Manually-operated axially-engaging positive clutch

Claim 1

A hub mechanism for four wheel drive vehicles comprising; a housing having axially directed inner and outer end portions, a pinion rotatably supported at the inner end of the housing, said housing having radially inwardly directed splines surrounding the pinion, and said pinion having radially outwardly directed splines spaced from the splines of the housing, and a clutch ring axially moveable in said housing between a first position interengaged with both the pinion and housing splines, and a second position disengaged with at least one of the pinion and housing splines, a first spring means at the inner end of the housing between the housing and clutch ring and continuously urging the clutch ring to the second position, a dial rotatably mounted in the outer end portion of the housing and having a finger grip exposed for manual turning thereof, and a cam means and second spring means relatively stronger than the first spring means interposed between the clutch ring and dial, one of said second spring means, in its entirety and independent of spring compression and expansion, and said cam means being rotatable with the dial and the other being non rotatable and axially moveable along the splines of the housing, said cam means and said second spring means having a first relative cammed position responsive to the respective axial and rotative movements thereof for urging spring biased movement of the clutch ring to the first position and thereby compression of the first spring means, and having a second relative cammed position responsive to the respective axial and rotative movements thereof for withdrawing said spring biased urging to thereby allow the first spring means to move the clutch ring to the second position.