Patent US4633991A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4633991A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupling clutch having axially captured, rotatable housing
Assignee: Nexen Group Inc
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Filing: 1985-07-31
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Granted: 1987-01-06
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Expires: 2005-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A coupling clutch is shown in its most preferred form as including first and second hubs having first and second splined interface discs received thereon. The first interface disc is biased away from the second interface disc and is movable towards the second interface disc by a piston reciprocally mounted to a housing and rotatably mounted to the first interface disc by a bearing mounted therebetween. The splines between the second interface disc and the second hub allow the second interface disc to cant to compensate for axial angular misalignment of the first and second hubs. The housing is further rotatably mounted to the second interface disc. A radially extending, annular lip is provided on the housing which is axially captured between a shoulder and a retaining ring provided on the first hub. Bushing bumpers are provided between the lip and the shoulder and between the retaining ring and the lip. Thus, axial movement of the housing is prevented with respect to the hub. In its most preferred form, the first disc includes a multiplicity of ball-receiving cavities and the second disc includes a carrier member having a multiplicity of balls allowing the same degrees of registry of the first and second discs during clutch activation.
Inventors
- 👤 James V. Hanks
- 👤 Charles D. Raines
- 👤 Leonid Dayen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:14
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D25/00; F16D25/08; F16D25/082; F16P; F16P1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
Coupling clutch comprising, in combination: a first hub for receipt of a first shaft in a non-rotatable condition; a second hub for receipt of a second shaft in a non-rotatable condition; a first interface disc; means for slideably mounting the first interface disc on the first hub; means for biasing the first interface disc in a first axial direction towards a first axial position on the first hub; means for moving the first interface disc in the opposite axial direction towards a second axial position; a second interface disc, with the second interface disc being selectively engageable with the first interface disc to rotatably relate the first interface disc and the second interface disc; means for slideably mounting the second interface disc on the second hub; and means for substantially preventing slideable movement of the second interface disc with respect to the second hub and for allowing the canting of the second interface disc with respect to the second hub to take up angular misalignment of the first and second shafts; a housing; means for mounting the housing on the first interface disc for axial movement therewith and for rotation of the housing relative to the first interface disc; means for mounting the housing on the second interface disc for axial movement therewith and for rotation of the housing relative to the second interface disc; and means for axially capturing the housing on one of the first and second hubs for preventing relative axial movement of the housing with respect to the hub, with the axially capturing means allowing rotation of the housing relative to the hub.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
Coupling clutch comprising, in combination: a first hub for receipt of a first shaft in a non-rotatable condition; a second hub for receipt of a second shaft in a non-rotatable condition; a first interface disc; means for slideably mounting the first interface disc on the first hub; means for biasing the first interface disc in a first axial direction towards a first axial position on the first hub; means for moving the first interface disc in the opposite axial direction towards a second axial position; a second interface disc, with the second interface disc being selectively engageable with the first interface disc to rotatably relate the first interface disc and the second interface disc; means for slideably mounting the second interface disc on the second hub; and means for substantially preventing slideable movement of the second interface disc with respect to the second hub and for allowing the canting of the second interface disc with respect to the second hub to take up angular misalignment of the first and second shafts; a housing; means for mounting the housing on the first interface disc for axial movement therewith and for rotation of the housing relative to the first interface disc; means for mounting the housing on the second interface disc for axial movement therewith and for rotation of the housing relative to the second interface disc; and means for axially capturing the housing on one of the first and second hubs for preventing relative axial movement of the housing with respect to the hub, with the axially capturing means allowing rotation of the housing relative to the hub.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The coupling clutch of claim 1 wherein the axially capturing means comprises, in combination: a radially extending lip formed on the housing; and means formed on one of the first and second hubs for axially capturing the lip of the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The coupling clutch of claim 2 wherein the lip capturing means comprises, in combination: a shoulder formed on the first hub for abutting with the lip of the housing; and means for retaining the lip of the housing on the first hub, with the lip of the housing being captured between the shoulder and the retaining means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The coupling clutch of claim 3 further comprising, in combination: a first bushing bumper located between the shoulder of the first hub and the lip of the housing; and a second bushing bumper located between the lip of the housing and the retaining means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The coupling clutch of claim 3 wherein the retaining means comprises, in combination: a retainer ring received in a radially extending cavity formed in the first hub.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
202 words
The coupling clutch of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second interfaces discs includes a multiplicity of projection-receiving cavities; with the other of the first and second interface discs including a projection carrier ring having a multiplicity of projections for engagement with the cavities, with the cavities and projections arranged so that at least in a first registry position the projections overlie the cavities allowing the interface discs to rotatably relate the first hub with the second hub and when the projections and cavities are not in the first registry position the interface discs are prevented from rotatably relating the first hub with the second hub; wherein the projection carrier ring comprises, in combination: a flat, radially disposed ring portion terminating in its inner edge in a right angular annular inner flange; and projection receiving sockets for capturing the projections, with the right angular annular inner flange located radially inward of the projections tending to allow any dislodged projections to travel radially outward of the clutch and tending to prevent the dislodged projection from traveling radially inward of the clutch and between the interface discs of the clutch and jamming between the interface discs causing unwarranted engagement of the clutch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The coupling clutch of claim 6 wherein the distance between the first and second interface discs in the second axial position is larger than the projections for aiding in the prevention of any dislodged projection from jamming between the first and second interface discs and causing unwarranted engagement of the clutch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
The coupling clutch of claim 7 wherein the interface disc has a periphery having a diameter greater than the radial extent of the projection receiving cavities, and wherein the projection receiving cavities are located radially inward of the periphery of the interface disc forming a solid ring of material between the radial extent of the projection receiving cavities and the periphery of the interface disc to allow the interface disc to be more rigid and less likely to distort during heat treatment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The coupling clutch of claim 8 wherein the interface disc further comprises, in combination: an annular cavity for receiving the right angular annular inner flange of the projection carrier ring when the first and second interface discs are rotatably related.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
The coupling clutch of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second interface discs includes a multiplicity of projection-receiving cavities; with the other of the first and second interface discs including a multiplicity of projections for engagement with the cavities, with the cavities and projections arranged so that at least in a first registry position the projections overlie the cavities allowing the interface discs to rotatably relate the first hub with the second hub and when the projections and cavities are not in the first registry position the interface discs are prevented from rotatably relating the first hub with the second hub; and wherein the distance between the first and second interface discs in the second axial position is larger than the projections for tending to prevent any dislodged projection from jamming between the first and second interface discs and causing unwarranted engagement of the clutch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The coupling clutch of claim 10 wherein the projections are balls each having a diameter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
The coupling clutch of claim 1 wherein the moving means comprises, in combination: a piston reciprocally received in the housing; and a cylinder for receipt of fluid pressure for reciprocating the piston within the housing; and wherein the means for mounting the housing on the first interface disc comprises, in combination: means for axially relating the piston and the first interface disc and for rotatably mounting the piston on the first interface disc, wherein in the event of failure of the housing mounting means, the housing rotates with the interface disc causing the interruption of the receipt of fluid pressure to the cylinder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The coupling clutch of claim 12 further comprising, in combination: means for sealing between the piston and the housing; and wherein the first interface disc engages with the second interface disc in its second axial position; wherein the tolerances of the piston and the cylinder and the sealing means allow the canting of the first interface disc with respect to the first hub to take up horizontal misalignment of the first and second shafts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The coupling clutch of claim 12 further comprising, in combination: a radially extending annular leg integrally formed on the piston; circumferentially spaced apertures formed in the annular leg of the piston; torque pins axially extending from the housing and through the apertures of the annular leg of the piston for slideably mounting and rotatably relating the piston to the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The coupling clutch of claim 14 wherein the biasing means comprises, in combination: springs received on the torque pins and abutting and extending between the annular leg of the piston and the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
197 words
Clutch comprising, in combination: a first interface disc; means for slideably mounting the first interface disc along a clutch axial axis; means for biasing the first interface disc in a first axial direction towards a first axial position on the clutch axial axis; means for moving the first interface disc on the clutch axial axis in the opposite axial direction towards a second axial position; a second interface disc, with the second interface disc being selectively engagable with the first interface disc to rotatably relate the first interface disc and the second interface disc; means for slideably mounting the second interface disc along the clutch axial axis; a housing; means for mounting the housing on the first interface disc for axial movement therewith and for rotation of the housing relative to the first interface disc; means for mounting the housing on the second interface disc for axial movement therewith and for rotation of the housing relative to the second interface disc; and means for axially capturing the housing for preventing relative axial movement of the housing along the clutch axial axis, with the axially capturing means allowing rotation of the housing relative to the clutch axial axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
197 words
Clutch comprising, in combination: a first interface disc; means for slideably mounting the first interface disc along a clutch axial axis; means for biasing the first interface disc in a first axial direction towards a first axial position on the clutch axial axis; means for moving the first interface disc on the clutch axial axis in the opposite axial direction towards a second axial position; a second interface disc, with the second interface disc being selectively engagable with the first interface disc to rotatably relate the first interface disc and the second interface disc; means for slideably mounting the second interface disc along the clutch axial axis; a housing; means for mounting the housing on the first interface disc for axial movement therewith and for rotation of the housing relative to the first interface disc; means for mounting the housing on the second interface disc for axial movement therewith and for rotation of the housing relative to the second interface disc; and means for axially capturing the housing for preventing relative axial movement of the housing along the clutch axial axis, with the axially capturing means allowing rotation of the housing relative to the clutch axial axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The clutch of claim 16 further comprising, in combination: a first hub for receipt of a first shaft in a non-rotatable condition; a second hub for receipt of a second shaft in a non-rotatable condition; with the first interface disc being slideably mounted on the first hub; with the second interface disc being slideably mounted on the second hub.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The clutch of claim 17 wherein the axially capturing means comprises, in combination: a radially extending lip formed on the housing; and means formed on one of the first and second hubs for axially capturing the lip of the housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
The clutch of claim 18 wherein the lip capturing means comprises, in combination: a shoulder formed on the first hub for abutting with the lip of the housing; and means for retaining the lip of the housing on the first hub, with the lip of the housing being captured between the shoulder and the retaining means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
The clutch of claim 19 further comprising, in combination: a first bushing bumper located between the shoulder of the first hub and the lip of the housing; and a second bushing bumper located between the lip of the housing and the retaining means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
The clutch of claim 16 further comprising, in combination: means for substantially preventing slideable movement of the second interface disc with respect to the second hub and for allowing the canting of the second interface disc with respect to the second hub to take up angular misalignment of the first and second shafts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2384418A
Cited
US3760916A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-05 | 1990-07-07 | 1991-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-05 | 1994-07-07 | 1995-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-05 | 1998-07-07 | 1999-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |