Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
In a clutch mechanism of the type comprising: an input shaft having first and second oppositely threaded driving spiral threads thereon, an output shaft, forward and reverse driving gears rotatably mounted on said input shaft, each of said gears having a clutch surface, an output gear affixed to said output shaft and engaged with said driving gears, and first and second clutch elements each having threads which respectively match said first and second driving spiral threads, each having a clutch surface respectively mating with the clutch surface of said forward and reverse driving gears, an improved shifting mechanism comprising: a dynamic shift ring movable axially by a shift linkage, said input shaft passing axially through said ring, said ring being disposed between said first and second clutch elements, a static shifting element carried axially by said ring into engagement with the inner radial surface of a clutch element, and a spring between said ring and said static shift element, axial movement of said ring initially bringing said static shift element into contact with a clutch element, further axial movement of said ring bringing it into contact with an outer radial surface of a clutch element to slow the rotation of said element on said input shaft whereby the spiral threads drive said element in the axial direction into clutch engagement or disengagement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a clutch mechanism of the type comprising: an input shaft having first and second oppositely threaded driving spiral threads thereon, an output shaft, forward and reverse driving gears rotatably mounted on said input shaft, each of said gears having a clutch surface, an output gear affixed to said output shaft and engaged with said driving gears, and first and second clutch elements each having threads which respectively match said first and second driving spiral threads, each having a clutch surface respectively mating with the clutch surface of said forward and reverse driving gears, an improved shifting mechanism comprising: a dynamic shift ring movable axially by a shift linkage, said input shaft passing axially through said ring, said ring being disposed between said first and second clutch elements, a static shifting element carried axially by said ring into engagement with the inner radial surface of a clutch element, and a spring between said ring and said static shift element, axial movement of said ring initially bringing said static shift element into contact with a clutch element, further axial movement of said ring bringing it into contact with an outer radial surface of a clutch element to slow the rotation of said element on said input shaft whereby the spiral threads drive said element in the axial direction into clutch engagement or disengagement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The shifting mechanism recited in claim 1 wherein said static shifting element is a static shift ring of smaller diameter than said dynamic shift ring, said static shift ring being disposed between said dynamic shift ring and one of said clutch elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The shift mechanism recited in claim 1 wherein said static shifting element includes two statIc shift rings of smaller diameter than said dynamic shift ring, one of said static shift rings being disposed between said dynamic shift ring and said first clutch element, the other static shift ring being disposed between said dynamic shift ring and said second clutch element, said two static shift rings being connected together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The shift mechanism recited in claim 1 wherein said dynamic shift ring has an annular shoulder at the outer periphery thereof on both sides of said ring, each of said first and said second clutch elements having a corresponding shoulder whereby axial movement of said ring engages the annular shoulder with the matching surface on one of said clutch elements whereby a high torque drag is exerted on said clutch element to slow rotation thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The shifting mechanism recited in claim 1 wherein said shift ring has a groove therein, said shift mechanism further comprising: a shift fork disposed in said groove, and a shifting linkage connected to said fork to move it axially.