US3763978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two speed transmission with brake
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-10-14
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1991-10-14
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a two speed transmission including first and second shafts independently rotatably journaled in a housing and coupled together with an epicyclic gear assembly. The epicyclic gear assembly includes a ring gear and a sun gear one of which is coupled to a predetermined one of the first and second shafts and at least one pinion gear coupled to the other of the shafts for rotation therewith. Brake means are coupled to the other of the ring and sun gears for selectively locking and unlocking same against rotation, and self-actuating clutch means are provided for coupling the aforementioned other gear to the pinion gear. The clutch means includes spring means for forcibly engaging the clutch when the aforementioned other gear is unlocked and a helical spline means for forcibly frictionally disengaging the clutch means in response to locking the aforementioned other gear.
Inventors
- 👤 J Crooks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:08
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H3/00; F16H3/44; F16H3/46; F16H3/48; F16H3/52; F16H3/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
In a two speed transmission, the combination comprising a. an epicyclic gear assembly including a ring gear, a sun gear and at least one pinion gear, b. a first rotatable shaft drivingly coupled to one of said ring and sun gears, c. a second rotatable shaft drivingly coupled to said pinion gear, d. brake means for selectively locking and unlocking the other of said ring and sun gears against rotation, e. clutch means coupled between said pinion gear and said other gear for selectively locking said pinion gear to said other gear thereby shifting between low gear to high gear, respectively, said clutch means including 1. a backup member drivingly coupled to said other gear, a pressure member drivingly coupled to said backup member, and a driven member drivingly coupled to said pinion gear, 2. first helical spline means coupling said backup member to said pressure member for disengaging same from said dRiven member in response to actuation of said brake means and to a first torque between said pressure member and said driven member in a first rotational direction, thereby providing a shift into low gear, 3. clutch-actuating means responsive to unlocking said braking means for forcibly engaging said pressure, driven and backup members for conjoint rotation, thereby providing a shift into high gear, and 4. said clutch-actuating means also being responsive to actuation of said braking means and also torque in a predetermined direction on said other gear for forcibly engaging said clutch members as aforesaid, thereby providing a braking action.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
In a two speed transmission, the combination comprising a. an epicyclic gear assembly including a ring gear, a sun gear and at least one pinion gear, b. a first rotatable shaft drivingly coupled to one of said ring and sun gears, c. a second rotatable shaft drivingly coupled to said pinion gear, d. brake means for selectively locking and unlocking the other of said ring and sun gears against rotation, e. clutch means coupled between said pinion gear and said other gear for selectively locking said pinion gear to said other gear thereby shifting between low gear to high gear, respectively, said clutch means including 1. a backup member drivingly coupled to said other gear, a pressure member drivingly coupled to said backup member, and a driven member drivingly coupled to said pinion gear, 2. first helical spline means coupling said backup member to said pressure member for disengaging same from said dRiven member in response to actuation of said brake means and to a first torque between said pressure member and said driven member in a first rotational direction, thereby providing a shift into low gear, 3. clutch-actuating means responsive to unlocking said braking means for forcibly engaging said pressure, driven and backup members for conjoint rotation, thereby providing a shift into high gear, and 4. said clutch-actuating means also being responsive to actuation of said braking means and also torque in a predetermined direction on said other gear for forcibly engaging said clutch members as aforesaid, thereby providing a braking action.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
first helical spline means coupling said backup member to said pressure member for disengaging same from said dRiven member in response to actuation of said brake means and to a first torque between said pressure member and said driven member in a first rotational direction, thereby providing a shift into low gear,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
first helical spline means coupling said backup member to said pressure member for disengaging same from said dRiven member in response to actuation of said brake means and to a first torque between said pressure member and said driven member in a first rotational direction, thereby providing a shift into low gear,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination of claim 1 in which said first helical spline means is of such angle that upon actuation of said braking means and application of a second torque between said pressure and driven members in a direction opposite to said first rotational direction, said clutch members are self-energizingly engaged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said clutch-actuating means includes first spring means operatively coupled between said pressure member and said backup member for resiliently urging said pressure and backup members into frictional engagement with said driven member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
clutch-actuating means responsive to unlocking said braking means for forcibly engaging said pressure, driven and backup members for conjoint rotation, thereby providing a shift into high gear, and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
clutch-actuating means responsive to unlocking said braking means for forcibly engaging said pressure, driven and backup members for conjoint rotation, thereby providing a shift into high gear, and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
said clutch-actuating means also being responsive to actuation of said braking means and also torque in a predetermined direction on said other gear for forcibly engaging said clutch members as aforesaid, thereby providing a braking action.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
said clutch-actuating means also being responsive to actuation of said braking means and also torque in a predetermined direction on said other gear for forcibly engaging said clutch members as aforesaid, thereby providing a braking action.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said pressure and backup members include flat circular portions disposed coaxially of said first shaft in parallel, spaced apart relationship, one of said circular portions having therethrough a plurality of holes in an annular array, there being a plurality of coupling pins each extending through a predetermined one of said holes and having one end thereof fixedly secured to the other of said circular portions, the distal ends of said pins being provided with enlarged heads, said holes having a diameter greater than the diameter of said pins, and said spring means including a plurality of helical springs compressibly received on said pins between said heads and said one circular portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said driven member is axially movable with respect to said backup member, and further including second spring means for resiliently urging said driven member out of engagement with said backup member upon occurrence of said first torque.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 5 further including a pinion gear carrier, said pinion gear being rotatably journaled thereon, said second spring means including a wave spring compressibly disposed between said pinion gear carrier and said driven member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said pressure member and said backup member have concentric, telescopically engaged hub portions, said first spline means including at least one helical male spline on one of said hub portions and disposed at a first predetermined helix angle, and a female spline complementary to said male spline on the other of said hub portions and operatively engaged therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said pressure member and said other gear are relatively axially movable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said clutch-actuating means further includes third spring means for resiliently urging said other gear into abutting engagement with said pressure member in a first axial direction to increase the frictional engagement of said pressure and driven members in response to said predetermined torque.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 9 further comprising second helical spline means coupling said other gear to said brake means for forcibly urging said other gear in a direction opposite said first axial direction in response to locking thereof against rotation and in the absence of said predetermined torque.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein said first spline means includes a first pair of complementary male and female helical splines formed on said backup and pressure members and said second spline means includes a second pair of complementary male and female splines formed on said brake means and said other gear, respectively, said firSt pair of splines extending at a first helix angle in a first rotational direction, said second pair of splines extending at a second helix angle in a second rotational direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said first helix angle is greater than said second helix angle and said first rotational direction is opposite to said second rotational direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein said first helix angle is 15*, and said second helix angle is 33*.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein said one gear is said ring gear and said other gear is said sun gear.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said pressure and backup members have complementary coaxially disposed frusto-conical surfaces and said driven member includes a frusto-conical portion disposed therebetween, said first spline means moving said pressure member and said backup member axially away from each other to disengage said driven member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 15 wherein said pressure member is axially movable with respect to said other gear.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 15 including friction increasing linings fixedly secured to said frusto-conical portion, said pressure member and said backup member engaging said linings when said clutch is engaged.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 17 wherein said driven member is axially relatively movable with respect to said pinion gear.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said brake means includes a third shaft and a brake disk fixedly secured thereto, said first, second, and third shafts being disposed along a common axis and journaled for independent rotatable movement.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 19 wherein said brake further includes a manually operable caliper brake for selectively, frictionally engaging and disengaging said brake disk.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination of claim 1 further comprising a first housing, said first and second shafts and said brake means being independently rotatably journaled therein, and a second housing enclosing said epicyclic gear assembly, said second housing being rotatable with respect to said first housing and including seal means for rendering said second housing fluid tight.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 21 wherein said epicyclic gear assembly further includes a pinion gear carrier, said pinion gear being rotatably journaled thereon, said carrier forming a part of said second housing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 22 wherein said brake means includes a third shaft, said first, second, and third shafts being coaxially journaled within said first housing, said third shaft being rotatably journaled on a first portion of said first shaft, said second shaft being rotatably journaled on a second portion of said first shaft.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said clutch means further includes means responsive to conjoint rotation of said pressure and backup members for increasing the frictional engagement thereof with said driven member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
88 words
The combination of claim 24 wherein said engagement increasing means includes an annular recess in said pressure member, a hub drivingly coupled to said backup member and having a radially extending surface thereon disposed adjacent said recess, said annular recess having an angled surface thereof extending radially outwardly towards said radially extending surface, and a plurality of high density spherical balls received in said annular recess, said balls being simultaneously engaged with said angled and said radially extending surfaces when said pressure member and said hub are rotating.
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) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |