Epicyclic power transmission mechanisms

Claim 1

IN A VARIABLE SPEED EPICYCLIC GEAR MECHANISM COMPRISING A HOUSING AND ROTARY PARTS IN SAID HOUSING IN THE FORM OF A SUM PINION, AN INTERNALLY TOOTHED ANNULUS, AND AT LEAST ONE PLANET PINION MESHING WITH SAID SUN PINION AND SAID ANNULUS; CONTROL MEANS FOR ALTERNATIVELY BRAKING SAID SUN PINION RELATIVELY TO SAID HOUSING OR SECURING SAID SUN PINION TO ANOTHER OF SAID ROTARY PARTS TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE DRIVE RATIOS OF THE MECHANISM, COMPRISING AN AXIALLY SLIDABLE FRICTION BRAKE MEMBER ROTABLY COUPLED TO SAID SUN PINION, A COMPLEMENTARY FIXED BRAKE MEMBER ARRANGED FOR FRICTIONAL BRAKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SLIDABLE BRAKE MEMBER, A FRICTION CLUTCH MEMBER AXIALLY SLIDABL RELATIVELY TO BOTH SAID SLIDABLE BRAKE MEMBER AND SAID SUN PINION TO THE LATTER OF WHICH IT IS ROTABLY COUPLED, A COMPLEMENTARY CLUTCH MEMBER SECURED TO SAID ANOTHER ROTARY PART AND ARRANGED FOR FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SLIDABLE CLUTCH MEMBER, SPRING MEANS ACTING ON SAID SLIDABLE BRAKE AND CLUTCH MEMBERS TO URGE ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS INTO FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CORRESPONDING COMPLEMENTARY FRICTION MEMBER AND THE OTHER AWAY FROM SUCH ENGAGEMENT TO PROVIDE ONE OF SAID ALTERNATIVE DRIVE RATIOS, AND FLUID-PRESSURE OPERATED MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING SAID SLIDABLE FRICTION MEMBERS AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID SPRING MEANS WHEREBY TO PROVIDE THE OTHER OF SAID ALTERNATIVE DRIVE RATIOS.