Dynamic tooth clutch

Claim 2

A dynamic tooth clutch interposed between a rotatable first member operating at a first speed and a rotatable second member operating at a second speed, said clutch comprising: a. a first collar slidably mounted on one of said members, said first collar having, on one end, a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially extending radial first outer teeth, said first outer teeth being angularly aligned with a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially extending radial first inner teeth; b. a second collar fixed to the other of said members, said second collar having, on one end facing said first collar one end, a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially extending radial second outer teeth substantially similar in size, location and angular spacing to said first outer teeth, said first and second outer teeth being arranged to intermesh and being so angularly spaced that, upon initial intermeshing, when said first outer teeth are centered relative to said second outer teeth, there can be a first predetermined amount of bidirectional angular rotational movement therebetween before either of the side surfaces of one of said first or second outer teeth abut the adjacent side surfaces of the other of said first or second outer teeth; c. a cam ring confined between an inner peripheral surface of said second collar and an end surface of the other of said members; d. complementary retaining means on the inner peripheral surface of said second collar and the outer peripheral surface of said cam ring permitting a second predetermined amount of bidirectional angular rotational movement of said cam ring relative to said second collar; e. preloaded and self-centering yieldable means for centering said cam ring relative to said second collar and returning said cam ring to a center position, relative to said second collar, when said first and second outer teeth are disengaged; f. a plurality of equally spaced axially extending second inner teeth on said cam ring, said second inner teeth being angularly aligned with said second outer teeth when said cam ring is centered relative to said second collar, said second inner teeth being substantially similar in location and angular spacing to said first inner teeth, said first and second inner teeth being arranged to directly intermesh, with the combined tooth depth or axial extent of the side surfaces of said pluralities of said first and second inner teeth being greater than the combined tooth depth or axial extent of the side surfaces of said pluralities of said first and second outer teeth, so that, when said first collar is axially displaced toward said second collar, if said first and second inner teeth are not so angularly aligned as to permit meshing therebetween, the opposing axial end surfaces of said first and second inner teeth will abut while there still is clearance between the opposing axial end surfaces of said first and second outer teeth; and g. means for axially displacing said first collar relative to said second collar, with the force for displacing said first collar toward said second collar being less than that of said preloaded self-centering yieldable means, thus permitting direct meshing of said first and second inner teeth and complete centered intermeshing of said first and second outer teeth, prior to the angular displacement of said cam ring relative to said second collar, thereby allowing full axial intermeshing of said first and second outer teeth before there is abutment and subsequent torque transfer between either of the side surfaces of one of said first or second outer teeth with the adjacent side surfaces of the other of said first or second outer teeth, with said angular displacement of said cam ring permitting substantially shock free coupling of said first and second members up to a predetermined defference between said first and second speeds.

Claim 3

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 1 wherein said first outer and inner teeth are separated by an intermediate segmented annular first groove, said second outer and inner teeth are separated by an intermediate segmented annular second groove, and said clutch further includes a cam ring retainer ring press fitted into said second groove into axial end abutment with said complementary retaining means, with at least a portion of said retainer ring being received in said first groove upon the meshing of said first outer and inner teeth with said second outer and inner teeth respectively.

Claim 4

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 1 wherein said first and second predetermined amounts of bidirectional angular movement are about 5°.

Claim 5

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 1 wherein said predetermined difference between said first and second speeds is up to about 200 rpm.

Claim 6

The dynamic tooth clutch in claim 1 wherein one of said members is an axle shaft and the other of said members is a differential carrier.

Claim 7

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 1 wherein said complementary retaining means includes a plurality of equally spaced first splines on the inner peripheral surface of said second collar and a plurality of equally spaced second splines on the outer peripheral surface of said cam ring, said splines being arranged to intermesh and being so angularly spaced that when said cam ring is centered relative to said second collar there can be about 5° bidirectional angular rotational movement therebetween.

Claim 8

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 1 wherein said preloaded and self-centering yieldable means includes a plurality of equally spaced spring-biased ball detent members contained in radial bores in said second collar, with a portion of said ball detent members being received in aligned conical cam surfaces on the peripheral outer surface of said cam ring.

Claim 9

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 1 wherein said means for axially displacing said first collar relative to said second collar, includes a fluid-pressure operated piston and cylinder means, with one of said piston and cylinder means being non-rotatably connected to said second collar and the other of said piston and cylinder means being non-rotatably connected to said first collar.

Claim 10

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 8 further including means for controlling said means for axially displacing said first collar relative to said second collar, said means for controlling including a source of fluid pressure, and a manually-controlled multi-position valve means fluidically interposed between said piston and cylinder means and said source of fluid pressure.

Claim 11

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 9 further including speed differential sensing means for sensing the difference in speed between said members, said sensing means being connected to a control valve operatively interposed between said multi-position valve and said source of fluid pressure for automatically shutting off said source of fluid pressure any time the speed differential between said members exceeds a predetermined amount, regardless of the position of said multi-position valve.

Claim 12

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 10 wherein said predetermined amount of said speed differential is about 200 rpm.

Claim 13

A dynamic tooth clutch for coupling a first rotating member, operating at a first speed, to a second rotating member, operating at a second speed different from said first speed, so that both members operate at one of said first or second speeds, said dynamic tooth clutch comprising in combination: a. a first collar rotatably secured to but axially movable on one of said members, said first collar having, on one end, a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially extending radial first outer teeth, said first outer teeth being angularly aligned with a plurality of equally spaced axially extending radial first inner teeth; b. a second collar axially and rotatably affixed to the other of said members, said second collar having, on an end facing said first collar one end, a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially extending radial second outer teeth, said second outer teeth being substantially similar in size, location and angular spacing to said first outer teeth, said first and second outer teeth being arranged to intermesh and being so angularly spaced that, upon initial interpositioning, when said first and second outer teeth are centered relative to one another, the opposing side surfaces of said first and second outer teeth are separated a predetermined angular amount; c. a cam mechanism axially confined in an inner peripheral surface and yieldingly angularly self-centered and retained relative to said second collar so as to permit a predetermined amount of angular movement relative to said second collar, with said amount of angular movement being similar to the predetermined angular amount separating the opposing side surfaces of said first and second outer teeth; d. said cam mechanism having a plurality of equally spaced axially extending second inner teeth, said second inner teeth being angularly aligned with said second outer teeth when said cam mechanism is centered relative to said second collar, said second inner teeth being substantially similar in location and angular spacing to said first inner teeth, with said first and second inner teeth being arranged to intermesh; e. the combined tooth depth of said first and second inner teeth is greater than the combined tooth depth of said first and second outer teeth so that when said first collar is axially displaced toward said second collar the opposing end surfaces of said first and second inner teeth will abut while there still is clearance between the opposing axial end surfaces of said first and second outer teeth; and f. means for axially displacing said first collar relative to said second collar with the force for displacing said first collar toward said second collar being less than the self-centering force of said cam mechanism thus permitting complete axial centered intermeshing of said first and second outer teeth prior to the displacement of said cam mechanism relative to said second collar due to the difference between said first and second speeds, with the angular displacement of said cam mechanism thereby permitting full intermeshing of said first and second outer teeth before there is abutment and subsequent torque transfer between either of the side surfaces of said first or second outer teeth with adjoining side surfaces of the other of said first or second outer teeth.

Claim 14

A dynamic tooth clutch for coupling a first rotating member, operating at a first speed, to a second rotating member, operating at a second speed different from said first speed, so that both members operate at one of said first or second speeds, said dynamic tooth clutch comprising in combination: a. a first collar rotatably secured to but axially movable on one of said members, said first collar having, on one end, a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially extending radial first outer teeth, said first outer teeth being angularly aligned with a plurality of equally spaced axially extending radial first inner teeth; b. a second collar axially and rotatably affixed to the other of said members, said second collar having, on an end facing said first collar one end, a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially extending radial second outer teeth, said second outer teeth being substantially similar in size, location and angular spacing to said first outer teeth, said first and second outer teeth being arranged to intermesh and being so angularly spaced that, upon initial interpositioning, when said first and second outer teeth are centered relative to one another, the opposing side surfaces of said first and second outer teeth are separated a predetermined angular amount; c. a cam mechanism axially confined in an inner peripheral surface and yieldingly angularly self-centered and retained relative to said second collar so as to permit a predetermined amount of angular movement relative to said second collar, with said amount of angular movement being similar to the predetermined angular amount separating the opposing side surfaces of said first and second outer teeth; d. said cam mechanism having a plurality of equally spaced axially extending second inner teeth, said second inner teeth being angularly aligned with said second outer teeth when said cam mechanism is centered relative to said second collar, said second inner teeth being substantially similar in location and angular spacing to said first inner teeth, with said first and second inner teeth being arranged to intermesh; e. the combined tooth depth of said first and second inner teeth is greater than the combined tooth depth of said first and second outer teeth so that when said first collar is axially displaced toward said second collar the opposing end surfaces of said first and second inner teeth will abut while there still is clearance between the opposing axial end surfaces of said first and second outer teeth; and f. means for axially displacing said first collar relative to said second collar with the force for displacing said first collar toward said second collar being less than the self-centering force of said cam mechanism thus permitting complete axial centered intermeshing of said first and second outer teeth prior to the displacement of said cam mechanism relative to said second collar due to the difference between said first and second speeds, with the angular displacement of said cam mechanism thereby permitting full intermeshing of said first and second outer teeth before there is abutment and subsequent torque transfer between either of the side surfaces of said first or second outer teeth with adjoining side surfaces of the other of said first or second outer teeth.

Claim 15

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 12 wherein said predetermined amount of angular movement is about 5°.

Claim 16

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 13 wherein the difference between said first and second speeds is less than 200 rpm.

Claim 17

The dynamic tooth clutch of claim 12 wherein one of said members is an axle shaft and the other of said members is a differential carrier.

Claim 18

A differential lock structure for a differential mechanism including an input shaft, a differential carrier driven by said input shaft, axle shaft received within said differential carrier and having beveled gears meshing with beveled gears mounted on a cross within said carrier to provide a differential rotation between said axle shafts, said differential lock structure comprising: a. a first collar rotatably secured to but axially slidable on one of said axle shafts, said first collar having, on one end, a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially extending radial first outer teeth, said first outer teeth being angularly aligned with a plurality of equally spaced axially extending radial first inner teeth; b. a second collar affixed to said differential carrier, said second collar having, on an end facing said first collar one end, a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially extending radial second outer teeth substantially similar in size, location and angular spacing to said first outer teeth, said first and second outer teeth being arranged to intermesh and being so angularly spaced that, upon initial intermeshing, when said first outer teeth are centered relative to said second outer teeth, there is a first predetermined amount of bidirectional angular spacing between the opposing side surfaces of said first and second outer teeth; c. a cam ring confined between an annular end surface of said differential carrier and an inner peripheral surface of said second collar, with the inner peripheral surface of said second collar and the outer peripheral surface of said cam ring being provided with complementary retaining means to permit a predetermined amount of bidirectional angular rotational movement of said cam ring relative to said second collar, said second collar and said cam ring being provided with preloaded and self-centering yieldable means for centering said cam ring relative to said second collar and returning said cam ring to a center position, relative to said second collar, when said first and second outer teeth are disengaged; d. a plurality of equally spaced axially extending second liner teeth on said cam ring angularly alinged with said second outer teeth when said cam ring is centered relative to said second collar, with said second inner teeth being substantially similar in location and angular spacing to said first inner teeth, with said first and second inner teeth being arranged to intermesh; e. the combined tooth depth of said first and second inner teeth being greater than the combined tooth depth of said first and second outer teeth so that when said first collar is axially displaced toward said second collar, in the absence of intermeshing, there is axial end abutment between said first and second inner teeth while there is still clearance between the axial end surfaces of said first and second outer teeth; and, f. means for axially displacing said first collar relative to said second collar, with the force for displacing said first collar toward the second collar being less than that of said preloaded self-centering means thus permitting centered intermeshing of said first and second outer teeth prior to the angular displacement of said cam ring relative to the said second collar, with the angular displacement of said cam ring permitting full axial intermeshing of said first and second outer teeth prior to the abutment and subsequent torque transfer between either of the side surfaces of one of said first or second outer teeth with the adjacent side surfaces of the other of said first or second outer teeth, said differential lock structure permitting the coupling of said differential carrier to said axle shaft for conjoint rotation therewith, said coupling action permitting the coupling of said axle shaft and said differential carrier as long as the speed differential therebetween does not exceed a predetermined amount.

Claim 19

A differential lock structure for a differential mechanism including an input shaft, a differential carrier driven by said input shaft, axle shaft received within said differential carrier and having beveled gears meshing with beveled gears mounted on a cross within said carrier to provide a differential rotation between said axle shafts, said differential lock structure comprising: a. a first collar rotatably secured to but axially slidable on one of said axle shafts, said first collar having, on one end, a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially extending radial first outer teeth, said first outer teeth being angularly aligned with a plurality of equally spaced axially extending radial first inner teeth; b. a second collar affixed to said differential carrier, said second collar having, on an end facing said first collar one end, a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially extending radial second outer teeth substantially similar in size, location and angular spacing to said first outer teeth, said first and second outer teeth being arranged to intermesh and being so angularly spaced that, upon initial intermeshing, when said first outer teeth are centered relative to said second outer teeth, there is a first predetermined amount of bidirectional angular spacing between the opposing side surfaces of said first and second outer teeth; c. a cam ring confined between an annular end surface of said differential carrier and an inner peripheral surface of said second collar, with the inner peripheral surface of said second collar and the outer peripheral surface of said cam ring being provided with complementary retaining means to permit a predetermined amount of bidirectional angular rotational movement of said cam ring relative to said second collar, said second collar and said cam ring being provided with preloaded and self-centering yieldable means for centering said cam ring relative to said second collar and returning said cam ring to a center position, relative to said second collar, when said first and second outer teeth are disengaged; d. a plurality of equally spaced axially extending second liner teeth on said cam ring angularly alinged with said second outer teeth when said cam ring is centered relative to said second collar, with said second inner teeth being substantially similar in location and angular spacing to said first inner teeth, with said first and second inner teeth being arranged to intermesh; e. the combined tooth depth of said first and second inner teeth being greater than the combined tooth depth of said first and second outer teeth so that when said first collar is axially displaced toward said second collar, in the absence of intermeshing, there is axial end abutment between said first and second inner teeth while there is still clearance between the axial end surfaces of said first and second outer teeth; and, f. means for axially displacing said first collar relative to said second collar, with the force for displacing said first collar toward the second collar being less than that of said preloaded self-centering means thus permitting centered intermeshing of said first and second outer teeth prior to the angular displacement of said cam ring relative to the said second collar, with the angular displacement of said cam ring permitting full axial intermeshing of said first and second outer teeth prior to the abutment and subsequent torque transfer between either of the side surfaces of one of said first or second outer teeth with the adjacent side surfaces of the other of said first or second outer teeth, said differential lock structure permitting the coupling of said differential carrier to said axle shaft for conjoint rotation therewith, said coupling action permitting the coupling of said axle shaft and said differential carrier as long as the speed differential therebetween does not exceed a predetermined amount.

Claim 20

The differential lock structure of claim 16 wherein said predetermined amount of bidirectional angular spacing and said predetermined amount of bidirectional angular rotational movement are about 5°.

Claim 21

The differential lock mechanism of claim 17 wherein the amount of rotational speed difference between said axle shaft and said differential carrier is limited to about 200 rpm.

Claim 22

The differential lock structure of claim 16 wherein said means for axially displacing said first collar relative to said second collar includes a fluid-pressure operated piston and cylinder means, with one of said piston and cylinder means being non-rotatably connected to said second collar and the other of said piston and cylinder means being non-rotatably connected to said first collar.

Claim 23

The differential lock structure of claim 19 further including means for controlling said means for axially displacing said first collar relative to said second collar, said means for controlling including a source of fluid pressure and a manually-controlled multi-position valve means fluidically interposed between said piston and cylinder means and said source of fluid pressure.

Claim 24

The differential lock structure of claim 20 further including speed differential sensing means for sensing the difference in speed between said axle sahft and said differential carrier, said sensing means being connected to a control valve operatively interposed between said multi-position valve and said source of fluid pressure for automatically shutting off said source of fluid pressure any time the speed differential between said axle shaft and differential carrier exceeds about 200 rpm, regardless of the position of said multi-position valve.