Transmission

Claim 2

An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; an engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including an outer race; an engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said engagement inner including an inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said outer race; wedging elements between said inner race and said outer race; a cage between said inner race and said outer race, said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively couple said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements; an actuator longitudinally slidable and angularly fixed in said hollow shaft and including a first slot extending longitudinally of said hollow shaft, said first slot having a lateral notch extending to either side thereof, said lateral notches being mutually aligned and each being defined through at least a portion of the length thereof by two parallel sides extending perpendicularly of said hollow shaft; a member extending from said first slot of said actuator to said cage and being fixed relative to said cage; a driver to control the longitudinal position of said actuator in said hollow shaft.

Claim 3

The engagement mechanism of claim 1 wherein said actuator is a hollow cylinder concentrically arranged in said hollow shaft and further includes a second slot diametrically opposed to said first slot and substantially identical therewith, said member extending through both said first and said second slots and being fixed to said cage at diametrical positions thereof.

Claim 4

The engagement mechanism of claim 2 wherein said member is a pin including a first concentric bearing in said first slot and a second concentric bearing in said second slot.

Claim 5

The engagement mechanism of claim 3 wherein said concentric bearings are collars rotatably mounted to said pin.

Claim 6

The engagement mechanism of claim 1 wherein said member and said first slot are constructed and arranged such that said member is angularly fixed in said first slot except at said lateral notch.

Claim 7

The engagement mechanism of claim 1 wherein said member extends through said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft having an angularly extending hole through which said member extends.

Claim 8

An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; an engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including an outer race; an engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said engagement inner including an inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said outer race; wedging elements between said inner race and said outer race; a cage between said inner race and said outer race, said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively couple said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements; an actuator longitudinally slidable and angularly fixed in said hollow shaft and including a first slot and a neutral slot, each extending longitudinally of said hollow shaft, said first slot having a lateral notch extending to either side thereof, said lateral notches being mutually aligned and each being defined through at least a portion of the length thereof by two parallel sides extending perpendicularly of said hollow shaft; a member extending from said first slot of said actuator to said cage and being fixed relative to said cage, said hollow shaft having an angularly extending hole through which said member extends, a neutral member extending from said neutral slot to said hollow shaft and being angularly fixed relative to said hollow shaft; a driver to control the longitudinal position of said actuator in said hollow shaft.

Claim 9

An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; an engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including an outer race; an engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said engagement inner including an inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said outer race; wedging elements between said inner race and said outer race; a cage between said inner race and said outer race, said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively couple said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements; an actuator longitudinally slidable and angularly fixed in said hollow shaft and including a first slot and a neutral slot, each extending longitudinally of said hollow shaft, said first slot having a lateral notch extending to either side thereof, said lateral notches being mutually aligned and each being defined through at least a portion of the length thereof by two parallel sides extending perpendicularly of said hollow shaft; a member extending from said first slot of said actuator to said cage and being fixed relative to said cage, said hollow shaft having an angularly extending hole through which said member extends, a neutral member extending from said neutral slot to said hollow shaft and being angularly fixed relative to said hollow shaft; a driver to control the longitudinal position of said actuator in said hollow shaft.

Claim 10

The engagement mechanism of claim 7 wherein said neutral slot is an extension of said first slot.

Claim 11

The engagement mechanism of claim 7 wherein said actuator is a hollow cylinder concentrically arranged in said hollow shaft and further includes a second slot diametrically opposed to said first slot and substantially identical therewith, said member extending through both said first and said second slots and being fixed to said cage at diametrical positions thereof and a second neutral slot diametrically opposed to said first neutral slot and substantially identical therewith, said neutral member extending through both said first and said second neutral slots and being fixed to said hollow shaft at diametrical positions thereof.

Claim 12

The engagement mechanism of claim 9 wherein said member and said neutral member are pins including concentric bearings in said slots.

Claim 13

The engagement mechanism of claim 10 wherein said concentric bearings are collars rotatably mounted to said pins.

Claim 14

The engagement mechanism of claim 7 wherein said member and said first slot are constructed and arranged such that said member is angularly fixed in said first slot except at said lateral notch said neutral member and said neutral slot are constructed and arranged such that said neutral member is angularly fixed in said neutral slot.

Claim 15

An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; an engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including an outer race; an engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said engagement inner including an inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said outer race; wedging element between said inner race and said outer race; a cage between said inner race and said outer race, said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively couple said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements; an actuator longitudinally slidable and angularly fixed in said hollow shaft and including a first slot extending longitudinally of said hollow shaft, said first slot having a lateral notch extending to either side thereof, said lateral notches being mutually aligned and each being defined through at least a portion of the length thereof by two parallel sides extending perpendicularly of said hollow shaft; a member extending from said first slot of said actuator to said cage and being fixed relative to said cage; a driver to control the longitudinal position of said actuator in said hollow shaft and including a rack fixed to said actuator, a pinion engaged with said rack and a motor having a drive shaft to which said pinion is mounted, said motor being fixed longitudinally of said hollow shaft.

Claim 16

An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; an engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including an outer race; an engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said engagement inner including an inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said outer race; wedging element between said inner race and said outer race; a cage between said inner race and said outer race, said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively couple said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements; an actuator longitudinally slidable and angularly fixed in said hollow shaft and including a first slot extending longitudinally of said hollow shaft, said first slot having a lateral notch extending to either side thereof, said lateral notches being mutually aligned and each being defined through at least a portion of the length thereof by two parallel sides extending perpendicularly of said hollow shaft; a member extending from said first slot of said actuator to said cage and being fixed relative to said cage; a driver to control the longitudinal position of said actuator in said hollow shaft and including a rack fixed to said actuator, a pinion engaged with said rack and a motor having a drive shaft to which said pinion is mounted, said motor being fixed longitudinally of said hollow shaft.

Claim 17

The engagement mechanism of claim 13 wherein said motor is a servo motor.

Claim 18

The engagement mechanism of claim 13 wherein said driver further includes a potentiometer coupled to said shaft for measuring the position of said hallow shaft.

Claim 19

The engagement mechanism of claim 13 wherein said actuator is a hollow cylinder concentrically arranged in said hollow shaft and further includes a second slot diametrically opposed to said first slot and substantially identical therewith, said member extending through both said first and said second slots and being fixed to said cage at diametrical positions thereof.

Claim 20

An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; an engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including an outer race; an engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said engagement inner including an inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said outer race; wedging elements between said inner race and said outer race; a cage between said inner race and said outer race, said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively couple said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements; a hollow cylinder concentrically arranged, longitudinally slidable and angularly fixed in said hollow shaft and including a first slot and a neutral slot, each extending longitudinally of said hollow shaft, said first slot having a lateral notch extending to either side thereof, said lateral notches being mutually aligned and each being defined through at least a portion of the length thereof by two parallel sides extending perpendicularly of said hollow shaft, a second diametrically opposed to said first slot and substantially identical therewith and a second neutral slot diametrically opposed to said first neutral slot and substantially identical therewith; a member extending through both said first and said second slots and being fixed to said cage at diametrical positions thereof, said hollow shaft having an angularly extending hole through which said member extends; a neutral member extending through both said first and said second neutral slots and being fixed to said hollow shaft at diametrical positions thereof; a driver to control the longitudinal position of said hollow cylinder in said hollow shaft and including a rack fixed to said hollow cylinder, a pinion engaged with said rack, a motor having a drive shaft to which said pinion is mounted, said motor being fixed longitudinally of said hollow shaft, and a potentiometer coupled to said shaft for measuring the position of said hollow shaft.

Claim 21

An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; an engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including an outer race; an engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said engagement inner including an inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said outer race; wedging elements between said inner race and said outer race; a cage between said inner race and said outer race, said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively couple said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements; a hollow cylinder concentrically arranged, longitudinally slidable and angularly fixed in said hollow shaft and including a first slot and a neutral slot, each extending longitudinally of said hollow shaft, said first slot having a lateral notch extending to either side thereof, said lateral notches being mutually aligned and each being defined through at least a portion of the length thereof by two parallel sides extending perpendicularly of said hollow shaft, a second diametrically opposed to said first slot and substantially identical therewith and a second neutral slot diametrically opposed to said first neutral slot and substantially identical therewith; a member extending through both said first and said second slots and being fixed to said cage at diametrical positions thereof, said hollow shaft having an angularly extending hole through which said member extends; a neutral member extending through both said first and said second neutral slots and being fixed to said hollow shaft at diametrical positions thereof; a driver to control the longitudinal position of said hollow cylinder in said hollow shaft and including a rack fixed to said hollow cylinder, a pinion engaged with said rack, a motor having a drive shaft to which said pinion is mounted, said motor being fixed longitudinally of said hollow shaft, and a potentiometer coupled to said shaft for measuring the position of said hollow shaft.

Claim 22

An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; a first engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including a first outer race; a second engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including a second outer race; a first engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said first engagement inner including a first inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said first outer race; a second engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said second engagement inner including a second inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said second outer race; wedging elements between said inner races and said outer races, respectively; a cage between each said inner race and each said outer race, each said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively coupled the associated said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements; an actuator longitudinally slidable and angularly fixed in said hollow shaft and including a first slot extending longitudinally of said hollow shaft, said first slot having a lateral notch extending to either side thereof, said lateral notches being mutually aligned and each being defined through at least a portion of the length thereof by two parallel sides extending perpendicularly of said hollow shaft; first and second members extending from said first slot of said actuator to said cages, respectively, and being fixed relative to said cages, respectively; a shift member to control the longitudinal position of said actuator in said hollow shaft.

Claim 23

An engagement mechanism comprising a hollow shaft; a first engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including a first outer race; a second engagement outer rotatably mounted about said shaft and including a second outer race; a first engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said first engagement inner including a first inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said first outer race; a second engagement inner about said hollow shaft and angularly fixed relative thereto, said second engagement inner including a second inner race having cam surfaces inclined relative to said second outer race; wedging elements between said inner races and said outer races, respectively; a cage between each said inner race and each said outer race, each said cage retaining said wedging elements and being angularly movable relative to said cam surfaces to selectively coupled the associated said engagement outer and said engagement inner through said wedging elements; an actuator longitudinally slidable and angularly fixed in said hollow shaft and including a first slot extending longitudinally of said hollow shaft, said first slot having a lateral notch extending to either side thereof, said lateral notches being mutually aligned and each being defined through at least a portion of the length thereof by two parallel sides extending perpendicularly of said hollow shaft; first and second members extending from said first slot of said actuator to said cages, respectively, and being fixed relative to said cages, respectively; a shift member to control the longitudinal position of said actuator in said hollow shaft.