The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 2021
Filed:
Jul. 23, 2019
Applicant:
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Inventors:
Thomas Eugene Kathman, Jr., Livonia, MI (US);
Gregory D. Gardner, Livonia, MI (US);
Norman Jerry Bird, Plymouth, MI (US);
Diana Barbara Placha, Westland, MI (US);
Xiaoyong Lu, Canton, MI (US);
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F16D 11/16 (2006.01); F16D 27/09 (2006.01); F16D 27/01 (2006.01); B60K 17/02 (2006.01); F16D 121/20 (2012.01); B60K 17/35 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F16D 11/16 (2013.01); B60K 17/02 (2013.01); B60K 17/3515 (2013.01); F16D 27/01 (2013.01); F16D 27/09 (2013.01); F16D 2121/20 (2013.01); F16D 2300/08 (2013.01); F16D 2300/14 (2013.01);
Abstract
Methods and system are provided for locking a half shaft to a wheel hub to engage four wheel drive are disclosed. In one example, a wheel hub is locked to a half shaft via a radially expanding engagement mechanism. The radially expanding engagement mechanism is without grease and without springs.