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US 12,352,339 B2Granted
SIVRT geartrain
AssigneeMichael Lee Starkey
InventorsMichael Lee Starkey, Robert Eugene Arnot
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The SIVRT disclosed includes a unique, ordered geartrain; it allows a large-continuous range of input:output velocity ratios (forward or reverse). This range is controlled by fluid-coupled gearsets which direct the power flow to the output shaft. The SIVRT requires no torque converter or friction clutches and has been designed for fully-loaded work machines which must operate reliably at creep speeds for extended periods with 1-3 stop-reverse-stop-forward operations every minute of the workshift. The “clutchless” Vformer system disclosed herein provides a robust, heavy-duty, continuously-variable mechanical transmission especially designed and scaled for applications in vehicles and working machines which operate at creep speeds with frequently “stop-start-reverse” activity.
Claims21
A geartrain comprising:
- a first intermediate shaft (C);
- a second intermediate shaft (D);
- a sun gear (13) and a first gear (16) supported on the first intermediate shaft (C), wherein the first gear (16) engages a second gear (11) fixed on a first counter shaft (H), and the second gear (11) engages a third gear (12) fixed on a first auxiliary shaft (G);
- a fourth gear (17) and a fifth gear (9) are supported on the second intermediate shaft (D), wherein the fourth gear (17) engages a sixth gear (10) fixed on a second auxiliary shaft (F);
- an epicyclic ring gear (15) is driven by the fifth gear (9) and is supported by three or more idler gears (18n) and engages three or more planet gears (14a to 14c) borne by a carrier (PC), wherein the three or more planet gears (14a to 14c) engage the sun gear (13);
- and
- an output shaft (E) is fixed and driven by the carrier (PC).
4 more elements
A geartrain comprising:
- a seventh gear (1) supported on an input shaft (AA);
- a coupling comprising a first mating half (PA) engageable with a second mating half (PB);
- a gyro-frame housing (GFa) supports a first bevel gear (3a), a second bevel gear (4a) and the second mating half (PB);
- a eighth gear (2) fixed to the gyro-frame housing (GFa), wherein the eighth gear (2) is driven by the seventh gear (1), includes a concentric, tubular shaft extension supported independently on bearings and rotates around a shaft (BB);
- the first bevel gear (3a) and the second bevel gear (4a) drive a third bevel gear (5a) and a fourth bevel gear (6a) within the gyro-frame housing (GFa);
- the shaft (BB) connects the third bevel gear (5a) with a tenth gear (7a) which in turn drives a gear (8) fixed to a second intermediate shaft (D);
- a first intermediate shaft (C) is supported by a bearing through the gyro-frame housing (GFa) and is driven by the fourth bevel gear (6a);
- a sun gear (13) and a first gear (16) supported on the first intermediate shaft (C), wherein the first gear (16) engages a second gear (11) fixed on a first counter shaft (H), and the second gear (11) engages a third gear (12) fixed on a first auxiliary shaft (G);
- a fourth gear (17) and a fifth gear (9) are supported on the second intermediate shaft (D), wherein the fourth gear (17) engages a sixth gear (10) fixed on a second auxiliary shaft (F);
- an epicyclic ring gear (15) is driven by the fifth gear (9) and is supported by three or more idler gears (18n) and engages three or more planet gears (14a to 14c) borne by a carrier (PC), wherein the three or more planet gears (14a to 14c) engage the sun gear (13);
- an output shaft (E) is fixed and driven by the carrier (PC);
- a first fluid-coupled-gearset (FCG1) coupled to the first auxiliary shaft (G);
- and
- a second fluid-coupled-gearset (FCG2) coupled to the second auxiliary shaft (F).
11 more elements
A geartrain comprising:
- an input shaft (A);
- a coupling comprising a first mating half (PA) engageable with a second mating half (PB);
- a gyro-frame housing (GFb) driven by the input shaft (A), wherein the gyro-frame housing (GFb) supports a fifth bevel gear (3b), a sixth bevel gear (4b) and the second mating half (PB);
- the fifth bevel gear (3b) and the sixth bevel gear (4b) drive a seventh bevel gear (5b) and an eighth bevel gear (6b) within the gyro-frame housing (GFb);
- an eleventh gear (7b) is fixed to the seventh bevel gear (5b), supported on a concentric tubular shaft (B) by bearings, and drives a gear (8) fixed to a second intermediate shaft (D);
- the eighth bevel gear (6b) drives a first intermediate shaft (C) which supports the first mating half (PA);
- a sun gear (13) and a first gear (16) supported on the first intermediate shaft (C), wherein the first gear (16) engages a second gear (11) fixed on a first counter shaft (H), and the second gear (11) engages a third gear (12) fixed on a first auxiliary shaft (G);
- a fourth gear (17) and a fifth gear (9) are supported on the second intermediate shaft (D), wherein the fourth gear (17) engages a sixth gear (10) fixed on a second auxiliary shaft (F);
- an epicyclic ring gear (15) is driven by the fifth gear (9) and is supported by three or more idler gears (18n) and engages three or more planet gears (14a to 14c) borne by a carrier (PC), wherein the three or more planet gears (14a to 14c) engage the sun gear (13);
- an output shaft (E) is fixed and driven by the carrier (PC);
- a first fluid-coupled-gearset (FCG1) coupled to the first auxiliary shaft (G);
- and
- a second fluid-coupled-gearset (FCG2) coupled to the second auxiliary shaft (F).
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.