US3859870A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable-speed and reverse gearboxes
Assignee: David Brown Corp PLC
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Filing: 1972-09-18
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1992-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A variable-speed and reverse gearbox of the dual-range type comprises variable-speed gearing having an input shaft, a layshaft, and a driven shaft constituting an intermediate shaft of the gearbox; dual-range gearing having its torque input via said intermediate shaft and having also a countershaft and an output shaft; said input, intermediate and output shafts being co-axial; and reverse gearing utilising said layshaft and said countershaft without the need for a separate reverse shaft although this use of the countershaft does not prevent the dualrange gearing from operating to double the number of available reverse speeds.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Albert Whateley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:44
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H3/00; F16H3/02; F16H3/08; F16H3/087; F16H3/093; F16H3/097; F16H2003/0803; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19167; Y10T74/19219; Y10T74/19233; Y10T74/19284; Y10T74/19377; Y10T74/19386; Y10T74/19405
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox comprising an input shaft, an intermediate shaft co-axial with the input shaft, an output shaft co-axial with the intermediate shaft, a layshaft parallel to the aforementioned shafts, a counter-shaft parallel to the layshaft, a gear fixed on the input shaft meshing constantly with a gear fixed on the layshaft, at least one gear rotatably mounted on the intermediate shaft meshing constantly with a gear fixed on the layshaft, clutch means for drivably connecting the input shaft directly to the intermediate shaft and, alternatively, for drivably connecting the gear rotatably mounted on the intermediate shaft to said intermediate shaft, a reverse gear fixed on the layshaft meshing constantly with another reverse gear rotatably mounted on the countershaft, clutch means for drivably connecting the last-mentioned gear to the countershaft, a gear fixed on the intermediate shaft meshing constantly with a gear fixed on the countershaft, a gear rotatably mounted on the output shaft meshing constantly with another gear fixed on the countershaft, clutch means for drivably connecting the intermediate shaft directly to the output shaft and, alternatively, for drivably connecting the gear rotatably mounted on the output shaft to said output shaft, and control means for said clutch means operable for selecting any one of the available power paths through the gearbox.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox comprising an input shaft, an intermediate shaft co-axial with the input shaft, an output shaft co-axial with the intermediate shaft, a layshaft parallel to the aforementioned shafts, a counter-shaft parallel to the layshaft, a gear fixed on the input shaft meshing constantly with a gear fixed on the layshaft, at least one gear rotatably mounted on the intermediate shaft meshing constantly with a gear fixed on the layshaft, clutch means for drivably connecting the input shaft directly to the intermediate shaft and, alternatively, for drivably connecting the gear rotatably mounted on the intermediate shaft to said intermediate shaft, a reverse gear fixed on the layshaft meshing constantly with another reverse gear rotatably mounted on the countershaft, clutch means for drivably connecting the last-mentioned gear to the countershaft, a gear fixed on the intermediate shaft meshing constantly with a gear fixed on the countershaft, a gear rotatably mounted on the output shaft meshing constantly with another gear fixed on the countershaft, clutch means for drivably connecting the intermediate shaft directly to the output shaft and, alternatively, for drivably connecting the gear rotatably mounted on the output shaft to said output shaft, and control means for said clutch means operable for selecting any one of the available power paths through the gearbox.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 1, wherein the output shaft is supported at one end by the input shaft, and the intermediate shaft constitutes a sleeve surrounding the output shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 1, wherein the output shaft is co-axial with but spaced from the input shaft and the intermediate shaft is supported by the adjacent ends of the input and output shafts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 1, wherein the clutch means for drivably connecting the intermediate shaft directly to the output shaft and, alternatively, for drivably connecting the gear rotatably mounted on the output shaft to said output shaft include a synchromesh device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 1, wherein the pitch circle diameters of the two gears fixed on the countershaft and of the two gears meshing constantly therewith are such that these four gears provide a speed reduction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 1, wherein the pitch circle diameters of the two gears fixed on the countershaft and of the two gears meshing constantly therewith are such that these four gears provide an overdrive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 1, wherein a power take-off shaft is co-axial with the layshaft and clutch means is provided whereby said power take-off shaft can be drivably connected to the layshaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox including an input shaft, an output shaft co-axial with and journalled at one end in the input shaft, an intermediate shaft in the form of a sleeve co-axially surrounding the output shaft near said one end of the latter, a layshaft parallel to the aforementioned shafts, a countershaft parallel to the layshaft, main gearing comprising variable-speed gearing drivably interconnecting the input shaft, the layshaft and the intermediate shaft and reverse gearing drivably interconnecting the layshaft and the countershaft, and dual-range gearing in series with the main gearing for doubling the number of speed ratios obtainable thereform and drivably interconnecting the intermediate shaft, the countershaft and the output shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox including an input shaft, an output shaft co-axial with and journalled at one end in the input shaft, an intermediate shaft in the form of a sleeve co-axially surrounding the output shaft near said one end of the latter, a layshaft parallel to the aforementioned shafts, a countershaft parallel to the layshaft, main gearing comprising variable-speed gearing drivably interconnecting the input shaft, the layshaft and the intermediate shaft and reverse gearing drivably interconnecting the layshaft and the countershaft, and dual-range gearing in series with the main gearing for doubling the number of speed ratios obtainable thereform and drivably interconnecting the intermediate shaft, the countershaft and the output shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 8, having two dual-range gears fixed on the countershaft, one of which meshes constantly with a gear fixed on the intermediate shaft and the other of which meshes constantly with a gear rotatably mounted on the output shaft, and clutch means for drivably connecting the intermediate shaft direCtly to the output shaft and, alternatively, for drivably connecting to the output shaft the gear rotatably mounted thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 9, wherein the clutch means include a synchromesh device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 9, wherein the pitch circle diameters of the two dual-range gears fixed on the countershaft and of the two gears meshing constantly therewith are such that these four gears provide a speed reduction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 9, wherein the pitch circle diameters of the two dual-range gears fixed on the countershaft and of the two gears meshing constantly therewith are such that these four gears provide an overdrive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 8, having a reverse gear rotatably mounted on the countershaft and meshing constantly with a gear fixed on the layshaft, and clutch means for drivably connecting to the countershaft the reverse gear rotatably mounted thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A variable-speed and reverse gearbox according to claim 8, wherein a power take-off shaft co-axial with the layshaft is drivably connectible to the layshaft by clutch means.
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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) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |