The Hilliard Corporation

Mathew Cowen

David C Ochab

Howard J Knickerbocker

A bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly for engaging secondary driven shafts in a four wheel drive vehicle. The assembly includes a differential housing with a pinion input gear rotatably disposed within it that is engaged to a drive shaft. A bi-directional overrunning clutch housing is engaged to the pinion gear. A roll cage assembly is located inside the clutch housing. A pair of hubs are positioned within the roll cage assembly and connected to the secondary driven shafts. An electromagnetic system controls indexes the roll cage in a first direction relative to the clutch housing a first indexing device for coupling the secondary drive shaft to the secondary driven axles when four wheel drive is needed, and in an opposite direction using a second indexing device when an engine braking condition is needed. A spring assembly is preferably used to bias the roll cage back to a neutral position.

Growing community of inventors

Horseheads, NY, United States of America

Mathew Cowen