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 said driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between said driving and driven members; main clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said main 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 main 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 including a flyweight, an axially extending member mounted for rotation, drive means for rotating said axially extending member about its axis at an angular velocity which varies as a function of the relative rotation between the driving and driven members, a stop member mounted on said axially extending member for rotation therewith, support means for pivotally supporting said flyweight on said stop member for rotary movement therewith and for radially outward movement of at least a portion of said flyweight relative to said stop member away from the axis of rotation of said axially extending member under the influence of centrifugal force, means for effecting operation of said main clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition upon outward movement of said flyweight to a predetermined position, and stop means on said stop member for engaging said portion of said flyweight and limiting the extent of outward movement of said portion of said flyweight beyond said predetermined position to absorb at least a portion of the loading on said pivotal support.

Claim 3

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stop means includes an annular stop surface which circumscribes at least a portion of said flyweight.

Claim 4

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flyweight includes surface means for engaging said stop means when said flyweight is in said predetermined position.

Claim 5

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein: casing means at least partially enclose said gear means and said actuator means; said support means includes means for enabling said flyweight to move outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force through a distance sufficient to bring said flyweight into engagement with said casing means; and said stop means are effective to limit outward movement of said flyweight to a distance which is insufficient to enable said flyweight to engage said casing means.

Claim 6

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for effecting operation of said main clutch means includes means for retarding rotation of said flyweight upon movement of said flyweight to said predetermined position.

Claim 7

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said axially extending member is mounted for rotation in said driving member, said drive means includes an annular array of gear teeth on said axially extending member and an annular array of gear teeth rotatable with one of said driven members and in meshing engagement with said annular array of gear teeth on said axially extending member, said main clutch means is interposed between said driving member and one of said driven members, and said means for effecting operation of said main clutch means includes means for engaging said flyweight to retard rotation of said flyweight upon movement of said flyweight to said predetermined position.

Claim 8

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator means further includes secondary clutch means for enabling relative rotational movement to occur between said stop member and said axially extending member.

Claim 9

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 7 wherein said secondary clutch means includes a first clutch surface disposed on said stop member and a second clutch surface disposed on said axially extending member and in abutting engagement with said first clutch surface.

Claim 10

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for effecting operation of said clutch means includes means for engaging said flyweight and retarding rotation of said flyweight by said drive means upon movement of said flyweight to said predetermined position.

Claim 11

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein two axially spaced stop members are mounted on said axially extending member for rotation therewith, said support means pivotally supports said flyweight on both of said stop members for movement relative to said stop members, first clutch surfaces are disposed on each of said stop members, and second clutch surfaces are disposed on said axially extending member, each of said second clutch surfaces being in abutting engagement with one of said first clutch surfaces.

Claim 12

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first and second clutch surfaces are generally conical in configuration, and preloaded spring means are interposed between said stop members to bias each of said first clutch surfaces into engagement with said respective abutting second clutch surface.

Claim 13

A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 11 wherein said stop means includes an annular stop surface on each of said stop members which circumscribes said portion of said flyweight.

Claim 14

A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising: gear means for transmitting drive forces between said driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between said driving and driven members; main clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said main 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 main clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition in response to a predetermined rate of relative rotation between the driving an driven members, said actuator means including a flyweight, an axially extending member mounted for rotation, drive means for rotating said axially extending member about its axis at an angular velocity which varies as a function of the relative rotation between the driving and driven members, support means for pivotally supporting said flyweight for rotation with said axially extending member and for radially outward movement of at least a portion of said flyweight away from the axis of rotation of said axially extending member, means for effecting operation of said main clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition upon outward movement of said flyweight to a predetermined position, and stop means for engaging said portion of said flyweight and for rotatably moving with said flyweight to limit the extent of said radially outward movement of said portion of said flyweight beyond said predetermined position to absorb at least a portion of the loading on said pivotal support and to prevent retardation of rotation of said flyweight by said stop means when said radially outward movement is thereby limited.

Claim 15

A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising: gear means for transmitting drive forces between said driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between said driving and driven members; main clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said main 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 main clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition in response to a predetermined rate of relative rotation between the driving an driven members, said actuator means including a flyweight, an axially extending member mounted for rotation, drive means for rotating said axially extending member about its axis at an angular velocity which varies as a function of the relative rotation between the driving and driven members, support means for pivotally supporting said flyweight for rotation with said axially extending member and for radially outward movement of at least a portion of said flyweight away from the axis of rotation of said axially extending member, means for effecting operation of said main clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition upon outward movement of said flyweight to a predetermined position, and stop means for engaging said portion of said flyweight and for rotatably moving with said flyweight to limit the extent of said radially outward movement of said portion of said flyweight beyond said predetermined position to absorb at least a portion of the loading on said pivotal support and to prevent retardation of rotation of said flyweight by said stop means when said radially outward movement is thereby limited.