Hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission

A hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• a hydraulic pump coupled to said input shaft and having inlet and outlet ports;
• an output shaft;
• a variable-displacement hydraulic motor coupled to said output shaft;
• a closed hydraulic circuit interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor and including a passage connecting said inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump;
• a servomotor for making and breaking said hydraulic circuit respectively by opening and closing said outlet port;
• a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of said passage to change the amount of power transmitted between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor;
• and
• a control system for independently controlling said servomotor and said clutch valve, said control system being arranged to hold said servomotor in a position to open said outlet port when said clutch valve is opened beyond a prescribed degree;
• said clutch valve comprising a hollow fixed shaft having a first passageway, and a cylindrical member rotatably fitted centrally in said hollow fixed shaft and having a second passageway, said cylindrical member being rotatable about its own axis to bring said first and second passages into and out of mutual registry, said servomotor being axially slidable fitted in said cylindrical member.

A hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• a hydraulic pump coupled to said input shaft and having inlet and outlet ports;
• an output shaft;
• a variable-displacement hydraulic motor coupled to said output shaft;
• a closed hydraulic circuit interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor and including a passage connecting said inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump;
• a servomotor for making and breaking said hydraulic circuit respectively by opening and closing said outlet port;
• a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of said passage to change the amount of power transmitted between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor;
• and
• a control system for independently controlling said servomotor and said clutch valve, said control system being arranged to hold said servomotor in a position to open said outlet port when said clutch valve is opened beyond a prescribed degree;
• said clutch valve comprising a hollow fixed shaft having a first passageway, and a cylindrical member rotatably fitted centrally in said hollow fixed shaft and having a second passageway, said cylindrical member being rotatable about its own axis to bring said first and second passages into and out of mutual registry, said servomotor being axially slidable fitted in said cylindrical member;
• wherein said first passageway includes a pair of diametrically opposite ports defined in said first shaft and said second passageway includes a pair of diametrically opposite holes, said ports and said holes defining said passage when they are held in registry with each other.

A hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• a hydraulic pump coupled to said input shaft and having inlet and outlet ports;
• an output shaft;
• a variable-displacement hydraulic motor coupled to said output shaft;
• a closed hydraulic circuit interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor and including a passage connecting said inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump;
• a servomotor for making and breaking said hydraulic circuit respectively by opening and closing said outlet port;
• a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of said passage to change the amount of power transmitted between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor;
• and
• a control system for independently controlling said servomotor and said clutch valve, said control system being arranged to hold said servomotor in a position to open said outlet port when said clutch valve is opened beyond a prescribed degree;
• said clutch valve comprising a hollow fixed shaft having a first passageway, and a cylindrical member rotatably fitted centrally in said hollow fixed shaft and having a second passageway, said cylindrical member being rotatable about its own axis to bring said first and second passages into and out of mutual registry, said servomotor being axially slidable fitted in said cylindrical member;
• wherein said servomotor includes a shoe for selectively opening and closing one end of said outlet port.

A hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• a hydraulic pump having a pump cylinder coupled to said input shaft and a plurality of pump plungers disposed in said pump cylinder in an annular pattern around an axis of rotation of the pump cylinder, said hydraulic pump having an inlet port and an outlet port;
• an output shaft;
• a hydraulic motor having a motor cylinder coupled to said output shaft and a plurality of motor plungers disposed in said motor cylinder in an annular pattern around an axis of rotation of said motor cylinder, said hydraulic motor having an inlet port;
• a closed hydraulic circuit interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor and including a passage connecting said inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump;
• a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of said passage, said clutch valve comprising a hollow fixed shaft having a first passageway, and a cylindrical member rotatably fitted centrally in said hollow fixed shaft and having a second passageway, said cylindrical member being rotatable about its own axis to bring said first and second passages into and out of mutual registry;
• a pump swash plate for reciprocally moving said pump plungers;
• a tiltable motor swash plate for rotating said motor cylinder in response to reciprocating movement of said pump plungers, said tiltable motor swash plate being tiltable through a continuously variable angle for continuously adjusting the stroke of reciprocating movement of said motor plungers;
• a first hydraulic servomotor operable by a first pilot valve for varying the angle of inclination of said motor swash plate;
• a second hydraulic servomotor operable by a second pilot valve for selectively connecting and disconnecting said pump outlet port and said motor inlet port;
• and
• a cam mechanism operatively coupling said first and second pilot valves.

A hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• a hydraulic pump having a pump cylinder coupled to said input shaft and a plurality of pump plungers disposed in said pump cylinder in an annular pattern around an axis of rotation of the pump cylinder, said hydraulic pump having an outlet port;
• an output shaft;
• a hydraulic motor having a motor cylinder coupled to said output shaft and a plurality of motor plungers disposed in said motor cylinder in an annular pattern around an axis of rotation of said motor cylinder, said hydraulic motor having an inlet port;
• a closed hydraulic circuit interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor;
• a pump swash plate for reciprocally moving said pump plungers;
• a tiltable motor swash plate for rotating said motor cylinder in response to reciprocating movement of said pump plungers, said tiltable motor swash plate being tiltable through a continuously variable angle for continuously adjusting the stroke of reciprocating movement of said motor plungers;
• a first hydraulic servomotor operable by a first pilot valve for varying the angle of inclination of said motor swash plate;
• a second hydraulic servomotor operable by a second pilot valve for selectively connecting and disconnecting said outlet and inlet ports;
• and
• a cam mechanism operatively coupling said first and second pilot valves;
• said cam mechanism comprising a driver shaft, a first arm coupled to said first pilot valve and annularly movably supported on said driver shaft, a driver cam mounted on said driver shaft for rotation therewith, a driven shaft, a driven cam mounted on said driven shaft and angularly movable in engagement with said driver cam, and a second arm mounted on said driven shaft and coupled to said second pilot valve for converting angular movement of said driven cam to linear movement and for transmitting the linear movement to said second pilot valve.

A hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• a hydraulic pump having a pump cylinder coupled to said input shaft and a plurality of pump plungers disposed in said pump cylinder in an annular pattern around an axis of rotation of the pump cylinder, said hydraulic pump having an outlet port;
• an output shaft;
• a hydraulic motor having a motor cylinder coupled to said output shaft and a plurality of motor plungers disposed in aid motor cylinder in an annular pattern around an axis of rotation of said motor cylinder, said hydraulic motor having an inlet port;
• a closed hydraulic circuit interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor;
• a pump swash plate for reciprocally moving said pump plungers;
• a tiltable motor swash plate for rotating said motor cylinder in response to reciprocating movement of said pump plungers, said tiltable motor swash plate being tiltable through a continuously variable angle for continuously adjusting the stroke of reciprocating movement of said motor plungers;
• detector means for detecting an operating condition of an engine which drives said input shaft;
• means for disconnecting said outlet and input ports when the angle of said motor swash plate is substantially minimal;
• and
• control means responsive to a signal from said detector means for tilting said motor swash plate to operate said engine in a prescribed condition, said control means being arranged such that when a vehicle incorporating the hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission runs at a prescribed speed or a higher speed and the angle of said motor swash plate is substantially minimal said outlet and inlet ports remaining disconnected from each other by said disconnecting means.

A hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• a hydraulic pump having a pump cylinder coupled to said input shaft and a plurality of pump plungers disposed in said pump cylinder in an annular pattern around an axis of rotation of the pump cylinder, said hydraulic pump having an outlet port and an inlet port;
• an output shaft;
• a hydraulic motor having a motor cylinder coupled to said output shaft and a plurality of motor plungers disposed in said motor cylinder in an annular pattern around an axis of rotation of said motor cylinder, said hydraulic motor having an inlet port;
• a closed hydraulic circuit interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor and including a passage connecting said inlet and outlet ports of said hydraulic pump;
• a pump swash plate for reciprocally moving said pump plungers;
• a tiltable motor swash plate for rotating said motor cylinder in response to reciprocating movement of said pump plungers, said tiltable motor swash plate being tiltable through a continuously variable angle for continuously adjusting the stroke of reciprocating movement of said motor plungers;
• a first hydraulic servomotor operable by a first pilot valve for varying the angle of inclination of said motor swash plate;
• a second hydraulic servomotor operable by a second pilot valve for selectively connecting and disconnecting said pump outlet port and said motor inlet port;
• a cam mechanism operatively coupling said first and second pilot valves;
• a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of said passage to change the amount of power transmitted between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor;
• and
• a control system for controlling said second hydraulic servomotor and said clutch valve independently when said clutch valve is not opened beyond a prescribed degree and for further holding said second servomotor in a position to connect said pump outlet port and said motor inlet port when said clutch valve is opened beyond a prescribed degree.

A hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• a hydraulic pump having a pump cylinder coupled to said input shaft and a plurality of pump plungers disposed in said pump cylinder in an annular pattern around an axis of rotation of the pump cylinder, said hydraulic pump having an outlet port and an inlet port;
• an output shaft;
• a hydraulic motor having a motor cylinder coupled to said output shaft and a plurality of motor plungers disposed in said motor cylinder in an annular pattern around an axis of rotation of said motor cylinder, said hydraulic motor having an inlet port;
• a closed hydraulic circuit interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor and including a passage connecting said inlet and outlet ports of said hydraulic pump;
• a pump swash plate for reciprocally moving said pump plungers;
• a tiltable motor swash plate for rotating said motor cylinder in response to reciprocating movement of said pump plungers, said tiltable motor swash plate being tiltable through a continuously variable angle for continuously adjusting the stroke of reciprocating movement of said motor plungers;
• a first hydraulic servomotor operable by a first pilot valve for varying the angle of inclination of said motor swash plate;
• a second hydraulic servomotor operable by a second pilot valve for selectively connecting and disconnecting said pump outlet port and said motor inlet port;
• a cam mechanism operatively coupling said first and second pilot valves;
• a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of said passage to change the amount of power transmitted between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor;
• a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to said clutch valve for operating said clutch valve;
• and
• a servo valve operatively connected to said hydraulic cylinder for controlling the rate of oil flow to be supplied to and discharged from said hydraulic cylinder.

A hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• a hydraulic pump coupled to said input shaft and having inlet and outlet ports;
• an output shaft;
• a variable-displacement hydraulic motor coupled to said output shaft;
• a closed hydraulic circuit interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor and including a passage connecting said inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump;
• a servomotor for making and breaking said hydraulic circuit respectively by opening and closing said outlet port;
• a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of said passage to change the amount of power transmitted between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor;
• and
• a control system for controlling said servomotor and said clutch valve, said control system controlling said servomotor and said clutch valve independently when said clutch valve is not opened beyond a prescribed degree, said control system holding said servomotor in a position to open said outlet port when said clutch valve is opened beyond a prescribed degree.

A hydraulically operated continuously variable transmission comprising:

• an input shaft;
• a hydraulic pump coupled to said input shaft and having inlet and outlet ports;
• an output shaft;
• a variable-displacement hydraulic motor coupled to said output shaft;
• a closed hydraulic circuit interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor and including a passage connecting said inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump;
• a servomotor for making and breaking said hydraulic circuit respectively by opening and closing said outlet port;
• a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of said passage to change the amount of power transmitted between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor;
• a control system for independently controlling said servomotor and said clutch valve;
• and
• means to override said control system and hold said servomotor in a position to hold said outlet port open when said clutch valve is opened beyond a prescribed degree.

A control system in a swashplate type hydrostatic continuously variable transmission having a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump connected together through a closed hydraulic circuit, a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of a passage connecting inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump, and a servomotor for making and breaking said hydraulic circuit respectively by opening and closing said outlet port, comprising:

• control means for independently controlling said clutch valve and said servomotor when said clutch valve is not opened beyond a predetermined amount and for holding servomotor in a position to hold said outlet port open when said clutch valve is opened beyond said predetermined amount, said control means comprising,
• a first cam operatively connected to said swashplate in such a manner that the position of said cam indicates an angle of inclination of said swashplate;
• a second cam operatively connected to said servomotor, said second cam being capable of interacting with said first cam to control the position of said servomotor in response to the angle of inclination of said swashplate;
• clutch operating means for varying the amount of opening of said clutch;
• second cam lock-up means for alternately locking-up said second cam to cause said second cam to respond to said first cam when said clutch is not opened beyond said predetermined amount and unlocking said second cam to cause said second cam to not respond to said first cam when said clutch is opened beyond said predetermined amount;
• and
• servomotor biasing means to cause said servomotor to open said outlet port when said second cam lock-up means has said second cam unlocked.

A control system in a swashplate type hydrostatic continuously variable transmission having a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump connected together through a closed hydraulic circuit, a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of a passage connecting inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump, and a servomotor for making and breaking said hydraulic circuit respectively by opening and closing said outlet port, comprising:

• control means for independently controlling said clutch valve and said servomotor when said clutch valve is not opened beyond a predetermined amount and for holding said servomotor in a position to hold said outlet port open when said clutch valve is opened beyond said predetermined amount, said control means comprising,
• a first cam operatively connected to said swashplate in such a manner that the position of said cam indicates an angle of inclination of said swashplate;
• a second cam operatively connected to said servomotor, said second cam being capable of interacting with said first cam to control the position of said servomotor in response to the angle of inclination of said swashplate;
• clutch operating means for varying the amount of opening of said clutch;
• second cam lock-up means for alternately locking-up said second cam to cause said second cam to respond to said first cam when said clutch is not opened beyond said predetermined amount and unlocking said second cam to cause said second cam to not respond to said first cam when said clutch is opened beyond said predetermined amount;
• and
• servomotor biasing means to cause said servomotor to open said outlet port when said second cam lock-up means has said second cam unlocked,
• wherein said servomotor biasing means comprises a spring.

A control system in a swashplate type hydrostatic continuously variable transmission having a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump connected together through a closed hydraulic circuit, a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of a passage connecting inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump, and a servomotor for making and breaking said hydraulic circuit respectively by opening and closing said outlet port, comprising:

• control means for independently controlling said clutch valve and said servomotor when said clutch valve is not opened beyond a predetermined amount and for holding said servomotor in a position to hold said outlet port open when said clutch valve is opened beyond said predetermined amount, said control means comprising,
• a first cam operatively connected to said swashplate in such a manner that the position of said cam indicates an angle of inclination of said swashplate;
• a second cam operatively connected to said servomotor, said second cam being capable of interacting with said first cam to control the position of said servomotor in response to the angle of inclination of said swashplate;
• clutch operating means for varying the amount of opening of said clutch;
• second cam lock-up means for alternately locking-up said second cam to cause said second cam to respond to said first cam when said clutch is not opened beyond said predetermined amount and unlocking said second cam to cause said second cam to not respond to said first cam when said clutch is opened beyond said predetermined amount;
• and
• servomotor biasing means to cause said servomotor to open said outlet port when said second cam lock-up means has said second cam unlocked,
• wherein said clutch operating means comprises a servo valve operatively connected to said clutch valve.

A control system in a swashplate type hydrostatic continuously variable transmission having a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump connected together through a closed hydraulic circuit, a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of a passage connecting inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump, and a servomotor for making and breaking said hydraulic circuit respectively by opening and closing said outlet port, comprising:

• control means for independently controlling said clutch valve and said servomotor when said clutch valve is not opened beyond a predetermined amount and for holding said servomotor in a position to hold said outlet port open when said clutch valve is opened beyond said predetermined amount, said control means comprising.
• a first cam operatively connected to said swashplate in such a manner that the position of said cam indicates an angle of inclination of said swashplate;
• a second cam operatively connected to said servomotor, said second cam being capable of interacting with said first cam to control the position of said servomotor in response to the angle of inclination of said swashplate;
• clutch operating means for varying the amount of opening of said clutch;
• second cam lock-up means for alternately locking-up said second cam to cause said second cam to respond to said first cam when said clutch is not opened beyond said predetermined amount and unlocking said second cam to cause said second cam to not respond to said first cam when said clutch is opened beyond said predetermined amount;
• and
• servomotor biasing means to cause said servomotor to open said outlet port when said second cam lock-up means has said second cam unlocked,
• wherein said first cam comprises a driver cam and said second cam comprises a follower cam.

A control system in a swashplate type hydrostatic continuously variable transmission having a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump connected together through a closed hydraulic circuit, a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of a passage connecting inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump, and a servomotor for making and breaking said hydraulic circuit respectively by opening and closing said outlet port, comprising:

• control means for independently controlling said clutch valve and said servomotor when said clutch valve is not opened beyond a predetermined amount and for holding said servomotor in a position to hold said outlet port open when said clutch valve is opened beyond said predetermined amount, said control means comprising,
• a first cam operatively connected to said swashplate in such a manner that the position of said cam indicates an angle of inclination of said swashplate;
• a second cam operatively connected to said servomotor, said second cam being capable of interacting with said first cam to control the position of said servomotor in response to the angle of inclination of said swashplate;
• clutch operating means for varying the amount of opening of said clutch;
• second cam lock-up means for alternately locking-up said second cam to cause said second cam to respond to said first cam when said clutch is not opened beyond said predetermined amount and unlocking said second cam to cause said second cam to not respond to said first cam when said clutch is opened beyond said predetermined amount;
• and
• servomotor biasing means to cause said servomotor to open said outlet port when said second cam lock-up means has said second cam unlocked,
• wherein said first cam comprises a driver cam and said second cam comprises a follower cam and,
• wherein said second cam lock-up means comprises an arm capable of engagement and disengagement with a engaging member on said follower cam, and a shifter for selectively moving said arm, said shifter being operatively connected to said clutch operating means and moving in accordance with the amount of opening of said clutch valve in such a manner that said shifter moves said arm out of engagement with said engaging member when said clutch valve is opened beyond said predetermined amount and said shifter allows said arm to engage said engaging member when said clutch valve is not opened beyond said predetermined amount.

A control system in a swashplate type hydrostatic continuously variable transmission having a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump connected together through a closed hydraulic circuit, a clutch valve for continuously varying the cross-sectional area of a passage connecting inlet and outlet ports of the hydraulic pump, and a servomotor for making and breaking said hydraulic circuit respectively by opening and closing said outlet port, comprising:

• control means for independently controlling said clutch valve and said servomotor when said clutch valve is not opened beyond a predetermined amount and for holding said servomotor in a position to hold said outlet port open when said clutch valve is opened beyond said predetermined amount, wherein said control means comprises,
• a first cam operatively connected to said swashplate in such a manner that the position of said cam indicates an angle of inclination of said swashplate;
• a second cam operatively connected to said servomotor, said second cam being capable of interacting with said first cam in such a manner that when said first cam indicates that said swashplate is at a predetermined swashplate angle, said second cam is moved in such a manner as to operate said servomotor to close said outlet port;
• clutch operating means for varying the amount of opening of said clutch;
• second cam lock-up means for alternately locking-up said second cam to cause said second cam to respond to said first cam when said clutch is not opened beyond said predetermined amount and unlocking said second cam to cause said second cam to not respond to said first cam when said clutch is opened beyond said predetermined amount;
• and
• servomotor biasing means to cause said servomotor to open said outlet port when said second cam lock-up means has said second cam unlock.