Transmission and clutch control

Claim 2

A transmission comprising input and output shafts, an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, a rotatably mounted output race, a plurality of tiltable rollers mounted in frictional contact at the edges thereof with said input and output races, means for tilting said rollers intermediate said input and output races, a planetary unit including first, second and third rotatable members, one of said first, second and third rotatable members being operatively connected to said output race for rotation members being of said first, second and third rotatable members being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, control means for producing signals indicative of predetermined tilt angle ranges of said roller positions between said races, and means for operatively connecting and disconnecting the last of said first, second and third rotatable members to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in respective forward and reverse directions in response to particular tilt angle range signals.

Claim 3

The transmission described in claim 1, wherein said last of said first, second and third rotatable members remains stationary when the contacting velocities of said one of and said another of said first, second and third rotatable members are equal and opposite in direction, and with said last of said first, second and third rotatable members reversing in direction relative to said one of and said another of said rotatable members at contact velocities of said one rotatable member below the contact velocities of said another rotatable member.

Claim 4

The transmission described in claim 1, wherein said last-mentioned means includes a friction clutch mechanism operatively connected between said last of said first, second and third rotatable members and said output shaft.

Claim 5

The transmission described in claim 1, wherein said control means includes a servopiston movable in response to various engine parameters to set the required tilt angle of said rollers, ratio position valve means directly movable in response to movement of said servopiston to transmit a fluid pressure signal indicative of tilt angle, piston means for actuating said friction clutch mechanism, forward and reverse clutch valve means responsive to predetermined fluid pressures, and manual selector valve means for receiving said fluid pressure signal from said ratio position valve means and directing same to one of said forward and reverse clutch valve means, said one of said forward and reverse clutch valve means directing said fluid pressure signal to said piston means for engagement of said friction clutch mechanism upon attainment of said predetermined fluid pressures.

Claim 6

The transmission described in claim 4, and a centrifugally-actuated apply valve operatively connected between said forward and reverse clutch valve means and said piston means for controlling the application of said fluid pressure signal on said piston means in response to centrifugal force.

Claim 7

A transmission comprising input and output shafts, an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, a rotatably mounted output race oppositely disposed from said input race, a plurality of tiltable rollers mounted in frictional contact at the edges thereof with said input and output races, means for tilting said rollers intermediate said input and output races, a planetary unit including first, second and third rotatable members, said first rotatable member being operatively connected to said output race for rotation therewith, said second rotatable member being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, first means for operatively connecting and disconnecting said third rotatable member to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in forward and reverse directions in response to the tilting of said rollers along sAid races through respective predetermined tilt angle ranges, and second means for automatically actuating said first means during said respective predetermined tilt angle range positions.

Claim 8

A transmission comprising input and output shafts, an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, a rotatably mounted output race oppositely disposed from said input race, a plurality of tiltable rollers mounted in frictional contact at the edges thereof with said input and output races, means for tilting said rollers intermediate said input and output races, a planetary unit including first, second and third rotatable members, said first rotatable member being operatively connected to said output race for rotation therewith, said second rotatable member being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, first means for operatively connecting and disconnecting said third rotatable member to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in forward and reverse directions in response to the tilting of said rollers along sAid races through respective predetermined tilt angle ranges, and second means for automatically actuating said first means during said respective predetermined tilt angle range positions.

Claim 9

The transmission described in claim 6, wherein said third rotatable member remains stationary when the contact velocities of said first and second rotatable members are equal and opposite in direction, and with said third rotatable member reversing in direction at contact velocities of said first rotatable member below the contact velocities of said second rotatable member.

Claim 10

A transmission comprising input and output shafts, an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, an output race rotatably mounted on said input shaft, a plurality of tiltable rollers mounted in frictional contact at the edges thereof with said input and output races, means for tilting said rollers intermediate said input and output races, a planetary unit including ring, sun and planet pinion members, one of said ring, sun and planet pinion members being operatively connected to said output race for rotation therewith, another of said ring, sun and planet pinion members being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, first means for operatively connecting and disconnecting the last of said ring, sun and planet pinion members to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in both rotary directions in response to the tilting of said rollers along said races through respective predetermined tilt angle ranges, and second means for automatically actuating said first means during said respective predetermined tilt angle range positions.

Claim 11

A transmission comprising input and output shafts, an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, an output race rotatably mounted on said input shaft, a plurality of tiltable rollers mounted in frictional contact at the edges thereof with said input and output races, means for tilting said rollers intermediate said input and output races, a planetary unit including ring, sun and planet pinion members, one of said ring, sun and planet pinion members being operatively connected to said output race for rotation therewith, another of said ring, sun and planet pinion members being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, first means for operatively connecting and disconnecting the last of said ring, sun and planet pinion members to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in both rotary directions in response to the tilting of said rollers along said races through respective predetermined tilt angle ranges, and second means for automatically actuating said first means during said respective predetermined tilt angle range positions.

Claim 12

A transmission comprising input and output shafts, an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, an output race rotatably mounted on said input shaft, a plurality of tiltable rollers mounted in frictional contact at the edges thereof with said input and output races, means for tilting said rollers intermediate said input and output races, a planetary unit including ring, sun and planet pinion members, said ring member being operatively connected to said output race for rotation therewith, said sun member being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, control means for producing signals indicative of predetermined tilt angle ranges of said roller positions between said races, and means for operatively connecting and disconnecting said planet pinion members to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in respective forward and reverse directions in response to particular tilt angle range signals.

Claim 13

A transmission comprising input and output shafts, an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, an output race rotatably mounted on said input shaft, a plurality of tiltable rollers mounted in frictional contact at the edges thereof with said input and output races, means for tilting said rollers intermediate said input and output races, a planetary unit including ring, sun and planet pinion members, said ring member being operatively connected to said output race for rotation therewith, said sun member being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, control means for producing signals indicative of predetermined tilt angle ranges of said roller positions between said races, and means for operatively connecting and disconnecting said planet pinion members to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in respective forward and reverse directions in response to particular tilt angle range signals.

Claim 14

The transmission described in claim 9, wherein the axes of said planet pinion members remain stationary with respect to the axis of said input shaft when the contact velocities of said ring member and said sun member are equal and opposite in direction, and with said planet pinion members reversing in direction at contact velocities of said ring member below the contact velocities of said sun member.

Claim 15

A transmission comprising input and output shafts; an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith; an output race rotatably mounted on said input shaft; a plurality of tiltable rollers mounted in frictional contact at the edges thereof with said input and output races; means for tilting said rollers intermediate said input and output races; a planetary unit including ring, sun and planet pinion members, said ring member being operatively connected to said output race for rotation therewith, said sun member being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith; and means for automatically connecting said planet pinion members to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in one direction in response to the tilting of said rollers through a first predetermined tilt angle portion of the total tilt angle range of said roller positions between said races, and for automatically connecting said planet pinion members to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in the opposite rotary dIrection in response to the tilting of said rollers through a second predetermined tilt angle portion of the total tilt angle range of said roller positions between said races, and for automatically disconnecting said planet pinion members from said output shaft in response to the tilting of said rollers through the remaining portion of the total tilt angle range of said roller positions between said races.

Claim 16

A transmission comprising input and output shafts; an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith; an output race rotatably mounted on said input shaft; a plurality of tiltable rollers mounted in frictional contact at the edges thereof with said input and output races; means for tilting said rollers intermediate said input and output races; a planetary unit including ring, sun and planet pinion members, said ring member being operatively connected to said output race for rotation therewith, said sun member being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith; and means for automatically connecting said planet pinion members to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in one direction in response to the tilting of said rollers through a first predetermined tilt angle portion of the total tilt angle range of said roller positions between said races, and for automatically connecting said planet pinion members to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in the opposite rotary dIrection in response to the tilting of said rollers through a second predetermined tilt angle portion of the total tilt angle range of said roller positions between said races, and for automatically disconnecting said planet pinion members from said output shaft in response to the tilting of said rollers through the remaining portion of the total tilt angle range of said roller positions between said races.

Claim 17

The transmission described in claim 11, wherein said last-mentioned means includes a friction clutch mechanism operatively connected to said planet pinion members and control means for engaging and disengaging said clutch mechanism.

Claim 18

The transmission described in claim 12, and a carrier member operatively connected between said planet pinion members and said friction clutch mechanism, said carrier member serving to maintain said planet pinion members in a spaced individually-rotating relationship and adapted to be rotated about the axis of said input shaft in response to rotation of said planet pinions about said axis of said input shaft.

Claim 19

The transmission described in claim 11, wherein said first predetermined tilt angle portion of the total tilt angle range is the range included between a right angle relationship between the movable plane of said rollers and the fixed plane of said input race and a 30* relationship between said movable plane and said fixed plane, said 30* being measured at the center of said rollers and extending radially outwardly of said right angle position along said fixed plane of said input race.

Claim 20

The transmission described in claim 11, wherein said second predetermined tilt angle portion of the total tilt angle range includes an angular relationship between the movable plane of said rollers and the fixed plane of said input race of from approximately 25* to approximately 30* as measured at the center of said rollers, said 25* and 30* positions being located radially inwardly of the point at which said movable and fixed planes are in a perpendicular relationship and along said fixed plane.

Claim 21

The transmission described in claim 11, wherein said third predetermined tilt angle portion of the total tilt angle range is the range included between a right angle relationship between the movable plane of said rollers and the fixed plane of said input race and a 25* relationship between said movable plane and said fixed plane, as measured at the center of said rollers and radially inwardly of said right angle position along said fixed plane of said input race.

Claim 22

A transmission comprising input and output shafts, an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, an output race rotatably mounted on said input shaft, a plurality of tiltable rollers mounted in frictional contact at the edges thereof with said input and output races, means for tilting said rollers intermediate said input and output races, a planetary unit including ring, sun and intermediate planet pinion members, a carrier member for rotatably mounting and spacing said planet pinion members, said ring member being operatively connected to said output race for rotation therewith, said sun member being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, and clutch and clutch-actuating means for automatically connecting said carrier member to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in one direction in response to the tilting of said rollers outwardly from center along the toroidal surface of said input race, and for automatically connecting said carrier member to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in the opposite rotary direction in response to the tilting of said rollers through a first predetermined portion of the total available tilt angle range of said rollers inwardly from center along said toroidal surface of said input race, and for automatically disconnecting said carrier member from said output shaft in response to the tilting of said rolleRs through a second predetermined portion of the total available tilt angle range of said rollers inwardly from center along said toroidal surface of said input race.

Claim 23

A transmission comprising input and output shafts, an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, an output race rotatably mounted on said input shaft, a plurality of tiltable rollers mounted in frictional contact at the edges thereof with said input and output races, means for tilting said rollers intermediate said input and output races, a planetary unit including ring, sun and intermediate planet pinion members, a carrier member for rotatably mounting and spacing said planet pinion members, said ring member being operatively connected to said output race for rotation therewith, said sun member being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith, and clutch and clutch-actuating means for automatically connecting said carrier member to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in one direction in response to the tilting of said rollers outwardly from center along the toroidal surface of said input race, and for automatically connecting said carrier member to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in the opposite rotary direction in response to the tilting of said rollers through a first predetermined portion of the total available tilt angle range of said rollers inwardly from center along said toroidal surface of said input race, and for automatically disconnecting said carrier member from said output shaft in response to the tilting of said rolleRs through a second predetermined portion of the total available tilt angle range of said rollers inwardly from center along said toroidal surface of said input race.

Claim 24

A transmission comprising input and output shafts; an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith; an output race rotatably mounted on said input shaft; a plurality of tilting rollers mounted intermediate said input and output races in frictional contact at the edges thereof with oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces formed on said input and output races; means for tilting said rollers radially inwardly and radially outwardly from center along said toroidal surfaces; a planetary unit including ring, sun and planet pinion members; a carrier member for rotatably mounting said planet pinion members in frictional contact with said ring and sun members, said ring member being rotatable in response to rotation of said output race, said sun member being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith; and clutch and clutch-actuating means for automatically connecting said carrier member to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in one direction in response to the tilting of said rollers through all radially outward positions of said edges of said rollers from center along said toroidal surface on said input race, and for automatically connecting said carrier member to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in the opposite direction in response to the tilting of said rollers through a first predetermined portion of all radially inward positions of said edges of said rollers from center along said toroidal surface on said input race, and for automatically disconnecting said carrier member from said output shaft in response to the tilting of said rollers through the remaining portion of all radially inward positions of said edges of said rollers from center along said toroidal surface on said input race.

Claim 25

A transmission comprising input and output shafts; an input race secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith; an output race rotatably mounted on said input shaft; a plurality of tilting rollers mounted intermediate said input and output races in frictional contact at the edges thereof with oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces formed on said input and output races; means for tilting said rollers radially inwardly and radially outwardly from center along said toroidal surfaces; a planetary unit including ring, sun and planet pinion members; a carrier member for rotatably mounting said planet pinion members in frictional contact with said ring and sun members, said ring member being rotatable in response to rotation of said output race, said sun member being secured to said input shaft for rotation therewith; and clutch and clutch-actuating means for automatically connecting said carrier member to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in one direction in response to the tilting of said rollers through all radially outward positions of said edges of said rollers from center along said toroidal surface on said input race, and for automatically connecting said carrier member to said output shaft for rotating said output shaft in the opposite direction in response to the tilting of said rollers through a first predetermined portion of all radially inward positions of said edges of said rollers from center along said toroidal surface on said input race, and for automatically disconnecting said carrier member from said output shaft in response to the tilting of said rollers through the remaining portion of all radially inward positions of said edges of said rollers from center along said toroidal surface on said input race.

Claim 26

A transmission comprising input and output shafts, a toroidal roller section operatively connected to said input shaft, a planetary traction-drive section operatively connected to the output of said toroidal roller section, a friction clutch mechanism for connecting the output of said planetary traction-drive section to said output shaft for forward and reverse operation, and control means operatively connected to said toroidal roller section and to said friction clutch mechanism for providing a hydraulic signal to cause the engagement of said friction clutch mechanism during predetermined tilt angle ranges of said toroidal roller section.

Claim 27

A transmission comprising input and output shafts, a toroidal roller section operatively connected to said input shaft, a planetary traction-drive section operatively connected to the output of said toroidal roller section, a friction clutch mechanism for connecting the output of said planetary traction-drive section to said output shaft for forward and reverse operation, and control means operatively connected to said toroidal roller section and to said friction clutch mechanism for providing a hydraulic signal to cause the engagement of said friction clutch mechanism during predetermined tilt angle ranges of said toroidal roller section.

Claim 28

The transmission described in claim 19, wherein said control means includes a servopiston movable in response to various engine parameters to set the required tilt angle of said rollers, ratio position valve means directly movable in response to movement of said servopiston to transmit a fluid pressure signal indicative of tilt angle, piston means for actuating said friction clutch mechanism, forward and reverse clutch valve means responsive to predetermined fluid pressures, manual selector valve means for receiving said fluid pressure signal from said ratio position valve means and directing same to one of said forward and reverse clutch valve means, said one of said forward and reverse clutch valve means directing said fluid pressure signal to said piston means for engagement of said friction clutch mechanism upon attainment of said predetermined fluid pressures, and a centrifugally actuated apply valve operatively connected between said forward and reverse clutch valve means and said piston means for controlling the application of said fluid pressure signal on said piston means in response to centrifugal force.