US4570776A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Detent mechanism for clutches
Assignee: Yamaha Marine Co Ltd
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Filing: 1983-06-13
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Granted: 1986-02-18
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Expires: 2003-06-13
Abstract
Abstract Several embodiments of improved detent devices for elements such as dog clutches. In each embodiment, the detent includes a holding detent for holding the dog clutch in a neutral position and an accelerating detent for accelerating the dog clutch element to its engaged position. In each embodiment, the accelerating detent is effective before the holding detent has been fully released. In some embodiments, the dog clutch element is axially movable and in other embodiments it is rotatable.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Iwashita
- 👤 Hideo Suzuki
- 👤 Ryoji Nakahama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:33
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H3/00; F16H3/02; F16H3/08; F16H3/14; F16H3/145; B; B63; B63H; B63H23/00; B63H23/02; B63H23/08; F16H63/00; F16H63/02; F16H63/30; F16H63/38; G; G05; G05G; G05G5/00; G05G5/06; G05G5/065; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20018; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A detent mechanism for dog clutches or the like comprising a first member and a second member juxtaposed to each other and supported for relative movement, said first member having a detent recess adapted to be engaged by a detent, a first detent carried by said second member and biased to engage said recess for releasably restraining said members against relative movement, said first member further having a cam surface formed thereon spaced from said detent recess, and a second detent carried by said second member and biased to engage said cam surface for applying a thrust to effect relative movement between said members, the means for biasing the first and second detents comprising a common spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A detent mechanism for dog clutches or the like comprising a first member and a second member juxtaposed to each other and supported for relative movement, said first member having a detent recess adapted to be engaged by a detent, a first detent carried by said second member and biased to engage said recess for releasably restraining said members against relative movement, said first member further having a cam surface formed thereon spaced from said detent recess, and a second detent carried by said second member and biased to engage said cam surface for applying a thrust to effect relative movement between said members, the means for biasing the first and second detents comprising a common spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A detent mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the detents have identical configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A detent mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein the detents are offset from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a shifting mechanism for a dog clutch or the like having a shifting element movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position and holding detent means comprising a first detent member and cooperating first cam surface for retaining said shifting element in said disengaged position, the improvement comprising accelerating detent means comprising a second detent member and a cooperating second cam surface for effecting a force upon said shifting element in its direction of movement from its disengaged position to its engaged position and a single spring acting on both of said detent members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a shifting mechanism for a dog clutch or the like having a shifting element movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position and holding detent means comprising a first detent member and cooperating first cam surface for retaining said shifting element in said disengaged position, the improvement comprising accelerating detent means comprising a second detent member and a cooperating second cam surface for effecting a force upon said shifting element in its direction of movement from its disengaged position to its engaged position and a single spring acting on both of said detent members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of the detent members and cooperating cam surfaces comprise a ball and engaging surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein both of the detent members comprise balls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein the detent balls are axially spaced from each other and the shifting element is axially movable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 7 wherein the first and second detent members have different relationships with their respective cam members when the shifting element is in its disengaged position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein the first detent member is cooperative with the first cam surface when the shifting element is in its disengaged position and the second detent member is not in engagement with the second cam surface when the shifting element is in its disengaged position but engages the second cam surface before the shifting member moves to its engaged position and before the first detent member is fully disengaged from the first cam surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein the balls are axially aligned with each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 10 wherein the balls are of the same diameter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first and second detent members have different relationships with their respective cam members when the shifting element is in its disengaged position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein the first detent member is cooperative with the first cam surface when the shifting element is in its disengaged position and the second detent member is not in engagement with the second cam surface when the shifting element is in its disengaged position but engages the second cam surface before the shifting member moves to its engaged position and before the first detent member is fully disengaged from the first cam surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a shifting mechanism for a dog clutch or the like having a shifting element movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position and holding means movable between a released position and an engaged position for retaining said shifting element in its disengaged position, said holding means beng movable from its engaged position to its disengaged position in response to a predetermined movement of said shifting element from its disengaged position to its engaged position, the improvement comprising accelerating means for exerting a force upon said shifting means in the direction of its movement from its disengaged position to its engaged position and before said holding means has moved to its disengaged position and a single spring yieldably urging both said holding means toward its engaged position and said accelerating means in its force applying direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a shifting mechanism for a dog clutch or the like having a shifting element movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position and holding means movable between a released position and an engaged position for retaining said shifting element in its disengaged position, said holding means beng movable from its engaged position to its disengaged position in response to a predetermined movement of said shifting element from its disengaged position to its engaged position, the improvement comprising accelerating means for exerting a force upon said shifting means in the direction of its movement from its disengaged position to its engaged position and before said holding means has moved to its disengaged position and a single spring yieldably urging both said holding means toward its engaged position and said accelerating means in its force applying direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 14 wherein the holding means comprises detent means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 15 wherein the accelerating means comprises detent means different from the detent means of the holding means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of the detent means comprises a respective detent ball.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 17 wherein the detent ball of the holding means is axially spaced from the detent ball of the accelerating means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 18 wherein the accelerating means further includes an inclined cam surface with which the accelerating detent ball cooperates, the holding means further including a holding recess formed in the same member in which the accelerating cam means is formed and complementary in shape to the detent ball of the holding means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 17 wherein the detent balls of the holding means and of the accelerating means are axially aligned but circumferentially spaced from each other.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein the retaining means further includes a holding recess complementary in shape to the holding ball of the retaining means and wherein the accelerating means comprises an accelerating cam spaced from said recess and formed in the same member with which the ball of the holding means cooperates.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein the balls of the accelerating means and the holding means have the same diameter and are both slidably supported in the same bore, the spring being interposed between said balls for urging said balls away from each other.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the accelerating means does not operate until the holding means has begun movement from its engaged position to its disengaged position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 23 wherein the shifting element is movable in opposite directions from the disengaged position to respective opposite engaged positions, the accelerating means being effective to exert a force upon the shifting means in the direction toward either of its engaged positions.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 24 wherein the holding means comprises detent means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 25 wherein the accelerating means comprises detent means different from the detent means of the holding means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 26 wherein each of the detent means comprises a respective detent ball.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 27 wherein the detent ball of the holding means is axially spaced from the detent ball of the accelerating means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 28 wherein the accelerating means further includes an inclined cam surface with which the accelerating detent ball cooperates, the holding means further including a holding recess formed in the same member in which the accelerating cam means if formed and complementary in shape to the detent ball of the holding means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 27 wherein the detent balls of the holding means and of the accelerating means are axially aligned but circumferentially spaced from each other.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 30 wherein the holding means further includes a retaining recess complementary in shape to the holding ball of the holding means and wherein the accelerating means comprises an accelerating cam spaced from said recess and formed in the same member with which the ball of the holding means cooperates.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a shifting mechanism as set forth in claim 31 wherein the balls of the accelerating means and the holding means have the same diameter and are both slidably supported in the same bore, the spring being interposed between said balls for urging said balls away from each other.
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) | 1989-02-17 | 1989-08-19 | 1990-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-17 | 1993-08-19 | 1994-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-17 | 1997-08-19 | 1998-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |