US4706520A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two speed accessory transmission with optional neutral mode
Assignee: G E MACHINE TOOL Ltd A CORP OF ONTARIO CANADA
•
Filing: 1985-12-17
•
Granted: 1987-11-17
•
Expires: 2005-12-17
Abstract
Abstract An accessory transmission for an automotive vehicle comprises a planetary gear set, a fixed cover and a cone clutch engageable with the ring gear of the planetary gear set or the cover to provide a direct drive or underdrive gear ratio in one embodiment, or a direct drive and overdrive gear ratio in another embodiment. The principles of the invention may also be applied to an embodiment wherein the ring gear rotation is governed by a one way clutch as well as the cone clutch to provide both underdrive and overdrive transmissions.
Inventors
- 👤 Ramalingam Sivalingam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:32
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H1/00; F16H1/28; F02; F02B; F02B67/00; F16H3/00; F16H3/44; F16H3/46; F16H3/48; F16H3/52; F16H3/54; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19637
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
An underdrive accessory transmission associated with an engine, comprising: a planetary gear set comprising a sun gear having an integrally formed shaft, a plurality of planet gears positioned about and drivingly engaging the sun gear, a planet gear carrier, and a ring gear positioned about and drivingly engaging the planet gears, wherein said ring gear provides rotational input to the transmission from the engine; a fixed cover for the transmission; cone clutch slidably affixed on the shaft of the sun gear and being capable of axial movement along the shaft, the clutch having frustoconical working surfaces engageable with compatible surfaces of either the ring gear or the cover; means for sliding the cone clutch axially along the shaft of the sun gear; an output shaft, the planet gear carrier being affixed about the output shaft; and a one way clutch and support bearing being positioned between the sun gear and the output shaft, the clutch allowing the output shaft to rotate only in the direction of engine rotation, wherein the cone clutch provides a direct drive from the engine to the output shaft when it is engaged with the ring gear, the cone clutch provides a neutral mode of operation when it is disengaged from both the ring gear and the transmission cover, and the cone clutch provides an underdrive to the output shaft when it is engaged with the cover.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
An underdrive accessory transmission associated with an engine, comprising: a planetary gear set comprising a sun gear having an integrally formed shaft, a plurality of planet gears positioned about and drivingly engaging the sun gear, a planet gear carrier, and a ring gear positioned about and drivingly engaging the planet gears, wherein said ring gear provides rotational input to the transmission from the engine; a fixed cover for the transmission; cone clutch slidably affixed on the shaft of the sun gear and being capable of axial movement along the shaft, the clutch having frustoconical working surfaces engageable with compatible surfaces of either the ring gear or the cover; means for sliding the cone clutch axially along the shaft of the sun gear; an output shaft, the planet gear carrier being affixed about the output shaft; and a one way clutch and support bearing being positioned between the sun gear and the output shaft, the clutch allowing the output shaft to rotate only in the direction of engine rotation, wherein the cone clutch provides a direct drive from the engine to the output shaft when it is engaged with the ring gear, the cone clutch provides a neutral mode of operation when it is disengaged from both the ring gear and the transmission cover, and the cone clutch provides an underdrive to the output shaft when it is engaged with the cover.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a first portion supported about the output shaft by a bearing, and a second portion affixed to the first portion and being supported about the ring gear by a bearing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for sliding the cone clutch comprise a spring positioned between the sun gear and cone clutch for biasing the clutch toward engagement with the cover, and an actuator having a thrust bearing positioned in opposition to said spring, the thrust bearing being capable of sliding the clutch into firm engagement with the ring gear in opposition to the spring force.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 3, wherein the actuator is hydraulic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 3, wherein the actuator is electromechanical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring gear is supported about the output shaft by a bearing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 1, further comprising thrust washers positioned at each end of each planet gear to restrict the axial movement thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
245 words
An underdrive accessory transmission associated with an engine, comprising: a planetary gear set comprising a sun gear having an integrally formed shaft, a plurality of planet gears positioned about and drivingly engaging the sun gear, a planet gear carrier, and a ring gear positioned about and drivingly engaging the planet gears, wherein said ring gear provides rotational input to the transmission from the engine; a fixed cover for the transmission; a cone clutch slidably affixed on the shaft of the sun gear and being capable of axial movement along the shaft, the clutch having frustoconical working surfaces engageable with compatible surfaces of either the ring gear or the cover; means for sliding the cone clutch axially along the shaft of the sun gear; an output shaft, the planet gear carrier being affixed about the output shaft, and the sun gear being supported by a bearing about the output shaft; and a one way clutch and support bearings being positioned between the ring gear and the output shaft, the clutch allowing the output shaft to rotate only in the direction of engine rotation, wherein the cone clutch provides a direct drive from the engine to the output shaft when it is engaged with the ring gear, the cone clutch provides a neutral mode of operation when it is disengaged from both the ring gear and the transmission cover, and the cone clutch provides an underdrive to the output shaft when it is engaged with the cover.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
245 words
An underdrive accessory transmission associated with an engine, comprising: a planetary gear set comprising a sun gear having an integrally formed shaft, a plurality of planet gears positioned about and drivingly engaging the sun gear, a planet gear carrier, and a ring gear positioned about and drivingly engaging the planet gears, wherein said ring gear provides rotational input to the transmission from the engine; a fixed cover for the transmission; a cone clutch slidably affixed on the shaft of the sun gear and being capable of axial movement along the shaft, the clutch having frustoconical working surfaces engageable with compatible surfaces of either the ring gear or the cover; means for sliding the cone clutch axially along the shaft of the sun gear; an output shaft, the planet gear carrier being affixed about the output shaft, and the sun gear being supported by a bearing about the output shaft; and a one way clutch and support bearings being positioned between the ring gear and the output shaft, the clutch allowing the output shaft to rotate only in the direction of engine rotation, wherein the cone clutch provides a direct drive from the engine to the output shaft when it is engaged with the ring gear, the cone clutch provides a neutral mode of operation when it is disengaged from both the ring gear and the transmission cover, and the cone clutch provides an underdrive to the output shaft when it is engaged with the cover.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cover comprises a first portion supported about the output shaft by a bearing, and a second portion affixed to the first portion and being supported about the ring gear by a bearing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for sliding the cone clutch comprise a spring positioned between the sun gear and cone clutch for biasing the clutch toward engagement with the cover, and an actuator having a thrust bearing positioned in opposition to said spring, the thrust bearing being capable of sliding the clutch into firm engagement with the ring gear in opposition to the spring force.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 8, further comprising thrust washers positioned at each end of each planet gear to restrict the axial movement thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 10, wherein the actuator is hydraulic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
A transmission as claimed in claim 10, wherein the actuator is electromechanical.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US303513A
Cited
US662306A
Cited
US1170980A
Cited
US2169523A
Cited
US2510469A
Cited
US2654269A
Cited
US2981122A
Cited
US2995954A
Cited
US2950795A
Cited
US3182528A
Cited
US4403526A
Cited
US4368650A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-11-16 | 1991-05-18 | 1991-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-16 | 1995-05-18 | 1995-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-16 | 1999-05-18 | 1999-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |