Dana Corporation

Other

Loris J Charchian

Thaddeus F Zlotek

Dennis W Shea

Larry E Marvin

David Charles Heidenreich

Donald O Emmons

George R Boxhorn

Albert A Hart

An improved four wheel drive system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a first carrier assembly connected to a power generation system of the vehicle and adapted to transmit power to a first pair of drive wheels. A second carrier assembly having an input member and an output member connected to a second pair of drive wheels is also provided. The second carrier assembly is adapted to transmit power from the input member to the output member. A mechanism is provided for selectively connecting the first carrier assembly to the input member of the second carrier assembly for transmitting power thereto. A biasing structure is further provided for moving one of the input and output members relative to the other of the input and output members prior to connecting the first carrier assembly to the input member of the second carrier assembly. In a first embodiment, a rack and pinion arrangement is provided to rotate the input member relative to the output member, while a clutch is connected between the first carrier assembly and the input member. A vacuum control circuit and an electrical control circuit sense the movement of the input member and prevent the clutch from connecting the first carrier assembly to the input member until the input member has moved a predetermined amount. In a second embodiment, drive gears and biasing gears are selectively connected to the input member by first and second clutches, respectively. A hydraulic control circuit and an electrical control circuit are provided to prevent the first clutch from connecting the drive gear to the input member prior to the second clutch connecting the biasing gear to the input member.

Four wheel drive system including disengagement means

A backstop and standby drive coupling using a sprag-type clutch is disclosed. The coupling includes a lubrication arrangement providing oil lubrication and cooling from an external supply and internal recirculation from an internal sump. Lubrication flow paths for distributing oil to critical parts of the coupling and to control the flow of surplus oil are provided.

Coupling lubrication system

Disclosed is a coupling device in the form of an overrunning clutch particularly adapted for 'holdback', stand-by drive and 'creep' drive applications. A one-way clutch means, preferably in the form of a sprag clutch provides selective drive between a normally driven member and a normally passive member. The 'passive' member may be retained against any rotation or may be driven at any speed less than that of the normally driven member. In the illustrated embodiment the normally driven member comprises a sleeve adapted to accept a shaft. The sleeve is drivingly connected to the outer race of the one-way clutch. The inner race of the overrunning clutch is fixed to a housing for the assembly and serves as the passive drive member. Means are provided thereon for connection to a stationary member or an auxiliary drive. The passive member is supported on the normally driven member by a pair of bearing means one on either side of the one-way clutch. One bearing means is supported on the exterior of the normally driven means and one is supported within said means. A lubrication system is provided which includes a fill plug, a level check plug and a vent plug in the housing.

Lubrication arrangement for a coupling device

An improved variable speed pulley for adjusting the drive ratio between two shafts interconnected through two pulleys and a V-belt. The variable speed pulley has a hub which is attached through to one shaft with a collet. A number of keys of generally square cross sections with two opposed chamfered corners are located at each end of the hub in V-shaped axially directed keyways spaced around the periphery of the hub and in correspondingly spaced V-shaped keyways around interior openings through each of two sheave halves to permit axial movement of the sheave halves on the hub. Bushings retain the four keys within each sheave half. The bushings and the keys are of a compliant material to prevent fretting corrosion. The keys engage the bushings to prevent the bushings from rotating with respect to the sheave half and hub. A helical spring located within a spring housing is compressed between each sheave half and an adjacent one of two retainer rings located in grooves near each end of the hub. The springs urge the sheave halves together with a predetermined force. In a modified embodiment of the pulley, one sheave half is fixed to the hub.

Variable speed pulley

Disclosed is an overrunning clutch particularly adapted for 'holdback,' stand-by drive and 'creep' drive applications. A one-way clutch means, preferably in the form of a sprag clutch provides selective drive between a normally driven member and a normally passive member. The 'passive' member may be retained against any rotation or may be driven at any speed less than that of the normally driven member. In the illustrated embodiment the normally driven member comprises a sleeve adapted to accept a shaft. The sleeve is drivingly connected to the outer race of the one-way clutch. The inner race of the overrunning clutch is fixed to a housing for the assembly and serves as the passive drive member. Means are provided thereon for connection to a stationary member or an auxiliary drive. The passive member is supported on the normally driven member by a pair of bearing means one on either side of the one-way clutch. One bearing means is supported on the exterior of the normally driven means and one is supported within said means.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Loris J Charchian