Multiple speed drive system

Claim 2

An oil shear clutch-brake unit including a housing adapted to contain a supply of oil, an input drive member and an output drive member supported for rotation within said housing on a common axis, means including a series of interfitting clutch plates and discs within said housing and arranged for selectively coupling said input drive member to said output drive member, means including a series of interfitting brake plates and discs within said housing and arranged for selectively braking said output drive member relatively to said housing, actuating means including a first non-rotating piston supported within said housing and movable axially between a clutch engaging position clamping said clutch plates and discs together and a brake engaging position clamping said brake plates and discs together and through a neutral position, said actuating means further including a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially extending compression springs urging said first piston axially toward said brake engaging position, a second non-rotating piston disposed within said housing axially of said first piston, means responsive to movement of said second piston and forming a stop for positioning said first piston in said neutral position, and means for circulating oil within said housing outwardly between said clutch plates and discs and said brake plates and discs.

Claim 3

A clutch-brake unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said means forming a stop comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins extending axially between said first piston and said second piston, and a compression spring surrounding each said pin and urging said pin towards a position forming said stop.

Claim 4

A multiple speed drive system comprising a first electric motor having a motor shaft with opposite first and second end portions, said second end portion being the output of said drive system, an oil shear clutch-brake unit including a housing adapted to contain a supply of oil, said unit further including an input drive member and an output drive member supported for rotation on a common axis, means including a series of interfitting clutch plates and discs within said housing and arranged for selectively coupling said input drive member to said output drive member, means including a series of interfitting brake plates and discs within said housing and arranged for selectively braking said output drive member relatively to said housing, actuating means including a non-rotating actuating member supported within said housing and movable axially between a clutch engaging position clamping said clutch plates and discs together and a brake engaging position clamping said brake plates and discs together and through a neutral position, said actuating means being effective to hold said actuating member in said neutral position and further including plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially extending compression springs urging said actuating member axially in a direction toward said neutral position and said brake engaging position, means connecting said output drive member of said clutch-brake unit to said first end portion of said shaft of said first electric motor, a second electric motor having a motor shaft, a gear reducer connecting said motor shaft of said second electric motor to said input drive member of said clutch-brake unit, and means for circulating oil within said housing outwardly between said clutch plates and discs and said brake plates and discs.

Claim 5

A multiple speed drive system comprising a first electric motor having a motor shaft with opposite first and second end portions, said second end portion being the output of said drive system, an oil shear clutch-brake unit including a housing adapted to contain a supply of oil, said unit further including an input drive member and an output drive member supported for rotation on a common axis, means including a series of interfitting clutch plates and discs within said housing and arranged for selectively coupling said input drive member to said output drive member, means including a series of interfitting brake plates and discs within said housing and arranged for selectively braking said output drive member relatively to said housing, actuating means including a non-rotating actuating member supported within said housing and movable axially between a clutch engaging position clamping said clutch plates and discs together and a brake engaging position clamping said brake plates and discs together and through a neutral position, said actuating means being effective to hold said actuating member in said neutral position and further including plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially extending compression springs urging said actuating member axially in a direction toward said neutral position and said brake engaging position, means connecting said output drive member of said clutch-brake unit to said first end portion of said shaft of said first electric motor, a second electric motor having a motor shaft, a gear reducer connecting said motor shaft of said second electric motor to said input drive member of said clutch-brake unit, and means for circulating oil within said housing outwardly between said clutch plates and discs and said brake plates and discs.

Claim 6

A drive system as defined in claim 3 wherein said actuating member comprises a fluid activated annular piston disposed within said housing of said clutch-brake unit, and means for holding said piston in said neutral position.

Claim 7

A drive system as defined in claim 3 wherein said actuating means further comprise a non-rotating annular piston disposed within said housing axially from said actuating member.

Claim 8

A drive system as defined in claim 5 wherein said actuating means further comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins extending axially between said piston and said actuating member, and said pins are effective to form a stop for said actuating member in said neutral position when said piston is pressurized.

Claim 9

A drive system as defined in claim 6 and including a compression spring surrounding each said pin and urging said pin towards a position forming said stop.

Claim 10

A drive system as defined in claim 3 and including means for providing adjustable fluid pressure against said actuating member for supplementing said spring means in urging said actuating member towards said brake engaging position.

Claim 11

A drive system as defined in claim 5 and including means responsive to movement of said piston and forming a stop for positioning said actuating member in said neutral position.

Claim 12

A multiple speed motor drive system comprising a first electric motor having a motor shaft with opposite first and second end portions, said second end portion being the output of said drive system, an oil shear clutch-brake unit including a housing adapted to contain a supply of oil, said unit further including an input drive member and an output drive member supported for rotation on a common axis, means including a series of interfitting clutch plates and discs within said housing and arranged for selectively coupling said input drive member to said output drive member, means including a series of interfitting brake plates and discs within said housing and arranged for selectively braking said output drive member relatively to said housing, actuating means including a first non-rotating annular piston supported within said housing and movable axially between a clutch engaging position clamping said clutch plates and discs together and a brake engaging position clamping said brake plates and discs together and through a neutral position, said actuating means being effective to hold said piston in said neutral position and further including a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially extending compression springs urging said piston axially in a direction toward said neutral position and said brake engaging position, means connecting said output drive member of said clutch-brake unit to said first end portion of said shaft of said first electric motor, a second electric motor having a motor shaft, a gear reducer connecting said motor shaft of said second electric motor to said input drive member of said clutch-brake unit, and means for circulating oil within said housing outwardly between said clutch plates and discs and said brake plates and discs.

Claim 13

A multiple speed motor drive system comprising a first electric motor having a motor shaft with opposite first and second end portions, said second end portion being the output of said drive system, an oil shear clutch-brake unit including a housing adapted to contain a supply of oil, said unit further including an input drive member and an output drive member supported for rotation on a common axis, means including a series of interfitting clutch plates and discs within said housing and arranged for selectively coupling said input drive member to said output drive member, means including a series of interfitting brake plates and discs within said housing and arranged for selectively braking said output drive member relatively to said housing, actuating means including a first non-rotating annular piston supported within said housing and movable axially between a clutch engaging position clamping said clutch plates and discs together and a brake engaging position clamping said brake plates and discs together and through a neutral position, said actuating means being effective to hold said piston in said neutral position and further including a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially extending compression springs urging said piston axially in a direction toward said neutral position and said brake engaging position, means connecting said output drive member of said clutch-brake unit to said first end portion of said shaft of said first electric motor, a second electric motor having a motor shaft, a gear reducer connecting said motor shaft of said second electric motor to said input drive member of said clutch-brake unit, and means for circulating oil within said housing outwardly between said clutch plates and discs and said brake plates and discs.

Claim 14

A drive system as defined in claim 10 and including means for variably pressurizing said actuating member for axial movement in a direction toward said brake engaging position to provide for supplementing said springs and varying the braking torque applied to said output drive member.

Claim 15

A drive system as defined in claim 10 wherein said actuating means further comprise a second non-rotating annular piston disposed within said housing axially from said first non-rotating piston.

Claim 16

A drive system as defined in claim 12 wherein said actuating means further comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins extending axially between said second piston and said first piston, and said pins are effective to form a stop for said first piston in said neutral position when said seocnd piston is pressurized.

Claim 17

A drive system as defined in claim 13 and including a compression spring surrounding each said pin and urging said pin towards a position forming said stop.