Semi-blocked transmission

Claim 2

A compound splitter type change gear transmission (10) comprising a housing (16) defining a multiple speed main transmission section (12) connected in series with a multiple speed auxiliary transmission section (14); said main transmission section (12) comprising an input shaft (18) having an input gear (22) rotationally fixed thereto, a mainshaft (28) generally coaxial with said input shaft and extending into said auxiliary transmission section and at least one countershaft (24, 26) rotationally supported in said housing and driven by said input gear, a plurality of countershaft gears (36, 38, 40, 42) fixed to said countershaft, a plurality of mainshaft gears (46, 48, 50) surrounding said mainshaft and constantly driven by said countershaft gears, and positive nonblocked nonsynchronized clutch means (56, 58, 60) rotationally fixed to said mainshaft for coupling said mainshaft gears one at a time to said mainshaft; said auxiliary transmission section (14) comprising at least one auxiliary countershaft (78, 80) rotationally supported in said housing and an output shaft (74) generally coaxial with said mainshaft, said auxiliary countershaft having a plurality of auxiliary countershaft gears (82, 84, 86, 88) fixed thereto, an output gear (112) splined to said output shaft for rotational movement therewith and axial movement relative thereto, said output gear constantly meshed with one (88) of said auxiliary countershaft gears, at least one auxiliary mainshaft gear (106, 108, 110) surrounding said mainshaft for rotational and axial movement relative thereto, said auxiliary mainshaft gear constantly meshed with another (82, 84, 86) of said auxiliary countershaft gears, blocked resilient jaw clutch assemblies (l14, 116, 118, 120) rotationally fixed to mainshaft for selectively coupling said auxiliary mainshaft gear and said output gear, one at a time, to said mainshaft and auxiliary shifting means (142, 148) for selectively axially moving said auxiliary mainshaft gear and said output gear relative to said mainshaft.

Claim 3

The transmission of claim 1, wherein said blocked resilient jaw clutch assemblies each comprises a first annular jaw clutch member (164) fixed to one (108) of said output gears and auxiliary mainshaft gears and a second jaw clutch member (116) splined (158-160) to said mainshaft, said second jaw clutch member resiliently biased (130) towards said first jaw clutch member, a stop means (134) fixedly secured to said mainshaft, spring means (130) normally resiliently urging said second jaw clutch member against said stop means when said one gear is in a first axial position and said first and second sets of teeth are disengaged, a substantially nondeformable blocker ring (124) carried by said second (116) axially engageable positive clutch members for rotation therewith with a predetermined limited relative rotation therebetween, said blocker ring axially movable relative to said second clutch member (116) in at least one axial direction, said blocker ring operable to tend to rotate with said first clutch member (164) at initiation of a clutch engaging operation, said blocker ring and second clutch member each having projections (170, 172, 174) extending therefrom defining an array of interacting projections, said array of interacting projections effective to block relative axial movement of said first clutch member toward said second clutch member if not aligned, said blocker ring having at least one rotational position relative to said second clutch member (116) wherein said array of projections are aligned and at least one rotational position relative to said second clutch member (116) wherein said array of projections are not aligned, said blocker ring effective to sense non-synchronous rotation of said clutch members corresponding to blocker ring rotation relative to said second clutch member sufficient to cause a non-alignment of said array of projections to block axial engagement of said clutch members, movement of said one gear axially toward said second jaw clutch member causing said array to contact and move said second jaw clutch member axially away from said stop means in opposition to said spring means, whereby said spring means causes said second jaw clutch member to again move axially in the opposite direction to meshingly engage said first set of teeth when substantial speed synchronization is achieved therebetween, said arrays having complementary ramps (180, 176, 178) thereon which, under the bias of said spring when said main transmission section is not engaged, will tend to cause said arrays to align.

Claim 4

The transmission of claim 2, wherein said ramps define an angle (183) of 15°-25° with respect to a plane normal to the axis of said mainshaft. N

Claim 5

The transmission of claim 2, wherein said ramps define an angle (183) of about 20° with respect to a plane normal to the axis of said mainshaft.

Claim 6

The transmission of claim 2, wherein said main transmission section nonsynchronized nonblocked jaw clutches are controlled by shift forks (62, 64, 66) fixed to shift bar housing assembly (70) and wherein said means for axially moving said auxiliary mainshaft gear and output gear comprises at least one shift fork (142, 148) attached to a remote servo mechanism (144, 150).

Claim 7

The transmission of claims 1, 2, 3 or 5, wherein said transmission is defined by the relationships A x B = C and B is greater than or equal to A, wherein: A = the total number of main transmission forward gear ratios, B = the total number of auxiliary section gear ratios, C = the total number of transmission selectable forward gear ratios.

Claim 8

The transmission of claims 1, 2 or 5, wherein adjustment means (102, 104) are provided for adjusting the axial position of the mainshaft relative to said housing, said means being accessible from the exterior of said housing.

Claim 9

A compound splitter type change gear transmission (10) comprising a multi-speed main transmission section (12) connected in series with a multi-speed auxiliary transmission section (14), said transmission comprising a housing (16) defining a main and auxiliary section; said main transmission section (12) comprising: an input shaft (18) rotationally supported in said housing and carrying an input gear (22) rotationally fixed thereto, a plurality of spaced and substantially parallel main section countershafts (24, 26) mounted for rotation within said housing, a plurality of main section countershaft ratio gears (38, 40, 42) mounted on each of said main section countershafts, the individual main section countershaft ratio gears on one main section countershaft being grouped with and radially spaced from identical main section ratio gears on the other main section countershafts for defining main section countershaft gear groups; means (36) for supply input power to each of said main section countershafts; a mainshaft (28) disposed between and substantially parallel with said plurality of main section countershafts, said mainshaft extending into said auxiliary section; a plurality of main section mainshaft ratio gears (46, 48, 50) disposed substantially concentrically of said mainshaft and substantially axially fixed relative thereto, each of said main section mainshaft ratio gears being disposed in continuous driving engagement with a respective one of said main section countershaft gear groups; releasable nonblocked, nonsynchronized clutch means (50, 58, 60) associated with said main section mainshaft ratio gears for selectively nonrotatably interconnecting same to said mainshaft, said nonblocked, nonsynchronized clutch means including first and second jaw clutch members nonrotatably associated with said main section mainshaft gears and said mainshaft, respectively, said second jaw clutch member (56, 58, 60) being axially slidably mounted on said mainshaft, and main section shift means (62, 64, 66) for selectively axially moving said second jaw clutch members; said auxiliary transmission section (14) comprising: an output shaft (74) rotationally supported in said housing and carrying an output gear (112) splined thereto for rotational movement therewith and axial movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced and substantially parallel auxiliary section countershafts (78, 80) mounted for rotation within said housing, a plurality of auxiliary section countershafts ratio gears (82, 84, 86, 88) mounted on each of said auxiliary section countershafts, the individual auxiliary section countershaft ratio gears on one auxiliary section countershaft being grouped with and radially spaced from identical auxiliary section countershaft ratio gears on the other auxiliary section countershafts for defining auxiliary section countershaft gear groups, one (88-88) of said auxiliary section countershaft groups constantly meshed with said output gear, at least one (106, 108, 110) auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gear disposed substantially concentrially of said mainshaft, each of said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gears being disposed in continuous meshing engagement with a respective one of said auxiliary section countershaft gear groups; blocked auxiliary section clutch means associated with said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gears and said output gear for selectively nonrotatably interconnecting same to said mainshaft, said auxiliary section clutch means each including first (164) and second (116) auxiliary section jaw clutch members nonrotatably associated with said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gear and output gear, and said mainshaft, respectively, said second auxiliary section jaw clutch member (116) being axially slidably mounted on said mainshaft, and resilient means (130) urging said auxiliary section second jaw clutch member in a direction toward said auxiliary section first jaw clutch member, a nondeformable blocker ring (124) carried by said auxiliary section second auxiliary jaw clutch member for rotation therewith with a predetermined relative rotation therebetween, said blocker ring axially movable relative to said auxiliary section second clutch member in at least one axial direction, said blocker ring operable to tend to rotate with said auxiliary section first clutch member at initiation of an auxiliary section clutch engaging operation, said blocker ring and auxiliary section second clutch member each having projections (170, 172, 174) extending therefrom defining an array of interacting projections, said array of interacting projections effective to block relative axial movement of said auxiliary section second clutch member toward said auxiliary section first clutch member if not aligned, said blocker ring having at least one rotational position relative to said auxiliary section second clutch member wherein said array of projections are aligned and at least one rotational position relative to said auxiliary section second clutch member wherein said array of projections are not aligned, said blocker ring effective to sense nonsynchronous rotation of said auxiliary section clutch members corresponding to blocker ring rotation relative to said auxiliary section second clutch member sufficient to cause a nonalignment of said array of projections to block axial engagement of said auxiliary section clutch members, and stop means (134) coacting between said auxiliary section second jaw clutch member and said mainshaft for limiting the axial movement of auxiliary section second jaw clutch member, said resilient means including spring means (130) resiliently urging said auxiliary section second jaw clutch member against said stop means, and auxiliary section shift means (142, 148) for axially shifting said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gear (108) and said output gear (112) one at a time relative to said mainshaft from first positions wherein one of said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gear and output gear are spaced from and out of engagement with said auxiliary section second jaw clutch member to a second position wherein one of said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio and output gear causes contact said auxiliary section second jaw clutch member and axially displaces same in opposition to the urging of said spring means for creating a resilient clutch engaging force to cause the jaw clutch members to meshingly engage when the speeds thereof are substantially synchronized.

Claim 10

A compound splitter type change gear transmission (10) comprising a multi-speed main transmission section (12) connected in series with a multi-speed auxiliary transmission section (14), said transmission comprising a housing (16) defining a main and auxiliary section; said main transmission section (12) comprising: an input shaft (18) rotationally supported in said housing and carrying an input gear (22) rotationally fixed thereto, a plurality of spaced and substantially parallel main section countershafts (24, 26) mounted for rotation within said housing, a plurality of main section countershaft ratio gears (38, 40, 42) mounted on each of said main section countershafts, the individual main section countershaft ratio gears on one main section countershaft being grouped with and radially spaced from identical main section ratio gears on the other main section countershafts for defining main section countershaft gear groups; means (36) for supply input power to each of said main section countershafts; a mainshaft (28) disposed between and substantially parallel with said plurality of main section countershafts, said mainshaft extending into said auxiliary section; a plurality of main section mainshaft ratio gears (46, 48, 50) disposed substantially concentrically of said mainshaft and substantially axially fixed relative thereto, each of said main section mainshaft ratio gears being disposed in continuous driving engagement with a respective one of said main section countershaft gear groups; releasable nonblocked, nonsynchronized clutch means (50, 58, 60) associated with said main section mainshaft ratio gears for selectively nonrotatably interconnecting same to said mainshaft, said nonblocked, nonsynchronized clutch means including first and second jaw clutch members nonrotatably associated with said main section mainshaft gears and said mainshaft, respectively, said second jaw clutch member (56, 58, 60) being axially slidably mounted on said mainshaft, and main section shift means (62, 64, 66) for selectively axially moving said second jaw clutch members; said auxiliary transmission section (14) comprising: an output shaft (74) rotationally supported in said housing and carrying an output gear (112) splined thereto for rotational movement therewith and axial movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced and substantially parallel auxiliary section countershafts (78, 80) mounted for rotation within said housing, a plurality of auxiliary section countershafts ratio gears (82, 84, 86, 88) mounted on each of said auxiliary section countershafts, the individual auxiliary section countershaft ratio gears on one auxiliary section countershaft being grouped with and radially spaced from identical auxiliary section countershaft ratio gears on the other auxiliary section countershafts for defining auxiliary section countershaft gear groups, one (88-88) of said auxiliary section countershaft groups constantly meshed with said output gear, at least one (106, 108, 110) auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gear disposed substantially concentrially of said mainshaft, each of said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gears being disposed in continuous meshing engagement with a respective one of said auxiliary section countershaft gear groups; blocked auxiliary section clutch means associated with said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gears and said output gear for selectively nonrotatably interconnecting same to said mainshaft, said auxiliary section clutch means each including first (164) and second (116) auxiliary section jaw clutch members nonrotatably associated with said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gear and output gear, and said mainshaft, respectively, said second auxiliary section jaw clutch member (116) being axially slidably mounted on said mainshaft, and resilient means (130) urging said auxiliary section second jaw clutch member in a direction toward said auxiliary section first jaw clutch member, a nondeformable blocker ring (124) carried by said auxiliary section second auxiliary jaw clutch member for rotation therewith with a predetermined relative rotation therebetween, said blocker ring axially movable relative to said auxiliary section second clutch member in at least one axial direction, said blocker ring operable to tend to rotate with said auxiliary section first clutch member at initiation of an auxiliary section clutch engaging operation, said blocker ring and auxiliary section second clutch member each having projections (170, 172, 174) extending therefrom defining an array of interacting projections, said array of interacting projections effective to block relative axial movement of said auxiliary section second clutch member toward said auxiliary section first clutch member if not aligned, said blocker ring having at least one rotational position relative to said auxiliary section second clutch member wherein said array of projections are aligned and at least one rotational position relative to said auxiliary section second clutch member wherein said array of projections are not aligned, said blocker ring effective to sense nonsynchronous rotation of said auxiliary section clutch members corresponding to blocker ring rotation relative to said auxiliary section second clutch member sufficient to cause a nonalignment of said array of projections to block axial engagement of said auxiliary section clutch members, and stop means (134) coacting between said auxiliary section second jaw clutch member and said mainshaft for limiting the axial movement of auxiliary section second jaw clutch member, said resilient means including spring means (130) resiliently urging said auxiliary section second jaw clutch member against said stop means, and auxiliary section shift means (142, 148) for axially shifting said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gear (108) and said output gear (112) one at a time relative to said mainshaft from first positions wherein one of said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio gear and output gear are spaced from and out of engagement with said auxiliary section second jaw clutch member to a second position wherein one of said auxiliary section mainshaft ratio and output gear causes contact said auxiliary section second jaw clutch member and axially displaces same in opposition to the urging of said spring means for creating a resilient clutch engaging force to cause the jaw clutch members to meshingly engage when the speeds thereof are substantially synchronized.

Claim 11

The transmission of claim 8, wherein said arrays having complementary ramps (176, 178, 180) thereon which, under the bias of said spring when said main transmission section is not engaged, will tend to cause said arrays to align.

Claim 12

The transmission of claim 9, wherein said ramps define an angle (183) of 15°-25° with respect to a plane normal to the axis of said mainshaft.

Claim 13

The transmission of claim 9, wherein said ramps define an angle (183) of about 20° with respect to a plane normal to the axis of said mainshaft.

Claim 14

A splitter type compound transmission (10) comprising: an input component (18) comprising an input shaft, an input gear (22) rotationally fixed to said input shaft, at least one first countershaft (24, 26) carrying a plurality of first countershaft gears (36, 38, 40, 42) thereon, one (36) of said first countershaft gears constantly meshed with said input gear and a plurality of first mainshaft gears (46, 48, 50) constantly meshed with other of said first countershaft gears; a connecting component (28) comprising a mainshaft and a plurality of first (56, 58, 60) and second (114, 116, 118, 120) mainshaft clutch members rotationally fixed to said mainshaft, said connecting component independently rotatable of said input component; and an output component (74) comprising an output shaft, an output gear (112) rotationally fixed to said output shaft, at least one second countershaft (78, 80) carrying a plurality of second countershaft gears (82, 84, 86, 88) thereon, one (88) of said second countershaft gears constantly meshed with said output gear and at least one (106, 108, 110) second mainshaft gear constantly meshed with another (82, 84, 86) of said second countershaft gears, said output component independently rotatable of said conecting component, said input gear (22) and first mainshaft gears selectively clutchable one at a time to said mainshaft by first nonblocked nonsychronized clutch means including said first clutch members, said output gear and second mainshaft gear selectively clutchable one at a time to said mainshaft by second blocked clutch means including said second clutch members.

Claim 15

A splitter type compound transmission (10) comprising: an input component (18) comprising an input shaft, an input gear (22) rotationally fixed to said input shaft, at least one first countershaft (24, 26) carrying a plurality of first countershaft gears (36, 38, 40, 42) thereon, one (36) of said first countershaft gears constantly meshed with said input gear and a plurality of first mainshaft gears (46, 48, 50) constantly meshed with other of said first countershaft gears; a connecting component (28) comprising a mainshaft and a plurality of first (56, 58, 60) and second (114, 116, 118, 120) mainshaft clutch members rotationally fixed to said mainshaft, said connecting component independently rotatable of said input component; and an output component (74) comprising an output shaft, an output gear (112) rotationally fixed to said output shaft, at least one second countershaft (78, 80) carrying a plurality of second countershaft gears (82, 84, 86, 88) thereon, one (88) of said second countershaft gears constantly meshed with said output gear and at least one (106, 108, 110) second mainshaft gear constantly meshed with another (82, 84, 86) of said second countershaft gears, said output component independently rotatable of said conecting component, said input gear (22) and first mainshaft gears selectively clutchable one at a time to said mainshaft by first nonblocked nonsychronized clutch means including said first clutch members, said output gear and second mainshaft gear selectively clutchable one at a time to said mainshaft by second blocked clutch means including said second clutch members.

Claim 16

The transmission of claim 12, wherein said second clutch means will unblock during a clutching operation if none of said first clutch means are engaged and said second clutch means will unblock if the selected one of said output gear and said second mainshaft gear is rotating substantially synchronously with said mainshaft.

Claim 17

The transmission of claim 12 or 13, wherein at least two substantially identical first countershafts and at least two substantially identical second countershafts are provided and said mainshaft gears surround said mainshaft and are supported by the countershaft gears constantly meshed therewith.