The Hilliard Corporation

John Michael Hasson, Jr

Kelly P Heath

James E Palmer

Howard J Knickerbocker

David C Ochab

Matthew J Cowen

J Brendan Brewer

Brendan Brewer

An on-demand four-wheel drive system includes a differential for the rear axle, a differential for the front axle, and a center differential connecting to the front and rear axle differentials. All three of the differentials contain a bi-directional overrunning roller clutch to enable locking of their respective outputs. The clutches provide a superior on-demand four-wheel drive system that distributes power to each drive wheel to propel the vehicle.

Center differential and drive system for four wheel drive

A bi-directional overrunning clutch differential for controlling torque transmission between a pinion input shaft and at least one output hub. The clutch having a clutch housing and the roll cage mounted within the housing. An engagement control assembly is provided for controlling the relative position of the roll cage with respect to a cam surface on the clutch housing. The engagement control assembly includes an electronically controlled actuation device, such as a coil or solenoid, which when activated causes the roll cage to rotate into a second position relative to the clutch housing to engage the rolls with the cam surface and an outer surface of the hub. A spring is engaged with the clutch housing and has an end engaged with the roll cage for biasing the roll cage into a neutral position when the roll cage is in its second position.

Engagement control assembly for a bi-directional overrunning clutch

A pump includes a cam member and an armature plate received on an input shaft rotatably supported with a differential housing of a clutch. The pump also includes a cylinder rod slidingly received in a chamber of a master cylinder to pressurize a hydraulic fluid. The cam member includes a ring and a back plate. The ring has an outer, preferably symmetrical, surface with a variable radius defining a ramped portion for outwardly driving the cylinder rod when the cam member is rotated either forward or backward with respect to the differential housing. A coil generates an electromagnetic field when activated drawing the cam member towards the armature plate such that contact forces causes the cam member to rotate with the armature plate. A roller disc is rotatably supported at one end of the cylinder rod for rolling contact between the cylinder rod and the cam surface of the cam member ring.

Self-energizing pump for overrunning clutch

Growing community of inventors

Elmira, NY, United States of America

John Michael Hasson, Jr