Centrifugal Actuator Patents (Class 475/232)
  • Patent number: 11118664
    Abstract: A differential assembly that includes a differential input member, a differential gear set, a first clutch, and a second clutch. The differential input member is rotatable about a differential axis and defines an internal cavity. The differential gear set is received in the differential cavity and includes first and second side gears. The first clutch has a plurality of first clutch plates and a plurality of second clutch plates. The first clutch plates are rotatably coupled to the differential input member. The second clutch plates are interleaved with the first clutch plates and are rotatably coupled to the first side gear. The second clutch is selectively operable to non-rotatably couple one of the first and second side gears to the differential input member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick E. Zink, Joshua A. Kirby, Joseph S. Balenda, II, Michael Schulte
  • Patent number: 10364850
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism includes a gear including clutch teeth, a housing having axial holes, including displaceable pins, each pin fitted in one of the holes, and a plate of forged powdered metal, the plate including second teeth, axial displacement of the pins causing axial displacement of the plate relative to the gear and the housing, and engagement of the second teeth with the clutch teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Andonian, Jihong Guo, Dennis W. Isken, II, Jacob M. Povirk, Kevin M. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20150105210
    Abstract: A differential comprises a first side gear and a second side gear facing the first side gear. A pinion gear set can be between the first side gear and the second side gear. A cam plate comprises a ramped side facing a ramped side of the first side gear. A first lock plate comprises a first side abutting a second side of the cam plate. The first lock plate further comprises a toothed side. A second lock plate comprises a toothed side facing the toothed side of the first lock plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Ashish Wadhva, Andrew Nathan Edler, Patrick John McMillan
  • Publication number: 20100267512
    Abstract: A differential is provided that includes a first and second side gear and a reaction block disposed between the first and second side gear. The differential further includes an engagement mechanism configured to have at least a portion of the engagement mechanism that is moveable from a retracted position to an extended position and a lock-out mechanism that is configured to engage the portion of the engagement mechanism. The lock-out mechanism is mounted to the reaction block. A reaction block for a differential in which a lock-out mechanism is mounted on the reaction block is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Kent M. Curtis
  • Patent number: 7559869
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a limited slip differential with friction using a pressure generating device. The limited slip differential includes a first side pinion gear and a second side pinion gear opposite to each other, a pair of differential pinion gears each of which is rotated in engagement with the first and second side pinion gears friction plates arranged at rear sides of the first and second side pinion gears friction plates arranged at rear sides of the first and second side pinion gears, and a pressure generating device having a cover gear and a piston gear and being constructed such that the cover gear and the piston gear engage with the second side pinion gear and first side pinion gear, respectively, and can be displaced away from each other in a longitudinal direction of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporate Collaboration
    Inventor: Chang Sung Seok
  • Publication number: 20090088288
    Abstract: it is an object of the present invention to provide a differential limiting apparatus increasing the capacity of the clutch to obtain the enough large differential limiting force. The differential limiting apparatus comprising a housing 2 rotated by driving force of a driving source, a differential mechanism 3 having one pair of output gears 3A, 3B to distribute said driving force to one pair of output shafts differentially, a clutch 4 disposed directly between the one pair of output gears 3A, 3B and having the inner clutch plate 4A and the outer clutch plate 4B as an annular frictional plate to restrict a differential movement of the differential mechanism 3, and an output mechanism 5 driving said clutch 4, the output mechanism 5 includes a first cam 52C moved along an axial direction, and a pushing pin 35 as a transmitting member transmitting the axial movement of said first cam 52C to the clutch 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichiro NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 7438661
    Abstract: An improved differential gear mechanism is characterized by a lockout mechanism (129) operably associated with a latch member (119) that cooperates with a flyweight mechanism (53) to retard differentiating action in the differential gear mechanism. The lockout mechanism (129) includes a lockout member (131) positionable, in response to an input signal, in a normal condition and a lockout condition. In the normal condition, the lockout member (131) permits the latch member (119) to move freely between a locking position and an unlocking position. In the lockout condition, the lockout member (131) prevents the latch member (119) from moving into the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Kyle, Keith E. Morgensai, Thomas L. Sape, Gregory L. Heatwole
  • Patent number: 7395876
    Abstract: A drill/driver (2) includes first (32) and second (52) drive shaft. The two drive shafts (32, 52) are independently rotatable about respective axes (A-A, B-B) thereby to selectably choose the radial and axial position of the final output drive of the drill/driver. A shaft lock (56) is provided to enable the user to selectively lock either or both of the shafts (32, 52) against rotation about their respective axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Walker
  • Patent number: 7361116
    Abstract: An improved differential gear mechanism is characterized by a lockout mechanism (63) operably associated with a flyweight mechanism (53) and including a lockout member (65, 101) positionable, in response to an input signal, in a normal condition and a lockout condition. In the normal condition, the lockout member (65, 101) permits a flyweight stop surface (57) to move from the retracted position to the extended position. In the lockout condition, the lockout member (65, 101) prevents the flyweight stop surface (57) from moving from the retracted position to the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Kyle, Keith E. Morgensai, Thomas L. Sape, Gregory L. Heatwole
  • Publication number: 20080058151
    Abstract: An improved differential gear mechanism is characterized by a cam mechanism including a first cam member fixed to rotate with one of said output gears and a second cam member free to rotate relative to said first cam member and said output gear. The first cam member defines a first cam surface and the second cam member defines a second cam surface engagable with the first cam surface to impart movement of the second cam member along axis. The first cam member comprises a powdered metal component, which provides consistency in the cam surface profile and eliminates the substantial capital equipment needed to machine the cam surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Kent M. Curtis
  • Patent number: 7056256
    Abstract: A differential locking section is provided between a pair of output members that respectively mesh with a pair of gears. Since, at least one of the output members is composed of a first output shaft member that meshes with the gear, and a second output shaft member rotatable with and axially movable relative to the first output shaft member, differential locking can be effected by axially moving only the second output shaft member, while the mesh between the first output shaft member and one of gears is leaving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Asahi
  • Publication number: 20030017904
    Abstract: A device for coupling an input shaft and an output shaft is provided. The device includes a carrier coupled to the input shaft, a pressure chamber, and a rotary pump coupled to the carrier in the output shaft. The rotary pump is adapted to increase pressure in the pressure chamber upon relative rotational movement of the carrier and the output shaft and to resist relative rotational movement of the carrier in the output shaft upon the presence of sufficient pressure in the pressure chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventor: Hyeongcheol Lee
  • Publication number: 20020193200
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the automatic transmission in general, and in particular to the speed of the car automatically converting according to the difference of the turbine runner's torque gained from the engine, and the load transmitted to the ring gear of the gear reduction device. Further, utilizing the energy of the electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Sun T. Hong
  • Patent number: 6319166
    Abstract: A locking differential of the type including a clutch pack (31,33) actuated by a cam arrangement (43,45) to lock the side gears (19,21) relative to the gear case (11). Lock-up is initiated by retarding rotation of one of the cam members (45), by means of a flyweight mechanism (51). Disposed adjacent the flyweight mechanism is a latch mechanism (63) which comprises an integral, generally U-shaped member including a bottom portion (65) and a pair of upright leg portions (71,73). The bottom portion defines a pair of integral latch member (67,69), each of which is disposed to engage one of the flyweights (53,55) when the latch mechanism is in its operative position. Each of the upright leg portions includes a pair of individual leg portions (75) disposed on opposite sides of the pinion shaft (15), extending past the axis of rotation (A), and engaging a weight (83) disposed in a window (89) on the opposite side of the gear case (11) from the flyweight mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Kyle, Ralph E. Holmquist, Keith E. Morgensai, Carl R. Binkley, Phillip E. Konkle, Leo M. Weeks
  • Patent number: 6299562
    Abstract: A differential for a part-time 4-wheel drive vehicle. The differential includes a differential assembly disposed on a front axle shaft to allow front wheels to turn at different speeds when the vehicle is in a turn, an outer case for receiving power from a power transfer case via a front propeller shaft, the outer case being disposed around the front axle shaft while enclosing the differential assembly, and a clutch lever assembly disposed between the outer case and the differential assembly to selectively couple the outer case to the differential assembly, the clutch lever assembly being mounted on the outer case so as to operate in a coupling direction to the differential assembly by centrifugal force generated when the outer case is rotated by power transmitted from the power transfer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Tae-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 5338266
    Abstract: There is provided a device which incorporates a viscous-fluid coupling (68) and a friction clutch (74) in which are integrated actuation means (80, 81) which cause the engagement or the release of the clutch as a function of the speed of rotation of one of the members which are connected by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Glaenzer Spicer
    Inventor: Pierre Guimbretiere