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:
Apr. 01, 2008
Filed:
Apr. 27, 2005
Thomas Houtman, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Russell E. Monahan, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Thomas Houtman, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Russell E. Monahan, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
NTN Automotive Center, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides clutch systems for the control of the transmission of torque to the front (or rear) wheels of a vehicle (e.g., an ATV), thus being operable to change the vehicle from a two-wheel, rear-drive (or front-drive) vehicle to a four wheel drive vehicle by engaging the clutch systems thereof. The clutch system is contained within an extended portion of a housing that also contains a differential system, thus eliminating the need for fastening a separate clutch system housing to the differential housing. The clutch system is actuated by energizing a coil which in turn causes tab members of an actuation disk to disengage from notches formed on an inner race, allowing the actuation of a roller clutch system. When the coil is de-energized, the actuation disk engages the inner race and prevents inadvertent or undesired actuation of the clutch system.