Transmission with resiliently loaded main shaft gears

Claim 2

A change speed gear device, comprising: first and second substantially parallel shaft members; gear means drivingly connectible between said shaft members for providing a plurality of alternately selectable speed ratios, said gear means including a first rotatable gear member supported on said first shaft member and a second rotatable gear member substantially concentric with said second shaft member and meshable with said first gear member, and second gear member being movable axially relative to said second shaft member; shift means connected to said second gear member for selectively moving same axially relative to said second shaft member; clutch means for drivingly connecting said second gear member to said second shaft member in response to axial shifting of said second gear member, said clutch including a first annular jaw clutch member nonrotatably connected to said second gear member for rotation therewith and a second annular jaw clutch member nonrotatably mounted on said second shaft member for rotation therewith, one of said jaw clutch members being mounted for axial movement relative to its respective second member; said clutch means further including resilient means for resiliently urging said one jaw clutch member in a direction toward said other jaw clutch member for causing resilient meshing engagement of said jaw clutch members in response to axial shifting movement of said second gear member; and stop means fixedly secured to said second member associated with said one jaw clutch member, said resilient means normally urging said one jaw clutch member against said stop means when said second gear member is in a first axial position and said first and second jaw clutch members are disengaged, movement of said second gear member axially toward said second jaw clutch member causing said first jaw clutch member to contact said second jaw clutch member and move said one jaw clutch member away from said stop means in opposition to said resilient means, whereby said resilient means causes said one jaw clutch member to again relatively move axially in the opposite direction so as to meshingly engage said other jaw clutch member when substantial speed synchronization is achieved therebetween.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said second jaw clutch member is mounted for axial movement relative to said second shaft member, and said first jaw clutch member is axially stationary relative to said second gear member.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 2, wherein said first jaw clutch member comprises a first annular set of teeth fixedly interconnected to said second gear member for rotation therewith, and said second jaw clutch member comprises an annular collar having a second annular set of teeth thereon disposed for coaction with said first annular set of teeth, said resilient means comprising spring means disposed in concentric relationship to said second shaft member and coacting with said second jaw clutch member for urging same toward said first jaw clutch member.

Claim 5

A change speed gear device, comprising: first and second substantially parallel shafts; gear means drivingly connected between said shaft for providing a plurality of alternately selectable speed ratios, said gear means including a first rotatable gear supported on said first shaft and a second rotatable gear substantially concentric with said second shaft and meshable with said first gear, said second gear beiNg movable axially relative to said second shaft; shift means connected to said second gear for selectively moving same axially relative to said second shaft; clutch means for drivingly connecting said second gear to said second shaft in response to axial shifting of said second gear, said clutch means including a first annular set of teeth fixedly interconnected to said second gear for rotation therewith; said clutch means also including an annular jaw clutch member mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith, said jaw clutch member being mounted for axial movement relative to said second shaft and comprising an annular collar having a second annular set of teeth thereon disposed for coaction with said first annular set of teeth; said clutch means further including spring means for resiliently urging said jaw clutch member in a direction toward said first set of teeth for causing resilient meshing engagement of said first and second sets of teeth in response to axially shifting movement of said second gear; and stop means fixedly secured to said second shaft, said spring means normally resiliently urging said jaw clutch member against said stop means when said second gear is in a first axial position and said first and second sets of teeth are disengaged, movement of said second gear axially toward said jaw clutch member causing said first set of teeth to contact said second set of teeth and move said jaw clutch member axially away from said stop means in opposition to said spring means, whereby said spring means causes said jaw clutch member to again move axially in the opposite direction to meshingly engage said first set of teeth when substantial speed synchronization is achieved therebetween.

Claim 6

A change speed gear device, comprising: first and second substantially parallel shafts; gear means drivingly connected between said shaft for providing a plurality of alternately selectable speed ratios, said gear means including a first rotatable gear supported on said first shaft and a second rotatable gear substantially concentric with said second shaft and meshable with said first gear, said second gear beiNg movable axially relative to said second shaft; shift means connected to said second gear for selectively moving same axially relative to said second shaft; clutch means for drivingly connecting said second gear to said second shaft in response to axial shifting of said second gear, said clutch means including a first annular set of teeth fixedly interconnected to said second gear for rotation therewith; said clutch means also including an annular jaw clutch member mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith, said jaw clutch member being mounted for axial movement relative to said second shaft and comprising an annular collar having a second annular set of teeth thereon disposed for coaction with said first annular set of teeth; said clutch means further including spring means for resiliently urging said jaw clutch member in a direction toward said first set of teeth for causing resilient meshing engagement of said first and second sets of teeth in response to axially shifting movement of said second gear; and stop means fixedly secured to said second shaft, said spring means normally resiliently urging said jaw clutch member against said stop means when said second gear is in a first axial position and said first and second sets of teeth are disengaged, movement of said second gear axially toward said jaw clutch member causing said first set of teeth to contact said second set of teeth and move said jaw clutch member axially away from said stop means in opposition to said spring means, whereby said spring means causes said jaw clutch member to again move axially in the opposite direction to meshingly engage said first set of teeth when substantial speed synchronization is achieved therebetween.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 4, wherein the confronting faces of the first and second sets of teeth are each tapered relative to the rotational axis of said jaw clutch member for preventing premature engagement of the teeth prior to substantial synchronization therebetween.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 1, wherein said gear means further includes a third rotatable gear member supported on said shaft member and a fourth rotatable gear member substantially concentrically disposed relative to said second shaft member and positioned in continuous meshing engagement with said third gear member, said fourth gear member also being axially shiftable relative to said second shaft member and said clutch means further including third and fourth jaw clutch members coacting between said fourth gear member and said second shaft member for permitting selective driving engagement therebetween, said first and third jaw clutch members being fixedly interconnected to said second and fourth gear members, respectively, for rotation therewith, said second and fourth jaw clutch members being nonrotatably and concentrically mounted on said second shaft member in axially spaced relationship and each being movable axially relative to said second shaft member, asnd said resilient means coacting between said second and fourth jaw clutch member for resiliently urging said second and fourth jaw clutch members outwardly in opposite axial directions toward said first and third jaw clutch members, respectively.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 6, further including second stop means mounted on said second shaft member and coacting with said fourth jaw clutch member for limiting the axial outward movement thereof due to the urging of said resilient means, movement of said second gear member axially toward said second jaw clutch member causing said first jaw clutch member to contact said second jaw clutch member and move same axially in opposition to the urging of said resilient means for creating a resilient engaging force causing said second jaw clutch member to axially engage said first jaw clutch member when the speeds thereof are substantially synchronized, and axial movement of said fourth gear member toward said fourth jaw clutch member causing said third jaw clutch member tO contact said fourth jaw clutch member and move same axially in opposition to the urging of said resilient means for creating a resilient engaging force causing said fourth jaw clutch member to axially meshing engage said third jaw clutch member when the speeds thereof are substantially synchronized.

Claim 10

In a transmission, the combination comprising: a housing; a plurality of spaced and substantially parallel countershafts mounted for rotation within said housing; a plurality of countershaft ratio gears mounted on each of said countershafts, the individual ratio gears on one countershaft being grouped with and radially spaced from identical ratio gears on the other countershafts for defining countershaft gear groups; means for supplying input power to each of said countershafts; a driven shaft disposed between and substantially parallel with said plurality of countershafts; a plurality of driven ratio gears disposed substantially concentrically of said driven shaft, each of said driven ratio gears being disposed in continuous meshing engagement with a respective one of said countershaft gear groups; releasable clutch means associated with one of said driven ratio gears for selectively nonrotatably interconnecting same to said driven shaft, said clutch means including first and second jaw clutch members nonrotatably associated with said one driven gear and said drive shaft, respectively, said second jaw clutch member being axially slidably mounted on said driven shaft, and resilient means urging said second jaw clutch member in a direction toward said first jaw clutch member for creating a resilient engaging force to cause said jaw clutch members to relatively axially move toward one another and meshingly engage when the speed of said two jaw clutch members is substantially synchronized; and stop means coacting between said second jaw clutch member and said driven shaft for limiting the axial movement of second jaw clutch member, said resilient means including spring means resiliently urging said second jaw clutch member against said stop means, and said one driven ratio gear being axially shiftable relative to said driven shaft from a first position wherein said one driven gear is spaced from and out of engagement with said second jaw clutch member to a second position wherein said gear contacts said second jaw clutch member and axially displaces same in opposition to the urging of said spring means for creating a resilient clutch engaging force to cause the jaw clutch members to meshingly engage when the speeds thereof are substantially synchronized.

Claim 11

In a transmission, the combination comprising: a housing; a plurality of spaced and substantially parallel countershafts mounted for rotation within said housing; a plurality of countershaft ratio gears mounted on each of said countershafts, the individual ratio gears on one countershaft being grouped with and radially spaced from identical ratio gears on the other countershafts for defining countershaft gear groups; means for supplying input power to each of said countershafts; a driven shaft disposed between and substantially parallel with said plurality of countershafts; a plurality of driven ratio gears disposed substantially concentrically of said driven shaft, each of said driven ratio gears being disposed in continuous meshing engagement with a respective one of said countershaft gear groups; releasable clutch means associated with one of said driven ratio gears for selectively nonrotatably interconnecting same to said driven shaft, said clutch means including first and second jaw clutch members nonrotatably associated with said one driven gear and said drive shaft, respectively, said second jaw clutch member being axially slidably mounted on said driven shaft, and resilient means urging said second jaw clutch member in a direction toward said first jaw clutch member for creating a resilient engaging force to cause said jaw clutch members to relatively axially move toward one another and meshingly engage when the speed of said two jaw clutch members is substantially synchronized; and stop means coacting between said second jaw clutch member and said driven shaft for limiting the axial movement of second jaw clutch member, said resilient means including spring means resiliently urging said second jaw clutch member against said stop means, and said one driven ratio gear being axially shiftable relative to said driven shaft from a first position wherein said one driven gear is spaced from and out of engagement with said second jaw clutch member to a second position wherein said gear contacts said second jaw clutch member and axially displaces same in opposition to the urging of said spring means for creating a resilient clutch engaging force to cause the jaw clutch members to meshingly engage when the speeds thereof are substantially synchronized.

Claim 12

A change-speed gear device, comprising: first and second substantially parallel shafts; gear means drivingly connectible between said shafts for providing a plurality of alternately selectable speed ratios, said gear means including a first rotatable gear supported on said first shaft and a second rotatable gear substantially concentric with said second shaft and meshable with said first gear, said second gear being movable axially relative to said second shaft; shift means connected to said second gear for selectably moving same axially relative to said second shaft; clutch means for drivingly connecting said second gear to said second shaft in response to axial shifting of said second gear, said clutch means including a first annular jaw clutch portion nonrotatably connected with said second gear for rotation therewith and a second annular jaw clutch portion nonrotatably mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith, said second jaw clutch portion being mounted for axial movement relative to said second shaft; and said clutch means further including spring means for resiliently urging said second jaw clutch portion in one direction toward said first jaw clutch portion for causing resilient meshing engagement of said jaw clutch portions in response to axial shifting movement of said second gear, movement of said second gear axially toward said secoNd jaw clutch portion causing said first jaw clutch portion to contact said second jaw clutch portion and move said second jaw clutch portion in opposition to the urging of said spring means, whereby said spring means causes said second jaw clutch portion to again move axially in said one direction to meshingly engage said first jaw clutch portion when substantial speed synchronization is achieved therebetween.

Claim 13

A change-speed gear device, comprising: first and second substantially parallel shafts; gear means drivingly connectible between said shafts for providing a plurality of alternately selectable speed ratios, said gear means including a first rotatable gear supported on said first shaft and a second rotatable gear substantially concentric with said second shaft and meshable with said first gear, said second gear being movable axially relative to said second shaft; shift means connected to said second gear for selectably moving same axially relative to said second shaft; clutch means for drivingly connecting said second gear to said second shaft in response to axial shifting of said second gear, said clutch means including a first annular jaw clutch portion nonrotatably connected with said second gear for rotation therewith and a second annular jaw clutch portion nonrotatably mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith, said second jaw clutch portion being mounted for axial movement relative to said second shaft; and said clutch means further including spring means for resiliently urging said second jaw clutch portion in one direction toward said first jaw clutch portion for causing resilient meshing engagement of said jaw clutch portions in response to axial shifting movement of said second gear, movement of said second gear axially toward said secoNd jaw clutch portion causing said first jaw clutch portion to contact said second jaw clutch portion and move said second jaw clutch portion in opposition to the urging of said spring means, whereby said spring means causes said second jaw clutch portion to again move axially in said one direction to meshingly engage said first jaw clutch portion when substantial speed synchronization is achieved therebetween.

Claim 14

A transmission according to claim 8, wherein said first jaw clutch member comprises a first set of internal teeth formed on said one driven ratio gear, and said second jaw clutch member comprises an annular collar nonrotatably mounted on said driven shaft and having a second set of external teeth formed thereon adapted for meshing engagement with the internal teeth formed on said one driven gear, said collar being splined to said driven shaft for permitting same to be axially displaced relative to said driven shaft, and the adjacent axial edges of said first and second sets of teeth each being tapered relative to the longitudinal axis of said driven shaft so as to define annular conical surfaces, said conical surfaces contacting and rotatably sliding relative to one another when said clutch collar is relatively moved into contact with said one driven gear prior to axial meshing engagement therebetween.

Claim 15

A transmission according to claim 8, wherein said clutch means includes a third annular jaw clutch member nonrotatably but axially slidably mounted on said driven shaft, said third jaw clutch member being axially spaced from said second jaw clutch member and said spring means being disposed therebetween for resiliently urging said second and third jaw clutch members axially in opposite directions, and a further driven ratio gear being mounted for axially shifting movement and having jaw clutch teeth formed thereon and adapted for meshing engagement with said third jaw clutch member when said further driven ratio gear is shifted axially relative to said driven shaft.

Claim 16

A device according to claim 8, wherein the driven ratio gears are supported in substantially concentric relationship relative to said driven shaft solely by the respective countershaft gear groups.

Claim 17

A transmission according to claim 8, wherein the countershafts having said plurality of gears thereon and said driven shaft having said plurality of driven gears surrounding same define a main transmission section providing a plurality of alternately selectable speed ratios, and further including a range transmission section connected in series with said main transmission section for providing still a further plurality of alternately selectable speed ratios.

Claim 18

A transmission according to claim 13, wherein said driven shaft extends continuously through both said main transmission section and said range transmission section, and said range section including a plurality of ratio gears concentrically and rotatably disposed about said driven shaft, an output shaft coaxial with said driven shaft, and gear means including said ratio gears for selectively drivingly interconnecting said output shaft to said driven shaft for alternately providing different speed ratios therebetween.

Claim 19

A change-speed gear transmission, comprising: a main transmission section including gearing providing a plurality of alternately selectable speed ratios; an auxiliary transmission section drivingly connected in series with said main transmission section and also including gearing providing a further plurality of alternately selectable speed ratios; an elongated and structurally continuous main transmission shaft extending throughout both said main transmisssion section and said auxiliary transmission section, said main transmission shaft including an elongated main shaft section extending through said main transmission section and an elongated auxiliary shaft section extending through said auxiliary transmission section, said main shaft section and said auxiliary shaft section being axially aligned and fixedly connected; said main transmission section including a plurality of main shaft gears disposed substantially concentric with and rotatable relative to said main shaft section; said auxiliary transmission section including a plurality of axially shiftable main shaft gears disposed substantially concentric with and rotatable relative to said auxiliary shaft section; first clutch means for selectively clutchably engaging, one at a time, the main shaft gears of said main transmission section to said main shaft, said first clutch means including resilient means for creating a resilient clutch engaging force; and second clutch means for selectively clutchably engaging, one at a time, the main shaft gears of said auxiliary transmission section to said main shaft, said second clutch means including resilient means for developing a resilient clutch engaging force.

Claim 20

A change-speed gear transmission, comprising: a main transmission section including gearing providing a plurality of alternately selectable speed ratios; an auxiliary transmission section drivingly connected in series with said main transmission section and also including gearing providing a further plurality of alternately selectable speed ratios; an elongated and structurally continuous main transmission shaft extending throughout both said main transmisssion section and said auxiliary transmission section, said main transmission shaft including an elongated main shaft section extending through said main transmission section and an elongated auxiliary shaft section extending through said auxiliary transmission section, said main shaft section and said auxiliary shaft section being axially aligned and fixedly connected; said main transmission section including a plurality of main shaft gears disposed substantially concentric with and rotatable relative to said main shaft section; said auxiliary transmission section including a plurality of axially shiftable main shaft gears disposed substantially concentric with and rotatable relative to said auxiliary shaft section; first clutch means for selectively clutchably engaging, one at a time, the main shaft gears of said main transmission section to said main shaft, said first clutch means including resilient means for creating a resilient clutch engaging force; and second clutch means for selectively clutchably engaging, one at a time, the main shaft gears of said auxiliary transmission section to said main shaft, said second clutch means including resilient means for developing a resilient clutch engaging force.

Claim 21

A transmission according to claim 15, further including an output shaft substantially coaxially aligned with said main shaft, and one of said main shaft gears of said auxiliary transmission section being clutchable directly to both said output shaft and said main shaft.

Claim 22

A transmission according to claim 15, wherein said main transmission section includes a countershaft disposed substantially parallel to said main shaft, said countershaft having a plurality of countershaft gear disposed thereon in meshing engagement with the main shaft gears of said main transmission section; and said auxiliary transmission section also having a countershaft disposed substantially parallel with said main shaft, and a plurality of countershaft gears disposed on said countershaft and positioned in meshing engagement with the main shaft gears of said auxiliary transmission section.

Claim 23

A transmission according to claim 15, wherein said first and second clutch means each include a toothed collar non-rotatably but axially slidably mounted on said main shaft and resilient means coacting with each said collar for resiliently urging same in a direction toward a respective one of said main shaft gears.

Claim 24

A transmission according to claim 18, wherein at least some of said main shaft gears are axially shiftable relative to said main shaft for permitting same to be clutchably engaged to or disengaged from said toothed collars.

Claim 25

A transmission according to claim 15, further including an input shaft and an output shaft substantially coaxially aligned with said main shaft adjacent the opposite ends thereof, one of the main shaft gears of one of said transmission sections being axially shiftable relative to said main shaft for permitting said main shaft to be directly clutchably engaged to said input shaft, and one of the main shaft gears of said other transmission section being axially shiftable relative to said main shaft for permitting same to be directly clutchably engaged to said output shaft.

Claim 26

A transmission according to claim 15, wherein said main transmission shaft comprises a one-piece shaft member extending continuously throughout both said main transmission section and said auxiliary transmission section.

Claim 27

The device of claim 9 including also blocker means arranged operatively between said first and second jaw clutch portions.

Claim 28

The device of claim 22 wherein one of said jaw clutch portions is provided with projecting teeth axially spaced from the mutually contacting portion of said jaw clutch teeth and the blocker means positioned on said one of said portions is arranged for frictional engagement with the other of said portions and is effective to interfere with said projecting teeth and thereby interfere with axial movement of said one of said portions when said portions are rotating at nonsynchronous speeds with respect to each other.

Claim 29

The device of claim 9 wherein one of said portions has teeth projecting radially toward the other of said portions and blocker means is arranged on said teeth and frictionally engages the other of said jaw clutch portions; means on said other of said jaw clutch portions limiting the distance said blocker can move axially away from said other of said jaw clutch portions.

Claim 30

The device of claim 9 wherein one of said portions has teeth projecting radially toward the other of said portions and blocker means is arranged on said teeth and frictionally engages the other of said jaw clutch portions; resilient means constantly urging said blocker toward said other of said jaw clutch portions.

Claim 31

The device of claim 9 including also another similar gear and clutch arrangement spaced axially from said first-described gear and clutch arrangement, facing oppositely thereto and comprising third and fourth interengageable gears and third and fourth jaw clutch portions; a blocker unit encircling each of said second and fourth clutch portions and frictionally engageable with adjacent surfaces respectively of said respective first and third gears and a single spring encircling said first-named spring means and contacting said blockers simultaneously and constantly urging both of them toward their respectively associated first and third gears.

Claim 32

The device of claim 15 wherein said main transmission section includes a plurality of jaw clutch units, each of which units includes a pair of jaw clutch components of which at least one is axially slidable, for effecting selection of said selectable speed ratios and blocker means arranged operatively between the respective jaw clutch components of each jaw clutch unit; first control means effecting engagement and disengagement of said main transmission and second control means effecting engagement and disengagement of said auxiliary transmission and means for insuring disengagement of said auxiliary transmission prior to disengagement of said main transmission in at least selected shift sequences.

Claim 33

The device of claim 27 wherein said auxiliary transmission section comprises two pairs of gears having selectable ratios providing a step equal to approximately one-half of the step between a selected step in said main transmission section.