Hydrodynamic retarding brake and oil-cooled driveline clutch

Claim 2

A hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus comprising: a clutch (72) having an engaged condition and a disengaged condition; a housing (22) containing said clutch (72) and containing a fluid; a rotatable shaft (32) operatively associated with said clutch; and retarding means (52) in fluid communication with said clutch (72) for pumping said fluid through said clutch (72) for the cooling thereof and for retarding rotation of said shaft (32).

Claim 3

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retarding means (52) includes a retarder-impeller.

Claim 4

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said clutch (72) includes at least one driving plate (76) and at least one driven plate (74), said driven plate (74) being connected to said rotatable shaft (32) and said driving plate (76) being adapted to be connected to means (10,38) for driving said driving plate (76), said hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus further including means (146) for substantially preventing said retarder-impeller (52) from retarding rotation of said driving plate (76) in response to said clutch (72) being in said disengaged condition.

Claim 5

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 17 including a flywheel (38) connected to said clutch (72), said flywheel (38), clutch (72) and retarder-impeller (52) all being disposed in communicating relation within said housing (22).

Claim 6

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means (92,96,102) for interrupting said fluid to said clutch (72) in response to said clutch (72) being in said disengaged condition.

Claim 7

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including brake means (92,96,102) for applying braking action to said clutch (72) in response to said clutch (72) being disengaged.

Claim 8

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said brake means (92,96,102) for applying braking action to said clutch (72) also serves to interrupt said fluid to said clutch (72) in response to said clutch (72) being in said disengaged condition.

Claim 9

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retarding means (52) in fluid communication with said clutch (72) is located within said housing (22).

Claim 10

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means (146) for selectively altering the rate at which rotation of said shaft (32) is retarded.

Claim 11

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means (146) for selectively altering the rate at which energy is dissipated includes a pressure regulating device operative to pressurize said fluid in said housing (22).

Claim 12

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said housing (22) defines a sump (58).

Claim 13

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retarding means (52) in fluid communication with said clutch (72) is mechanically connected to said clutch (72) and conjointly rotatable therewith.

Claim 14

A hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus comprising: first and second members (38,32); clutch means (72) for selectively connecting said first and second members (38,32); a housing (22) defining a sump (58) having a predetermined volume of a fluid therein and containing said clutch means (72); and impeller means (52) engageable with said fluid selectively for hydrodynamically retarding one of said members (38,32) and for pumping the fluid through said clutch means (72) for cooling purposes.

Claim 15

A hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus comprising: first and second members (38,32); clutch means (72) for selectively connecting said first and second members (38,32); a housing (22) defining a sump (58) having a predetermined volume of a fluid therein and containing said clutch means (72); and impeller means (52) engageable with said fluid selectively for hydrodynamically retarding one of said members (38,32) and for pumping the fluid through said clutch means (72) for cooling purposes.

Claim 16

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second member (32) is a rotatable shaft and said hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch further including means (146) for substantially preventing said retarder impeller (52) from retarding rotation of said first member (38) in response to said shaft (32) being free from connection to said first member (38).

Claim 17

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including means (92,96,102) for applying braking action to said clutch means (72) and also for interrupting said fluid to said clutch (72) in response to braking action.

Claim 18

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said impeller means (52) is located in said housing (22).

Claim 19

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said impeller means (52) is connected to one of said first and second members (38,32) for rotation therewith.

Claim 20

The hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second member (32) is a rotatable shaft and said hydrodynamic retarding brake and clutch further including means (146) for substantially preventing said retarder impeller (52) from retarding rotation of said first member (38) in response to said shaft (32) being free from connection to said first member (38).

Claim 21

A combined hydrodynamic retarding brake and oil cooled driveline flywheel clutch, comprising: a housing, an oil sump in said housing, a rotatable retarding brake impeller (52), a retarder flow circuit (118), said clutch (72) being integral with said brake impeller (52), cooling means (16), the amount of retardation being controllable by varying the amount of oil in said retarder flow circuit, said retarder impeller (52) being operable, upon rotation, to simultaneously retard driveline speed and to supply a flow of cooling oil through said clutch and cooling means, means to increase the pressure of the oil in the flow circuit (118) with such increased pressure increasing the retarding braking force in said retarder circuit, and a clutch brake (102) operable to apply a braking action to said clutch output member as said clutch is disengaged thereby operating to stop clutch output, actuation of said clutch brake also operating to cut off and bypass oil flow to the clutch mechanism whereby viscous drag at the clutch is reduced while oil flow bypassing said clutch is pumped out of said housing.

Claim 22

A combined hydrodynamic retarding brake and oil cooled driveline flywheel clutch, comprising: a housing, an oil sump in said housing, a rotatable retarding brake impeller (52), a retarder flow circuit (118), said clutch (72) being integral with said brake impeller (52), cooling means (16), the amount of retardation being controllable by varying the amount of oil in said retarder flow circuit, said retarder impeller (52) being operable, upon rotation, to simultaneously retard driveline speed and to supply a flow of cooling oil through said clutch and cooling means, means to increase the pressure of the oil in the flow circuit (118) with such increased pressure increasing the retarding braking force in said retarder circuit, and a clutch brake (102) operable to apply a braking action to said clutch output member as said clutch is disengaged thereby operating to stop clutch output, actuation of said clutch brake also operating to cut off and bypass oil flow to the clutch mechanism whereby viscous drag at the clutch is reduced while oil flow bypassing said clutch is pumped out of said housing.

Claim 23

A hydrodynamic retarding brake and oil cooled driveline clutch system comprising a housing (22) operably containing said clutch (72), an oil sump (58) in said housing, said retarding brake including a retarder impeller (52), said clutch and said impeller being integral and portions thereof being conjointly rotatable, a clutch cooling oil circuit, a clutch (102,104), said retarder impeller upon rotation supplying a flow of cooling oil to and through said clutch, and a retarder flow circuit (118), said impeller being operable during normal functioning of said clutch to impel oil through said cooling oil circuit for clutch and retarder cooling and through said retarder circuit to increase or decrease the amount of retardation, actuation of said clutch brake to retard normal functioning of said clutch blocking off and bypassing cooling oil flow to said clutch with oil bypassing said clutch being pumped out of the housing by said retarder impeller 52.

Claim 24

A hydrodynamic retarding brake and oil cooled driveline clutch system comprising a housing (22) operably containing said clutch (72), an oil sump (58) in said housing, said retarding brake including a retarder impeller (52), said clutch and said impeller being integral and portions thereof being conjointly rotatable, a clutch cooling oil circuit, a clutch (102,104), said retarder impeller upon rotation supplying a flow of cooling oil to and through said clutch, and a retarder flow circuit (118), said impeller being operable during normal functioning of said clutch to impel oil through said cooling oil circuit for clutch and retarder cooling and through said retarder circuit to increase or decrease the amount of retardation, actuation of said clutch brake to retard normal functioning of said clutch blocking off and bypassing cooling oil flow to said clutch with oil bypassing said clutch being pumped out of the housing by said retarder impeller 52.

Claim 25

A hydrodynamic retarding brake and oil cooled driveline clutch system comprising, a housing (22) operably containing said clutch (72), an oil sump (58) in said housing, said retarding brake including a retarder impeller (52), said clutch and said impeller being integral and portions thereof being conjointly rotatable, a clutch cooling oil circuit, said impeller upon rotation supplying a flow of cooling oil to and through said clutch, a retarder flow circuit (118), said impeller being operable to impel oil through said cooling oil circuit for clutch and retarder cooling and through said retarder circuit to increase or decrease the amount of retardation, said housing (22) constituting a multi-function housing, an engine flywheel housing (36), an engine flywheel (38) in said flywheel housing (36), a transmission input shaft (32), a clutch hub (66) splined to said input shaft, a clutch cover (50) having a sleeve portion (86) operatively connected with said clutch hub, a clutch throw-out collar (84), an annular clutch piston (92) operably engaging said throw-out collar for displacement of said collar, interengaging clutch disc means (74,76) operatively connected with said clutch hub and said flywheel, a pressure plate (78) operatively engageable with said clutch plates, levers (80) pivotally connected to said clutch cover (50) and pivotal through movement of said throw-out collar (84) to frictionally interengage said plates, concentric springs (88A,88B) interposed between said clutch cover (50) and said throw-out collar (84), said throw-out collar (84) bearing against the inner ends (80B) of said levers (80), said concentric springs providing plate load on the clutch by pressing between the cover (50) and throw-out collar (84) when the clutch is functionally operating, said concentric springs (88) being compressed when said clutch is released, thereby relieving load on said levers, and tension springs (90) interconnected between the pressure plate and the clutch plates, including an annular clutch piston (92) movably engageable with bearings (94) for said throw-out collar (84), pressure means applicable to said clutch piston for movement thereof, said clutch piston serving, upon movement, to move said collar toward said flywheel to cause clutch disengagement, said clutch hub (66) having a rearward faced conical nose (104) thereon, a clutch brake including a conical nose portion (102) engageable with said conical nose portion (104) on said hub, said clutch brake being operatively associated with said clutch piston (92) and movable therewith for bringing into engagement with two conical shaped portions, and wherein movement of said piston a sufficient distance to disengage said clutch and contact said conical nose portions serves for applying a braking action to slow rotation of the clutch output members to aid in shifting gears within a transmission, a retarder flow circuit outlet cavity for receiving fluid from said circuit, said sump (58) having an opening (150) and a space with a valve seat (144) through which the retarder outlet cavity is connected, air pressure admitting port means (146) to said sump (58), and pressure regulating control means for controlling admission of pressurized air connected to said port (146) operable to cause oil to be admitted through the seat and into the cavity (128) from which it can enter directly into the retarder or through the cooler and thence into the retarder, an increase of oil quantity in said retarder operating to increase pressure in said circuit (118) and therefore at the exit port until static equilibrium is produced between the pressure in said cavity and the pressure in the sump, control of sump pressure for any given engine speed maintaining a particular level of braking capability.

Claim 26

A hydrodynamic retarding brake and oil cooled driveline clutch system comprising, a housing (22) operably containing said clutch (72), an oil sump (58) in said housing, said retarding brake including a retarder impeller (52), said clutch and said impeller being integral and portions thereof being conjointly rotatable, a clutch cooling oil circuit, said impeller upon rotation supplying a flow of cooling oil to and through said clutch, a retarder flow circuit (118), said impeller being operable to impel oil through said cooling oil circuit for clutch and retarder cooling and through said retarder circuit to increase or decrease the amount of retardation, said housing (22) constituting a multi-function housing, an engine flywheel housing (36), an engine flywheel (38) in said flywheel housing (36), a transmission input shaft (32), a clutch hub (66) splined to said input shaft, a clutch cover (50) having a sleeve portion (86) operatively connected with said clutch hub, a clutch throw-out collar (84), an annular clutch piston (92) operably engaging said throw-out collar for displacement of said collar, interengaging clutch disc means (74,76) operatively connected with said clutch hub and said flywheel, a pressure plate (78) operatively engageable with said clutch plates, levers (80) pivotally connected to said clutch cover (50) and pivotal through movement of said throw-out collar (84) to frictionally interengage said plates, concentric springs (88A,88B) interposed between said clutch cover (50) and said throw-out collar (84), said throw-out collar (84) bearing against the inner ends (80B) of said levers (80), said concentric springs providing plate load on the clutch by pressing between the cover (50) and throw-out collar (84) when the clutch is functionally operating, said concentric springs (88) being compressed when said clutch is released, thereby relieving load on said levers, and tension springs (90) interconnected between the pressure plate and the clutch plates, including an annular clutch piston (92) movably engageable with bearings (94) for said throw-out collar (84), pressure means applicable to said clutch piston for movement thereof, said clutch piston serving, upon movement, to move said collar toward said flywheel to cause clutch disengagement, said clutch hub (66) having a rearward faced conical nose (104) thereon, a clutch brake including a conical nose portion (102) engageable with said conical nose portion (104) on said hub, said clutch brake being operatively associated with said clutch piston (92) and movable therewith for bringing into engagement with two conical shaped portions, and wherein movement of said piston a sufficient distance to disengage said clutch and contact said conical nose portions serves for applying a braking action to slow rotation of the clutch output members to aid in shifting gears within a transmission, a retarder flow circuit outlet cavity for receiving fluid from said circuit, said sump (58) having an opening (150) and a space with a valve seat (144) through which the retarder outlet cavity is connected, air pressure admitting port means (146) to said sump (58), and pressure regulating control means for controlling admission of pressurized air connected to said port (146) operable to cause oil to be admitted through the seat and into the cavity (128) from which it can enter directly into the retarder or through the cooler and thence into the retarder, an increase of oil quantity in said retarder operating to increase pressure in said circuit (118) and therefore at the exit port until static equilibrium is produced between the pressure in said cavity and the pressure in the sump, control of sump pressure for any given engine speed maintaining a particular level of braking capability.

Claim 27

A hydrodynamic retarding brake and oil cooled driveline clutch system operatively connected to a driven engine comprising, a housing (22) operably containing said clutch (72), an oil sump (58) in said housing, said retarding brake including a retarder impeller (52), said clutch and said impeller being integral and portions thereof being conjointly rotatable, a clutch cooling oil circuit, said impeller upon rotation applying a flow of cooling oil to and through said clutch, a retarder flow circuit (118), said impeller being operable to impel oil through said cooling oil circuit for clutch and retarder cooling, and through said retarder circuit to increase or decrease the amount of retardation, a retarder flow circuit (118) outlet cavity (128) for receiving fluid from said circuit, said sump (58) having an opening (150) and a space with a valve seat (144) through which the retarder outlet cavity is connected, air pressure admitting port means (146) to said sump (58), and pressure regulating control means for controlling admission of pressurized air connected to said port (146) operable to cause oil to be admitted through the seat and into the cavity (128) from which it can enter directly into the retarder or through the cooler and thence into the retarder, an increase of oil quantity in said retarder operating to increase pressure in said circuit (118) and therefore at the exit port until static equilibrium is produced between the pressure in said cavity and the pressure in the sump, control of sump pressure for any given engine speed maintaining a particular level of braking capability.

Claim 28

A hydrodynamic retarding brake and oil cooled driveline clutch system operatively connected to a driven engine comprising, a housing (22) operably containing said clutch (72), an oil sump (58) in said housing, said retarding brake including a retarder impeller (52), said clutch and said impeller being integral and portions thereof being conjointly rotatable, a clutch cooling oil circuit, said impeller upon rotation applying a flow of cooling oil to and through said clutch, a retarder flow circuit (118), said impeller being operable to impel oil through said cooling oil circuit for clutch and retarder cooling, and through said retarder circuit to increase or decrease the amount of retardation, a retarder flow circuit (118) outlet cavity (128) for receiving fluid from said circuit, said sump (58) having an opening (150) and a space with a valve seat (144) through which the retarder outlet cavity is connected, air pressure admitting port means (146) to said sump (58), and pressure regulating control means for controlling admission of pressurized air connected to said port (146) operable to cause oil to be admitted through the seat and into the cavity (128) from which it can enter directly into the retarder or through the cooler and thence into the retarder, an increase of oil quantity in said retarder operating to increase pressure in said circuit (118) and therefore at the exit port until static equilibrium is produced between the pressure in said cavity and the pressure in the sump, control of sump pressure for any given engine speed maintaining a particular level of braking capability.

Claim 29

A system as claimed in claim 22 including a float valve (148) contactable with said seat (144) for shutting off escape of air from the sump (58) a drain plug (156) having drilled passages therein in said space proximate said seat (144) and serving to maintain said seat in position, said system, is pressurized during non-rotation of the engine and retarder, allowing oil expellation into said retarder system only to a point wherein the oil level drops to where said float shuts off further flow.