Rotary shafts – gudgeons – housings – and flexible couplings for ro – Coupling accommodates drive between members having... – Coupling transmits torque via radially directed pin
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-05-22
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Rotary shafts, gudgeons, housings, and flexible couplings for ro
Coupling accommodates drive between members having...
Coupling transmits torque via radially directed pin
C464S159000, C464S905000, C403S359100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234907
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to automobile transmissions and associated driveshafts, generally, and more particularly to driveshaft transmission yokes that join transmissions to driveshafts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The clutches in drag racing cars are removed and serviced after each run. Presently, this typically means that the driveshaft must be unbolted from the differential so that the transmission can then be slid back to permit removal of the transmission bell housing thereby allowing access to the clutch. The reverse must be done to reassemble the car after the clutch has been serviced. This procedure is very time consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a quick release driveshaft transmission yoke for drag racing cars that are equipped with external (male) splined output transmission shafts. The present invention provides for access to racing clutches in a fraction of the time required by the methods used in the prior art. Utilizing the quick disconnect driveshaft transmission yoke of the present invention, just a ½ turn of 4 lock nuts on a pair of split lock collars frees a splined slider from its fixed engagement with an external (male) splined output transmission shaft and allows the splined slider to slide rearward within a modified driveshaft transmission yoke. The splined slider slides rearward within the yoke until the splined slider slides free of the external (male) splined output transmission shaft. The yoke, which has also been freed from the locking engagement of the split lock collars, then drops free and clear of the external (male) splined output transmission shaft. The transmission can then be slid back and the transmission bell housing removed to service the clutch, all without unbolting the driveshaft from either the differential or the yoke. The freeing of a transmission from a driveshaft transmission yoke utilizing the quick disconnect driveshaft transmission yoke of the present invention takes mere seconds.
One embodiment of the present invention is a quick disconnect driveshaft transmission yoke, comprising a yoke with a transmission end and a U-joint end, having first involute female splines disposed through the transmission end, an alignment counterbore at the U-joint end, and a recessed step at the transmission end of the yoke; a splined slider with inner and outer surfaces, having second involute female splines on its inner surface sized to be received in close tolerance by an external male splined output transmission shaft, involute male splines on itS outer surface sized to be received in close tolerance by the first involute female splines of said yoke, and a slip fit alignment collar at its proximate end to be received in close tolerance by the alignment counterbore at the U-joint end of the first involute female splines whereby when the slip fit alignment collar is received into the alignment counterbore the yoke is held in alignment with the splined slider; and split lock collars having third involute female splines on their inner surfaces sized to receive in close tolerance the involute male splines on the outer surface of the splined slider and collar counterbores on the proximate ends of their inner surfaces sized to receive in close tolerance the recessed step in the yolk, and means to draw the split lock collars together into a quick release locking position about the splined slider and the recessed step of the yoke whereby the splined slider, yoke and split locking collars form one solid, aligned and balanced unit.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a quick disconnecting driveshaft transmission yoke that can be disconnected from an external (male) splined output transmission shaft in a matter of seconds.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3551013 (1970-12-01), Trojanowski et al.
patent: 3992120 (1976-11-01), Recker
patent: 4091640 (1978-05-01), Olkowski, Jr. et al.
patent: 4169686 (1979-10-01), Balensiefen et al.
patent: 5006007 (1991-04-01), Fischer et al.
patent: 5069054 (1991-12-01), Hladky et al.
patent: 5186573 (1993-02-01), Flotow
patent: 5647683 (1997-07-01), Easley
patent: 5674024 (1997-10-01), Castellon
Browne Lynne H.
Greg Moser Engineering, Inc.
Thompson Kenn
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