Countershaft transmission

Claim 2

In a countershaft transmission of the type having an input shaft with first and second gears connected for joint rotation therewith, first and second countershafts, an output shaft, a third gear connected for joint rotation with the first countershaft, a fourth gear mounted for free rotation on the first countershaft and intermeshed with the first gear, a first directional clutch having an engaged position for selectively connecting the fourth gear to the first countershaft for joint rotation, a fifth gear connected for joint rotation with the second countershaft and intermeshed with the third gear, a sixth gear mounted for free rotation on the second countershaft and intermeshed with the second gear, and a second directional clutch having an engaged position for selectively connecting the sixth gear to the second countershaft for joint rotation, the improvement comprising: the first and second gears respectively defining first and second midplanes normal to the input shaft; and speed means including a plurality of speed clutches operationally associated with the second countershaft and the output shaft for providing a plurality of speeds of the output shaft when one of the first and second directional clutches is in the engaged position, the directional clutches and the speed clutches being located axially between the midplanes in generally radially aligned relationships and the third and fifth gears being located axially exteriorly of the midplanes for maximum compactness and being independent of the speed means for speed reduction ratio flexibility.

Claim 3

The countershaft transmission of claim 1 wherein the input shaft is located at an upper elevation, the output shaft is located at a lower elevation, and the countershafts are located elevationally between the input and output shafts.

Claim 4

The countershaft transmission of claim 1 wherein the input shaft is elevationally above the output shaft and on a common vertical plane therewith.

Claim 5

The countershaft transmission of claim 1 wherein the plurality of speed clutches includes a first speed clutch located on the output shaft.

Claim 6

The countershaft transmission of claim 4 wherein the plurality of speed clutches includes a second speed clutch located on the second countershaft.

Claim 7

The countershaft transmission of claim 5 wherein the plurality of speed clutches includes a third speed clutch located on the output shaft in back-to-back relation with the first speed clutch.

Claim 8

The countershaft transmission of claim 1 wherein the speed means includes a seventh gear connected for joint rotation with the second countershaft, an eighth gear mounted for free rotation on the second countershaft, a ninth gear connected for joint rotation with the second countershaft, a tenth gear mounted for free rotation on the output shaft, an eleventh gear connected for joint rotation with the output shaft, and a twelfth gear mounted for free rotation on the output shaft, the seventh and tenth gears being intermeshed, the eighth and eleventh gears being intermeshed, and the ninth and twelfth gears being intermeshed.

Claim 9

The countershaft transmission of claim 7 wherein the plurality of speed clutches includes a first speed clutch, a second speed clutch, and a third speed clutch respectively connecting the twelfth gear to the output shaft, the eighth gear to the second countershaft, and the tenth gear to the output shaft when engaged.

Claim 10

The countershaft transmission of claim 8 wherein the ninth and twelfth gears are located axially exteriorly of the midplanes oppositely away from the third and fifth gears.

Claim 11

The countershaft transmission of claim 1 including another gear mounted for free rotation on the first countershaft and intermeshed with the second gear, and another directional clutch for selectively connecting the another gear to the first countershaft.

Claim 12

The countershaft transmission of claim 1 wherein each of the directional clutches and each of the plurality of speed clutches is of the fluid actuated disc type and includes a plurality of interleaved plates and discs.

Claim 13

The countershaft transmission of claim 11 wherein the second directional clutch and one of the plurality of speed clutches are arranged in back-to-back relation.

Claim 14

The countershaft transmission of claim 12 wherein the plurality of speed clutches includes a first speed clutch and a third speed clutch arranged in back-to-back relation.

Claim 15

A countershaft transmission comprising: an input shaft having first and second gears connected for joint rotation therewith and respectively defining first and second midplanes normal to the input shaft; a first countershaft having a third gear connected for joint rotation therewith, a fourth gear intermeshed with the first gear and being mounted for free rotation thereon, and a first directional clutch for selectively connecting the fourth gear to the first countershaft; a second countershaft having a fifth gear intermeshed with the third gear and being connected for joint rotation therewith, a sixth gear intermeshed with the second gear and being mounted for free rotation thereon, a second directional clutch for selectively connecting the sixth gear thereto, a seventh gear connected for joint rotation therewith, an eighth gear mounted for free rotation thereon, a second speed clutch for selectively connecting the eighth gear thereto, and a ninth gear connected for joint rotation therewith; and an output shaft having a tenth gear intermeshed with the seventh gear and being mounted for free rotation thereon, a third speed clutch for selectively connecting the tenth gear thereto, an eleventh gear intermeshed with the eighth gear and being connected for joint rotation therewith, a twelfth gear intermeshed with the ninth gear and being mounted for free rotation thereon, and a first speed clutch for selectively connecting the twelfth gear thereto, the third and fifth gears being disposed axially exteriorly of the midplanes and being independent of the remaining gears, the ninth and twelfth gears being located axially exteriorly of the midplanes, and all of the clutches being located axially between the midplanes.

Claim 16

A countershaft transmission comprising: an input shaft having first and second gears connected for joint rotation therewith and respectively defining first and second midplanes normal to the input shaft; a first countershaft having a third gear connected for joint rotation therewith, a fourth gear intermeshed with the first gear and being mounted for free rotation thereon, and a first directional clutch for selectively connecting the fourth gear to the first countershaft; a second countershaft having a fifth gear intermeshed with the third gear and being connected for joint rotation therewith, a sixth gear intermeshed with the second gear and being mounted for free rotation thereon, a second directional clutch for selectively connecting the sixth gear thereto, a seventh gear connected for joint rotation therewith, an eighth gear mounted for free rotation thereon, a second speed clutch for selectively connecting the eighth gear thereto, and a ninth gear connected for joint rotation therewith; and an output shaft having a tenth gear intermeshed with the seventh gear and being mounted for free rotation thereon, a third speed clutch for selectively connecting the tenth gear thereto, an eleventh gear intermeshed with the eighth gear and being connected for joint rotation therewith, a twelfth gear intermeshed with the ninth gear and being mounted for free rotation thereon, and a first speed clutch for selectively connecting the twelfth gear thereto, the third and fifth gears being disposed axially exteriorly of the midplanes and being independent of the remaining gears, the ninth and twelfth gears being located axially exteriorly of the midplanes, and all of the clutches being located axially between the midplanes.

Claim 17

The countershaft transmission of claim 14 wherein all of the clutches are hydraulically actuated and have a plurality of interleaved plates and discs.

Claim 18

The countershaft transmission of claim 15 including another gear mounted for free rotation on the first countershaft and intermeshed with the second gear, and another directional clutch for selectively connecting the another gear to the first countershaft.