SELF-FORCE INCREASING SYNCHRONIZER

An improved self-energized synchronizer for bringing two rotatable members which are aligned about a common axis into synchronization. The synchronizer includes a body member carried on the first rotatable member which in turn engages with an annular shifter collar. Positioned adjacent to the shifter collar is an axially movable annular blocking ring having a frictional surface. Situated on the other side of the blocking ring, opposite the body member, is a drive collar which is rotatably fixed to the second rotatable member. The improvement to the synchronizer includes a frictional disk and a self-energized mechanism for transferring frictional torque between the first and second rotatable members. The self-energized mechanism is positioned for engagement with the blocking ring, while the frictional disk is positioned between the drive collar and the self-energized mechanism. As the operator axially moves the shifter collar, the blocking ring is brought into contact with the self-energized mechanism, and a portion of the mechanism is axially forced into contact with the frictional disk. This contact causes the frictional disk to assist in decreasing the relative rotation between the first and second rotatable members once the self-energized mechanism frictionally engages the blocking ring.