Patents by Inventor Reginald Knowles

Reginald Knowles has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8448769
    Abstract: Drive engagement apparatus for engaging a driven gear with a shaft connected to a load by engaging an axially movable sleeve with a dog. One of the sleeve or dog is drivably connected to the gear and the other to the shaft. Compressed air acts to effect axial movement of the sleeve. Axial movement is delayed by a friction drive, which prevents engagement between the sleeve and dog until their rotational speeds equalise. The friction drive comprises a plurality of friction plates pushed together by the compressed air. The dog comprises an engagement unit that engages the sleeve and a base unit that is axially movable to activate and deactivate the friction drive. The base unit and engagement unit are rotatable relative to one another within a predetermined angle to adjust for misalignment between the sleeve and dog during engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Reginald Knowles
  • Publication number: 20110094843
    Abstract: Drive engagement apparatus for engaging a driven gear (18) with a shaft (14) connected to a load. Engagement is achieved by interengaging an axially movable sleeve (19) with a dog. One of the sleeve (19) or dog is drivably connected to the gear (18) and the other to the shaft (14). Compressed air acts on a piston (21) which is engaged via a fork (22) with the sleeve (19) to effect axial movement of the sleeve (19). However, axial movement is delayed by a friction drive, which prevents engagement between the sleeve (19) and dog until the rotational speeds of those elements is equalised. The friction drive is actuated by pressing together a plurality of friction plates (24) using the compressed air. The dog comprises an engagement unit (231) that is interengageable with the sleeve (19) and a base unit (232) that is axially movable under the air supply to activate and deactivate the friction drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Arthur Knowles
    Inventor: Reginald Knowles
  • Patent number: 7497311
    Abstract: A drive arrangement (1) is disclosed where a driving gear (13) is engageable with a shaft (14) by engaging an axially movable sleeve (19) with a dog (23). One of the sleeve (19) or dog (23) is drivably connected to the gear (13) and the other to the shaft (14). A piston (21) is engaged via fork (22) with the sleeve (19); axial movement of the piston (21) causes axial movement of the sleeve (19). A delay device is included which prevent engagement between the sleeve (19) and dog (23) until the rotational speeds of those elements is equalized. The delay device include a friction plates (24) which create a friction drive between the driving force (e.g. gear (13)) and the element to be driven. The friction drive is actuated by actuator (25) under the same compressed air supply that acts on piston (21). Torque acting between the friction plates (24) and sleeve (19) prevent the sleeve (19) from moving into engagement with the dog (23) before the speeds of the sleeve (19) and dog (23) have equalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Inventor: Reginald Knowles
  • Publication number: 20060169560
    Abstract: A drive arrangement (1) is disclosed where a driving gear (13) is engageable with a shaft (14) by engaging an axially movable sleeve (19) with a dog (23). One of the sleeve (19) or dog (23) is drivably connected to the gear (13) and the other to the shaft (14). A piston (21) is engaged via fork (22) with the sleeve (19); axial movement of the piston (21) causes axial movement of the sleeve (19). A delay device is included which prevent engagement between the sleeve (19) and dog (23) until the rotational speeds of those elements is equalised. The delay device include a friction plates (24) which create a friction drive between the driving force (e.g. gear (13)) and the element to be driven. The friction drive is actuated by actuator (25) under the same compressed air supply that acts on piston (21). Torque acting between the friction plates (24) and sleeve (19) prevent the sleeve (19) from moving into engagement with the dog (23) before the speeds of the sleeve (19) and dog (23) have equalised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: Arthur Knowles
    Inventor: Reginald Knowles
  • Patent number: 4128021
    Abstract: A differential mechanism including a plurality of driving plate members with radiating teeth, the driving plate members all being located for rotation about a common axis and their teeth having inclined flanks so that slip can take place, accompanied by relative axial movements between the members, to allow the required differential movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1978
    Inventor: Reginald Knowles