Warn Industries, Inc.

Erik O Roe

Bryan M Averill

Steven W Shuyler

Bryon M Borntrager

Kip E Clohessy

Fred L Ewer

Darren K Johnson

Richard L Rickert

A wheel end of a vehicle includes a knuckle and a wheel and wheel hub rotatably mounted to the knuckle. A CV-joint is positioned adjacent to the wheel hub. A clutch ring is slidable between engagement with one of the wheel hub and the CV-joint or both. A pneumatic annular actuator is connected to a shift fork that is engaged with the clutch ring for movement of the clutch ring between engaged and dis-engaged. The shift fork includes a base portion and an L-shaped section. The L-shaped section includes a plurality of slots therein to allow the shift fork to deflect and pivot when a misalignment occurs between the teeth of the constant velocity joint half shaft and the clutch ring during assembly of the CV-joint to the wheel hub. The pneumatic actuator includes an elastomeric diaphragm wall that includes a compliant stop extending axially therefrom.

Integrated wheel end shift fork compliant stop

A winch assembly includes a housing member, a drum rotatably coupled to the housing member, a drive shaft extending through the drum and into the housing member, a gear train located within the housing member and driven by the shaft, a coupling member axially fixed to the shaft, and a clutch assembly including a clutch knob. The shaft is fixed for rotation with and axially displaceable relative to a drive input. The clutch knob is rotatably coupled to the housing member and includes an axially extending ramped surface that axially displaces the shaft in first and second axial directions upon rotation of the clutch knob in first and second rotary directions. Rotation in the first rotary direction rotationally couples the drum to the gear train through engagement with the coupling member and rotation in the second rotary direction disengages the drum from rotational engagement with the gear train.

Winch assembly including clutch mechanism

An interlock mechanism is provided for a wheel end disconnect device. The interlock mechanism is activated by negative pressure for engaging and disengaging a wheel hub from an axle shaft. Vacuum pressure is routed through a wheel bearing for activating the interlock mechanism.

Vacuum actuated wheel hub

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Erik O Roe