US3747436A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power package
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1971-06-28
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Granted: 1973-07-24
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Expires: 1991-06-28
Abstract
Abstract The engine drives a variable capacity fluid coupling operatively connected to a four-speed forward and one-speed reverse planetary gear unit. Controls are provided for changing the capacity of the coupling for improved transmission operation. For initially moving a vehicle using this transmission, the capacity is reduced to unload the engine so that it may rapidly accelerate to higher speeds for a rapid increase in power. To prevent engine racing and for improved economy of subsequent operation the capacity is then increased so that full engine torque can be absorbed by the coupling and transmitted to the gear unit. In this invention there is an advanced clutch package submerged within the coupling to provide for a reduced overall transmission length and for improved and simplified clutch package control.
Inventors
- 👤 G Hause
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:46
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H47/00; F16H47/06; F16H47/08; F16H45/00; F16H2045/002; F16H2045/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
A power package comprising an engine, a hydrodynamic torquetransmitting unit having a housing drivingly connected to said engine, rotatable turbine means operatively disposed in said housing, pump means operatively mounted in said housing, said pump means having separate first and second bladed sections disposed adjacent to said turbine means for pumping oil into said turbine means, connecting means securing said first section to said housing, support means mounting said second section for rotation in said housing radially inwardly from said first section, selectively engageable clutch means operatively disposed in said housing for selectively connecting said second section to said housing so that said first and second sections exert an increased torque on the oil in said housing and simultaneously pump oil into said turbine means to increase the torque capacity of said fluid unit and for selectively disconnecting said second section from said housing so that only said first section pumps oil into said turbine means to decrease the torque on the oil to thereby decrease the torque capacity of said fluid unit, a clutch unit operatively disposed within said housing radially inwardly of said pump means and said turbine means, said clutch unit having separate first and second selectively engageable clutches operatively connected to said turbine, a gear unit, an output shaft operatively connected to said gear unit, first and second torque transmitting shafts operatively connecting said first and second clutches to said gear unit, first piston means disposed within said housing for effecting the selective engagement of said first clutch means so that said turbine drives said first torque transmitting shaft and second piston means disposed radially inwardly of said first piston means for effecting the selective engagement of said second clutch so that said turbine drives said second torque transmitting shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
294 words
A power package comprising an engine, a hydrodynamic torquetransmitting unit having a housing drivingly connected to said engine, rotatable turbine means operatively disposed in said housing, pump means operatively mounted in said housing, said pump means having separate first and second bladed sections disposed adjacent to said turbine means for pumping oil into said turbine means, connecting means securing said first section to said housing, support means mounting said second section for rotation in said housing radially inwardly from said first section, selectively engageable clutch means operatively disposed in said housing for selectively connecting said second section to said housing so that said first and second sections exert an increased torque on the oil in said housing and simultaneously pump oil into said turbine means to increase the torque capacity of said fluid unit and for selectively disconnecting said second section from said housing so that only said first section pumps oil into said turbine means to decrease the torque on the oil to thereby decrease the torque capacity of said fluid unit, a clutch unit operatively disposed within said housing radially inwardly of said pump means and said turbine means, said clutch unit having separate first and second selectively engageable clutches operatively connected to said turbine, a gear unit, an output shaft operatively connected to said gear unit, first and second torque transmitting shafts operatively connecting said first and second clutches to said gear unit, first piston means disposed within said housing for effecting the selective engagement of said first clutch means so that said turbine drives said first torque transmitting shaft and second piston means disposed radially inwardly of said first piston means for effecting the selective engagement of said second clutch so that said turbine drives said second torque transmitting shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The power package of claim 1 wherein said fluid unit has a central hub portion disposed radially inwardly of said pump and turbine means, support means disposed in said hub portion for concentrically mounting said first and second clutches and said piston means in said hub portion submerged within the oil of said unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
207 words
A power package for vehicle propulsion comprising engine means having an output torque which increases from a minimum to a maximum torque in response to the acceleration of said engine from zero to a predetermined speed of rotation and subsequently which decreases from said maximum output torque as said engine means is further accelerated from said predetermined speed of rotation, a hydrodynamic unit having a rotatable housing operatively connected to said engine, rotatable turbine means operatively disposed in said housiNg, pump means operatively mounted in said housing, said pump means having separate first and second bladed sections disposed adjacent to said turbine means for pumping fluid into said turbine means, means securing said first section to the interior of said housing, support means mounting said second section for rotation in said housing radially inwardly of said first section, selectively engageable clutch means operatively disposed in said housing for selectively connecting said second section to said housing to increase the quantity of fluid pumped by said pump means and thereby increase the torque capacity of said fluid unit and for disconnecting said second section from said housing to decrease the quantity of fluid pumped by said pump means and thereby decrease the torque capacity of said fluid unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
207 words
A power package for vehicle propulsion comprising engine means having an output torque which increases from a minimum to a maximum torque in response to the acceleration of said engine from zero to a predetermined speed of rotation and subsequently which decreases from said maximum output torque as said engine means is further accelerated from said predetermined speed of rotation, a hydrodynamic unit having a rotatable housing operatively connected to said engine, rotatable turbine means operatively disposed in said housiNg, pump means operatively mounted in said housing, said pump means having separate first and second bladed sections disposed adjacent to said turbine means for pumping fluid into said turbine means, means securing said first section to the interior of said housing, support means mounting said second section for rotation in said housing radially inwardly of said first section, selectively engageable clutch means operatively disposed in said housing for selectively connecting said second section to said housing to increase the quantity of fluid pumped by said pump means and thereby increase the torque capacity of said fluid unit and for disconnecting said second section from said housing to decrease the quantity of fluid pumped by said pump means and thereby decrease the torque capacity of said fluid unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a power transmission having rotatable input and output means, a hydrodynamic fluid unit having a housing drivingly connected to said input means, first and second rotor means operatively mounted in said housing for circulating fluid therein, torque transmitting means drivingly connecting said first rotor means to said output means, one of said rotor means having a plurality of independent and separate bladed sections, support means rotatably mounting the inner of said bladed sections in said housing concentric with respect to the other of said sections and adjacent to the other of said rotor means, securing means rigidly securing the outer of said sections to the interior of said housing, selectively operable input clutch means operatively disposed within said housing selectively engageable for connecting said separate sections with each other to increase the capacity of said fluid unit to spin increased quantities of oil in said housing to thereby increase the torque absorption of said hydrodynamic fluid unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a power transmission having rotatable input and output means, a hydrodynamic fluid unit having a housing drivingly connected to said input means, first and second rotor means operatively mounted in said housing for circulating fluid therein, torque transmitting means drivingly connecting said first rotor means to said output means, one of said rotor means having a plurality of independent and separate bladed sections, support means rotatably mounting the inner of said bladed sections in said housing concentric with respect to the other of said sections and adjacent to the other of said rotor means, securing means rigidly securing the outer of said sections to the interior of said housing, selectively operable input clutch means operatively disposed within said housing selectively engageable for connecting said separate sections with each other to increase the capacity of said fluid unit to spin increased quantities of oil in said housing to thereby increase the torque absorption of said hydrodynamic fluid unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
The power transmission of claim 4 and further including a change-speed gear unit operatively connected to said torque transmitting means, first and second drive clutch means operatively disposed in said housing for drivingly connecting one of said rotor means to said gear unit, a plurality of friction drive establishing devices selectively engageable to condition said gear unit for at least two different forward drive speed ratios, one of said separate sections being disposed inwardly from a first of said sections and having an outer shell with a plurality of blades extending therefrom for directing oil circulated by said unit, said input clutch means comprising a friction surface on said shell and a friction surface on said housing, and control means for said clutch means for effecting the engagement of said input clutch means to increase the capacity of said fluid unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a power transmission having rotatable input and output means, a hydrodynamic torque transmitting unit operatively connecting said input and output means to provide a hydrodynamic drive therebetween, said hydrodynamic unit having a housing, bladed input rotor means and bladed output rotor means operatively disposed in said housing forming a torus for the circulation of working fluid supplied to said hydrodynamic unit in response to rotation of said input means, said bladed input rotor means having a plurality of separate sections, support means rotatably supporting one of said sections in said housing radially inwardly of another of said sections, each of said sections having an outer shell with a plurality of blades extending therefrom, selectively engageable clutch means located in said unit for drivingly connecting said sections together, said clutch means comprising a friction surface on said outer shell of one of said sections and a friction surface on the inside of said housing, and motor means for effecting the engagement of said clutch means so that said input means drives said sections to condition said hydrodynamic unit for high capacity operation in transmitting torque from said input to said output and for selectively releasing said clutch means to disconnect said Sections to reduce the torque transmitting capacity of said hydrodynamic unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a power transmission having rotatable input and output means, a hydrodynamic torque transmitting unit operatively connecting said input and output means to provide a hydrodynamic drive therebetween, said hydrodynamic unit having a housing, bladed input rotor means and bladed output rotor means operatively disposed in said housing forming a torus for the circulation of working fluid supplied to said hydrodynamic unit in response to rotation of said input means, said bladed input rotor means having a plurality of separate sections, support means rotatably supporting one of said sections in said housing radially inwardly of another of said sections, each of said sections having an outer shell with a plurality of blades extending therefrom, selectively engageable clutch means located in said unit for drivingly connecting said sections together, said clutch means comprising a friction surface on said outer shell of one of said sections and a friction surface on the inside of said housing, and motor means for effecting the engagement of said clutch means so that said input means drives said sections to condition said hydrodynamic unit for high capacity operation in transmitting torque from said input to said output and for selectively releasing said clutch means to disconnect said Sections to reduce the torque transmitting capacity of said hydrodynamic unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
The power transmission of claim 6, said input rotor means comprising first and second sections concentrically mounted with respect to each other, said hydrodynamic unit having rotatable housing means for drivingly connecting said first section to said transmission input, said outer shell of said second section having a clutching surface formed on the outside thereof which is movable into clutching engagement in response to an engaging force exerted by fluid in the unit with the inside of said housing means to form said clutch means for drivingly connecting said sections together.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a power transmission having rotatable input and output means, a hydrodynamic torque transmitting unit operatively connecting said input and output means to provide a hydrodynamic drive therebetween, said hydrodynamic unit having a housing, bladed input rotor means and bladed output rotor means operatively disposed in said housing forming a torus for the circulation of working oil supplied to said hydrodynamic unit in response to rotation of said input means, said bladed input rotor means having separate first and second sections, each of said sections having an outer shell with a plurality of blades extending therefrom, selectively engageable clutch means located in said unit for drivingly connecting said sections together to increase the effective discharge area of said input rotor means and exert an increased torque on the oil in said unit without changing the exit angle of said input rotor means, said clutch means comprising a friction surface on one of said sections and a friction surface on the inside of said housing, and motor means for effecting the engagement of said clutch means so that said input means drives said sections to condition said hydrodynamic unit for high capacity operation in transmitting torque from said input to said output and for selectively releasing said clutch means to disconnect said sections to reduce the torque transmitting capacity of said hydrodynamic unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a power transmission having rotatable input and output means, a hydrodynamic torque transmitting unit operatively connecting said input and output means to provide a hydrodynamic drive therebetween, said hydrodynamic unit having a housing, bladed input rotor means and bladed output rotor means operatively disposed in said housing forming a torus for the circulation of working oil supplied to said hydrodynamic unit in response to rotation of said input means, said bladed input rotor means having separate first and second sections, each of said sections having an outer shell with a plurality of blades extending therefrom, selectively engageable clutch means located in said unit for drivingly connecting said sections together to increase the effective discharge area of said input rotor means and exert an increased torque on the oil in said unit without changing the exit angle of said input rotor means, said clutch means comprising a friction surface on one of said sections and a friction surface on the inside of said housing, and motor means for effecting the engagement of said clutch means so that said input means drives said sections to condition said hydrodynamic unit for high capacity operation in transmitting torque from said input to said output and for selectively releasing said clutch means to disconnect said sections to reduce the torque transmitting capacity of said hydrodynamic unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-01-22 | 1977-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-23 | 1981-01-22 | 1981-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-01-22 | 1985-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |