Power train

Claim 2

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; an output shaft; a speed differential gear unit operatively connected to said output shaft for driving said output shaft with single-input drive and also for driving said output shaft with dual-input drive at a speed proportional to the speed difference of the dual-input drive; first drive-transmitting means including hydrostatic drive means comprising a pump and a motor for transmitting drive from said input shaft to said gear unit to provide one input drive for said gear unit; second drivetransmitting means for transmitting drive from said input shaft to said gear unit to provide another input drive for said gear unit for cooperating with said one-input drive to provide dualinput drive for said gear unit; said second drive-transmitting means including synchronous drive-establishing means operable to provide and to establish and disestablish said other drive under synchronous conditions at a predetermined motor speed; said gear unit comprising a pair of planetary gear sets having like gear members connected to said motor and said drive-establishing means including a clutch for transmitting said other drive to the ring gear member of one gear set.

Claim 3

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; an output shaft; a speed differential gear unit operatively connected to said output shaft for driving said output shaft with single-input drive and also for driving said output shaft with dual-input drive at a speed proportional to the speed difference of the dual-input drive; first drive-transmitting means including hydrostatic drive means comprising a pump and a motor for transmitting drive from said input shaft to said gear unit to provide one-input drive for said gear unit; second drive-transmitting means for transmitting drive from said input shaft to said gear unit to provide another input drive for said gear unit for cooperating with said one-input drive to provide dual-input drive for said gear unit and said second drive-transmitting means including synchronous drive-establisHing means operable to provide and to establish and disestablish said other drive under synchronous conditions at a predetermined motor speed; said gear unit comprising a pair of planetary gear sets having like gear members connected to said motor and said drive-establishing means including a clutch for transmitting said other drive to the carrier member of one gear set and a clutch for transmitting said other drive to the ring gear member of the other gear set.

Claim 4

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; an output shaft; a speed differential gear unit operatively connected to said output shaft for driving said output shaft with single-input drive and also for driving said output shaft with dual-input drive at a speed proportional to the speed difference of the dual-input drive; first drive-transmitting means including hydrostatic drive means comprising a pump and a motor for transmitting drive from said input shaft to said gear unit to provide one-input drive for said gear unit; second drive-transmitting means for transmitting drive from said input shaft to said gear unit to provide another input drive for said gear unit for cooperating with said one-input drive to provide dual-input drive for said gear unit and said second drive-transmitting means including synchronous drive-establisHing means operable to provide and to establish and disestablish said other drive under synchronous conditions at a predetermined motor speed; said gear unit comprising a pair of planetary gear sets having like gear members connected to said motor and said drive-establishing means including a clutch for transmitting said other drive to the carrier member of one gear set and a clutch for transmitting said other drive to the ring gear member of the other gear set.

Claim 5

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; an output shaft; hydrostatic drive means including a pump operatively connected to said input shaft and a motor operatively connected to said pump; a power-combining planetary gear unit for connecting said motor to said output shaft including a first planetary gear set having an input member, a reaction member and an output member and a second planetary gear set having a pair of input members and an output member, both of said output members being connected to said output shaft, the input member of said first gear set and one input member of said second gear set being connected to said motor so that when said reaction member is held and said motor is driven in one direction from zero motor speed to a maximum motor speed said output shaft is driven at a reduced speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic input drive to its input member to provide a first drive range and at the same time the other input member of said second gear set is also driven; mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said other input member of said second gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio between said motor and said driven clutch member for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said one direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said one direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease at motor speed through zero to maximum motor speed in the opposite direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said second gear set with hydrostatic drive to said one input member of said second gear set and mechanical drive to said other input member of said second gear set to provide a second and higher drive range; said first gear set having a sun gear providing said input member, a ring gear providing said output member, a carrier providing said reaction member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear, a brake for holding said carrier and said second gear set having a sun gear providing said one input member, a ring gear providing said other input member, a carrier providing said output member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear.

Claim 6

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; an output shaft; hydrostatic drive means including a pump operatively connected to said input shaft and a motor operatively connected to said pump; a power-combining planetary gear unit for connecting said motor to said output shaft including a first planetary gear set having an input member, a reaction member and an output member and a second planetary gear set having a pair of input members and an output member, both of said output members being connected to said output shaft, the input member of said first gear set and one input member of said second gear set being connected to said motor so that when said reaction member is held and said motor is driven in one direction from zero motor speed to a maximum motor speed said output shaft is driven at a reduced speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic input drive to its input member to provide a first drive range and at the same time the other input member of said second gear set is also driven; mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said other input member of said second gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio between said motor and said driven clutch member for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said one direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said one direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease at motor speed through zero to maximum motor speed in the opposite direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said second gear set with hydrostatic drive to said one input member of said second gear set and mechanical drive to said other input member of said second gear set to provide a second and higher drive range; said first gear set having a sun gear providing said input member, a ring gear providing said output member, a carrier providing said reaction member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear, a brake for holding said carrier and said second gear set having a sun gear providing said one input member, a ring gear providing said other input member, a carrier providing said output member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear.

Claim 7

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; an output shaft; hydrostatic drive means including a pump operatively connected to said input shaft and a motor operatively connected to said pump; a power-combining planetary gear unit for connecting said motor to said output shaft including a first planetary gear set having an input member, a reaction member and an output member and a second planetary gear set having a pair of input members and an output member, both of said output members being connected to said output shaft, the input member of said first gear set and one input member of said second gear set being connected to said motor so that when said reaction member is held and said motor is driven in one direction from zero motor speed to a maximum motor speed said output shaft is driven at a reduced speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic input drive to its input member to provide a first drive range and at the same time the other input member of said second gear set is also driven and mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said other input member of said second gear set including a clutch haVing a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio between said motor and said driven clutch member for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said one direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said one direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum motor speed in the opposite direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said second gear set with hydrostatic drive to said one input member of said second gear set and mechanical drive to said other input member of said second gear set to provide a second and higher drive range; said first gear set having a sun gear providing said input member, a ring gear providing said reaction member and also being capable of providing another input member for said first gear set, a carrier providing said output member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear, a brake for holding said ring gear, said second gear set having a sun gear providing said one input member, a ring gear providing said output member, a carrier providing said other input member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear, mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said ring gear of said first gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said opposite direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said opposite direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum positive motor speed in said one direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic drive to said sun gear of said first gear set and mechanical drive to said ring gear of said first gear set to provide a third and higher drive range.

Claim 8

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; an output shaft; hydrostatic drive means including a pump operatively connected to said input shaft and a motor operatively connected to said pump; a power-combining planetary gear unit for connecting said motor to said output shaft including a first planetary gear set having an input member, a reaction member and an output member and a second planetary gear set having a pair of input members and an output member, both of said output members being connected to said output shaft, the input member of said first gear set and one input member of said second gear set being connected to said motor so that when said reaction member is held and said motor is driven in one direction from zero motor speed to a maximum motor speed said output shaft is driven at a reduced speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic input drive to its input member to provide a first drive range and at the same time the other input member of said second gear set is also driven and mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said other input member of said second gear set including a clutch haVing a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio between said motor and said driven clutch member for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said one direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said one direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum motor speed in the opposite direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said second gear set with hydrostatic drive to said one input member of said second gear set and mechanical drive to said other input member of said second gear set to provide a second and higher drive range; said first gear set having a sun gear providing said input member, a ring gear providing said reaction member and also being capable of providing another input member for said first gear set, a carrier providing said output member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear, a brake for holding said ring gear, said second gear set having a sun gear providing said one input member, a ring gear providing said output member, a carrier providing said other input member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear, mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said ring gear of said first gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said opposite direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said opposite direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum positive motor speed in said one direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic drive to said sun gear of said first gear set and mechanical drive to said ring gear of said first gear set to provide a third and higher drive range.

Claim 9

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; an output shaft; hydrostatic drive means including a pump operatively connected to said input shaft and a motor operatively connected to said pump; a power-combining planetary gear unit for connecting said motor to said output shaft including a first planetary gear set having an input member, a reaction member and an output member and a second planetary gear set having a pair of input members and an output member, both of said output members being connected to said output shaft, the input member of said first gear set and one input member of said second gear set being connected to said motor so that when said reaction member is held and said motor is driven in one direction from zero motor speed to a maximum motor speed said output shaft is driven at a reduced speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic input drive to its input member to provide a first drive range and at the same time the other input member of said second gear set is also driven and mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said other input member of said second gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio between said motor and said driven clutch member for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said one direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said one direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum motor speed in the opposite direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said second gear set with hydrostatic drive to said one input member of said second gear Set and mechanical drive to said other input member of said second gear set to provide a second and higher drive range; mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said reaction member of said first gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio between said driven clutch member and said motor for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said opposite direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said opposite direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum positive motor speed in said one direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic drive to said input member of said first gear set and mechanical drive to said reaction member of said first gear set to provide a third and higher drive range.

Claim 10

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; an output shaft; hydrostatic drive means including a pump operatively connected to said input shaft and a motor operatively connected to said pump; a power-combining planetary gear unit for connecting said motor to said output shaft including a first planetary gear set having an input member, a reaction member and an output member and a second planetary gear set having a pair of input members and an output member, both of said output members being connected to said output shaft, the input member of said first gear set and one input member of said second gear set being connected to said motor so that when said reaction member is held and said motor is driven in one direction from zero motor speed to a maximum motor speed said output shaft is driven at a reduced speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic input drive to its input member to provide a first drive range and at the same time the other input member of said second gear set is also driven and mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said other input member of said second gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio between said motor and said driven clutch member for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said one direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said one direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum motor speed in the opposite direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said second gear set with hydrostatic drive to said one input member of said second gear Set and mechanical drive to said other input member of said second gear set to provide a second and higher drive range; mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said reaction member of said first gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio between said driven clutch member and said motor for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said opposite direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said opposite direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum positive motor speed in said one direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic drive to said input member of said first gear set and mechanical drive to said reaction member of said first gear set to provide a third and higher drive range.

Claim 11

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; an output shaft; hydrostatic drive means including a pump operatively connected to said input shaft and a motor operatively connected to said pump; a power-combining planetary gear unit for connecting said motor to said output shaft including a first planetary gear set having an input member, a reaction member and an output member and a second planetary gear set having a pair of input members and an output member, both of said output members being connected to said output shaft, the input member of said first gear set and one input member of said second gear set being connected to said motor so that when said reaction member is held and said motor is driven in one direction from zero motor speed to a maximum motor speed said output shaft is driven at a reduced speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic input drive to its input member to provide a first drive range and at the same time the other input member of said second gear set is also driven and mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said other input member of said second gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio between said motor and said driven clutch member for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said one direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said one direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum motor speed in the opposite direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said second gear set with hydrostatic drive to said one input member of said second gear set and mechanical drive to said other input member of said second gear set to provide a second and higher drive range; said first gear set having a sun gear providing said input member, a ring gear providing said output member, a carrier providing said reaction member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear, a brake for holding said carrier, said second gear set having a sun gear providing said one input member, a ring gear providing said other input member, a carrier providing said output member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear; mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said carrier of said first gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said opposite direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said opposite direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum positIve motor speed in said one direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic drive to said sun gear of said first gear set and mechanical drive to said carrier of said first gear set to provide a third and higher drive range.

Claim 12

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; an output shaft; hydrostatic drive means including a pump operatively connected to said input shaft and a motor operatively connected to said pump; a power-combining planetary gear unit for connecting said motor to said output shaft including a first planetary gear set having an input member, a reaction member and an output member and a second planetary gear set having a pair of input members and an output member, both of said output members being connected to said output shaft, the input member of said first gear set and one input member of said second gear set being connected to said motor so that when said reaction member is held and said motor is driven in one direction from zero motor speed to a maximum motor speed said output shaft is driven at a reduced speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic input drive to its input member to provide a first drive range and at the same time the other input member of said second gear set is also driven and mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said other input member of said second gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio between said motor and said driven clutch member for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said one direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said one direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum motor speed in the opposite direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said second gear set with hydrostatic drive to said one input member of said second gear set and mechanical drive to said other input member of said second gear set to provide a second and higher drive range; said first gear set having a sun gear providing said input member, a ring gear providing said output member, a carrier providing said reaction member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear, a brake for holding said carrier, said second gear set having a sun gear providing said one input member, a ring gear providing said other input member, a carrier providing said output member and having pinions meshing with said sun gear and ring gear; mechanical drive means for selectively connecting said input shaft to said carrier of said first gear set including a clutch having a driving clutch member and a driven clutch member and drive train means providing a speed ratio for causing said driven clutch member to rotate at driving clutch member speed and in the same direction at the maximum motor speed in said opposite direction whereby on clutch engagement at maximum motor speed in said opposite direction synchronous clutch engagement occurs and on subsequent decrease in motor speed through zero to maximum positIve motor speed in said one direction said output shaft is driven at a proportionately increased speed by said first gear set with hydrostatic drive to said sun gear of said first gear set and mechanical drive to said carrier of said first gear set to provide a third and higher drive range.

Claim 13

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; a right and a left output shaft; a right and a left planetary gear unit each having a pair of planetary gear sets, each said gear set having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier with pinions meshing with said sun and ring gear, one of said ring gears and one of said carriers of said left and right gear unit being connected to said left and right output shaft respectively, a left and a right low-drive brake for holding the other carrier of said left and right gear unit respectively; a mechanical drive for connecting said input shaft to both of the other ring gears and including a power transfer shaft, forward-drive means including a forward-drive clutch and reverse-drive means including a reverse-drive clutch for selectively connecting said input shaft to said power transfer shaft, a left and a right high-drive clutch for connecting said power transfer shaft to said other ring gear of said left and right gear unit respectively and a left and a right infinitely variable hydraulic drive operatively connecting said input shaft to said left and right gear unit respectively, said left and right hydraulic drive comprising a left and a right pump operatively connected to said input shaft, a left and a right motor hydraulically connected to said left and right pump respectively, said left and right motor being connected to drive both said sun gears of said left and right gear unit respectively.

Claim 14

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; a right and a left output shaft; a right and a left planetary gear unit each having a pair of planetary gear sets, each said gear set having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier with pinions meshing with said sun and ring gear, one of said ring gears and one of said carriers of said left and right gear unit being connected to said left and right output shaft respectively, a left and a right low-drive brake for holding the other carrier of said left and right gear unit respectively; a mechanical drive for connecting said input shaft to both of the other ring gears and including a power transfer shaft, forward-drive means including a forward-drive clutch and reverse-drive means including a reverse-drive clutch for selectively connecting said input shaft to said power transfer shaft, a left and a right high-drive clutch for connecting said power transfer shaft to said other ring gear of said left and right gear unit respectively and a left and a right infinitely variable hydraulic drive operatively connecting said input shaft to said left and right gear unit respectively, said left and right hydraulic drive comprising a left and a right pump operatively connected to said input shaft, a left and a right motor hydraulically connected to said left and right pump respectively, said left and right motor being connected to drive both said sun gears of said left and right gear unit respectively.

Claim 15

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; a right and left output shaft; a right and a left planetary gear unit each having a pair of planetary gear sets; each said gear set having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier with pinions meshing with said sun and ring gear, one of said ring gears and one of said carriers of said left and right gear unit being connected to said left and right output shaft respectively, a left and a right low-drive brake for holding the other ring gear of said left and right gear unit respectively; a mechanical drive for selectively connecting said input shaft to both of the other ring gears and both of the other carriers and including a power transfer shaft, forward-drive means including a forward-drive clutch and reverse-drive means including a reverse-drive clutch for selectively connecting said input shaft to said power transfer shaft, a left and a right intermediate-drive clutch for connecting said power transfer shaft to said other carrier of said left and right gear unit respectively, a left and a right high-drive clutch for connecting said power transfer shaft to said other ring gear of said left and right gear unit respectively; and a left and a right infinitely variable hydraulic drive operatively connecting said input shaft to said left and right gear unit respectively, said left and right hydraulic drive comprising a left and a right pump operatively connected to said input shaft, a left and a right motor hydraulically connected to said left and right pump respectively, said left and right motor being connected to drive both said sun gears of said left and right gear unit respectively.

Claim 16

In a power train the combination of an input shaft; a right and left output shaft; a right and a left planetary gear unit each having a pair of planetary gear sets; each said gear set having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier with pinions meshing with said sun and ring gear, one of said ring gears and one of said carriers of said left and right gear unit being connected to said left and right output shaft respectively, a left and a right low-drive brake for holding the other ring gear of said left and right gear unit respectively; a mechanical drive for selectively connecting said input shaft to both of the other ring gears and both of the other carriers and including a power transfer shaft, forward-drive means including a forward-drive clutch and reverse-drive means including a reverse-drive clutch for selectively connecting said input shaft to said power transfer shaft, a left and a right intermediate-drive clutch for connecting said power transfer shaft to said other carrier of said left and right gear unit respectively, a left and a right high-drive clutch for connecting said power transfer shaft to said other ring gear of said left and right gear unit respectively; and a left and a right infinitely variable hydraulic drive operatively connecting said input shaft to said left and right gear unit respectively, said left and right hydraulic drive comprising a left and a right pump operatively connected to said input shaft, a left and a right motor hydraulically connected to said left and right pump respectively, said left and right motor being connected to drive both said sun gears of said left and right gear unit respectively.