Traction-drive transmission

Claim 2

A traction-drive transmission comprising a housing; axially aligned power input and power output shafts rotatably supported in said housing; a planetary unit including first and second axially aligned spaced-apart sun members mounted around said power output shaft, said sun members being axially and rotatably mounted with respect to one another, a plurality of equally spaced planet pinions in frictional contact with said sun members, each of said plurality of planet pinions being rotatably mounted on a planet pinion shaft, carrier means for supporting said planet pinion shafts, said carrier means being secured to said power output shaft, a ring member in frictional contact with said plurality of planet pinions; connector means interconnecting said ring member and said power input shaft; means for loading the frictionally contacting surfaces in response to torque loads; a one-way brake operatively connected between said second sun member and said transmission housing for stopping said sun members in one rotational direction and thereby producing a reduced power output shaft speed; clutCh means including a housing secured for rotation with said ring member, a piston slidably mounted in said clutch housing, a plurality of clutch discs for operatively connecting said clutch housing and said carrier means, a source of fluid under pressure, passage means formed in said transmission housing and said clutch housing for communicating said fluid from said source to said piston for moving said piston to engage said plurality of clutch discs and thereby causing said carrier means and said power output shaft to rotate as a unit with said clutch housing, ring member, and connector means for direct drive between said power input shaft and said power output shaft.

Claim 3

A traction-drive transmission comprising a housing; axially aligned power input and power output shafts rotatably supported in said housing; a planetary unit including first and second axially aligned spaced-apart sun members mounted around said power output shaft, said first sun member being slidably and rotatably mounted on a cylindrical hub extending from said second sun member, a plurality of spaced-apart planet pinions in frictional contact with said sun members, each of said plurality of planet pinions being rotatably mounted on a planet pinion shaft, carrier means including front and rear end plates for supporting said planet pinion shafts, one of said end plates being secured to said power output shaft, a ring member in frictional contact with said plurality of planet pinions; connector means interconnecting said ring member and said power input shaft; axial loader means operatively connected to said first sun member for loading all said planetary unit frictionally contacting surfaces in response to torque loads on said power output shaft; a one-way brake operatively connected between said second sun member and said transmission housing for stopping said sun members when said power input shaft is rotated in a predetermined direction and thereby producing a reduced power output shaft speed with respect to said power input shaft speed; and friction clutch means including a housing secured for rotation with said ring member, a piston slidably mounted in said clutch housing, a reaction member secured to said clutch housing, clutch discs secured to adjacent faces of said piston and said reaction member, an additional clutch disc intermediate said first-mentioned clutch discs, spline means formed on said carrier means, projections formed on said intermediate clutch disc engaging said spline means, a source of fluid under pressure, passage means for communicating said fluid from said source to said piston for engaging said clutch discs and thereby causing said carrier means and said power output shaft to rotate as a unit with said clutch housing, ring member, and connector means for direct drive between said power input shaft and said power output shaft.

Claim 4

A traction-drive transmission comprising a housing; axially aligned power input and power output shafts rotatably supported in said housing; a planetary unit including first and second axially aligned spaced-apart sun members mounted around said power output shaft, said first sun member being slidably and rotatably mounted on a cylindrical hub extending from said second sun member, a plurality of spaced-apart planet pinions in frictional contact with said sun members, each of said plurality of planet pinions being rotatably mounted on a planet pinion shaft, carrier means including front and rear end plates for supporting said planet pinion shafts, one of said end plates being secured to said power output shaft, a ring member in frictional contact with said plurality of planet pinions; connector means interconnecting said ring member and said power input shaft; axial loader means operatively connected to said first sun member for loading all said planetary unit frictionally contacting surfaces in response to torque loads on said power output shaft; a one-way brake operatively connected between said second sun member and said transmission housing for stopping said sun members when said power input shaft is rotated in a predetermined direction and thereby producing a reduced power output shaft speed with respect to said power input shaft speed; and friction clutch means including a housing secured for rotation with said ring member, a piston slidably mounted in said clutch housing, a reaction member secured to said clutch housing, clutch discs secured to adjacent faces of said piston and said reaction member, an additional clutch disc intermediate said first-mentioned clutch discs, spline means formed on said carrier means, projections formed on said intermediate clutch disc engaging said spline means, a source of fluid under pressure, passage means for communicating said fluid from said source to said piston for engaging said clutch discs and thereby causing said carrier means and said power output shaft to rotate as a unit with said clutch housing, ring member, and connector means for direct drive between said power input shaft and said power output shaft.