Transmission

Claim 2

In a transmission the combination of an input shaft a pair of output shafts, variable speed ratio drive means drivingly connected to said input shaft, drive means including first speed differential drive means for providing separate drives from said variable speed ratio drive means to said output shafts wherein the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is normally constant to effect driving of said output shafts at the same speed, variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means having an input member drivingly connected to said input shaft and also having a variable speed output member, second speed differential drive means drivingly connected to said variable speed output member and said first speed differential drive means for varying the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts with the speed of said variable speed output member to effect a speed differential between said output shafts varying with the speed of said variable speed output member and also for maintaining said variable speed output member at zero speed when the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is constant, each of said first and second speed differential drive means including a sun gear member, a ring gear member and a carrier member having a pinion meshing with said sun gear member and said ring gear member, one member of said first speed differential drive means connected to be driven by said variable speed ratio drive means, first drive means drivingly connecting another member of said first speed differential drive means to one of said output shafts, second drive means drivingly connecting the third member of said first speed differential drive means to the other said output shaft, said first drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said one member and said other member of said first speed differential drive means, said second drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said one member and said third member of said first speed differential drive means, one member of said second speed differential drive means drivingly connected to said variable speed output member, third drive means drivingly connecting another member of said second speed differential drive means to said one member of said first speed differential drive means, fourth drive means drivingly connecting the third member of said second speed differential drive means to said other member of said first speed differential drive means, said third and fourth drive means having speed ratios providing speed components to said other member and said third member of said second speed differential drive means so that said one member of said second speed differential drive means is stationary when said variable speed output member is not being driven by said variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means.

Claim 3

In a transmission the combination of an input shaft, a pair of output shafts, variable speed ratio drive means drivingly connected to said input shaft, drive means including first speed differential drive means for providing separate drives from said variable speed ratio drive means to said output shafts wherein the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is normally constant to effect driving of said output shafts at the same speed, variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means having an input member drivingly connected to said input shaft and also having a variable speed output member, second speed differential drive means drivingly connected to said variable speed output member and said first speed differential drive means for varying the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts with the speed of said variable speed output member to effect a speed differential between said output shafts varying with the speed of said variable speed output member and also for maintaining said variable speed output member at zero speed when the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is constant, each of said first and second speed differential drive means including a sun gear member, a ring gear member and a carrier member having a pinion meshing with said sun gear member and said ring gear member, one member of said first speed differential drive means connected to be driven by said variable speed ratio drive means, first drive means drivingly connecting another member of said first speed differential drive means to one of said output shafts, second drive means drivingly connecting the third member of said first speed differential drive means to the other said output shaft, said first drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said one member and said other member of said first speed differential drive means, said second drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said one member and said third member of said first speed differential drive means, one member of said second speed differential drive means drivingly connected to said variable speed output member, third drive means drivingly connecting another member of said second speed differential drive means to said one member of said first speed differential drive means, fourth drive means drivingly connecting the third member of said second speed differential drive means to said other member of said first speed differential drive means, said third and fourth drive means having speed ratios providing speed components to said other member and said third member of said second speed differential drive means so that said one member of said second speed differential drive means is stationary when said variable speed output member is not being driven by said variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means, and a brake for braking said one member of said first speed differential drive means and said another member of said second speed differential drive means so that said variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means is operable to drive said output shafts in opposite directions at the same speed when said variable speed ratio drive means is not transmitting drive.

Claim 4

In a transmission the combination of an input shaft, a pair of output shafts, variable speed ratio drive means drivingly connected to said input shaft, drive means including first speed differential drive means for providing separate drives from said variable speed ratio drive means to said output shafts wherein the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is normally constant to effect driving of said output shafts at the same speed, variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means having an input member drivingly connected to said input shaft and also having a variable speed output member, second speed differential drive means drivingly connected to said variable speed output member and said first speed differential drive means for varying the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts with the speed of said variable speed output member to effect a speed differential between said output shafts varying with the speed of said variable speed output member and also for maintaining said variable speed output member at zero speed when the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is constant, each of said first and second speed differential drive means including a sun gear member, a ring gear member and a carrier member having a pinion meshing with said sun gear member and said ring gear member, one member of said first speed differential drive means connected to be driven by said variable speed ratio drive means, first drive means drivingly connecting another member of said first speed differential drive means to one of said output shafts, second drive means drivingly connecting the third member of said first speed differential drive means to the other said output shaft, said first drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said one member and said other member of said first speed differential drive means, said second drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said one member and said third member of said first speed differential drive means, one member of said second speed differential drive means drivingly connected to said variable speed output member, third drive means drivingly connecting another member of said second speed differential drive means to said one member of said first speed differential drive means, fourth drive means drivingly connecting the third member of said second speed differential drive means to said other member of said first speed differential drive means, said third and fourth drive means having speed ratios providing speed components to said other member and said third member of said second speed differential drive means so that said one member of said second speed differential drive means is stationary when said variable speed output member is not being driven by said variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means, and a brake for braking said one member of said first speed differential drive means and said another member of said second speed differential drive means so that said variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means is operable to drive said output shafts in opposite directions at the same speed when said variable speed ratio drive means is not transmitting drive.

Claim 5

In a transmission the combination of an input shaft, a pair of output shafts, variable speed ratio drive means drivingly connected to said input shaft, drive means including first speed differential drive means for providing separate drives from said variable speed ratio drive means to said output shafts wherein the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is normally constant to effect driving of said output shafts at the same speed, variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means having an input member drivingly connected to said input shaft and also having a variable speed output member, second speed differential drive means drivingly connected to said variable speed output member and said first speed differential drive means for varying the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts with the speed of said variable speed output member to effect a speed differential between said output shafts varying with the speed of said variable speed output member and also for maintaining said variable speed output member at zero speed when the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is constant, and said first speed differential drive means comprising planetary gearing having a sun geaR, a ring gear and a carrier supporting a pinion meshing with said sun gear and said ring gear, said carrier connected to be driven by said variable speed ratio drive means, first drive means drivingly connecting said sun gear to one of said output shafts, second drive means drivingly connecting said ring gear to the other said output shaft, said first drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said carrier and said sun gear, said second drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said carrier and said ring gear.

Claim 6

In a transmission the combination of an input shaft, a pair of output shafts, variable speed ratio drive means drivingly connected to said input shaft, drive means including first speed differential drive means for providing separate drives from said variable speed ratio drive means to said output shafts wherein the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is normally constant to effect driving of said output shafts at the same speed, variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means having an input member drivingly connected to said input shaft and also having a variable speed output member, second speed differential drive means drivingly connected to said variable speed output member and said first speed differential drive means for varying the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts with the speed of said variable speed output member to effect a speed differential between said output shafts varying with the speed of said variable speed output member and also for maintaining said variable speed output member at zero speed when the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is constant, and said first speed differential drive means comprising planetary gearing having a sun geaR, a ring gear and a carrier supporting a pinion meshing with said sun gear and said ring gear, said carrier connected to be driven by said variable speed ratio drive means, first drive means drivingly connecting said sun gear to one of said output shafts, second drive means drivingly connecting said ring gear to the other said output shaft, said first drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said carrier and said sun gear, said second drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said carrier and said ring gear.

Claim 7

In a transmission the combination of an input shaft, a pair of output shafts, variable speed ratio drive means drivingly connected to said input shaft, drive means including first speed differential drive means for providing separate drives from said variable speed ratio drive means to said output shafts wherein the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is normally constant to effect driving of said output shafts at the same speed, variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means having an input member drivingly connected to said input shaft and also having a variable speed output member, second speed differential drive means drivingly connected to said variable speed output member and said first speed differential drive means for varying the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts with the speed of said variable speed output member to effect a speed differential between said output shafts varying with the speed of said variable speed output member and also for maintaining said variable speed output member at zero speed when the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is constant, said first speed differential drive means comprising planetary gearing having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier supporting a pinion meshing with said sun gear and said ring gear, said carrier connected to be driven by said variable speed ratio drive means, first drive means drivingly connecting said sun gear to one of said output shafts, second drive means drivingly connecting said ring gear to the other said output shaft, said first drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said carrier and said sun gear, said second drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said carrier and said ring gear, and said second speed differential drive means comprises planetary gearing having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier supporting a pinion meshing with said sun gear and said ring gear, said ring gear drivingly connected to said variable speed output member, third drive means drivingly connecting said carrier of said second speed differential drive means to said carrier of said first speed differential drive means, fourth drive means drivingly connecting said sun gear of said second speed differential drive means to said ring gear of said first speed differential drive means, said third and fourth drive means having speed ratios providing speed components to said carrier and said sun gear of said second speed differential drive means so that said ring gear of said second speed differential drive means is stationary when said variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means is not driving said variable speed output member.

Claim 8

In a transmission the combination of an input shaft, a pair of output shafts, variable speed ratio drive means drivingly connected to said input shaft, drive means including first speed differential drive means for providing separate drives from said variable speed ratio drive means to said output shafts wherein the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is normally constant to effect driving of said output shafts at the same speed, variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means having an input member drivingly connected to said input shaft and also having a variable speed output member, second speed differential drive means drivingly connected to said variable speed output member and said first speed differential drive means for varying the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts with the speed of said variable speed output member to effect a speed differential between said output shafts varying with the speed of said variable speed output member and also for maintaining said variable speed output member at zero speed when the speed ratio between the drives to said output shafts is constant, said first speed differential drive means comprising planetary gearing having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier supporting a pinion meshing with said sun gear and said ring gear, said carrier connected to be driven by said variable speed ratio drive means, first drive means drivingly connecting said sun gear to one of said output shafts, second drive means drivingly connecting said ring gear to the other said output shaft, said first drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said carrier and said sun gear, said second drive means having a speed ratio that is the inverse of that between said carrier and said ring gear, and said second speed differential drive means comprises planetary gearing having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier supporting a pinion meshing with said sun gear and said ring gear, said ring gear drivingly connected to said variable speed output member, third drive means drivingly connecting said carrier of said second speed differential drive means to said carrier of said first speed differential drive means, fourth drive means drivingly connecting said sun gear of said second speed differential drive means to said ring gear of said first speed differential drive means, said third and fourth drive means having speed ratios providing speed components to said carrier and said sun gear of said second speed differential drive means so that said ring gear of said second speed differential drive means is stationary when said variable speed ratio hydrostatic drive means is not driving said variable speed output member.