Patent GB-906336-A (GB)
Title: Hubs for optionally driven vehicle wheels having clutches disposed therein
Inventor: YOUNG RALPH CURTIS
IPC: B62D11/08
Filed: 1959-02-06
Abstract: 906,336. Friction clutching. WHITE AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION. Feb. 6, 1959, No. 4286/59. Class 80 (2). [Also in Group XXXI] A hub for connecting an optionally driven wheel of a vehicle to a shaft comprises an outer drive ring attached to the wheel ; and an inner drive gear mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith; a series of rollers disposed in circumferentially spaced relation between the drive gear and the ring, the drive gear having grooves in which the rollers are normally disposed and inclined surfaces for forcing the rollers against the drive ring; a cage for maintaining the rollers in spaced positions and means connected to the drive ring for resisting rotation of the rollers and causing each roller to engage an inclined surface and the drive ring, the means for resisting rotation of the rollers being selectively actuated by switch controlled electromagnetically operating means. The engine of a fourwheel vehicle drives a transmission 13 from which a drive shaft 15 extends to the rear wheels and a drive shaft 16 drives the front wheels 10 through a differential 17, the rear wheel drive being permanently engaged and the front wheel drive being engageable by a gear shift mechanism in a transfer case 14. Each front wheel hub H comprises a flanged member 31, Fig. 2, upon which is mounted the wheel 10 and brake drum 36 and which is mounted for rotation upon stub shaft 28 by bearings 32 and 33. An annular member 40 carrying rollers 42 in grooves 41 is splined to the driving shaft 29, the rollers being free to rotate whilst the roller cage 44 is free to move. A core 59 containing a solenoid 58 is held against rotational movement in the hub cap 60 attached by bolts 68 with an annular member 46 to the hub 31, and an armature plate 63 is held against rotation by an arm 67 and a pin 65 passing through the core. The armature is biased away from the core by a spring 64. The pin 65 is non-rotatably fastened to the armature 63 and to a friction plate 56. A friction plate 47 is attached to the roller cage 44 and is engaged by the friction plate 56 to prevent the cage 44 from rotating when the solenoid 58 is energized. The rollers then move along the inclined surfaces 45 and jam between the members 40 and 46 to form a driving connection between the shaft 29 and the hub. To assist their return to the inoperative position the rollers 42 are enclosed within a spring ring 52. To facilitate rotation of the cage 44 and member 40, a bearing ring 54 is fitted between members 40 and 44 and a ball race 49 between members 47 and 40. An electric switch S connected to the ignition switch 21 by a wire 20 containing a fuse 23 is opened by the selector mechanism when the front wheel drive is disengaged and closed when the front wheel drive is engaged. Wires 26 and 27 enter the wheel hubs through holes 106 in the brake flange 37 from switch 21 which may alternatively be a manually operated switch on the dashboard. A slip ring 96 is attached to the rotary hub part 31 with the interposition of an insulating ring 97, and is connected through wires and connectors 91, 90, 89, 82 and 85 with the solenoid 58, the other terminal 87 of which is earthed at 88. A brush 107 makes contact between the wire 26 and ring 96. An oil seal comprising a synthetic rubber ring 72 and a flanged disc 73 and a seal 98 are fitted. In a modification, Figs. 14 and 15, the roller between the wheel hub member 132 and the driven member 125 to form a driving connection, by engagement of an electromagnetically controlled pin 128 with one of the rollers. The pin 128, biasing spring 131 and electromagnet 130 are housed within an angular cap member 133 attached to a rotary portion of the wheel hub. An oil seal ring 150 having a beaded edge 153 is splined on to the shaft 29. In both embodiments the rollers may be caused to jam with relative rotation in either direction. The hub and drive shaft 29 are conventionally arranged for steering.