Abstract: A shift actuator (10, 100, 200) for selectively shifting a shift member (12, 102) to one of at least two selectable operating positions is provided. The actuator includes a rotational member such as a cam (36) or scotch yoke flywheel (204) rotatably driven by a unidirectional rotational motor (26) to one of two or more selectable rotational positions, each of which rotational positions is effective to cause a single compression spring (56, 166) to urge an engagement member (64 and 66, 108) to axially move the shift member to one of the at least two selected positions.

Abstract: A speed change mechanism, which includes a housing enclosing a travelling nut on a rotatable screw shaft, incorporates a device for limiting torsional impact loads on the shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the torque limiting device is comprised of two groups of annular members at each end of the shaft for frictionally absorbing impact loads created by sudden stoppage of the nut at respective ends of the shaft. Each group is comprised of at least one friction disc rotatably fixed but axially slidable with respect to the nut, and at least one torque reaction member non-rotatable within the housing against which an associated friction disc is urged via spring. Inertial loads created at ends of nut travel are thereby transferred to the housing instead of the screw shaft. In addition, the two groups of annular members cooperate with the spring to provide a pre-load shifter function for the speed change mechanism.

Abstract: A gear clutch for selective locking engagement of the coupling element with a corresponding gear comprises a rocker reciprocably pivoting on a coupling element and movable therewith. The rocker alternately interlocks with related gears via shifting and spring means operatively interconnected therewith.

Abstract: A park-lock mechanism for a vehicle equipped with a transmission operatively controlled by a pair of shift levers. One of the shift levers is a range selector shift lever and the other is a gear speed shift lever. The park-lock mechanism is comprised of a spring-loaded capsule positioned on the range selector shift lever, and an interlocking mechanism which is mounted adjacent to both of the shift levers. The spring-loaded capsule provides a means for preloading the range selector shift lever into the park position only when the interlocking mechanism has the transmission positioned in its lowest gear speed.

Abstract: A load-taking device for use in the disc pack of a multi-disc brake assembly. The load-taking device is located at one end of the pack, interposed between the pack and a cylinder for applying thrust to the pack or for resisting thrust applied to the pack. It has an annular support and a plurality of hollow bell-shaped load-taking members extending from one side of the support in circumferentially spaced relation which are rounded at the ends which contact the adjacent disc of the pack.

Abstract: A transmission for an automotive vehicle, comprising a main shaft, a synchrohub fixedly supported by said main shaft, a forward gear rotatably supported by said main shaft next to one side of said synchrohub, a reverse gear rotatably supported by said main shaft next to the other side of said synchrohub, a first clutch gear integrally formed on a side of said forward gear, corresponding to said synchrohub, a second clutch gear integrally formed on a side of said reverse gear, corresponding to said synchrohub, a coupling sleeve slidably mounted on said synchrohub in the axial direction of said main shaft for engaging selectively with said first or second clutch gear, a shift fork having one end portion which is positioned near said coupling sleeve with a predetermined range of relative motion available therebetween, for shifting said coupling sleeve in the axial direction of said main shaft, and spring means arranged between said coupling sleeve and said shift fork for biasing said shift fork, relative to said

Abstract: Transfer unit includes a shift rod which is slidably supported at both ends in a transfer case and is adapted to cooperate with a shift fork to effect changeover between two wheel and four wheel drive conditions. The shift fork is supported by the shift rod so as to be movable in both shift directions and is resiliently retained in position on the shift rod.

Abstract: A diaphragm spring-type clutch assembly for an automotive vehicle or similar application wherein the diaphragm spring includes a plurality of outwardly extending integral cushion fingers on the periphery of the spring disc and arranged at such an angle as to engage the pressure plate of the clutch before the spring engages the fulcrum surface on the pressure plate as the clutch is engaged and thus cushion the engagement of the clutch.

Abstract: Resilient shift mechanism for shifting gears in a transaxle, transmission, gear box, or the like is provided. In a gear drive for a small vehicle such as a garden tractor or a self-propelled lawn mower, it is often difficult to disengage a shift dog from a gear when under a heavy load. In some instances, the shift mechanism, such as a shifter fork, can be distorted, bent, or broken. The new shift mechanism includes a shifter fork for moving a shift dog or clutch collar and a resilient shift lever for moving the shifter fork. The lever has a resilient leg which yields when the shift lever attempts to move the shift dog while the transmission is under a heavy load. The resilient shift lever, being stressed, will subsequently shift the shift dog when the load has diminished.

Abstract: A friction transmitting device for automative vehicles utilizes a clutch assembly containing a diaphragm spring and a pressure plate having a fulcrum surface with an elastic device therein providing modulating means for engagement of the clutch plate. The elastic device comprises several spring-biased fulcrum members located in openings formed in the pressure plate fulcrum surface to be engaged by the diaphragm spring and cushion engagement of the clutch.

Abstract: Two cooperatively arranged pistons and a spring interposed therebetween are arranged within the clutch, one of the pistons is formed as a simple and compact annular plate with flat parallel surfaces and the other formed with an annular recess for receiving the plate.

Abstract: A clutch apparatus for a marine drive lower gear case includes a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in a gear case housing. A drive gear for both forward and reverse is positioned in the housing coaxial with the propeller shaft and a clutch member is rotatably fixed on the propeller shaft and movable axially into drive engagement with the drive gear. Clutch engaging elements are provided on opposed portions of the drive gears and the clutch member. Shift means utilizing a positive acting cam means positively move the clutch member into and out of engagement from the drive gears. The shift means also include a releasable latch means to positively maintain the shift means in the engaged position and a preloading means between the shift means and the clutch member to snap the clutch member into engagement.

Abstract: A wheel hub clutching mechanism includes an internally splined body, and a clutch ring which is adapted to be meshed with a shaft driven pinion and is resiliently connected by means of a connecting spring to a follower which, in turn, is controlled by means of a rotatable cam. The follower and the clutch ring are biased toward the locked positions thereof by means of a compression spring when the cam is rotated to its locked position by means of a manually operated handle, and the clutch ring is retracted to the free position thereof together with the follower when the cam is rotated to its free position by means of the handle. A pinion supporting member is also interposed between the shaft driven pinion and the body, the splines of the body being formed so as to be substantially parallel to the shaft axis.

Abstract: The axially movable pressure plate for a disc clutch is comprised of an annular main pressure plate and an annular auxiliary pressure plate connected to each other by a plurality of radially disposed plate springs disposed intermediate the main plate and the auxiliary plate and having a wavy cross-sectional configuration in the circumferential direction tending to separate the main plate and auxiliary plate from each other and provide a cushioning effect when the composite pressure plate is shifted into engagement with the clutch disc. Additional plate springs having a similar wavy cross-section in the circumferential direction may be connected only to the auxiliary pressure plate intermediate the plate springs which interconnect the main pressure plate and the auxiliary pressure plate.

Abstract: A friction clutch for gas-turbine engine transmission gear has a casing which accommodates friction plates arranged between the back plate and pressure plate and an axially movable piston elastically coupled to the casing for pressing the friction plates when the engine operates in the traction mode by way of fluid under pressure fed to a variable-volume chamber defined by the casing and piston, and for pressing the friction plates when the engine operates in the braking mode from individual drive comprising a shaft of the gas-turbine engine transmission gear which is kinematically associated with the piston through a cam mechanism. Elastic coupling of the piston to the casing comprises an auxiliary variable-volume chamber in permanent communication with a fluid source via a throttle aperture, the auxiliary chamber being located opposite the variable-volume chamber between the casing and piston and defined by a cylinder mounted in the casing and another piston rigidly connected to the first piston.

Abstract: A clutch release bearing having an outer cap provided with at least one extending lug is connected to a clutch release actuating element by a flat spring having a planar shank at one end adapted to be connected to the lug and a planar shank at the other end adapted to be articulatingly connected to the actuating element. The spring is bent between the end shanks in an unstressed condition wherein the shanks lie at an acute angle to each other. During assembly the spring is further bent so that its shanks lie substantially over one another and the spring is in stressed condition.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes fluid pressure actuated brakes and a fluid-pressure engaged transmission. A pair of brake pedals is provided, the first actuating the brakes only, and the second actuating the brakes and also operating a valve for releasing transmission pressure upon application of the second brake pedal, and holding transmission pressure upon release of the second brake pedal. Such valve is operated by transmission of movement of the second brake pedal to a movable valving element, with means provided so that for a given movement of the second brake pedal, the valving element moves less, to provide a degree of valve sensitivity. Adjustment means are associated with the second brake pedal and valving element, to synchronize the operation of the brakes with the engagement and disengagement of the transmission.

Abstract: A hydraulic release mechanism for automobile clutches comprising a housing open at one end and a bearing. The bearing comprises a rotating race ring adapted to be connected to the operating member of the clutch, a non-rotating race ring and a plurality of rolling elements located therebetween. The non-rotating race ring is slidably arranged with respect to the housing, and seal means is arranged between the housing and the axial frontal end of the non-rotating race ring to enclose space between the sliding surfaces while permitting the race ring to move on introduction of pressurized fluid into the housing.

Abstract: A multi-disc hydraulically operated friction clutch is provided with valve means in the form of longitudinally split plugs received in the drain openings of the plunger and varying the flow passage area of these openings, depending on the position of the plunger. Said plugs of the valve means are displaced, on the one hand, by the contact thereof with the pressure disc of the clutch, and, on the other hand, by their abutting against the housing of the clutch. By selecting the ratings of the valve means, i.e., the dimensions of the drain slit in the plugs, it is possible to ensure any required degree of smoothness of engagement of the clutch, the pressure disc acting upon the package of the friction discs with a gradually varying effort, proportional to the rate of draining of the working fluid through the plunger.

Abstract: A friction clutch for a power driven element such as a rotary blade in which the element is seated on a drive shaft having a flange and an adjacent thread having an associated nut. Adjacent the driven element is a washer assembly which includes a rubber washer and a Bellville washer having its concave side faced toward the rubber washer so as to develop frictional clutching force between the shaft and the power driven element as the nut is tightened, the concavity of the Bellville washer serving to confine the rubber washer against radial expansion and the rubber washer, by its confinement, serving to prevent collapse of the Bellville washer upon severe tightening of the nut.

Abstract: A clutch release bearing wherein an annular wear plate is supported on the outer race structure of the bearing for limited displacement relative thereto by means of a resilient annular element. When the bearing is shifted axially of the clutch to uncouple driving and driven clutch members from each other, the wear plate contacts the release levers of the clutch at a location disposed radially displaced either inwardly or outwardly from the bulk of the resilient annular element. The bulk of the resilient annular element is also disposed axially between where it engages the annular wear plate and where it engages the outer race structure. In this way, the wear plate can assume a position wherein it generally uniformly engages all individual release levers of the clutch and with a minimum of relative movement occurring therebetween. Thus, the annular wear plate is considered self-aligning and provides a bearing construction which compensates for both out-of-square and eccentricity conditions which may exist.