US3915032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inter-axle differential lock
Assignee: Eaton Corp
•
Filing: 1973-06-12
•
Granted: 1975-10-28
•
Expires: 1993-06-12
Abstract
Abstract An inter-axle differential lock for a tandem drive axle vehicle. The differential is of the side gear type having an input shaft splined to a spider assembly which drives the side gear pinions or planet gears, a first output side gear or driven gear which is journaled on the input shaft, and a second output side gear or driven gear which is axially aligned with the input shaft. The input shaft also carries a positive clutch which locks the first output gear to the input shaft when an acceleration responsive clutch actuator senses a relative acceleration, above a predetermined level, between the input shaft and the first output gear. The clutch actuator is carried by the first output gear and has a drive shaft which drives a flywheel assembly. The actuator drive shaft has a pinion at one end which is in mesh with gear teeth formed on the outer periphery of one of the members of the positive clutch.
Inventors
- 👤 William C Ottemann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:28
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H48/00; F16H48/20; F16H48/22; F16H48/06; F16H48/08; F16H48/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An improved lock mechanism for a differential gear assembly of the type having an input member and two output members driven by said input member, said lock mechanism comprising: A. clutch means having 1. a first position allowing differential rotation of said driving and driven members, and 2. a second position restricting differential rotation of said driving and driven members, and B. actuator means including a mass accelerated in response to relative acceleration between any two of said members of said differential and said mass and acceleration produce a force proportional to said acceleration for moving said clutch to said second position with said proportional force when said proportional force exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An improved lock mechanism for a differential gear assembly of the type having an input member and two output members driven by said input member, said lock mechanism comprising: A. clutch means having 1. a first position allowing differential rotation of said driving and driven members, and 2. a second position restricting differential rotation of said driving and driven members, and B. actuator means including a mass accelerated in response to relative acceleration between any two of said members of said differential and said mass and acceleration produce a force proportional to said acceleration for moving said clutch to said second position with said proportional force when said proportional force exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
having gear teeth formed on the exterior periphery thereof, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
having gear teeth formed on the exterior periphery thereof, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
a mass of predetermined moment of inertia connected to said journaled shaft, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
a mass of predetermined moment of inertia connected to said journaled shaft, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
a first substantially annular member a. fixed to and concentric to another portion of said input shaft, and b. defining cam means on an end face confronting said first clutching means,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
a first substantially annular member a. fixed to and concentric to another portion of said input shaft, and b. defining cam means on an end face confronting said first clutching means,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
a pinion on said shaft in mesh with said set of gear teeth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
a pinion on said shaft in mesh with said set of gear teeth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
a mass of predetermined moment of inertia connected to said shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
a mass of predetermined moment of inertia connected to said shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
second clutching means on said end face and axially aligned with said first clutching means, and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
second clutching means on said end face and axially aligned with said first clutching means, and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
a bore in said annular portion having an axis substantially parallel to and displaced from the central axis of said annular portion; H. said actuator means is journaled in said bore; and I. said clutch means includes
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
a bore in said annular portion having an axis substantially parallel to and displaced from the central axis of said annular portion; H. said actuator means is journaled in said bore; and I. said clutch means includes
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein: D. said actuator means further includes means for limiting said force produced by said relative acceleration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
a second position restricting differential rotation of said driving and driven members, and B. actuator means including a mass accelerated in response to relative acceleration between any two of said members of said differential and said mass and acceleration produce a force proportional to said acceleration for moving said clutch to said second position with said proportional force when said proportional force exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
a second position restricting differential rotation of said driving and driven members, and B. actuator means including a mass accelerated in response to relative acceleration between any two of said members of said differential and said mass and acceleration produce a force proportional to said acceleration for moving said clutch to said second position with said proportional force when said proportional force exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
71 words
a pinion on one end of said journaled shaft and in mesh with said clutch member gear teeth, whereby said journaled shaft is rotated about its axis in response to a predetermined rotational relationship between said input shaft and said one driven gear to apply a retarding force to said clutch member to move said clutch member angularly relative to said input shaft and cam the clutch member into clutching engagement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
71 words
a pinion on one end of said journaled shaft and in mesh with said clutch member gear teeth, whereby said journaled shaft is rotated about its axis in response to a predetermined rotational relationship between said input shaft and said one driven gear to apply a retarding force to said clutch member to move said clutch member angularly relative to said input shaft and cam the clutch member into clutching engagement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
resilient means biasing said annular member axially away from said end face and tending to prevent angular rotation of said annular member relative to said input shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
resilient means biasing said annular member axially away from said end face and tending to prevent angular rotation of said annular member relative to said input shaft.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein: D. said mass is a rotatable mass carried by one of said members; and E. said lock mechanism includes means to drive said mass in response to relative rotation between said one member and another of said members.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
132 words
a second substantially annular member a. concentric to said input shaft and interposed between said first clutching means and said first annular member cam means, b. defining cam means on an end face adjacent to and coacting with said first annular member cam means, c. defining clutching means on the other end face, d. defining gear teeth on the outer circumference, and e. means allowing axial and limited angular movement of said second annular member relative to said input shaft, and f. means resiliently biasing said second annular member cam means into coaction with said first annular member cam means; G. said shaft is journaled in said annular portion; and H. said drive means includes a pinion on said shaft and in mesh with said gear teeth on said second annular member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
132 words
a second substantially annular member a. concentric to said input shaft and interposed between said first clutching means and said first annular member cam means, b. defining cam means on an end face adjacent to and coacting with said first annular member cam means, c. defining clutching means on the other end face, d. defining gear teeth on the outer circumference, and e. means allowing axial and limited angular movement of said second annular member relative to said input shaft, and f. means resiliently biasing said second annular member cam means into coaction with said first annular member cam means; G. said shaft is journaled in said annular portion; and H. said drive means includes a pinion on said shaft and in mesh with said gear teeth on said second annular member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
91 words
defining annular first clutching means on the annular end face thereof confronting the annular end face of said one driven gear; E. second annular clutching means on the annular end face of said one driven gear; F. means biasing said clutch member away from said one driven gear; G. cam means operative in response to angular movement of said clutch member relative to said input shaft to move said clutch member axially along said input shaft for engagement of said first and second clutching means; and H. an actuator assembly including
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
91 words
defining annular first clutching means on the annular end face thereof confronting the annular end face of said one driven gear; E. second annular clutching means on the annular end face of said one driven gear; F. means biasing said clutch member away from said one driven gear; G. cam means operative in response to angular movement of said clutch member relative to said input shaft to move said clutch member axially along said input shaft for engagement of said first and second clutching means; and H. an actuator assembly including
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein: D. said mass is carried by one of said driven members and is rotatively driven in response to relative rotation between said one driven member and said driving member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The lock mechanism of claim 3 wherein: F. said clutch includes gear means drivingly connecting said actuator means to said driving member.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The lock mechanism of claim 3 wherein: G. said mass is carried by one of said driven members; and H. said clutch includes gear means drivingly connecting said actuator means to said input member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The lock mechanism of claim 3 wherein: F. said input member includes an input shaft; G. said one driven member is journaled on said input shaft and includes
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The lock mechanism of claim 7 wherein: J. said actuator means includes means for limiting said force produced by said relative acceleration.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The lock mechanism of claim 7 wherein: J. said actuator means includes a shaft journaled in said bore and having
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The lock mechanism of claim 9 wherein: K. said actuator means includes a torque limiting clutch connecting said mass to said shaft.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
141 words
An improved lock mechanism for a differential gear assembly of the type having an input member driven by an input shaft and two output members driven by said input member, said lock mechanism comprising: A. a shaft journaled in one of said differential gear members; B. a mass of predetermined moment of inertia connected to said shaft; C. drive means connecting said journaled shaft to another of said differential gear members so that said shaft is rotated in response to relative rotation between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member and a force is generated at the point of driving connection of said shaft in response to relative acceleration between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member; and D. means responsive to said force to restrict differential rotation of said differential gear members.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
141 words
An improved lock mechanism for a differential gear assembly of the type having an input member driven by an input shaft and two output members driven by said input member, said lock mechanism comprising: A. a shaft journaled in one of said differential gear members; B. a mass of predetermined moment of inertia connected to said shaft; C. drive means connecting said journaled shaft to another of said differential gear members so that said shaft is rotated in response to relative rotation between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member and a force is generated at the point of driving connection of said shaft in response to relative acceleration between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member; and D. means responsive to said force to restrict differential rotation of said differential gear members.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The lock mechanism of claim 11 wherein: E. a torque limiting clutch drivingly connects said mass to said journaled shaft.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
The lock mechanism of claim 12 wherein: F. said responsive means includes a clutch having a substantially annular member driven by said input shaft; and G. said drive means includeS
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
The lock mechanism of claim 11 wherein: E. one of said driven members includes an annular portion concentric to a portion of said input shaft; F. said clutch means includes
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
The lock mechanism of claim 14 wherein: I. said first and second clutching means are clutch teeth which when engaged provide a positive clutch.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The lock mechanism of claim 15 wherein: J. a torque limiting clutch drivingly connects said mass to said shaft.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
49 words
A differential gear assembly comprising: A. an input gear; B. an input shaft driving said input member; C. two output gears driven by said input member, one of said driven gears being journaled on said input shaft and defining an annular end face; D. a substantially annular clutch member
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
49 words
A differential gear assembly comprising: A. an input gear; B. an input shaft driving said input member; C. two output gears driven by said input member, one of said driven gears being journaled on said input shaft and defining an annular end face; D. a substantially annular clutch member
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
29 words
The differential of claim 17 wherein: I. said pinion and clutch member gear teeth define an amplifying gear ratio for rotating said journaled shaft faster than said input shaft.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The differential of claim 18 wherein: J. said actuator assembly includes a torque limiting clutch for connecting said mass to said journaled shaft.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
34 words
The differential of claim 18 wherein: J. said first and second clutching meAns have mating clutch teeth which cooperate to define a positive clutch for locking said one driven gear to said input shaft.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
52 words
The differential of claim 18 wherein: J. said first and second clutching means have mating clutch teeth which cooperate to define a positive clutch for locking said one drive member to said input shaft; and K. said actuator assembly includes a torque limiting clutch for connecting said mass to said journaled shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2431272A
Cited
US2884808A
Cited
US3089349A
Cited
US3265173A
Cited
US3437186A
Cited
US3396609A
Cited
US3452619A
Cited
US3489038A
Cited
US3584713A
Cited
US3606803A
Cited
US3762241A
Cited
US3845672A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |