US3815445A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable speed planetary transmission
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
•
Filing: 1972-09-11
•
Granted: 1974-06-11
•
Expires: 1992-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A variable speed transmission of the type including a succession of planetary gear trains is adapted to provide a relatively uniform step or percentage change between speed ratios in order to provide efficient use of vehicle power and to minimize peaks in the vehicle performance curve. Four disclosed embodiments are commonly characterized by one planetary gear train in the variable speed transmission having its carrier coupled to a ring gear of an adjacent planetary gear train on the power input side of the transmission with the sun gear of the one planetary gear train being coupled with the carrier of the adjacent planetary gear train.
Inventors
- 👤 J Gorrell
- 👤 J Winzeler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:39
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H3/00; F16H3/44; F16H3/62; F16H3/66; F16H3/663; F16H3/666; F16H2200/00; F16H2200/003; F16H2200/006; F16H2200/20; F16H2200/2002; F16H2200/2015; F16H2200/202; F16H2200/2023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
In a variable speed transmission having a plurality of planetary gear trains coupled in succession between a transmission power input shaft and a transmission power output shaft, each planetary gear train including a sun gear, planet gear set, carrier, ring gear and brake means for selectively stopping the ring gear, the improvement comprising the sun gear of one planetary gear train being coupled with the carrier of an adjacent planetary gear train on the power input side of the one planetary gear train and the carrier of the one gear train being coupled with the ring gear of the adjacent planetary gear train, the carrier of the adjacent planetary gear train being operatively coupled for rotation with the power input shaft, another planetary gear train being arranged on the power output side of the one planetary gear train, the carrier of the other planetary gear train being operatively coupled for rotation with the carrier of the one planetary gear train, and further comprising a common center shaft extending through the succession of planetary gear trains, the sun gear of the adjacent planetary gear train being coupled to the center shaft, the sun gear of the other planetary gear train also being coupled to the center shaft with the center shaft being operatively coupled for driving the output shaft, an additional planetary gear train having its carrier coupled to the carrier of a selected planetary gear train in the succession and having its sun gear coupled to the center shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
In a variable speed transmission having a plurality of planetary gear trains coupled in succession between a transmission power input shaft and a transmission power output shaft, each planetary gear train including a sun gear, planet gear set, carrier, ring gear and brake means for selectively stopping the ring gear, the improvement comprising the sun gear of one planetary gear train being coupled with the carrier of an adjacent planetary gear train on the power input side of the one planetary gear train and the carrier of the one gear train being coupled with the ring gear of the adjacent planetary gear train, the carrier of the adjacent planetary gear train being operatively coupled for rotation with the power input shaft, another planetary gear train being arranged on the power output side of the one planetary gear train, the carrier of the other planetary gear train being operatively coupled for rotation with the carrier of the one planetary gear train, and further comprising a common center shaft extending through the succession of planetary gear trains, the sun gear of the adjacent planetary gear train being coupled to the center shaft, the sun gear of the other planetary gear train also being coupled to the center shaft with the center shaft being operatively coupled for driving the output shaft, an additional planetary gear train having its carrier coupled to the carrier of a selected planetary gear train in the succession and having its sun gear coupled to the center shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The transmission of claim 1 wherein the other planetary gear train has an inner planet gear and an outer planet gear with a common carrier, the sun gear of the other planetary gear train being coupled with the sun gear of the one planetary gear train.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The transmission of claim 2 further comprising an additional planetary gear train having its carrier couPled to the common carrier of the other planetary gear train and having its sun gear coupled to the center shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The transmission of claim 1 wherein the one planetary gear train has an inner planet gear and an outer planet gear with a common carrier, the sun gear of the other planetary gear train being coupled with the sun gear of the one planetary gear train.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The transmission of claim 4 further comprising an additional planetary gear train having its carrier coupled to the carrier of the other planetary gear train and having its sun gear coupled to the center shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The transmission of claim 1 wherein the one planetary gear train has an inner planet gear and an outer planet gear with a common carrier, the inner planet gear being elongated to also serve as a planet gear for the other planetary gear train.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The transmission of claim 6 wherein the inner planet gear of the one planetary gear train also engages the ring gear of the other planetary gear train, the sun gear of the one planetary gear train also serving as the sun gear for the other planetary gear train.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The transmission of claim 7 further comprising an additional planetary gear train having its carrier coupled to the carrier of the other planetary gear train and having its sun gear coupled to the center shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The transmission of claim 1 further comprising multi-range means coupling the succession of planetary gear trains with the output shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The transmission of claim 9 wherein the multi-range means comprises a range planetary gear train having its carrier operatively coupled with the transmission output shaft and its sun gear coupled with the common center shaft, clutch means being arranged between the center shaft and the carrier of the range planetary gear train, a separate brake means being operable to stop a ring gear of the range planetary gear train.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2251625A
Cited
US2612792A
Cited
US2893269A
Cited
US2873626A
Cited
US3021729A
Cited
GB924061A
Cited
US3290962A
Cited
US3381546A
Cited
US3417639A
Cited
US3482470A
Cited
US3678783A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |