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:
Jun. 15, 1982
Filed:
Feb. 19, 1980
Bruce E Plumb, Salinas, CA (US);
Bud Antle Inc., Salinas, CA (US);
Abstract
In a wheel drive mechanism adapted to produce high torque, low speed power to the wheel through a gearing system that includes a sun gear and a plurality of planetary pinion gears meshed therewith, a mechanism for disengaging the sun gear to ready the vehicle for high speed travel over a highway. The sun gear is supported on a drive shaft that has an elongated splined portion so that the sun gear can be moved axially into a position at which it is disengaged from the planetary pinion gears. A spring biases the sun gear into engagement with the planetary pinion gears and there is mechanism for controllably sliding the sun gear along the splined shaft portion against the spring. The mechanism is accessible from the exterior of the wheel hub, is fast acting and provides for locking the sun gear in either its engaged position or disengaged position.