US3985045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking device for a differential drive mechanism
Assignee: Eaton Corp
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Filing: 1975-01-17
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Granted: 1976-10-12
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Expires: 1995-01-17
Abstract
Abstract An improved differential drive mechanism includes a clutch which is engageable to retard relative rotation between driving and driven members. A clutch actuator assembly includes a pair of flyweights which are rotated about a central axis of the actuator assembly at a speed which varies as a function of the speed of relative rotation between the driving and driven members. Upon the occurrence of a predetermined rate of relative rotation between the driving and driven members, one of the flyweights moves outwardly from a retracted position to an extended position in which it engages a stop element and initiates actuation of the clutch. In order to promote engagement of a stop surface on the flyweight with the stop element and locking up of the differential upon movement of the flyweight to the extended position, the distance which the stop surface projects outwardly is maximized for a given extent of angular movement of the flyweight between the retracted and extended positions.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Shilling
- 👤 Derold L. Sherrill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:06
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H48/00; F16H48/20; F16H48/22; F16H48/06; F16H48/08; F16H48/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
360 words
A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said actuator means including a flyweight having a stop surface with an outermost end, means for rotating said flyweight about a first axis, means for supporting said flyweight for pivotal movement about a second axis under the influence of centrifugal force, said flyweight being pivotal outwardly about said second axis from a retracted position to an extended position, means for blocking outward pivotal movement of said flyweight past said extended position, means for engaging said stop surface upon outward movement of said flyweight to the extended position, said flyweight being disposed at least partially within a first imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said retracted position and being disposed at least partially within a second imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said extended position, said first imaginary circle intersecting said outermost end of said stop surface and having a center which is disposed on said first axis when said flyweight is in said retracted position, said second imaginary circle having the same diameter as said first imaginary circle and having a center which is spaced apart from the center of said first imaginary circle, said second imaginary circle being disposed in the same position relative to said flyweight when said flyweight is in said extended position as is said first imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said retracted position so that said second imaginary circle intersects said outermost end of said stop surface when said flyweight is in said extended position, said outermost end of said stop surface intersecting said second imaginary circle at a point which is disposed further from said first axis than any other point on said second imaginary circle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
360 words
A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said actuator means including a flyweight having a stop surface with an outermost end, means for rotating said flyweight about a first axis, means for supporting said flyweight for pivotal movement about a second axis under the influence of centrifugal force, said flyweight being pivotal outwardly about said second axis from a retracted position to an extended position, means for blocking outward pivotal movement of said flyweight past said extended position, means for engaging said stop surface upon outward movement of said flyweight to the extended position, said flyweight being disposed at least partially within a first imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said retracted position and being disposed at least partially within a second imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said extended position, said first imaginary circle intersecting said outermost end of said stop surface and having a center which is disposed on said first axis when said flyweight is in said retracted position, said second imaginary circle having the same diameter as said first imaginary circle and having a center which is spaced apart from the center of said first imaginary circle, said second imaginary circle being disposed in the same position relative to said flyweight when said flyweight is in said extended position as is said first imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said retracted position so that said second imaginary circle intersects said outermost end of said stop surface when said flyweight is in said extended position, said outermost end of said stop surface intersecting said second imaginary circle at a point which is disposed further from said first axis than any other point on said second imaginary circle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flyweight is disposed entirely within said first imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said retracted position and is disposed entirely within said second imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said extended position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second axes are both disposed within said first and second imaginary circles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 said flyweight includes a body having first and second end portions, said stop surface extending outwardly from said body at a location between said first and second end portions of said body, said first end portion of said body being intersected by said second axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flyweight moves through a first angular distance about said second axis upon movement of said flyweight from said retracted position to said extended position, said intersection of said outermost end of said stop surface and said first imaginary circle being disposed along a first straight line which intersects said first axis when said flyweight is in said retracted position, said first straight line intersecting a second straight line which extends through said first and second axes, said first and second straight lines intersecting at an angle which is equal to ninety degrees minus one-half of said first angular distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outermost end of said flyweight is disposed at an intersection of said second imaginary circle and a straight line which extends through the centers of said first and second imaginary circles when said flyweight is in said extended position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
356 words
A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said actuator means including a flyweight having a stop surface with an outermost end, means for rotating said flyweight about a first axis, means for supporting said flyweight for pivotal movement about a second axis under the influence of centrifugal force, said flyweight being pivotal outwardly about said second axis from a retracted position to an extended position, means for engaging said stop surface upon outward movement of said flyweight to the extended position, said flyweight being disposed at least partially within a first imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said retracted position and being disposed at least partially within a second imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said extended position, said first imaginary circle intersecting said outermost end of said stop surface and having a center which is disposed on said first axis when said flyweight is in said retracted position, said second imaginary circle having the same diameter as said first imaginary circle and having a center which is spaced apart from the center of said first imaginary circle, said second imaginary circle being disposed in the same position relative to said flyweight when said flyweight is in said extended position as is said first imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said retracted position so that said second imaginary circle intersects said outermost end of said stop surface when said flyweight is in said extended position, said outermost end of said stop surface being disposed at an intersection of said second imaginary circle and a straight line which extends through the centers of said first and second imaginary circles when said flyweight is in said extended position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
356 words
A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said actuator means including a flyweight having a stop surface with an outermost end, means for rotating said flyweight about a first axis, means for supporting said flyweight for pivotal movement about a second axis under the influence of centrifugal force, said flyweight being pivotal outwardly about said second axis from a retracted position to an extended position, means for engaging said stop surface upon outward movement of said flyweight to the extended position, said flyweight being disposed at least partially within a first imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said retracted position and being disposed at least partially within a second imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said extended position, said first imaginary circle intersecting said outermost end of said stop surface and having a center which is disposed on said first axis when said flyweight is in said retracted position, said second imaginary circle having the same diameter as said first imaginary circle and having a center which is spaced apart from the center of said first imaginary circle, said second imaginary circle being disposed in the same position relative to said flyweight when said flyweight is in said extended position as is said first imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said retracted position so that said second imaginary circle intersects said outermost end of said stop surface when said flyweight is in said extended position, said outermost end of said stop surface being disposed at an intersection of said second imaginary circle and a straight line which extends through the centers of said first and second imaginary circles when said flyweight is in said extended position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 7 wherein said flyweight moves through a first angular distance about said second axis upon movement of said flyweight from said retracted position to said extended position, said intersection of said outermost end of said stop surface and said first imaginary circle being disposed along a second straight line which intersects said first axis when said flyweight is in said retracted position, said second straight line intersecting a third straight line which extends through said first and second axes, said second and third straight lines intersecting at an angle which is equal to ninety degrees minus one-half of said first angular distance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second axes are disposed within said first and second imaginary circles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein said flyweight is disposed entirely within said first imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said retracted position and is disposed entirely within said second imaginary circle when said flyweight is in said extended position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 10 wherein said flyweight includes a body having first and second end portions, said stop surface extends outwardly from said body at a location between said first and second end portions of said body, said first end portion of said body being intersected by said second axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
243 words
A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said actuator means including a flyweight having a stop surface with an outermost end, means for rotating said flyweight about a first axis, means for supporting said flyweight for pivotal movement about a second axis under the influence of centrifugal force, said flyweight being pivotal outwardly through a first angular distance about said second axis from a retracted position to an extended position, means for blocking outward pivotal movement of said flyweight past said extended position, means for engaging said stop surface upon outward movement of said flyweight to the extended position, said outermost end of said stop surface being disposed along a first straight line which intersects the first axis when said flyweight is in said retracted position, said first straight line intersecting a second straight line which extends through said first and second axes, said first and second straight lines intersecting at an angle which is equal to ninety degrees minus one-half of said first angular distance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
243 words
A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said actuator means including a flyweight having a stop surface with an outermost end, means for rotating said flyweight about a first axis, means for supporting said flyweight for pivotal movement about a second axis under the influence of centrifugal force, said flyweight being pivotal outwardly through a first angular distance about said second axis from a retracted position to an extended position, means for blocking outward pivotal movement of said flyweight past said extended position, means for engaging said stop surface upon outward movement of said flyweight to the extended position, said outermost end of said stop surface being disposed along a first straight line which intersects the first axis when said flyweight is in said retracted position, said first straight line intersecting a second straight line which extends through said first and second axes, said first and second straight lines intersecting at an angle which is equal to ninety degrees minus one-half of said first angular distance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein said outermost end of said stop surface is disposed on a third straight line when said flyweight is in said extended position, said third straight line extending perpendicular to a fourth straight line which intersects said second straight line at an angle which is equal to one-half of said first angular distance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second and fourth straight lines intersect at said second axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
A drive mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein said outermost end of said stop surface is disposed along a third straight line which intersects the first axis when said flyweight is in said extended position, said third straight line intersecting said second straight line at an angle which is equal to ninety degrees minus one-half of said first angular distance.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
229 words
A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said actuator means including a flyweight having a stop surface with an outermost end, means for rotating said flyweight about a first axis, means for supporting said flyweight for pivotal movement about a second axis under the influence of centrifugal force, said flyweight being pivotal outwardly through a first angular distance about said second axis from a retracted position to an extended position, means for engaging said stop surface upon outward movement of said flyweight to the extended position, said outermost end of said stop surface being disposed along a first straight line which intersects the first axis when said flyweight is in said extended position, said first straight line intersecting a second straight line which extends through said first and second axes, said first and second straight lines intersecting at an angle which is equal to 90° minus one-half of said first angular distance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
229 words
A drive mechanism for interconnecting rotatable driving and driven members, said drive mechanism comprising gear means for transmitting drive forces between the driving and driven members and for enabling relative rotation to occur between the driving and driven members, clutch means operable between an engaged condition in which said clutch means is effective to retard relative rotation between said driving and driven members and a disengaged condition, actuator means for effecting operation of said clutch means from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition, said actuator means including a flyweight having a stop surface with an outermost end, means for rotating said flyweight about a first axis, means for supporting said flyweight for pivotal movement about a second axis under the influence of centrifugal force, said flyweight being pivotal outwardly through a first angular distance about said second axis from a retracted position to an extended position, means for engaging said stop surface upon outward movement of said flyweight to the extended position, said outermost end of said stop surface being disposed along a first straight line which intersects the first axis when said flyweight is in said extended position, said first straight line intersecting a second straight line which extends through said first and second axes, said first and second straight lines intersecting at an angle which is equal to 90° minus one-half of said first angular distance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-10-12 | 1980-04-12 | 1980-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-12 | 1984-04-12 | 1984-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-12 | 1988-04-12 | 1988-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |