US4987790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transmission
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-04-04
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Granted: 1991-01-29
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Expires: 2009-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A transmission having engagement mechanisms which employ an engagement inner having cam surfaces forming the race thereof, an engagement outer having a circular outer race and rollers therebetween. A cage mechanism angularly positions the rollers such that they may be wedged between the cam surfaces and the outer race so as to interlock the engagement inner and outer. Actuator mechanisms are employed which are axially movable to engage and angularly position the cages relative to the engagement inner for controlling the engagement mechanism. A plurality of control systems both electronic and mechanical control the operation of the engagement mechanism so as to require substantially synchronous movement between engaging elements. Alternately, nonsynchronous shifting may be accomplished under power for power or rapid shifting.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter H. Weismann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:57
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D41/00; F16D41/06; F16D41/08; F16D41/086; F16D41/088; F16D5/00; F16H; F16H3/00; F16H3/02; F16H3/08; F16H3/10; F16H63/00; F16H63/02; F16H63/08; F16H63/16; F16H63/30; F16H2063/3093; F16H61/00; F16H61/04; F16H61/0403; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19219; Y10T74/19242; Y10T74/19251; Y10T74/19279
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; an engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including an outer race; an engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said engagement inner including an inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said outer race; wedging elements between said inner race and said outer race; a cage between said inner race and said outer race, said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively couple said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements, said cage having a first actuator portion; an actuator including a pin extending from inwardly of said hollow shaft to adjacent said cage and being angularly fixed relative to said engagement inner, said pin including a second actuator portion and being slidable along its length to selectively engage said first actuator portion and said second actuator portion to angularly displace said cage relative to said cam surfaces, and a shift member coupled with said pin to selectively extend said pin to said cage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; an engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including an outer race; an engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said engagement inner including an inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said outer race; wedging elements between said inner race and said outer race; a cage between said inner race and said outer race, said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively couple said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements, said cage having a first actuator portion; an actuator including a pin extending from inwardly of said hollow shaft to adjacent said cage and being angularly fixed relative to said engagement inner, said pin including a second actuator portion and being slidable along its length to selectively engage said first actuator portion and said second actuator portion to angularly displace said cage relative to said cam surfaces, and a shift member coupled with said pin to selectively extend said pin to said cage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The engagement mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first actuator portion is a hole extending radially in said cage, said second actuator portion is a head on said pin sized to fit within said hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The engagement mechanism of claim 2 wherein said hole and said head have a tapered fit to align said hole and said pin by mutual engagement thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The engagement mechanism of claim 1 wherein said shift member is slidably positioned in said hollow shaft and has a cam, said pin has a cam follower engaging said cam, said cam including a first position with said pin engaging said cage and a second position with said pin being out of engagement with said cage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The engagement mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a control member positioned about said second actuator portion and being in sliding engagement with said engagement outer, said second actuator portion having an engagement shoulder facing away from said first actuator portion, said control member having a locking shoulder adjacent said pin to face and selectively interlock with said engagement shoulder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
299 words
An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; a first engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including a first outer race; a second engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including a second outer race; a first engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said first engagement inner including a first inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said first outer race; a second engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said second engagement inner including a second inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said second outer race; wedging elements between said inner races and said outer races, respectively; a cage between each said inner race and each said outer race, each said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively couple the associated said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements, each said cage having a first actuator portion; a first and a second actuator, each said actuator including a pin extending from inwardly of said hollow shaft to adjacent a said cage and being angularly fixed relative to said engagement inners, each said pin including a second actuator portion and being slidable along its length to selectively engage a said first actuator portion with said actuator portion to angularly displace said cage relative to said cam surfaces; a shift member slidably positioned in said hollow shaft and including a cam, each said pin having a cam follower engaging said cam, said cam including a first position with one said pin engaging said cage and the other said pin not engaging said cage, a second position with both said pins engaging said cage and a third position being the reverse of said first position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
299 words
An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; a first engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including a first outer race; a second engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including a second outer race; a first engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said first engagement inner including a first inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said first outer race; a second engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said second engagement inner including a second inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said second outer race; wedging elements between said inner races and said outer races, respectively; a cage between each said inner race and each said outer race, each said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively couple the associated said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements, each said cage having a first actuator portion; a first and a second actuator, each said actuator including a pin extending from inwardly of said hollow shaft to adjacent a said cage and being angularly fixed relative to said engagement inners, each said pin including a second actuator portion and being slidable along its length to selectively engage a said first actuator portion with said actuator portion to angularly displace said cage relative to said cam surfaces; a shift member slidably positioned in said hollow shaft and including a cam, each said pin having a cam follower engaging said cam, said cam including a first position with one said pin engaging said cage and the other said pin not engaging said cage, a second position with both said pins engaging said cage and a third position being the reverse of said first position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
200 words
An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; an engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including an outer race; an engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said engagement inner including an inner race having a plurality of central depressions with two inclined surfaces extending upwardly and outwardly in opposite directions from each said central depression; wedging elements between said inner race and said outer race; a cage between said inner race and said outer race, said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said inclined surfaces to selectively couple said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements with either of said two inclined surfaces, said cage having a first actuator portion; an actuator mounted in said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative to said engagement inner, said actuator including a second actuator portion selectively engaging said first actuator portion to angularly displace said cage relative to said inclined surfaces for alignment of said wedging elements with said central depressions and selectively disengaging said first actuator portion to allow movement of said cage for movement of said wedging elements along said inclined surfaces to engage said outer race.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
200 words
An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; an engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including an outer race; an engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said engagement inner including an inner race having a plurality of central depressions with two inclined surfaces extending upwardly and outwardly in opposite directions from each said central depression; wedging elements between said inner race and said outer race; a cage between said inner race and said outer race, said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said inclined surfaces to selectively couple said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements with either of said two inclined surfaces, said cage having a first actuator portion; an actuator mounted in said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative to said engagement inner, said actuator including a second actuator portion selectively engaging said first actuator portion to angularly displace said cage relative to said inclined surfaces for alignment of said wedging elements with said central depressions and selectively disengaging said first actuator portion to allow movement of said cage for movement of said wedging elements along said inclined surfaces to engage said outer race.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-01-28 | 1994-07-30 | 1995-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-01-28 | 1998-07-30 | 1999-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-01-28 | 2002-07-30 | 2003-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |