US 4,782,714 A · Multi-range synchronized transmission and housing therefor

Abstract

A collar shift type transmission is arranged to provide an increased number of speed changes from a reduced number of gears and shafts. The transmission has a main shaft, an output shaft and two intermediate shafts with a plurality of intermeshing gear sets located about each shaft. Collar shift elements for engaging different gears to provide a multiplicity of speed and range changes are provided only on the main shaft and one intermediate shaft. Arrangement of the gears of each set in pairs maximizes the number of gear changes while minimizing the required number of gears, collar shift elements and control mechanisms. The main shaft preferably is provided with synchronizer clutches and close coupled to the driven portion of a main clutch to minimize the momentum transfer through the synchronizers. A sectional housing for the transmission supports an eccentrically mounted hydraulic pump which can be rotated to a plurality of positions. An additional housing section can be added to hold a planetary gear system between the clutch and a power source to double the number of speeds while still minimizing the momentum transfer across the synchronizer clutches. The main shaft preferably is hollow to allow insertion of a PTO shaft connected directly to the power source.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A transmission for a power source comprising:

a first rotatable shaft rotatably drivable by the power source and having a first plurality of gears concentrically and rotatably mounted thereabout;
first means for selectively coupling any gear of said first plurality to said first shaft;
a second rotatable shaft parallel to said first shaft and having a second plurality of gears concentrically fixed thereto, each gear of said second plurality being drivable by a different gear of said first plurality;
a third rotatable shaft parallel to said first shaft and having a third and a fourth plurality of gears concentrically and rotatably mounted thereabout, each gear of said third plurality drivable by a different gear of said second plurality;
second means for selectively coupling any gear of said third plurality and any gear of said fourth plurality to said third shaft;
and
a fourth rotatable shaft parallel to said first shaft and having fifth plurality of gears concentrically fixed thereto, each gear of said fifth plurality being drivable by a different gear of said fourth plurality.

4 more elements

A double countershaft transmission comprising:

a main shaft adapted to be rotatably driven, said main shaft being surrounded by first, second, third and fourth gears spaced along and rotatable relative to said main shaft, and having first and second synchronizer clutches coupled thereto and located, respectively, between the first and second gears and between the third and fourth gears, for selectively coupling said gears to said main shaft;
an upper countershaft rotatably mounted parallel to and spaced from said main shaft having fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gears concentrically fixed therealong, said sixth, seventh, and eighth gears being in constant meshing relationship with said second, third and fourth gears, respectively;
a rotatable idler gear constantly mashing with said first and fifth gears;
a lower countershaft rotatably mounted parallel to said main shaft and spaced from said main shaft to a greater extent than said upper countershaft, said lower countershaft being surrounded by ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth gears spaced along and rotatable relative to said lower countershaft, said ninth and tenth gears constantly meshing with said fifth and sixth gears, respectively, and said lower countershaft having third and fourth clash-type clutches coupled thereto and located, respectively, between the ninth and tenth gears and between the eleventh and twelfth gears, for selectively coupling the ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth gears to said lower countershaft;
and
an output shaft rotatably mounted parallel to said main shaft and spaced from said main shaft to a greater extent than said lower countershaft, said output shaft having thirteenth and fourteenth gears concentrically fixed therealong, said thirteenth and fourteenth gears constantly meshing with said eleventh and twelfth gears, respectively.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-range synchronized transmission and housing therefor

Life of this patent

Multi-range synchronized transmission and housing therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30