Patent ID: 8245828

Claim:
A device ( 1 ) for fixedly coupling a component ( 3 , 7 ) to a shaft ( 2 ) which supports the component ( 3 , 7 ), the device comprising: the component ( 3 , 7 ) being axially slidable along and freely rotatable on the shaft ( 2 ) when uncoupled to the shaft ( 2 ); an actuator ( 10 ) communicating with an actuating element ( 8 , 9 ) which is axially slidably and rotatably coupled to the shaft ( 2 ), the actuating element ( 8 , 9 ) being actuated by the actuator ( 10 ) to slide axially on the shaft ( 2 ) between a neutral position (SM), a position rotationally fixed to the shaft ( 2 ) and a position freely rotatable on the shaft ( 2 ); the actuating element ( 8 , 9 ) couples the component ( 3 , 7 ) such that when the actuating element ( 8 , 9 ) is axially biased from the neutral position (SM) to the position rotationally fixed to the shaft ( 2 ), the actuating element ( 8 , 9 ) couples and axially biases the component ( 3 , 7 ) such that a pair of frictional surfaces ( 3 A, 3 B) of the component ( 3 , 7 ) frictionally engage a frictional surface ( 8 A) of the actuating element ( 8 , 9 ) and a frictional surface ( 21 A) of a shaft collar ( 21 ) that is fixedly coupled to the shaft ( 2 ) so as to reduce a rotational difference between rotation of the component ( 3 , 7 ) and rotation of the shaft ( 2 ); the actuating element ( 8 , 9 ) is further axially biased from the position rotationally fixed to the shaft ( 2 ) to the position freely rotatable on the shaft ( 2 ), in the position freely rotatable on the shaft ( 2 ), the actuating element ( 8 , 9 ) rotates relative to the shaft ( 2 ) and abuts at least one support body ( 16 , 17 , 18 ); and the at least one support body ( 16 , 17 , 18 ) is fixedly coupled to the shaft ( 2 ) and has a surface which is angled with respect to a direction of rotation of the shaft ( 2 ) such that when the actuating element ( 8 , 9 ) abuts the at least one support body ( 16 , 17 , 18 ), the angled surface of the at least one support body ( 16 , 17 , 18 ) applies an axially directed actuating force, via the actuating element ( 8 , 9 ), on the component ( 3 , 7 ), the axially directed actuating force being dependent on torque transmitted from the shaft ( 2 ) to the component ( 3 , 7 ) and independent of actuation of the actuating element ( 8 , 9 ) by the actuator ( 10 ).