US3924490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable ratio drive unit and method
Assignee: Varitran Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-21
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1994-05-21
Abstract
Abstract An automatic variable ratio drive unit for vehicles such as motorcycles and the like is disclosed including an epicyclic gear train with an input gear which drives planetary gears carried on a planetary gear carrier having an integral output gear. Rotation of the planetary gears is resisted by a sun gear which engages the planetary gears and also drives a hydraulic pump. Two governors interact to control the rate of rotation of the sun gear by actuating valve means to restrict the output of the pump to consequently increase the rotational speed of the planetary gear carrier. The first governor maintains the pump and sun gear at a constant rate of rotation when the input gear reaches a first predetermined rate of rotation and the second governor overrides the first governor when the input gear reaches a second predetermined rate of rotation to further restrict the output of the pump thereby decreasing the rate of rotation of the pump and sun gear to decrease the gear ratio between the input gear and the output gear. A second embodiment of the preferred invention utilizes in place of the actuating valve means a variable displacement pump motor device drivingly connected to the planetary gear carrier and having an inlet and outlet with the inlet of the variable displacement device being connected to the outlet from the gear pump, and a respond valve means in the outlet to the gear pump being connected to bypass the output of the gear pump to a sump at idling speeds to accomplish disengaging of the transmissions. Two governors interact to control the rate of rotation of the sun gear by controlling the displacement of the variable displacement pump after shifting the valve means to supply the full output of the gear pump to the variable displacement device when the rate of rotations of the input gear exceeds the idling speed. The first governor maintains the gear pump and sun gear at a constant rate of rotation when the input gear reaches a first predetermined rate of rotation and the second governor overrides the first governor when the input gear reaches a second predetermined rate of rotation to further restrict the output of the gear pump thereby decreasing the rate of rotation of the pump and sun gear to decrease the ratio between the input gear and the output gear. The second embodiment may be operated without the second governor and only with the first governor controlling the valve means. The displacement of the variable displacement pump motor device may be controlled manually and for each displacement the transmission will produce a fixed gear ratio between the input gear and the output gear.
Inventors
- 👤 Ned D Mills
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:16
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H3/00; F16H3/44; F16H3/72; F16H3/721; F16H3/722; B; B62; B62M; B62M11/00; B62M11/04; B62M11/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A variable ratio drive unit comprising a rotary planetary geAr carrier, planetary gear means mounted on said rotary planetary gear carrier, rotary sun gear means supported for rotation in meshing engagement with said planetary gear means so as to be rotatable by said planetary gear means, power input drive means drivingly engaged with said planetary gear means, a power output drive means drivingly connected to said rotary planetary gear carrier, a first automatic control means responsive to the rate of rotation of said sun gear for maintaining a constant rate of rotation of said sun gear in response to the sun gear reaching a predetermined rate of rotation and second automatic control means for overriding the first automatic control means in response to said input drive means reaching a predetermined power input rate of rotation for reducing the rate of rotation of the sun gear as the rate of rotation of said input drive means increases above said predetermined power input rate of rotation to provide a minimum gear ratio between said power input drive means and said power output means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A variable ratio drive unit comprising a rotary planetary geAr carrier, planetary gear means mounted on said rotary planetary gear carrier, rotary sun gear means supported for rotation in meshing engagement with said planetary gear means so as to be rotatable by said planetary gear means, power input drive means drivingly engaged with said planetary gear means, a power output drive means drivingly connected to said rotary planetary gear carrier, a first automatic control means responsive to the rate of rotation of said sun gear for maintaining a constant rate of rotation of said sun gear in response to the sun gear reaching a predetermined rate of rotation and second automatic control means for overriding the first automatic control means in response to said input drive means reaching a predetermined power input rate of rotation for reducing the rate of rotation of the sun gear as the rate of rotation of said input drive means increases above said predetermined power input rate of rotation to provide a minimum gear ratio between said power input drive means and said power output means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said first automatic control means includes a gear pump, drive connection means drivingly connecting said sun gear and said gear pump, pump governor means drivingly connected to said drive connection means, valving means for controlling the output of said gear pump and linkage means connecting said valving means and said pump governor means for actuating said valving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said second automatic control means includes a power input governor means drivingly connected to said power input means and linkage means connecting said power input governor means to said valving means for actuating said valving means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said first automatic control means includes a gear pump, a first drive connection means drivingly connecting said sun gear and said gear pump, a variable displacement device hydraulically driven by said gear pump, a second drive connection means drivingly connecting said variable displacement pump with said planetary gear carrier, pump governor means drivingly connecting said sun gear and said gear pump, control means for controlling the output of said variable displacement device and linkage means connecting said control means and said pump governor means for actuating said control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein said second automatic control means includes a power input governor means drivingly connected to said power input means and linkage means connecting said power input governor means to said variable displacement pump for controlling the output of said variable displacement pump.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said first automatic control means includes a gear pump, drive connection means drivingly connecting said sun gear and said gear pump, governor valving means for controlling the output of said gear pump at a constant flow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said second automatic control means includes a power input governor means drivingly connected to said power input means and linkage means connecting said power input governor means to said governor valving means for actuating said governor valving means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
237 words
A variable ratio drive unit comprising a housing, main shaft bearing means mounted in said housing, main shaft means mounted for rotation in said main shaft bearing means, a primary input gear bearing means mounted in said housing, a primary input gear concentric with said main shaft and rotatably supported by said primary input gear bearing means, a ring gear fixedly connected to said primary input gear and concentric with said main shaft, a rotary gear carrier concentric with and mounted for rotation about the axis of said main shaft, planetary gear means carried by said rotary gear carrier and meshingly engaging the internal ring gear on the primary input gear, an output gear concentric with and integral with said rotary gear carrier, a sun gear concentrically and fixedly mounted on said maiN shaft in meshing engagement with said planetary gear means, speed governor means connected to said main shaft for preventing any increase in the speed of said main shaft upon said main shaft reaching a predetermined rate of rotation and input governor control means for overriding said first speed governor means in response to the primary input gear reaching a predetermined input rate of rotation to reduce the rate of rotation of the main shaft means to decrease the gear ratio between said primary input gear and said output gear as the speed of the primary input gear increases above the predetermined rate of rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
237 words
A variable ratio drive unit comprising a housing, main shaft bearing means mounted in said housing, main shaft means mounted for rotation in said main shaft bearing means, a primary input gear bearing means mounted in said housing, a primary input gear concentric with said main shaft and rotatably supported by said primary input gear bearing means, a ring gear fixedly connected to said primary input gear and concentric with said main shaft, a rotary gear carrier concentric with and mounted for rotation about the axis of said main shaft, planetary gear means carried by said rotary gear carrier and meshingly engaging the internal ring gear on the primary input gear, an output gear concentric with and integral with said rotary gear carrier, a sun gear concentrically and fixedly mounted on said maiN shaft in meshing engagement with said planetary gear means, speed governor means connected to said main shaft for preventing any increase in the speed of said main shaft upon said main shaft reaching a predetermined rate of rotation and input governor control means for overriding said first speed governor means in response to the primary input gear reaching a predetermined input rate of rotation to reduce the rate of rotation of the main shaft means to decrease the gear ratio between said primary input gear and said output gear as the speed of the primary input gear increases above the predetermined rate of rotation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 8 additionally including positive displacement pump means, a drive connection means between said pump and said main shaft and wherein said first speed governor control means includes valving means responsive to the speed of rotation of said main shaft for partially throttling the output from said positive displacement pump means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
The invention of claim 8 additionally including positive displacement pump means, a first drive connecting means between said positive displacement pump and said main shaft, a variable displacement pump hydraulically driven by the positive displacement pump means, a second drive connection means drivingly connecting the variable displacement pump with the rotary gear carrier and wherein said first speed governor control means includes control means responsive to the speed of rotation of said main shaft for reducing the displacement of the variable displacement pump to reduce the rate of rotation of the positive displacement pump means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
333 words
A variable ratio transmission comprising a hollow transmission housing, main control shaft bearing means mounted in said transmission housing, a main control shaft rotatably supported in said main control shaft bearing means in said housing, a primary input gear support means, a primary input gear mounted for rotation on said primary input gear support means in a position in said housing concentric with said main control shaft, ring gear means fixedly connected to said primary input gear and concentric with respect to said main control shaft, a planetary gear carrier concentric with and rotatable about said main control shaft, planetary gear means rotatably supported on said planetary gear carrier in meshing engagement with said internal ring gear, an output gear drivingly connected to said planetary gear carrier, sun gear means mounted on said main control shaft in meshing engagement with said planetary gear means, a hydraulic gear pump fixedly connected to said transmission housing, said hydraulic gear pump including a pump housing and first and second meshing gears, means connecting said first and second meshing gears in driving engagement with said main control shaft, said gear pump housing having an inlet and an outlet communicating with the interior of said transmission housing and a quantity of hydraulic fluid therein, a hydraulic pump speed governor means including valving means for maintaining said pump gears at a predetermined maximum rate of rotation by restricting the outlet from said gear pump housing when said pump gears reach a predetermined rate of rotation and an override governor means for overriding said hydraulic pump speed governor means when said input gear reaches a predetermined rate of rotation to further restrict said outlet of said hydraulic pump to reduce the speed of rotation of said hydraulic pump, said main control shaft and said sun gear to provide a decreasing gear ratio between said primary input gear and said output gear means as the rate of rotation of the primary input gear increases above the second predetermined rate of rotation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
333 words
A variable ratio transmission comprising a hollow transmission housing, main control shaft bearing means mounted in said transmission housing, a main control shaft rotatably supported in said main control shaft bearing means in said housing, a primary input gear support means, a primary input gear mounted for rotation on said primary input gear support means in a position in said housing concentric with said main control shaft, ring gear means fixedly connected to said primary input gear and concentric with respect to said main control shaft, a planetary gear carrier concentric with and rotatable about said main control shaft, planetary gear means rotatably supported on said planetary gear carrier in meshing engagement with said internal ring gear, an output gear drivingly connected to said planetary gear carrier, sun gear means mounted on said main control shaft in meshing engagement with said planetary gear means, a hydraulic gear pump fixedly connected to said transmission housing, said hydraulic gear pump including a pump housing and first and second meshing gears, means connecting said first and second meshing gears in driving engagement with said main control shaft, said gear pump housing having an inlet and an outlet communicating with the interior of said transmission housing and a quantity of hydraulic fluid therein, a hydraulic pump speed governor means including valving means for maintaining said pump gears at a predetermined maximum rate of rotation by restricting the outlet from said gear pump housing when said pump gears reach a predetermined rate of rotation and an override governor means for overriding said hydraulic pump speed governor means when said input gear reaches a predetermined rate of rotation to further restrict said outlet of said hydraulic pump to reduce the speed of rotation of said hydraulic pump, said main control shaft and said sun gear to provide a decreasing gear ratio between said primary input gear and said output gear means as the rate of rotation of the primary input gear increases above the second predetermined rate of rotation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
160 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein said valving means for restricting the outlet from said hydraulic gear pump includes hollow valve spool means of cylindrical configuration having a hollow interior, an inflow opening extending through said valve spool means communicating with said hollow inTerior of said valve spool means, an outlet opening in said valve spool means communicating externally of the casing of said hydraulic pump with the interior of said transmission housing and means for moving said valve spool means between a first position in which said inflow opening communicates with the interior of said hydraulic pump housing in an internal portion of said pump housing for receiving high pressure hydraulic fluid from said gear members to conduct said high pressure fluid through said outlet opening and a second position in which said inflow opening is positioned in the wall of said pump casing and flow of hydraulic fluid from said casing through said valve means is thereby blocked.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
101 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein said hydraulic pump speed governor means includes a sleeve mounted on said main control shaft for axial movement, means for moving said sleeve in a first direction in an amount in proportion to the speed of rotation of said main control shaft and linkage means connecting said movable sleeve and said valve spool means whereby movement of said sleeve moves said valve spool means between said first valve spool position to an intermediate valve spool position, intermediate said first and second valve spool positions, whereby the flow from said hydraulic gear pump is partially throttled.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
The invention of claim 13 wherein said override governor means includes a movable conical sleeve mounted on said main control shaft for axial movement between first and second limit positions, means for moving said conical sleeve from said first limit position toward said second limit position as the speed of rortation of said primary input gear increases and linkage means connecting said conical sleeve to said valve spool means for moving said valve spool means between said intermediate valve spool position and said second valve spool position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
174 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein said valving means for restricting the outlet from said hydraulic gear pump includes a hollow valve spool means of cylindrical configuration having a hollow interior, an inflow opening extending through said hollow interior of said valve spool means, an orifice outlet opening in said valve spool means communicating externally of the casing of said hydraulic pump with the interior of said transmission housing and a biasing spring means for biasing the valve spool means in the direction opposite flow out said orifice and wherein the valve spool means moves between a first position in which said inflow opening communicates with the interior of said hydraulic pump housing in an internal portion of said pump housing for receiving high pressure hydraulic fluid from said gear members to conduct said high pressure fluid through said outlet orifice and a second position in which said inflow opening is positioned in the wall of said pump casing and flow of hydraulic fluid from said casing through said valve means is thereby blocked.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a variable ratio drive unit of the type having an input drive gear, ring gear means integral with said input drive gear, a rotatable planetary gear carrier, planetary gear means mounted on said rotatable planetary gear carrier meshing with said ring gear, a main control shaft, a sun gear fixedly connected to said main control shaft and in meshing engagement with said planetary gear, and a hydraulic pump having an inlet and an outlet and driven by said main control shaft, the improvement comprising automatic control means including valving means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid from said hydraulic pump, speed sensing means responsive to the rate of rotation of said hydraulic pump for maintaining said hydraulic pump at a predetermined maximum rate of rotation by positioning said valving means to adjust the flow of fluid from the hydraulic pump and override means for overriding said speed sensing means to provide an additional restriction of the outlet from said hydraulic pump in response to said input drive gear reaching a predetermined rate of rotation to reduce the rate of rotation of said main control shaft and said sun gear to automatically provide a minimum gear ratio between said input drive gear and said output gear means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a variable ratio drive unit of the type having an input drive gear, ring gear means integral with said input drive gear, a rotatable planetary gear carrier, planetary gear means mounted on said rotatable planetary gear carrier meshing with said ring gear, a main control shaft, a sun gear fixedly connected to said main control shaft and in meshing engagement with said planetary gear, and a hydraulic pump having an inlet and an outlet and driven by said main control shaft, the improvement comprising automatic control means including valving means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid from said hydraulic pump, speed sensing means responsive to the rate of rotation of said hydraulic pump for maintaining said hydraulic pump at a predetermined maximum rate of rotation by positioning said valving means to adjust the flow of fluid from the hydraulic pump and override means for overriding said speed sensing means to provide an additional restriction of the outlet from said hydraulic pump in response to said input drive gear reaching a predetermined rate of rotation to reduce the rate of rotation of said main control shaft and said sun gear to automatically provide a minimum gear ratio between said input drive gear and said output gear means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
251 words
A method of automatically varying the input to output gear ratio from an infinite value to a desired minimum value in a variable speed power transmission unit of the type having a power input gear meshing with planetary gears mounted on a rotary planetary gear carrier, a sun gear meshing with the planetary gears and drivingly connected to a gear pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with valving means in the fluid outlet and a power output gear drivingly connected to the planetary gear carrier, said method comprising the steps of automatically sensing the speed of rotation of the gear pump and the power input gear, initially operating the valving means in the fluid outlet under the sole control of the sensed speed of rotation of the pump to throttle the outlet of the pump in proportion to the speed of rotation of the pump to initially vary the gear ratio from an infinite value to an intermediate value, discontinuing control of the valving means by the speed of rotation of the pump and initiating control of the valving means by the sensed speed of rotation of the power input gear to vary the gear ratio from said intermediate value to said predetermined minimum value by further throttling the output of said pump in proportion to increase in the speed of said power input gear as the speed of said power input gear increases until the pump is substantially completely throttled and said minimum gear ratio is achieved.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
251 words
A method of automatically varying the input to output gear ratio from an infinite value to a desired minimum value in a variable speed power transmission unit of the type having a power input gear meshing with planetary gears mounted on a rotary planetary gear carrier, a sun gear meshing with the planetary gears and drivingly connected to a gear pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with valving means in the fluid outlet and a power output gear drivingly connected to the planetary gear carrier, said method comprising the steps of automatically sensing the speed of rotation of the gear pump and the power input gear, initially operating the valving means in the fluid outlet under the sole control of the sensed speed of rotation of the pump to throttle the outlet of the pump in proportion to the speed of rotation of the pump to initially vary the gear ratio from an infinite value to an intermediate value, discontinuing control of the valving means by the speed of rotation of the pump and initiating control of the valving means by the sensed speed of rotation of the power input gear to vary the gear ratio from said intermediate value to said predetermined minimum value by further throttling the output of said pump in proportion to increase in the speed of said power input gear as the speed of said power input gear increases until the pump is substantially completely throttled and said minimum gear ratio is achieved.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for automatically varying the power input to power output gear ratio of a variable speed power transmission having a power input gear, planetary gears, a sun gear and control means capable of providing a variable resistance to rotation of the sun gear for effecting a change in the gear ratio between power input and power output said method comprising increasing the resistance to rotation of the control means solely in response to increases in speed of the sun gear when the power input speed is below a predetermined value and increasing the resistance to rotation of the control means solely in response to increases in the speed of rotation of the power input when the power input speed is above said predetermined value.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for automatically varying the power input to power output gear ratio of a variable speed power transmission having a power input gear, planetary gears, a sun gear and control means capable of providing a variable resistance to rotation of the sun gear for effecting a change in the gear ratio between power input and power output said method comprising increasing the resistance to rotation of the control means solely in response to increases in speed of the sun gear when the power input speed is below a predetermined value and increasing the resistance to rotation of the control means solely in response to increases in the speed of rotation of the power input when the power input speed is above said predetermined value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 18 additionally including decreasing the resistance to rotation of the control means solely in response to decreases in the speed of rotation of the power input when the power input speed is above said predetermined value and decreasing the resistance to rotation of the control means solely in response to decreases in the speed of the sun gear when the speed of the power input is below said predetermined value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
418 words
A variable ratio transmission comprising a hollow transmission housing, main control shaft bearing means mounted in said transmission housing, a main control shaft rotatably supported in said main control shaft bearing means in said housing, a primary input gear support means, a primary input gear mounted for rotation on said primary input gear support means in a position in said housing concentric with said main control shaft, ring gear means fixedly connected to said primary input gear and concentric with respect to said main control shaft, a planetary gear carrier concentric with and rotatable about said main control shaft, planetary gear means rotatably supported on said planetary gear carrier in meshing engagement with said internal ring gear, an output gear drivingly connected to said planetary gear carrier, sun gear means mounted on said main control shaft in meshing engagement with said planetary gear means, a hydraulic gear pump fixedly connected to said transmission housing, said hydraulic gear pump including a pump housing and first and second meshing gears, means connecting said first and second meshing gears in driving engagement with said main control shaft, said gear pump housing haVing an inlet and an outlet communicating with the interior of said transmission housing and a quantity of hydraulic fluid therein, a hydraulic pump speed governor means including a variable displacement pump drivingly connected to the planetary gear carrier and having an outlet communicating with the interior of said transmission housing, a valve means in the outlet of the gear pump for maintaining said pump gears at maximum rates of rotation through bypassing the flow of hydraulic fluid from the outlet of said gear pump housing to the interior of the transmission housing and then to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid to the inlet to the variable displacement pump when said gear pump reaches a predetermined rate of rotation and means for decreasing the displacement of the variable displacement pump to a predetermined displacement as the rate of rotation of the gear pump increases, and an override governor means for overriding said hydraulic pump speed governor means when said input gear reaches a predetermined rate of rotation to further restrict the displacement of said variable displacement pump thereby reducing the rate of rotation of said gear pump, said main control shaft and said sun gear to provide a decreasing gear ratio between said primary input gear and said output gear means as the rate of rotation of the primary input gear increases above the second predetermined rate of rotation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
418 words
A variable ratio transmission comprising a hollow transmission housing, main control shaft bearing means mounted in said transmission housing, a main control shaft rotatably supported in said main control shaft bearing means in said housing, a primary input gear support means, a primary input gear mounted for rotation on said primary input gear support means in a position in said housing concentric with said main control shaft, ring gear means fixedly connected to said primary input gear and concentric with respect to said main control shaft, a planetary gear carrier concentric with and rotatable about said main control shaft, planetary gear means rotatably supported on said planetary gear carrier in meshing engagement with said internal ring gear, an output gear drivingly connected to said planetary gear carrier, sun gear means mounted on said main control shaft in meshing engagement with said planetary gear means, a hydraulic gear pump fixedly connected to said transmission housing, said hydraulic gear pump including a pump housing and first and second meshing gears, means connecting said first and second meshing gears in driving engagement with said main control shaft, said gear pump housing haVing an inlet and an outlet communicating with the interior of said transmission housing and a quantity of hydraulic fluid therein, a hydraulic pump speed governor means including a variable displacement pump drivingly connected to the planetary gear carrier and having an outlet communicating with the interior of said transmission housing, a valve means in the outlet of the gear pump for maintaining said pump gears at maximum rates of rotation through bypassing the flow of hydraulic fluid from the outlet of said gear pump housing to the interior of the transmission housing and then to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid to the inlet to the variable displacement pump when said gear pump reaches a predetermined rate of rotation and means for decreasing the displacement of the variable displacement pump to a predetermined displacement as the rate of rotation of the gear pump increases, and an override governor means for overriding said hydraulic pump speed governor means when said input gear reaches a predetermined rate of rotation to further restrict the displacement of said variable displacement pump thereby reducing the rate of rotation of said gear pump, said main control shaft and said sun gear to provide a decreasing gear ratio between said primary input gear and said output gear means as the rate of rotation of the primary input gear increases above the second predetermined rate of rotation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
121 words
The invention of claim 20 wherein said valving means for restricting the outlet from said hydraulic gear pump includes a movable valve spool means of cylindrical configuration having a hollow interior, an inflow opening extending through said valve spool means communicating with said hollow interior of said valve spool means, an outlet opening in said valve spool means communicating externally of the casing of said hydraulic gear pummp with the interior of said transmission housing when the valve spool means is in a first position and communicating with the inlet to the variable displacement pump when the valve spool means is in a second position, and means for moving said valve spool means between said first position and said second position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
104 words
The invention of claim 21 wherein said hydraulic pump speed governor means includes a movable sleeve mounted on said main control shaft for axial movement, means for moving said sleeve in a first direction in proportion to the speed of rotation of said main control shaft and linkage means connecting said movable sleeve with said valve spool means for changing the displacement of the variable displacement pump whereby movement of said sleeve moves said valve spool means between said first valve spool position and said second valve spool position and whereby movement of said movable sleeve reduces the displacement of the variable displacement pump.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
86 words
The invention of claim 22 wherein said override governor means includes a movable conical sleeve mounted on said main control shaft for axial movement between first and second limit positions, means for moving said conical sleeve from said first limit position toward said second limit position as the speed of rotation of said primary input gear increases and linkage means connecting said conical sleeve to said means for changing the displacement of the variable displacement pump to further reduce the displacement of the variable displacement pump.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
300 words
A method of automatically varying the input to output gear ratio from an infinite value to a desired minimum value in a variable speed power transmission unit of the type having a power input gear meshing with planetary gears mounted on a rotary planetary gear carrier, a sun gear meshing with the planetary gears and drivingly connected to a gear pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with valving means in the fluid outlet, a variable displacement pump drivingly connected with the rotary planetary gear carrier and having a fluid inlet connected to the outlet of the gear pump and a power output gear drivingly connected to the planetary gear carrier, said method comprising the steps of automatically sensing the speed of rotation of the gear pump and the power input gear, initially operating the valving means in the fluid outlet under the sole control of the sensed speed of rotation of the pump to communicate the outlet of the gear pump with the variable displacement pump and to control the displacement of the variable displacement pump in proportion to the speed of rotation of the gear pump to initially vary the gear ratio from an infinite value to an intermediate value, discontinuing control of the variable displacement pump by the speed of rotation of the gear pump and initiating control of the variable displacement pump by the sensed speed of rotation of the power input gear to vary the gear ratio from said intermediate value to said predetermined minimum value by further reducing the displacement of the variable displacement pump in proportion to increases in the speed of said power input gear as the speed of said power input gear increases until rotation of the gear pump is substantially stopped and said minimum gear ratio is achieved.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
300 words
A method of automatically varying the input to output gear ratio from an infinite value to a desired minimum value in a variable speed power transmission unit of the type having a power input gear meshing with planetary gears mounted on a rotary planetary gear carrier, a sun gear meshing with the planetary gears and drivingly connected to a gear pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with valving means in the fluid outlet, a variable displacement pump drivingly connected with the rotary planetary gear carrier and having a fluid inlet connected to the outlet of the gear pump and a power output gear drivingly connected to the planetary gear carrier, said method comprising the steps of automatically sensing the speed of rotation of the gear pump and the power input gear, initially operating the valving means in the fluid outlet under the sole control of the sensed speed of rotation of the pump to communicate the outlet of the gear pump with the variable displacement pump and to control the displacement of the variable displacement pump in proportion to the speed of rotation of the gear pump to initially vary the gear ratio from an infinite value to an intermediate value, discontinuing control of the variable displacement pump by the speed of rotation of the gear pump and initiating control of the variable displacement pump by the sensed speed of rotation of the power input gear to vary the gear ratio from said intermediate value to said predetermined minimum value by further reducing the displacement of the variable displacement pump in proportion to increases in the speed of said power input gear as the speed of said power input gear increases until rotation of the gear pump is substantially stopped and said minimum gear ratio is achieved.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
80 words
The invention of claim 24 wherein said override governor means includes a movable conical sleeve mounted on said main control shaft for axial movement between first and second limit positions, means for moving said conical sleeve from said first limit position toward said second limit position as the speed of rotation of said primary input gear increases and linkage means connecting said conical sleeve to said valve spool means for biasing the valve spool toward the second valve spool position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
165 words
A variable ratio drive unit comprising a rotary planetary gear carrier, planetary gear means mounted on said rotary planetary gear carrier, rotary sun gear means supported for rotation in meshing engagement with said planetary gear means so as to be rotatable by said planetary gear means, power input drive means drivingly engaged with said planetary gear means, a power output drive means drivingly connected to said rotary planetary gear carrier, a gear pump drivingly connected to said sun gear, a variable displacement pump motor device hydraulically driven by said gear pump, a drive connection means drivingly connecting said variable displacement pump motor device with said planetary gear carrier, manually operable means for changing the displacement of the variable displacement pump motor device and means for disconnecting the hydraulic drive from the gear pump to the variable displacement pump motor device when the rate of rotation of the power input means decreases below a predetermined rate of rotation to provide automatic disengaging of the drive unit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
165 words
A variable ratio drive unit comprising a rotary planetary gear carrier, planetary gear means mounted on said rotary planetary gear carrier, rotary sun gear means supported for rotation in meshing engagement with said planetary gear means so as to be rotatable by said planetary gear means, power input drive means drivingly engaged with said planetary gear means, a power output drive means drivingly connected to said rotary planetary gear carrier, a gear pump drivingly connected to said sun gear, a variable displacement pump motor device hydraulically driven by said gear pump, a drive connection means drivingly connecting said variable displacement pump motor device with said planetary gear carrier, manually operable means for changing the displacement of the variable displacement pump motor device and means for disconnecting the hydraulic drive from the gear pump to the variable displacement pump motor device when the rate of rotation of the power input means decreases below a predetermined rate of rotation to provide automatic disengaging of the drive unit.
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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) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |