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:
Jul. 27, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 28, 1992
John R Botterill, Saarbrucken, DE;
GKN Automotive AG, Siegburg, DE;
Abstract
A gearbox switchable under load, has at least two parallel shafts to achieve different transmission stages. The shafts both carry gears which permanently engage each other in pairs. Each one of the gears may be connected to its associated shaft via a friction coupling which is switchable by an axially effective operating assembly. The operating assembly includes at least one first adjusting ring which is rotatable and axially fixed relative to the shaft. Also, the operating assembly has at least one second pressure ring which is non-rotatable and axially movable relative to the shaft. The rings are arranged relative to each other and rotate a limited angular amount. The opposed end faces of the pressure ring and adjusting ring are provided with circumferentially extending groove pairs to accommodate at least three rolling members. The depths of the groove pairs are variable in opposite directions. The pressure ring acts, via an axial pressure bearing, on the friction coupling. The adjusting ring and the pressure ring may be rotated relative to each other, via a rotator assembly, to spread apart relative to each other via the rolling members and the groove pairs. The above-mentioned parts form a spreading mechanism with the friction coupling, at least partially, radially embracing the spreading mechanism. The rotator assembly, via teeth at an outer disc connected to the adjusting ring, engages the adjusting ring with a gear drive and/or chain drive.