US 4,543,840 AGranted

Transmission apparatus

OwnerJerrold F. Maxwellinventor

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Abstract

A transmission apparatus includes a large number of selectable gear ratios. The transmission apparatus includes first and second primary gears mounted on rotatable shafts having offset axes of rotation. A plurality of pairs of secondary gears, each including first and second secondary gears, selectively engage the first and second primary gears. The first and second secondary gears of one of the pairs of secondary gears are selectively coupled together and engage the first and second primary gears to transmit power from a power source at a predetermined gear ratio to drive a load.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A transmission comprising:

first and second primary gears, each mounted on a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shafts having offset axes of rotation;
a plurality of pairs of secondary gears, each pair of secondary gears including first and second secondary gears coaxially disposed for rotation about a common axis, the first secondary gear of each pair of secondary gears being adapted to engage the first primary gear and the second secondary gear of each pair of secondary gears being adapted to engage the second primary gear, each pair of secondary gears providing a distinct gear ratio when coupled to the first and second primary gears;
means for coupling the first and second secondary gears of one of the pairs of secondary gears into rotational engagement with each other and with the first and second primary gears, the coupling means comprising:
one of the first and second secondary gears of each pair of secondary gears being fixedly mounted on the rotatable shaft in engagement with one of the first and second primary gears;
the other of the first and second secondary gears of each pair of secondary gears being slidingly disposed about the rotatable shaft;
the first and second secondary gears of each pair of secondary gears being formed with complimentary means for interlocking the first and second secondary gears together for simultaneous rotation;
and
means acting directly on the other of the first and second secondary gears for moving the other of the first and second secondary gears along the rotatable shaft into and out of engagement with the one secondary gear of the pair of secondary gears and the primary gear associated with the slidingly disposed secondary gear;
and wherein
rotation of one of the rotatable shafts of one of the first primary gears and one of the pairs of secondary gears is transmitted to rotation of one of the rotatable shafts of the second primary gear and one of the pairs of the secondary gears.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A transmission comprising:

first and second primary gears, each mounted on a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shafts having offset axes of rotation;
a plurality of pairs of secondary gears, each pair of secondary gears including first and second secondary gears coaxially disposed for rotation about a common axis, the first secondary gear of each pair of secondary gears being adapted to engage the first primary gear and the second secondary gear of each pair of secondary gears being adapted to engage the second primary gear, each pair of secondary gears providing a distinct gear ratio when coupled to the first and second primary gears;
means for coupling the first and second secondary gears of one of the pairs of secondary gears into rotational engagement with each other and with the first and second primary gears, the coupling means comprising:
one of the first and second secondary gears of each pair of secondary gears being fixedly mounted on the rotatable shaft in engagement with one of the first and second primary gears;
the other of the first and second secondary gears of each pair of secondary gears being slidingly disposed about the rotatable shaft;
the first and second secondary gears of each pair of secondary gears being formed with complimentary means for interlocking the first and second secondary gears together for simultaneous rotation;
and
means acting directly on the other of the first and second secondary gears for moving the other of the first and second secondary gears along the rotatable shaft into and out of engagement with the one secondary gear of the pair of secondary gears and the primary gear associated with the slidingly disposed secondary gear;
and wherein
rotation of one of the rotatable shafts of one of the first primary gears and one of the pairs of secondary gears is transmitted to rotation of one of the rotatable shafts of the second primary gear and one of the pairs of the secondary gears.

7 more elements