Positive clutch with staggered teeth height

Abstract

The present invention includes a positive clutch having a first clutch ring and a second clutch ring. The positive clutch further includes a first plurality of teeth connected to the first clutch ring. The first plurality of teeth includes a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth. The first set of teeth is taller than said second set of teeth. The staggered tooth height configuration provides a larger effective engagement area with less tooth lash.

1 . A positive clutch having a first clutch ring and a second clutch ring, the positive clutch comprising: 
 a first plurality of teeth connected to the first clutch ring, said first plurality of teeth includes a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth, wherein said first set of teeth are taller than said second set of teeth.    
   
   
       2 . The positive clutch of  claim 1  further comprising a second plurality of teeth connected to the second clutch ring configured to connect with the first clutch ring, said second plurality of teeth includes a third set of teeth and a fourth set of teeth, wherein said third set of teeth are taller than said fourth set of teeth.  
   
   
       3 . The positive clutch of  claim 1  wherein a tooth of said second set of teeth is disposed between two teeth of said first set of teeth.  
   
   
       4 . The positive clutch of  claim 1  wherein a tooth of said first set of teeth includes an edge having an edge treatment including a pre-determined edge treatment height.  
   
   
       5 . The positive clutch of  claim 4  wherein said edge treatment is a bevel.  
   
   
       6 . The positive clutch of  claim 4  wherein said edge treatment is a radius.  
   
   
       7 . The positive clutch of  claim 4  wherein said first set of teeth are taller than said second set of teeth by an amount that is at least twice said edge treatment height.  
   
   
       8 . The positive clutch of  claim 1  wherein a top of said first set of teeth is parallel with a top of said second set of teeth.  
   
   
       9 . The positive clutch of  claim 1  wherein the first clutch ring engages the second clutch ring by relative motion therebetween in one of a clockwise. direction and a counter-clockwise direction.  
   
   
       10 . A positive clutch comprising: 
 a first clutch ring having at least two tall first teeth and at least two short first teeth, wherein each short first tooth is disposed between a pair of said tall first teeth; and    a second clutch ring having at least said two tall second teeth and said at least two short second teeth, wherein each short second tooth is disposed between a pair of the second tall teeth.    
   
   
       11 . The positive clutch ring of  claim 10  wherein each of the first tall, first short, second tall and second short teeth includes an edge having an edge treatment of a pre-determined edge treatment height.  
   
   
       12 . The positive clutch of  claim 11  wherein said edge treatment is a bevel.  
   
   
       13 . The positive clutch of  claim 11  wherein said edge treatment is a radius.  
   
   
       14 . The positive clutch of  claim 11  wherein said at least two tall first teeth are taller than said at least two short first teeth by an amount that is at least twice said edge treatment height.  
   
   
       15 . The positive clutch of  claim 11  wherein said at least two tall second teeth are taller than said at least two short second teeth by an amount that is at least twice said edge treatment height.  
   
   
       16 . The positive clutch of  claim 10  wherein a top of said at least two tall first teeth is parallel to a top of said at least two short first teeth.  
   
   
       17 . The positive clutch of  claim 10  wherein a top of said at least two tall second teeth is parallel to a top of said at least two short second teeth.  
   
   
       18 . The positive clutch of  claim 10  wherein the first clutch ring engages the second clutch ring by relative motion therebetween in one of a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction.  
   
   
       19 . A method of engaging a positive clutch comprising: 
 providing a first clutch ring having at least two tall first teeth and at least two short first teeth;    providing a second clutch ring having at least two tall second teeth and at least two short second teeth;    moving said first clutch ring and said second clutch ring together; and    rotating one of said first clutch ring said second clutch ring, and combinations thereof until a side of a tooth of said at least two tall first teeth contacts a side of a tooth of said at least two tall second teeth.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising rotating one of the first clutch ring and the second clutch ring, wherein the relative motion therebetween is one of a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction.