US3901092A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Four-wheel drive vehicle with drive transfer gear assembly
Assignee: Eaton Corp
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Filing: 1972-10-05
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1992-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A drive transfer gear assembly for a four-wheel drive truck tractor. The tractor includes a front drive steer axle assembly, a rear drive axle assembly containing the drive transfer gear assembly, and a prime mover drivingly connected to the front and rear drive mechanisms by the drive transfer gear assembly. The front axle assembly includes a rigid axle housing having end sections and a drop center section containing a differential gear set with output gears drivingly connected to wheels pivotally journaled at the outboard ends of the rigid axle housing. The rear axle assembly includes a differential gear set with output gears drivingly connected to the rear wheels, and a drive transfer gear assembly positioned forwardly of the differential gear set. The drive transfer gear assembly includes a torque proportioning planetary gear set, an angled tooth clutch for locking the planetary gear set in response to front wheel spinout, a manual clutch for preventing differentiation of the gears in the planetary gear set, and a torque limiting clutch for preventing overtorque to the front wheel drive mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Rowland C Romick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:54
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D7/00; F16D7/02; F16D7/024; F16D7/028; B; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/34; B60K17/344; B60K17/346; B60K17/3462; B60K17/3465; F16H; F16H3/00; F16H3/44; F16H3/62; F16H3/64
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A drive transfer gear assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: A. an input shaft; B. a torque proportioning planetary gear set comprising a planet gear driven by said input shaft, an output ring gear, and an output sun gear; C. first and second output shafts; D. first drive means connecting said ring gear to said first output shaft; and E. second drive means connecting said sun gear to said second output shaft, and including means for limiting the torque delivered to said second output shaft by said sun gear to a predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A drive transfer gear assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: A. an input shaft; B. a torque proportioning planetary gear set comprising a planet gear driven by said input shaft, an output ring gear, and an output sun gear; C. first and second output shafts; D. first drive means connecting said ring gear to said first output shaft; and E. second drive means connecting said sun gear to said second output shaft, and including means for limiting the torque delivered to said second output shaft by said sun gear to a predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
means preventing axial movement of said first annular member, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
means preventing axial movement of said first annular member, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A drive transfer gear assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: A. an input shaft; B. a torque proportioning gear means having an input gear driven by said input shaft and first and second relatively rotatable output gears driven by said input gear; C. first and second output shafts; D. first drive means connecting said first output shaft to said first output gear; E. second drive means connecting said second output shaft to said second output gear, and including
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A drive transfer gear assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: A. an input shaft; B. a torque proportioning gear means having an input gear driven by said input shaft and first and second relatively rotatable output gears driven by said input gear; C. first and second output shafts; D. first drive means connecting said first output shaft to said first output gear; E. second drive means connecting said second output shaft to said second output gear, and including
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
torque limiting means coacting with said driven gear and defining a torque limiting clutch drivingly connecting said driven gear to said second output shaft and limiting the torque delivered to said second output shaft by said second drive means to a predetermined level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
torque limiting means coacting with said driven gear and defining a torque limiting clutch drivingly connecting said driven gear to said second output shaft and limiting the torque delivered to said second output shaft by said second drive means to a predetermined level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
8 words
means biasing said frusto-conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
8 words
means biasing said frusto-conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
said first output gear is a ring gear concentric to said planet gear, and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
said first output gear is a ring gear concentric to said planet gear, and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
means preventing axial movement of said first annular member, and means biasing said second annular member toward first annular member, thereby biasing said conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
means preventing axial movement of said first annular member, and means biasing said second annular member toward first annular member, thereby biasing said conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
8 words
means biasing said conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
8 words
means biasing said conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
means preventing axial movement of said first annular member, and
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
10 words
means preventing axial movement of said first annular member, and
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
8 words
means biasing said conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
8 words
means biasing said conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
means biasing said second annular member toward said first annular member, thereby biasing said conical surface into frictional engagement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
means biasing said second annular member toward said first annular member, thereby biasing said conical surface into frictional engagement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
means biasing said second annular member toward said first annular member, thereby biasing said conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
means biasing said second annular member toward said first annular member, thereby biasing said conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
said second output gear is a sun gear coaxial to and journaled about said input shaft and having an annular end face adjacent said annular member; and I. said second annular set of angled teeth are secured on said annular end face of said sun gear.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
said second output gear is a sun gear coaxial to and journaled about said input shaft and having an annular end face adjacent said annular member; and I. said second annular set of angled teeth are secured on said annular end face of said sun gear.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The transfer gear assembly of claim 2, wherein: F. said driven gear is substantially annular and defines a frusto-conical surface on its inner periphery; and G. said limiting means includes
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The transfer gear assembly of claim 2, wherein: F. said driven gear is substantially annular and defines on its inner periphery a pair of radially outwardly diverging frusto-conical surfaces; and G. said limiting means includes
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
158 words
A drive transfer gear assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: A. an input shaft; B. torque proportioning gear means having an input gear driven by said input shaft, first and second output gears, and means drivingLy interconnecting said input gear to said output gears but allowing relative rotation between said output gears; C. first and second output shafts drivingly connected to said first and second output gears respectively; and D. clutch means including first and second annular sets of teeth relatively rotatable in response to relative rotation between said output gears, the teeth of said sets having coacting straight engaging faces operative in response to relative rotation of said output gears in one directional mode to lockingly engage said teeth sets to preclude such relative rotation and coacting angled faces operative in response to relative rotation of said output gears in the other directional mode to provide slippage between said teeth sets to allow such other relative rotation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
158 words
A drive transfer gear assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: A. an input shaft; B. torque proportioning gear means having an input gear driven by said input shaft, first and second output gears, and means drivingLy interconnecting said input gear to said output gears but allowing relative rotation between said output gears; C. first and second output shafts drivingly connected to said first and second output gears respectively; and D. clutch means including first and second annular sets of teeth relatively rotatable in response to relative rotation between said output gears, the teeth of said sets having coacting straight engaging faces operative in response to relative rotation of said output gears in one directional mode to lockingly engage said teeth sets to preclude such relative rotation and coacting angled faces operative in response to relative rotation of said output gears in the other directional mode to provide slippage between said teeth sets to allow such other relative rotation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The drive transfer gear assembly of claim 5, wherein: E. said first tooth set is mounted for rotation with said input shaft and said second tooth set is mounted for rotation with said second output gear.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The drive transfer gear assembly of claim 6, wherein said assembly further includes: F. lock means operative when actuated to preclude relative rotation of said output gears in said other directional mode.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
48 words
The drive transfer gear assembly of claim 6, wherein: F. said first tooth set is defined on an annular member drivingly secured to, but axially slideable relative to, said input shaft; and G. said assembly further includes biasing means urging said annular member toward said second tooth set.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The drive transfer assembly of claim 8, wherein: H. said torque proportioning gear set is a planetary gear set and
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
143 words
A drive transfer gear assembly for a vehicle of the type including a prime mover and first and second drive axles each drivingly connected to wheels on the outboard ends of the axles, said gear assembly comprising: A. an input shaft adapted to be driven by said prime mover; B. first and second output shafts adapted to be drivingly connected to said first and second drive axles, respectively; C. means operative in response to relative rotation between said output shafts in one directional mode to preclude such relative rotation; and D. means drivingly interconnecting said shafts and operative to apportion the torque received by said input shaft between said first and second output shafts and including means operative during operation of said rotation precluding means to limit the magnitude of the torque transmitted to one of said output shafts from said input shaft.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
143 words
A drive transfer gear assembly for a vehicle of the type including a prime mover and first and second drive axles each drivingly connected to wheels on the outboard ends of the axles, said gear assembly comprising: A. an input shaft adapted to be driven by said prime mover; B. first and second output shafts adapted to be drivingly connected to said first and second drive axles, respectively; C. means operative in response to relative rotation between said output shafts in one directional mode to preclude such relative rotation; and D. means drivingly interconnecting said shafts and operative to apportion the torque received by said input shaft between said first and second output shafts and including means operative during operation of said rotation precluding means to limit the magnitude of the torque transmitted to one of said output shafts from said input shaft.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
The gear assembly of claim 10, wherein said rotation precluding means includes: E. a first pair of clutch members having matable angle teeth; and F. means biasing said matable angle teeth into engagement.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
47 words
The gear assembly of claim 11, wherein said means drivingly interconnecting includes first and second output gears and wherein: G. one of said members is secured to rotate with said second output gear and the other of said members is secured to rotate with said input shaft.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The gear assembly of claim 12, wherein: H. said other member is slideably splined to said input shaft; and I. said biasing means resiliently urges said member toward said one member.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
44 words
The gear assembly of claim 13, wherein: J. said means drivingly interconnecting includes a driven gear coaxial to said second output shaft; and K. said torque limiting means coacts with said driven gear to drivingly connect said driven gear to said second output shaft.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The gear assEmbly of claim 14, wherein: L. the inner periphery of said driven gear defines a frusto-conical surface; and M. said limiting means includes
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
The gear assembly of claim 14, wherein: L. the inner periphery of said driven gear defines a pair of radially outwardly diverging frusto-conical surfaces; and M. said torque limiting means includes
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
44 words
The gear assembly of claim 10, wherein: E. said means drivingly interconnecting includes a driven gear coaxial to said second output shaft; and F. said torque limiting means coacts with said driven gear to drivingly connect said driven gear to said second output shaft.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The gear assembly of claim 17, wherein: G. the inner periphery of said driven gear defines a frusto-conical surface; and H. said limiting means includes
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
The gear assembly of claim 18, wherein: I. the inner periphery of said driven gear defines a pair of radially outwardly diverging frusto-conical surfaces; and J. said torque limiting means includes
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |