US3747727A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple coupling for planetary gear trains
Assignee: ZF Getriebe GmbH
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Filing: 1972-05-15
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Granted: 1973-07-24
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Expires: 1992-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A multiple coupling for individually or jointly driving two nested tubular power shafts of a planetary-gear train includes three coaxial sleeves spacedly centered on a drive shaft within a surrounding housing, the two nested power shafts being supported by a free end of the drive shaft and being respectively rigid with the inner and the outer sleeve while the intermediate sleeve is secured to the drive shaft for rotary entrainment thereby. The connection between the drive shaft and the intermediate sleeve is formed as a first fluid cylinder whose piston controls a set of interleaved inner and outer friction foils of a first clutch carried on the inner and intermediate sleeves; similarly, the connection between the outer sleeve and the outer tubular shaft is formed by a second fluid cylinder whose piston controls a set of interleaved inner and outer friction foils of a second clutch carried on the intermediate and outer sleeves. A further set of such coacting friction foils are mounted on the outer sleeve and the housing to act as a brake under the control of a further piston accommodated in a cylinder chamber of the housing. The sleeves have crenelated peripheries forming inner and outer guide ribs and grooves for the clutch and brake foils mounted thereon. Pressure fluid is admitted to the first fluid cylinder directly from the housing and to the second fluid cylinder through an axial bore in the drive shaft which is longitudinally partitioned by an insert into two mutually isolated channels for the pressure fluid and for lubricant, respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 H Dach
- 👤 K Bordowsky
- 👤 M Bucksch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:32
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H57/00; F16H57/08; F16H57/10; F16D; F16D25/00; F16D25/06; F16D25/062; F16D25/063; F16D25/0635; F16D25/0638; F16D25/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
A multiple coupling for a planetary-gear train provided with two coaxial power shafts, comprising: a drive shaft; an inner sleeve, an intermediate sleeve and an outer sleeve spacedly and coaxially surrounding said drive shaft with freedom of independent rotation, said inner sleeve being provided with a first tubular extension joined to one of said power shafts; a housing rotatably supporting said drive shaft; first clutch means including a first set of coacting annular friction members axially slidable on said inner sleeve and said intermediate sleeve, respectively; second clutch means including a second set of coacting annular friction members axially slidable on said intermediate sleeve and said outer sleeve, respectively; brake means including a third set of coacting annular friction members axially slidable on said outer sleeve and said housing, respectively; a first fluid cylinder confronting said first clutch means from one side while positively connecting said intermediate sleeve with said drive shaft for joint rotation; a second fluid cylinder rigid with said outer sleeve confronting said second clutch means from the opposite side and having a second tubular extension joined to the other of said power shafts; a third fluid cylinder integral with said housing confronting said brake means; a first piston in said first fluid cylinder axially displaceable under fluid pressure to drive said first set of friction members against a stop remote from said first cylinder to interconnect said inner and intermediate sleeves for joint rotation; a second piston in said second fluid cylinder axially displaceable under fluid pressure to drive said second set of friction members against a stop remote from said second cylinder to interconnect said intermediate and outer Sleeves for joint rotation; a third piston in said third fluid cylinder axially displaceable under fluid pressure to drive said third set of friction members against a stop remote from said third cylinder to immobilize said outer sleeve with reference to said housing; and conduit means for selectively admitting pressure fluid to any of said fluid cylinders.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
330 words
A multiple coupling for a planetary-gear train provided with two coaxial power shafts, comprising: a drive shaft; an inner sleeve, an intermediate sleeve and an outer sleeve spacedly and coaxially surrounding said drive shaft with freedom of independent rotation, said inner sleeve being provided with a first tubular extension joined to one of said power shafts; a housing rotatably supporting said drive shaft; first clutch means including a first set of coacting annular friction members axially slidable on said inner sleeve and said intermediate sleeve, respectively; second clutch means including a second set of coacting annular friction members axially slidable on said intermediate sleeve and said outer sleeve, respectively; brake means including a third set of coacting annular friction members axially slidable on said outer sleeve and said housing, respectively; a first fluid cylinder confronting said first clutch means from one side while positively connecting said intermediate sleeve with said drive shaft for joint rotation; a second fluid cylinder rigid with said outer sleeve confronting said second clutch means from the opposite side and having a second tubular extension joined to the other of said power shafts; a third fluid cylinder integral with said housing confronting said brake means; a first piston in said first fluid cylinder axially displaceable under fluid pressure to drive said first set of friction members against a stop remote from said first cylinder to interconnect said inner and intermediate sleeves for joint rotation; a second piston in said second fluid cylinder axially displaceable under fluid pressure to drive said second set of friction members against a stop remote from said second cylinder to interconnect said intermediate and outer Sleeves for joint rotation; a third piston in said third fluid cylinder axially displaceable under fluid pressure to drive said third set of friction members against a stop remote from said third cylinder to immobilize said outer sleeve with reference to said housing; and conduit means for selectively admitting pressure fluid to any of said fluid cylinders.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing has an end wall proximal to said first fluid cylinder and a shell carrying part of said brake means, said third fluid cylinder being jointly defined by said end wall and said shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A coupling as defined in claim 2 wherein said end wall is provided with an annular shoulder forming an inner wall surface for said third fluid cylinder, said third piston having an annular body slidably guided on said inner wall surface and on the inner peripheral surface of said sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A coupling as defined in claim 2 wherein said conduit means comprises a first branch in said end wall feeding said first fluid cylinder and a second branch in said end wall extending through said drive shaft to said second fluid cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A coupling as defined in claim 4 wherein said drive shaft has an extremity rotatably supporting said tubular extensions, said second branch terminating in a lateral port at said extremity and communicating with the interior of said second fluid cylinder through a passage in said first tubular extension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A coupling as defined in claim 5 wherein said drive shaft is provided with a central bore forming part of said second branch, further comprising an insert in said bore longitudinally partitioning same into a first channel for said pressure fluid and a second channel forming part of a lubrication circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A coupling as defined in claim 6 wherein said insert is a nonrotatable plug with two partly overlapping longitudinal grooves constituting said first and second channels, the groove constituting said second channel opening into an oil sump located adjacent said extremity in said first extension.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coupling as defined in claim 7 wherein said grooves extend along diametrically opposite zones of said plug and are of generally crescent-shaped cross-section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A coupling as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeves have crenellated peripheries forming inner and outer guide ribs and grooves for said friction members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A coupling as defined in claim 9 wherein said first tubular extension has an outer peripheral flange with teeth engaging the crenellated inner peripheral surface of said inner sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coupling as defined in claim 10, further comprising removable locking means for holding said flange and said inner sleeve against relative axial displacement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A coupling as defined in claim 11 wherein said locking means comprises a snap ring fitting into cutouts of the ribs formed on said inner peripheral surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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 |