US3885446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gearing-torque division
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-04-27
•
Granted: 1975-05-27
•
Expires: 1993-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A transmission comprising a drive shaft for driving a main section of the transmission, a driven shaft driven by the main section so as to drive in turn a range section, and an output shaft driven by the range section. Each section has a pair of intermediate shafts, the plane containing the axes of one pair being angularly offset from the plane containing the axes of the other. Each intermediate shaft carries a helical gear meshed with a common helical gear on the section input shaft. The main section includes a series of gear assemblies providing different gear ratios, each assembly comprising a helical gear on the driven shaft meshed with a respective pair of helical gears carried by respective intermediate shafts. In the range section each intermediate shaft carries a double helical gear, each double helical gear being meshed with single helical gears on the output shaft. The helical gears on the output shaft and the drive shaft are each mounted so as to permit pivoting about an axis normal to the shaft axis to enable balancing of axial components of reaction forces, and thus transmission of torque via all intermediate shafts simultaneously. Each of the plurality of gear assemblies in the main section is individually adjusted so that simultaneous contact of the driven shaft gear with its intermediate shaft gears is achieved when the main section pivotal gear is in a predetermined disposition. The angles of inclination of the teeth of the gear assemblies are different to facilitate transmission of torque via both intermediate shaft if the transmission should go into overrun. Each intermediate shaft of the main section extends through to the range section, and carries a helical idler gear meshed with the helical gear at the input end of the adjacent range section intermediate shaft. The idler gears can be clutched to their respective main section intermediate shaft to permit reverse rotation of the output shaft for unidirectional rotation of the drive shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Alexander Pengilly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:44
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H3/00; F16H3/02; F16H3/08; F16H3/087; F16H3/093; F16H3/095; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19167; Y10T74/19219; Y10T74/19233; Y10T74/19242; Y10T74/19372; Y10T74/19377; Y10T74/19386; Y10T74/194; Y10T74/19409; Y10T74/19628
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A transmission comprising first and second rotatable members between which torque is to be transmitted, a first helical gear rotatable with said first member, a plurality of further helical gears meshed with said first gear, coupling means for coupling said further gears with said second member, and mounting means for said first gear arranged to permit said first gear to pivot about an axis transverse to the rotational axis of said first gear under the action of axially directed components of reaction forces arising from said further gears under load so that torque can be transmitted between the members through each of said further helical gears.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A transmission comprising first and second rotatable members between which torque is to be transmitted, a first helical gear rotatable with said first member, a plurality of further helical gears meshed with said first gear, coupling means for coupling said further gears with said second member, and mounting means for said first gear arranged to permit said first gear to pivot about an axis transverse to the rotational axis of said first gear under the action of axially directed components of reaction forces arising from said further gears under load so that torque can be transmitted between the members through each of said further helical gears.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mounting means comprises part spherical bearing surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said further geArs has two portions of opposite helical inclination, the first helical gear also having two corresponding portions meshed with respective portions of each further gear, said mounting means permitting each portion of said first helical gear to pivot so that torque can be transmitted between said first and second members via each portion of each of said further helical gears.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first member is an input member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises axial locating means having a degree of resilience such as to permit said pivoting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 5 wherein said axial locating means comprises elastomeric rings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A transmission in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a plurality of gear assemblies providing different ratios, each assembly comprising a plurality of gears fixed for rotation with respective ones of said further gears and an associated gear meshed with each of the plurality of gears in its assembly, and clutch means for selectively clutching said associated gears to said second member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said gear assemblies comprises helical gears.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 8 wherein the helix angles of the teeth of said gear assemblies are different to facilitate torque transmission via each of said further helical gears both from said first member to said second member, and from said second member to said first member, the larger the meshing radius of the gears of the plurality, the larger the helix angle of the teeth of those gears.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 8 wherein each gear assembly is individually adjusted axially such that each of its plurality of gears contacts the associated gear when said first helical gear is in a predetermined disposition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
218 words
A transmission comprising first and second members between which torque is to be transmitted; a plurality of intermediate shafts coupled with one of said members; a plurality of gear assemblies each comprising a plurality of helical gears fixed respectively on said intermediate shafts and an associated helical gear meshed with each of the intermediate shaft gears in its assembly, said gears of each of said assemblies having different meshing radii from said gears of each of the other of said assemblies to provide different transmission ratios; clutch means for selectively clutching said associated gears to the other of said members; and torque sharing means for causing torque to be transmitted simultaneously through each of the intermediate shaft gears of any assembly whose associated gear is clutched to said other member, the helix angles of the gears of each of said assemblies being larger as are the meshing radii of said intermediate shaft gears thereof so that, the larger said meshing radius, the greater the rotational free play between the associated gear and the intermediate shaft gears, said rotational free play being such that an assembly whose associated gear is not clutched to said other member does not prevent transmission of torque by each intermediate shaft gear of an assembly whose associated gear is clutched to the other member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
218 words
A transmission comprising first and second members between which torque is to be transmitted; a plurality of intermediate shafts coupled with one of said members; a plurality of gear assemblies each comprising a plurality of helical gears fixed respectively on said intermediate shafts and an associated helical gear meshed with each of the intermediate shaft gears in its assembly, said gears of each of said assemblies having different meshing radii from said gears of each of the other of said assemblies to provide different transmission ratios; clutch means for selectively clutching said associated gears to the other of said members; and torque sharing means for causing torque to be transmitted simultaneously through each of the intermediate shaft gears of any assembly whose associated gear is clutched to said other member, the helix angles of the gears of each of said assemblies being larger as are the meshing radii of said intermediate shaft gears thereof so that, the larger said meshing radius, the greater the rotational free play between the associated gear and the intermediate shaft gears, said rotational free play being such that an assembly whose associated gear is not clutched to said other member does not prevent transmission of torque by each intermediate shaft gear of an assembly whose associated gear is clutched to the other member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
A transmission for obtaining reversible drive from a source of unidirectional, rotational drive comprising an input member for connection with said source, an output member to be reversibly driven, an output member driving gear for driving said output member, first and second couplings between said gear and said input member arranged to drive said gear in opposite directions and clutch means for selecting which of said couplings is effective to drive the gear.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
A transmission for obtaining reversible drive from a source of unidirectional, rotational drive comprising an input member for connection with said source, an output member to be reversibly driven, an output member driving gear for driving said output member, first and second couplings between said gear and said input member arranged to drive said gear in opposite directions and clutch means for selecting which of said couplings is effective to drive the gear.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first coupling comprises a first gear rotatable by said input member, a second gear meshed with the first and a third gear meshed with said driving gear, the second coupling comprising a fourth gear meshed with the dRiving gear, said clutch means being arranged to select which of said third and fourth gears is rotatable by said input member to drive said driving gear.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A transmission in accordance with claim 13 and comprising a plurality of gear assemblies and selector means for selecting which of said plurality is to provide said first and second gears, said assemblies providing different gear ratios.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
154 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 12, wherein said driving gear is one of a plurality of driving gears each arranged for driving said output member, there being a corresponding plurality of first couplings individual to said driving gears and each comprising a respective gear rotatable by said input member, a first common gear meshed with each of said respective gears and a second common gear meshed with each of the driving gears, there being also a corresponding plurality of second couplings individual to said driving gears and each comprising a respective further gear meshed with the associated driving gear, said clutch means being arranged to select corresponding couplings for each driving gear and to determine whether the driving gears are driven by the second common gear or the respective further gears, the transmission further comprising means for causing torque to be transmitted via each of said driving gears simultaneously to the output member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
A transmission in accordance with claim 15 and comprising a plurality of gear assemblies and selector means for selecting which assembly of said plurality is to provide each of said respective gears and said first common gear, said assemblies providing different gear ratios.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
189 words
A transmission comprising a main section which includes an input shaft, a main shaft, an intermediate shaft, gears on each of said shafts, said gears on said intermediate shaft being constantly meshed with respective gears on said input shaft and said main shaft, and clutch means for selectively clutching said input shaft gears to said main shaft to provide selected different drive ratios from said input shaft to said main shaft; a range section which includes an input shaft driven by the main shaft of said main section, an output shaft, an intermediate shaft, gears on each of said shafts of said range section, said range section intermediate shaft gears being respectively constantly meshed with said range section input and output shaft gears, and clutch means for selectively coupling said range section input shaft to said range section output shaft either directly or via said range section gears; and reverse means comprising reverse gear means in constant mesh with a gear of said range section and reverse clutch means for clutching said reverse gear means to said main section counter shaft to provide reverse drive to said output shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
189 words
A transmission comprising a main section which includes an input shaft, a main shaft, an intermediate shaft, gears on each of said shafts, said gears on said intermediate shaft being constantly meshed with respective gears on said input shaft and said main shaft, and clutch means for selectively clutching said input shaft gears to said main shaft to provide selected different drive ratios from said input shaft to said main shaft; a range section which includes an input shaft driven by the main shaft of said main section, an output shaft, an intermediate shaft, gears on each of said shafts of said range section, said range section intermediate shaft gears being respectively constantly meshed with said range section input and output shaft gears, and clutch means for selectively coupling said range section input shaft to said range section output shaft either directly or via said range section gears; and reverse means comprising reverse gear means in constant mesh with a gear of said range section and reverse clutch means for clutching said reverse gear means to said main section counter shaft to provide reverse drive to said output shaft.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A transmission according to claim 17, wherein said reverse gear means comprises a single gear in constant mesh with said range section intermediate shaft gear.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
A transmission according to claim 18, including a plurality of said intermediate shafts in each of said sections, and a corresponding plurality of said single reverse gears and of said reverse clutch means for clutching said single gears to respective ones of said intermediate shafts.
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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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |