Cam Operated Patents (Class 192/54.5)
  • Patent number: 7753184
    Abstract: A bidirectional clutch with opposing output drives mounted over an internal support shaft, and a bidirectional clutch jaw positioned between them. The clutch jaw has opposing cam surfaces which cooperate with cam surfaces on the inside edge of the output drives. The clutch jaw further has forward and reverse driving surfaces which are associated with forward and reverse driving surfaces on the output drives. The clutch jaw moves between the output drives and engages only one output drive at a time. When the clutch is reversed, the cam surface on the output drive which was being driven imparts lateral force to the clutch jaw which moves it away from the active output drive to the inactive output drive. The clutch jaw disengages from the active output drive and then begins rotating the inactive output drive in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Traner
  • Patent number: 7721862
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus can comprise a clutch housing, a plurality of driving clutch plates, a plurality of driven clutch plates movable for carrying out the pressure-contact or release relative to the driving clutch plates, a clutch member, a pressure member, pressure-contact assisting cam, back-torque limiting cam characterized in that one set of cam surfaces of the pressure-contact assisting cam or the back-torque limiting cam are arranged so that they extend along a circumferential edge of the clutch member. A crowning can be formed on one set of cam surfaces in their extending direction and/or their width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Makoto Kataoka, Shunichi Itou
  • Patent number: 7681705
    Abstract: A multiple disc friction clutch comprises a clutch outer for take in power, a clutch hub for take out power, friction plates, a clutch spring pressing a pressing member to the friction plates for connecting the clutch, a spring receiving member supporting the clutch spring, and a coupling hub coupled to the spring receiving member as to be integrally movable. A spline inclined against an output axis is formed in a fitting portion between the coupling hub and a tube shaft, and moves the clutch spring in an axial direction of the tube shaft to a compressing side while relatively rotating the coupling hub against the tube shaft, in the case that an engine drive torque is equal to or more than a predetermined value, thereby increasing a pressing load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshio Okada, Hiroyuki Kikuchi, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Waka Izumi, Takahiro Jozaki
  • Patent number: 7665589
    Abstract: A transmission box (3) for a wheeled machine having, within the box (3), a motor input shaft (4) driving a drive wheel to actuate at least one drive shaft of at least one wheel (2A, 2B) of the machine (1). A clutch mechanism is disposed between the drive wheel and the drive shaft of the wheels (2A, 2B) of the machine (1), this clutch mechanism being actuated by driving in rotation the drive wheel and axial movement of a member on the drive shaft of the wheels (2A, 2B) and deactuated by driving in rotation the drive shaft of the wheels (2A, 2B). The member which is axially movable in the drive shaft of the wheels carries ramps coacting with a member secured in rotation with the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: France Reducteurs
    Inventor: Robert Blanchard
  • Patent number: 7431136
    Abstract: A hand power tool has a clutch, a motor, a drive shaft located at a side of the motor, a driven shaft to be located at a side of a workpiece, a clutch which couples the drive shaft and the driven shaft and enters into engagement when pressure is exerted on the driven shaft, and the clutch is provided with a clutch engagement aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Simm, Simon Isch, Martin Feldmann
  • Patent number: 7399249
    Abstract: In a multi-disk clutch comprising a rotary body having splines formed thereon so as to extend helically along the surface thereof, with a number of disks having central openings with inwardly projecting teeth via which the discs are in rotationally positively locking engagement with the rotary body, the teeth are twisted so as to extend in a plane normal to the surface of the helically extending splines of the rotary body so that the end face areas of the teeth are in planar contact with the spline surfaces of the rotary body for the transmission of torque between the rotary body and the disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Philip Gansloser, Tobias Haerter, Werner Klein, Hartmut Nied, Rolf Schroeder, Petra Tennert
  • Patent number: 7360634
    Abstract: A device for frictional inter-engagement between two mutually movable parts (13, 14). A lever mechanism exerts counter-directed pressing forces towards both parts to transfers movement between them. A lever (25) has a free lever end (27) contacted by a first (13) of the parts, and opposite to the free end a part-cylindrical convex surface (31) journalled in a part-cylindrical concave bearing surface (33). In order to eliminate the risk of jamming of the lever due to excessive surface pressure, it is journalled with rolling bodies, preferably cylindrical bodies (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Gadloc AB
    Inventors: Monica Gadelius, legal representative, Gustaf Gadelius
  • Patent number: 7258216
    Abstract: A power-assisted bicycle is provided with a one-way clutch that can also be used as a torque detection apparatus. The one-way clutch has a tooth part (112) mounted on a driven means and a piece part (100) mounted slidably yet non-rotatably on a drive shaft (4). The tooth part has a first engagement face (121) formed with a plurality of teeth (114) and the piece part has a second engagement face (110) formed with a plurality of pieces (102). The first engagement face and the second engagement face are disposed facing each other generally perpendicularly to the axial direction. A disc spring (124) is disposed on the rear face of the piece part. As the piece part rotates in the direction of running forward, the piece is engaged with a sharply sloping face of the tooth to engage with the tooth and the angle of the piece with respect to the second engagement face increases, whereby the piece slides so as to increase the distance from the tooth part in resistance to the disc spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignees: Sunstar Giken Kabushiki Kaisha, Sunstar Suisse SA
    Inventors: Akihito Yoshiie, Kyosuke Kokatsu
  • Patent number: 7191882
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus which can reduce the number of parts in the apparatus and simplify the structure of the apparatus and thus reduce the manufacturing cost of the apparatus as well as reduce the size of the apparatus when compared with its torque transmitting capacity. The apparatus has a clutch housing (2), a clutch member (4), a pressure plate (5), stopper portions (5b) each fitting in a recess (4a) formed on the inner peripheral wall of the clutch member (4) and limiting the rotation of the pressure plate (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Makoto Kataoka, Satoru Kashiwagi, Ryo Egawa, Yuusuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7111719
    Abstract: A hub clutch device for a bicycle includes a threaded shaft, a hub, a positioning sleeve, a movable sleeve, an elastic member, a fixing seat, and a plurality of urging balls. Thus, each of the urging balls is moved between a respective one of the adjusting slots of the movable sleeve and a respective one of the adjusting slots of the fixing seat to detach the fixing seat and the movable sleeve from the positioning sleeve, so that when the positioning sleeve and the hub are rotated, the fixing seat is not rotated, so that the freewheel will not be rotated by the wheel when the pedal stops operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Chosen Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tien-Chin Sheu, Wen-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 7090608
    Abstract: A wheel transmission for a heavy construction vehicle, which can be applied to specially-equipped vehicles as well as heavy construction vehicles such as a forklift truck and a mechanical shovel. The wheel transmission (200) is intended to drive a pair of right and left wheels independently, and includes a planetary gear assembly (210), a change clutch part (230), a one-way clutch part (300), and a brake part (270) housed in an axle hub at which opposite ends of a drive axle shaft are located, turning force from an engine of a heavy construction vehicle being transferred to the drive axle shaft through a torque converter, a driving shaft, a final reduction gear and a differential gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Wooyoung Hydraulics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-Woo Han
  • Patent number: 7083030
    Abstract: A torque transfer mechanism is provided for controlling the magnitude of a clutch engagement force exerted on a multi-plate clutch assembly that is operably disposed between a first rotary and a second rotary member. The torque transfer mechanism includes an actuator having a first segment fixed for rotation with the first rotary member and a second segment having a screw thread formed thereon which is rotatably and slidably disposed within a chamber filled with magnetorheological fluid. An electromagnetic coil is disposed in proximity to the chamber and is selectively energized for varying the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid so as to induce axial movement of the actuator for engaging the multi-plate clutch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Magna Drivertrain of America, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Dolan
  • Patent number: 7025151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for limiting torque to be transferred, having first and second shafts having a longitudinal axis; at least first and second transfer elements arranged coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the first and second shafts, the first transfer element associated with the first shaft and the second transfer element associated with the second shaft; the two transfer elements having substantially complementary engaging faces; at least one elastic element configured to bias the engaging faces of the first and second transfer elements into engagement with each other; wherein an engaging face of the first transfer element has a first engageable contour, and an engaging face of the second transfer element has a second engageable contour, wherein first and second engageable contours each have first and second active angles and a first passive angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Synthes (USA)
    Inventors: Markus Hehli, Beat Knuchel, Rolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 6988602
    Abstract: A torque transfer mechanism is provided for controlling the magnitude of a clutch engagement force exerted on a multi-plate clutch assembly that is operably disposed between a first rotary and a second rotary member. The torque transfer mechanism includes an actuator having a first cam fixed for rotation with the first rotary member and a second cam having a rotor which is rotatably disposed within a chamber filled with magnetorheological fluid. An electromagnetic coil is disposed in proximity to the chamber and is selectively energized for varying the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid so as to induce axial movement of the first cam for engaging the multi-plate clutch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Dolan
  • Patent number: 6907971
    Abstract: A one-way clutch assembly comprises a clutch casing including a first plate coupled to a second plate, such as clutch inner and clutch outer plates. The first and second plates have a common central axis, the first and second plates are spaced apart along the common axis to define an interior. The assembly also includes a ratchet plate disposed in the interior between the first and second plates, the ratchet plate has the same common axis and is displaceable along the axis within the interior. A first torque transfer mechanism, such as a set of mating splines is used to rotationally couple the ratchet plate to the first plate. A second one-way torque transfer mechanism is used for releasably coupling the ratchet plate to the second plate, the second transfer mechanism including a set of fixed flat and angled portions formed on a ratchet plate surface opposite the second plate and a complimentary set of fixed flat and angled portions formed on a second plate surface opposite the ratchet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Stackpole Limited
    Inventors: Semih Demir, Norman Scott
  • Patent number: 6889809
    Abstract: A power-assisted bicycle is provided with a one-way clutch that can also be used as a torque detection apparatus. The one-way clutch has a tooth part (112) mounted on a driven means and a piece part (100) mounted slidably yet non-rotatably on a drive shaft (4). The tooth part has a first engagement face (121) formed with a plurality of teeth (114) and the piece part has a second engagement face (110) formed with a plurality of pieces (102). The first engagement face and the second engagement face are disposed facing each other generally perpendicularly to the axial direction. A disc spring (124) is disposed on the rear face of the piece part. As the piece part rotates in the direction of running forward, the piece is engaged with a sharply sloping face of the tooth to engage with the tooth and the angle of the piece with respect to the second engagement face increases, whereby the piece slides so as to increase the distance from the tooth part in resistance to the disc spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Sunstar Suisse SA
    Inventors: Akihito Yoshiie, Kyosuke Kokatsu
  • Patent number: 6796412
    Abstract: Differential apparatus which includes input and output members rotatable relative to each other, a clutch mechanism for interconnecting them, an actuator and a cam mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes first and second clutch members rotating with the input and output members, respectively. The actuator limits rotation of the second clutch member relative to the input member to angularly displace the second clutch member relative to the output member. The cam mechanism is provided between the second clutch member and the output member, and includes first and second cam faces rotating with the second clutch member and the output member, respectively. When the actuator operates, these cam faces cooperate to axially displace the second clutch member away from the output member, whereby the second clutch member is axially displaced to engage with the first clutch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Tochigi Fuji Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masao Teraoka
  • Publication number: 20040089511
    Abstract: A clutch assembly for a personal recreational vehicle is disclosed. The clutch assembly includes a stationary shave including a central shaft-receiving portion for receiving a shaft. The shaft-receiving portion includes first and second ends. Each of the first and second ends includes a seal receiving section. Sealing members are received into a respective seal receiving section. A volume is created between the shaft and the have receiving portion when the seals are received into their respective seal receiving section. Optionally, a lubricant can be confined within the sealed volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Arctic Cat, Inc.
    Inventor: Ron Bergman
  • Patent number: 6715562
    Abstract: An output shaft locking device includes a hollow frame through which an output shaft extends. The output shaft has a polygonal end which is connected to a driving device. A locking device includes a fixed ring received in an underside of the hollow frame and an inner ring is rotatably received in the fixed ring. A first polygonal hole is defined through the inner ring and recesses are defined in an underside of the inner ring. The driving device has a driving disk and a second polygonal hole is defined through the driving disk so that the polygonal end of the output shaft engages the two polygonal holes. A plurality of protrusions is formed on a top of the driving disk and matches the recesses in the underside of the inner ring. Gaps are defined between the polygonal end and the two polygonal holes. When the driving device does not provide power to the output shaft, the output shaft is locked by the locking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Power Network Industry, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ting-Kuang Chen
  • Patent number: 6716128
    Abstract: A clutch apparatus includes a torque cam mechanism and a clutch actuator for compressing a clutch disc pack for clutch engagement through the torque cam mechanism. The clutch actuator includes a first fluid chamber for pushing the torque cam mechanism from a first position for all-time clutch disengagement, to a second position toward the clutch disc pack, and a second fluid chamber for pushing the torque cam mechanism from the second position to a third position for all-time clutch engagement toward the clutch disc pack. At the second position, the torque cam mechanism functions as a one-way clutch by extending axially in response to relative rotation between both sides in one rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kuramoto, Toshikazu Oshidari
  • Patent number: 6695740
    Abstract: A differential assembly having first structure, which is configured to rotate along a differential axis in response to receipt of a rotational input, a second structure, which is supported for rotation on the differential axis, a third structure which is support for rotation on the differential axis and disposed between the first and second structures and operable in an engaged condition that transmits torque between the first and second structures and a disengaged condition that inhibits torque transmission between the first and second structures, a differential gear set, which is coupled to and rotatably supported within the second structure, and a biasing mechanism, which biases the third structure in the disengaged condition. The third structure is placed in the engaged condition if a torsional magnitude of the rotational input exceeds a rotational force exerted through the differential gear set. A vehicle drive train is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: John Clinton Hibbler, David Marshall Morse, Rajendra G. Kumashi
  • Patent number: 6520885
    Abstract: An axle disconnect device for use in an all wheel drive vehicle. The axle disconnect device includes a one-way overrunning clutch and a spring contacting the clutch. A spline locking ring contacts the spring on an end opposite of the clutch. A friction dog spline engages the surface of the spline locking ring while a differential ramp ring contacts the friction dog spline. The axle disconnect device also includes a cover ramp engaging the differential ramp ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: GKN Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Gassmann, Brent Peura
  • Patent number: 6470659
    Abstract: A four wheel drive working vehicle such as a front mower has a dual one-way clutch mechanism interlocked to right and left dirigible wheels. When the vehicle makes a turn in forward or backward running, the clutch mechanism breaks drive transmission only to an outer one of the dirigible wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Teruo Shimamura, Osami Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6338404
    Abstract: A locking device is provided between a gear train and an output shaft of a power hand tool. Pawls are arranged in a central bore of a fixed ring with an outer face thereof opposing an inner circumference of the central bore with a tiny gap therebetween. A coupler drivingly engages the shaft and the retention rings whereby when the coupler is rotated by the gear train, the coupler drives the disk and the pawls simultaneously and thus allowing the shaft to be rotated without constraint. When a user manually rotates the output shaft, the disk is rotated while the pawls are prevented from rotation about the first axis which causes a rotation of each pawl about the second axis leading to an interference between the outer face thereof and the inner circumference of the fixed ring thereby preventing the shaft from being further rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Power Network Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ting-Kuang Chen
  • Patent number: 6198242
    Abstract: The present powered sliding device comprises a wire drum, a motor for rotating the drum, and a clutch means provided between the drum and the motor. The clutch means has a coupled state for rotating the drum, an uncoupled state, and a brake state. The clutch means is displaced from the coupled state to the brake state when the wire drum is rotated at an over speed. The clutch means in the brake state transmits the over speed rotation of the wire drum to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhito Yokomori, Tetsuro Mizuki, Hiroshi Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 6189667
    Abstract: A friction clutch for motor vehicles has a casing which can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a driven flywheel mass. A pressure plate is arranged inside the casing with a pressure spring supported between the clutch casing and the pressure plate so that the pressure plate presses a clutch disk, which is provided with friction linings, onto the flywheel mass. The pressure spring, during engagement of the clutch, exerts a varying pressure force on the pressure plate. The friction clutch also having a device which acts on the pressure plate and varies essentially proportionally to the force of the pressure spring to force of the pressure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Mathias Dörfler, Markus Heiartz
  • Patent number: 6182808
    Abstract: A differential device (11) of the type including a clutch pack (23), engaged by a ball ramp actuator (21), which is initiated by a viscous coupling (19;101). The output of the device (11) is an output shaft (13) which is hollow and extends through the entire axial extent of the device. The viscous coupling (19;101) includes, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, an annular input coupling member (25) and an annular output coupling member (27), within the input member, to define therebetween a cylindrical viscous shear chamber (29). The output coupling member (27) at least partially surrounds the first ramp plate (41) of the ball ramp actuator (21), and is in driving engagement therewith, for improved packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Erlen B. Walton, Michael W. Nank, William N. Eybergen, James K. Spring