasing force to said first and second flyweights tending to retard outward movement of said first and second flyweights.