US3916728A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inter-axle differential lock
Assignee: Eaton Corp
•
Filing: 1973-06-12
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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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
- 👤 Marcel N Behar
- 👤 Timothy J Morscheck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:35
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
171 words
An improved lock mechanism for a differential gear device of the type having an input member rotatively driven by an input shaft and two output members rotatively driven by said inpuT member, said lock mechanism comprising: A. a shaft journaled in one of said differential members; B. a mass of predetermined moment of inertia 1. mounted for rotation in said one differential gear member, and 2. journaled for rotation about an axis spaced from said journaled shaft; C. first drive means connecting said journaled shaft to said mass; D. second drive means connecting said journaled shaft to another of said differential gear members so that said shaft and mass are rotated in response to relative rotation between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member and a force is generated by said shaft and mass in response to relative acceleration between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member; and E. means responsive to said force to restrict differential rotation of said differential gear members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
An improved lock mechanism for a differential gear device of the type having an input member rotatively driven by an input shaft and two output members rotatively driven by said inpuT member, said lock mechanism comprising: A. a shaft journaled in one of said differential members; B. a mass of predetermined moment of inertia 1. mounted for rotation in said one differential gear member, and 2. journaled for rotation about an axis spaced from said journaled shaft; C. first drive means connecting said journaled shaft to said mass; D. second drive means connecting said journaled shaft to another of said differential gear members so that said shaft and mass are rotated in response to relative rotation between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member and a force is generated by said shaft and mass in response to relative acceleration between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member; and E. means responsive to said force to restrict differential rotation of said differential gear members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
journaled for rotation about an axis spaced from said journaled shaft; C. first drive means connecting said journaled shaft to said mass; D. second drive means connecting said journaled shaft to another of said differential gear members so that said shaft and mass are rotated in response to relative rotation between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member and a force is generated by said shaft and mass in response to relative acceleration between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member; and E. means responsive to said force to restrict differential rotation of said differential gear members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
journaled for rotation about an axis spaced from said journaled shaft; C. first drive means connecting said journaled shaft to said mass; D. second drive means connecting said journaled shaft to another of said differential gear members so that said shaft and mass are rotated in response to relative rotation between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member and a force is generated by said shaft and mass in response to relative acceleration between said one differential gear member and said other differential gear member; and E. means responsive to said force to restrict differential rotation of said differential gear members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein: F. said first drive means includes a torque limiting clutch interposed between said journaled shaft and said mass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
a pinion secured to said mass, thereby defining an amplifying gear ratio for rotating said journaled mass faster than said journaled shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
a pinion secured to said mass, thereby defining an amplifying gear ratio for rotating said journaled mass faster than said journaled shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
a drive gear secured to said journaled shaft and in mesh with said pinion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
a drive gear secured to said journaled shaft and in mesh with said pinion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
means preventing axial movement of one of said pair of annular members in one direction, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
means preventing axial movement of one of said pair of annular members in one direction, and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
8 words
means biasing said conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
8 words
means biasing said conical surfaces into frictional engagement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
7 words
a pinion secured to said shaft portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
7 words
a pinion secured to said shaft portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
8 words
a driven gear secured to said shaft portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
8 words
a driven gear secured to said shaft portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
end walls with axially aligned bores therein; I. said mass includes a simply supported shaft portion mounted for rotation in said axially aligned bores; and J. said drive means includes
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
end walls with axially aligned bores therein; I. said mass includes a simply supported shaft portion mounted for rotation in said axially aligned bores; and J. said drive means includes
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
8 words
a driven gear secured to said shaft portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
8 words
a driven gear secured to said shaft portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
a mass of predetermined moment of inertia mounted for rotation in said chamber,
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
a mass of predetermined moment of inertia mounted for rotation in said chamber,
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
73 words
having gear teeth formed on the exterior periphery thereof; E. means biasing said clutch member away from said one driven member; F. means operative in response to angular movement of said clutch member relative to said input shaft to move said clutch member along said input shaft to engage said clutch member with said one driven member, thereby clutching said input shaft to said one driven member; and G. an actuator assembly including
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
73 words
having gear teeth formed on the exterior periphery thereof; E. means biasing said clutch member away from said one driven member; F. means operative in response to angular movement of said clutch member relative to said input shaft to move said clutch member along said input shaft to engage said clutch member with said one driven member, thereby clutching said input shaft to said one driven member; and G. an actuator assembly including
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
a chamber spaced radially outward from the rotational axis of said one driven member; D. a substantially annular clutch member
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
a chamber spaced radially outward from the rotational axis of said one driven member; D. a substantially annular clutch member
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
10 words
drive means connecting said mass to said journaled shaft, and
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
10 words
drive means connecting said mass to said journaled shaft, and
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
means biasing the other of said pair of annular members toward said one annular member.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
means biasing the other of said pair of annular members toward said one annular member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein: F. said first drive means includes
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein: F. said one differential gear member includes a chamber for enclosing said mass.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
a pinion on said journaled shaft and in mesh with said clutch member gear teeth, whereby said journaled shaft and mass are rotated about their rotational axis in response to a predetermined rotational relationship between said input shaft and said one driven gear.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
a pinion on said journaled shaft and in mesh with said clutch member gear teeth, whereby said journaled shaft and mass are rotated about their rotational axis in response to a predetermined rotational relationship between said input shaft and said one driven gear.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
43 words
The lock mechanism of claim 4 wherein: G. said chamber includes an end wall having a bore therethrough; H. said mass includes a shaft portion fixed to said mass and extending through said end wall bore; and I. said first drive means includes
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The lock mechanism of claim 5 wherein: J. said first drive means includes a torque limiting means interposed between said journaled shaft and said mass.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The lock mechanism of claim 6 wherein: K. said torque limiting means is a torque limiting clutch interposed between said journaled shaft and said drive gear.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
A differential gear assembly comprising: A. an input shaft; B. an input member rotatively driven by said input shaft; C. two output gears rotatively driven by said input member, one of said driven gears being journaled on said input shaft and having
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
A differential gear assembly comprising: A. an input shaft; B. an input member rotatively driven by said input shaft; C. two output gears rotatively driven by said input member, one of said driven gears being journaled on said input shaft and having
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The differential gear assembly of claim 8 wherein: H. said chamber is spaced radially inward from said bore.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
41 words
The differential gear assembly of claim 8 wherein: H. said chamber defines an end wall having a bore therein; I. said mass includes a shaft portion fixed thereto and projecting through said end wall bore; and J. said drive means includes
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The differential gear assembly of claim 8 wherein: H. said chamber is a cylindrical chamber having
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The differential gear assembly of claim 11 wherein: K. said drive means includes torque limiting clutch.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The differential gear assembly of claim 11 wherein: K. said drive means includes
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
The differential gear assembly of claim 13 wherein: L. said drive means includes a torque limiting clutch which coacts with said drive gear to secure said drive gear to said journaled shaft.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
27 words
The differential gear assembly of claim 14 wherein: M. the inner periphery of said drive gear defines a frusto-conical surface; and N. said torque limiting clutch includes
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
32 words
The differential gear assembly of claim 14 wherein: M. the inner periphery of said drive gear defines a pair of radially outwardly diverging frusto-conical surfaces; and N. said torque limiting clutch includes
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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) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |