Abstract: A bi-directional overrunning pawl-type clutch having a driving member mounted for power rotation, a driven member mounted for rotation adjacent the driving member, with each of the driving and driven members having pawl engaging shoulders, and a plurality of rigid pawls interposed between the driving and driven members. A control element is mounted for shifting movement between the driving and driven members to control the position of the pawls which are yieldably biased toward positions of engagement extending between the driving and driven members to produce driving engagement therebetween. The control element is shiftable to various positions to permit driving and overrunning in one direction or driving and overrunning in the opposite direction dependent upon the direction of rotation of the driving member.

Abstract: A hub locking system for a part-time four-wheel drive vehicle including a wheel hub, drive axle, and clutch meaner and an automatic actuator remotely operable by an operator to induce movement of the clutch member axially inwardly and a biasing means acting against the clutch member opposing operation of the automatic actuator to urge movement of the clutch member outwardly. A manual override allows manual operation when the automatic actuator is not actuated and includes a first member mounted for shifting axially inwardly and outwardly in the system and when shifted inwardly urges the clutch member against the force of the biasing means. A second member is mounted contiguous the first member and is manually rotatable. A ramp shaped cam is interposed between the first and second members and when the second member is rotated, it directly urges the first member to shift axially to actuate the clutch member.

Abstract: A transfer case for a vehicle having two output shafts, a gear reduction assembly, a coupling mechanism and an overrunning roller clutch for selectively producing driving of one shaft only or both shafts concurrently. The coupling mechanism selectively couples one output shaft to either (1) an input shaft, (2) the gear reduction assembly, or (3) a neutral position. The overrunning clutch has an inner race, an outer race, and rollers located between the races. Drag shoes are positioned to frictionally slide on a drag surface of a selectively grounded member to retard the rollers. A resilient band urges the drag shoes against the drag surface. When the drag shoes rotate at a sufficient speed they disengage from the drag surface so as to provide no force to retard the rollers. When the ground member is grounded it provides the drag surface for the drag shoes. When the ground member is ungrounded it is free to rotate and the drag shoes do not provide a drag force to bias the rollers.

Abstract: An integrated wheel end for a vehicle is disclosed. The integrated wheel end has a hub rotatably mounted to a bearing pack. The integrated wheel end is secured to the vehicle by fastening the bearing pack to a knuckle of the vehicle. The integral hub has a spindle portion for receiving an end portion of a drive axle, a clutch housing for receiving a locking clutch mechanism and a flange for the mounting of a brake rotor and a vehicle supporting wheel. A locking hub clutch is mounted in the clutch housing and is selectively operated to provide unity of rotation between the axle and the hub or to provide independent rotation of the axle and the hub. The clutch housing is suited for installing different clutch mechanisms including manually operated and pressure operated either by negative or positive pressure. The integrated wheel end has a sealed defined cavity and an air circuit for the introduction or withdrawal of air to operated the pressure operated clutch mechanisms.

Abstract: A transfer case for a vehicle having two output shafts, a gear reduction assembly, a coupling mechanism and an overrunning roller clutch for selectively producing driving of one shaft only or both shafts concurrently. The coupling mechanism selectively couples one output shaft to either (1) an input shaft, (2) the gear reduction assembly, or (3) a neutral position. The overrunning clutch has an inner race, an outer race, and rollers located between the races. Drag shoes are positioned to frictionally slide on a drag surface of a selectively grounded member to retard the rollers. A resilient band urges the drag shoes against the drag surface. When the drag shoes rotate at a sufficient speed they disengage from the drag surface so as to provide no force to retard the rollers. When the ground member is grounded it provides the drag surface for the drag shoes. When the ground member is ungrounded it is free to rotate and the drag shoes do not provide a drag force to bias the rollers.

Abstract: A hub and rotor combination for a vehicle wheel assembly including a hub having a central bore with an axis about which the combination is rotatable, a connector formed integrally with and extending radially outwardly from the hub substantially normal to the central axis, and a rotor formed integrally with an extending radially outwardly from the connector. The rotor includes a pair of first and second disk shaped ring plate portions disposed substantially normal to the central axis and spaced from each other by a plurality of radially extending, circumferentially spaced spacers to permit airflow between the rotor plate portions. The inner bore of the hub is splined to receive and engage splines on a spindle mounting.

Abstract: A spindle nut and a locking device are disclosed for securing the nut on a spindle in a non-rotative position relative to the spindle. The assembly comprises the spindle nut, an antirotation spring and a spring backup plate mounted on the spindle. The antirotation spring and spring backup plate may be formed as a single unit.

Abstract: An integrated wheel end system for a vehicle including a clutch adapted to provide driving engagement/disengagement of a wheel to convert between driven and non-driven modes of wheel movement. A support is coupled to the vehicle frame and an elongate spindle is mounted in a bearing in the support. The outer end of the spindle is adapted to have a wheel mounted thereon, and the inner end of the spindle has a radially outwardly entending flange having engaging elements arrayed about its periphery. A driven axle has a plurality of engaging elements arrayed about its periphery adjacent the flange of the spindle. A sliding clutch member is shiftable between a driving position in which it concurrently engages the engaging elements on the axle and spindle flange to provide a driving connection therebetween, and a non-driving position where such concurrent engagement does not exist. A selectively activated actuator is provided for moving the clutch member between its driving and non-driving positions.

Abstract: A winch system including an electric motor is protected against an overload condition by use of a current sense device and a current limiting device. The current limiting device employs multiple current thresholds to account for normal current usage by the motor during an initial current inrush period and during subsequent normal operation. The current limiting device also references battery voltage to establish current thresholds as a function thereof and thereby establish shutdown conditions corresponding to consistent motor load conditions. Overall, the current limiting device is responsive to multiple winch device states of operation and more fully protects the winch system against damage due to an overload condition.

Abstract: A spindle nut and a locking device for securing the nut in a rotative position on a spindle. An anti-rotation spring and a back up plate are mounted on the spindle in a non-rotative manner with the back up plate in abutment with the bearings that rotatively mount the hub to the spindle. The back up plate has multiple grooves aligned with and arranged to receive multiple resilient tabs on the periphery of the anti-rotation spring. The tabs of the anti-rotation spring are formed to project axially from the spring. A flange of the nut has multiple slots around its periphery that are sized to receive a tab of the anti-rotation spring. A tool having extending ears that fit in the slots of the nut is utilized to install the nut on the spindle. The extending ears prevent the tabs of the spring from entering a slot of the nut until the tool is removed. As the nut is rotated by the tool, the nut abuts the anti-rotation spring.

Abstract: A retainer for preventing rotation of a spindle nut relative to a wheel spindle. The retainer engages a key way of the spindle and a groove of the spindle nut to prevent rotation of the spindle nut relative to the spindle. The retainer has a semi-circular body that surrounds the end of the spindle. The retainer has a radially inward projecting tab and an axially extending leg from the tab that engages the key way. The leg in addition to engaging the key way engages the groove of the spindle nut. The spindle nut preferably includes a recess in which the body portion of the retainer is nested.

Abstract: An impulse actuated clutch with latch for a drive line of a vehicle. The impulse actuated clutch has a coupling member that is permanently engaged with one of a driven member and a driving member. The coupling member is movable in a first direction to engage one of the driven and driving members and is movable in a second direction to engage both the driven and driving members. The coupling member is biased to move in the first direction by a return spring. The coupling member is moved in the second direction by a first pulse of air pressure applied to a piston assembly connected to the coupling member. Formations formed on a primary piston of the piston assembly and the driven member cooperatively latch the piston in the second position to the maintain the coupling member in engagement with both the driven and driving members upon release of the first pulse of air pressure.

Abstract: A remote controlled winch operable by a hand held remote control. The winch has a single piece drum that is reversibly driven by a drive motor through a planetary gear arrangement for winding cable onto the drum and unwinding cable off the drum. A remote control capable of handling the high amperage draw of the drive motor is provided to control power to and the rotative direction of the drive motor. The remote control has two switch arms that are connected to the motor leads with each of the switch arms normally biased to a ground connection. A manually operated mechanism is provided to selectively and independently switch (move) each of the switch arms from a ground connection to a connection with a power source to supply power to the motor and control the rotative direction of motor.

Abstract: A hub lock device for converting a vehicle between four-wheel and two-wheel drive, the hub lock being actuated by automatic actuation or manual actuation. A sliding clutch ring that engages and disengages the wheel and axle is trapped in a cage. An extender bar from the cage has a hook end that hooks over the edge of a nut. The nut is moved between inner and outer positions by a manual dial. In the outer position, the nut forces the cage, through engagement of the hook end, to the position whereat the clutch ring is urged to interlock the axle and wheel. In the inner position the nut releases the cage, i.e., the hook can extend between an inner and outer position, to permit automatic actuation. The automatic actuation includes cam actuation wherein the spindle nut provides the cam actuator and brake surface for secondary cam actuation.

Abstract: A winch wherein braking is achieved by cam actuation, the cam actuation, in a static condition, frictionally interlocking the drive shaft to the cable drum. A gear reduction mechanism is provided between the shaft and drum and is prevented by such interlocking from producing differential rotation of the drum and thus affects lockup or braking of the drum. The locking mechanism is optimally provided by a stator that is fixed to the drum, the stator providing brake surfaces for the drum having disc brake-like braking action. The stator conducts heat from the end surface thereof to the drum and thus to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A thread locking device for securing a male threaded member to a female threaded member at a desired interengaged position. A nut, threaded internally, and a spiral spring in combination form the thread locking device. The spring is mounted in the nut with the end tabs of the spring extending radially into a slot provided in the nut. The spring is configured to also threadably engage the threads of a member, such as a shaft, to which the nut will be threadably mounted. The spring in its relaxed state will forcibly grip the thread form of the shaft to frictionally secure the nut in position on the shaft. The radially extending end tabs of the spring are forced apart by a tool to enlarge the diameter of the spring to facilitate the threadable installation of the nut and the spring to the shaft and the removal of the nut and spring from the shaft.

Abstract: A pulse actuated clutch and control arrangement for coupling and decoupling a drive line of a vehicle relative to a wheel such as when shifting between two-wheel and four-wheel drive modes. The pulse actuated clutch has a coupling member that is permanently engaged with one of a driven member and a driving member. The coupling member is movable in a first direction to engage one of the driven and driving members and is movable in a second direction to engage both the driven and driving members. The coupling member is moved in the second direction by a first pulse of air pressure applied thereto. Formations of the piston assembly and the driven member cooperatively latch the piston in the second position to maintain the coupling member in engagement with both the driven and driving members following first pulse of air pressure. A second, greater magnitude pulse of air pressure moves the primary piston further to unlatch the piston and uncouple the driven member from the driving member.

Abstract: A hub locking mechanism for a wheeled vehicle is provided for selectively coupling and uncoupling driving and driven members. A clutch ring is in permanent engagement with one of the members and is axially moveable to engage the other member. Engagement of the clutch ring and the engageable member is enhanced by the provision of tandem rows of engaging formations on the clutch ring and the engageable member. The mechanism for affecting movement of the clutch ring has an improved one piece friction shoe for the moving cam and an improved cage enclosing the clutch ring and actuating spring.

Abstract: An integrated wheel end for a vehicle is disclosed. The integrated wheel end has a hub rotatably mounted to a bearing pack. The integrated wheel end is secured to the vehicle by fastening the bearing pack to a knuckle of the vehicle. The integral hub has a spindle portion for receiving an end portion of a drive axle, a clutch housing for receiving a locking clutch mechanism and a flange for the mounting of a brake rotor and a vehicle supporting wheel. A locking hub clutch is mounted in the clutch housing and is selectively operated to provide unity of rotation between the axle and the hub or to provide independent rotation of the axle and the hub. The clutch housing is suited for installing different clutch mechanisms including manually operated and pressure operated either by negative or positive pressure. The integrated wheel end has a sealed defined cavity and an air circuit for the introduction or withdrawal of air to operated the pressure operated clutch mechanisms.

Abstract: An automatic brake for vehicle winch that is automatically applied when the applied torque of the drive motor ceases and automatically released upon application of motor torque. The brake features brake pad segments that move radially outward against the interior of the drum to affect braking and retract radially inward to affect releasing of the brake. The pads have tapered ends that mate with opposed frusto-conical shoes. The brake utilizes rotation of a cam rotatable with respect to a cam follower in one direction to force one shoe toward the other to force the pads radially outward to engage the interior surface of the drum. Rotation of the cam with respect to the cam follower in the opposite direction releases the braking action. A wave spring is incorporated to eliminate chatter as the brake is applied and released. The configuration of the brake components provides a conductive path for the dissipation of heat generated by the braking action.