Automatic transmission

An automatic transmission for driving a rotating wheel having an axle mounted onto a support frame, said transmission comprising, in combination:

• a power input means mounted to said frame for receiving power input;
• a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said support frame;
• means for transmitting said power input from said power input means to said drive shaft causing said drive shaft to rotate;
• a plurality of driving elements mounted for rotation freely about said drive shaft in at least one direction and having engagement thereon, one of said driving elements being a lead driver connected to said drive shaft for driven rotation along with said drive shaft, said lead driver being free to move axially along said drive shaft;
• drive plate coupled to said rotating wheel and extending outwardly away from said axle, said drive plate means having a plurality of concentrically arranged engagement means thereon which mate simultaneously with said engagement means on said driving elements for transmitting rotational power from said drive shaft to said drive plate means, the arrangement of said driving elements along said drive shaft being such that the engagement means on said lead driver mates with the concentrically arranged engagement means on said drive plate means located farthest from said axle;
• means for transferring torsional thrust between said plurality of driving elements under axial load;
• and
• means for applying an axial load to said plurality of driving elements concentrically along said drive shaft.

An automatic transmission for driving a rotating wheel having an axle mounted onto a support frame, said transmission comprising, in combination:

• a power input means mounted to said frame for receiving power input;
• a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said support frame;
• means for transmitting said power input from said power input means to said drive shaft causing said drive shaft to rotate;
• a plurality of driving elements mounted for rotation freely about said drive shaft in at least one direction and having engagement means on the surface thereof, one of said driving elements being a lead driver connected to said drive shaft for driven rotation along with said drive shaft, said driving elements being located at successively greater distances along said drive shaft from said axle with said lead driver being the farthest from said axle, said lead driver being free to move axially along said drive shaft;
• a drive plate coupled to said rotating wheel and having a surface extending outwardly away from said axle, said drive plate having on said surface a plurality of concentrically arranged engagement means which mate simultaneously with said engagement means on said driving elements for transmitting rotational power from said drive shaft to said drive plate;
• means for transferring torsional thrust between said plurality of driving elements under axial load;
• and
• means for applying an axial load to said plurality of driving elements concentrically along said drive shaft.

An automatic transmission for driving a rotating wheel having an axle mounted onto a support frame, said transmission comprising, in combination:

• a power input means mounted to said frame for receiving power input, said support frame including a first member supporting said power input means and a second member supporting said rotating wheel and said axle, said power input means comprising a dual crank mounted for rotation on said first frame member;
• a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said support frame, said drive shaft being supported by first and second bearings, said first bearing being supported by a first bearing support in close proximity to said first frame member and said second bearing being supported by a second bearing support in close proximity to said second frame member, said drive shaft being borne by said first bearing support through a first thrust washer and by said second bearing support through a second thrust washer;
• means for transmitting said power input from said power input means to said drive shaft causing said drive shaft to rotate, said power input transmitting means comprising a bevel gear mounted to said dual crank and engaging a bevel pinion affixed to said drive shaft;
• a plurality of driving elements mounted for rotation freely about said drive shaft in at least one direction and having engagement means on the surface thereof, one of said driving elements being a lead driver connected to said drive shaft for driven rotation along with said drive shaft, said driving elements being located at successively greater distances along said drive shaft from said axle with said lead driver being the farthest from said axle;
• a drive plate coupled to said rotating wheel and having a surface extending outwardly away from said axle, said drive plate having on said surface a plurality of concentrically arranged engagement means which mate simultaneously with said engagement means on said driving elements for transmitting rotational power from said drive shaft to said drive plate;
• means for transferring torsional thrust between said plurality of driving elements under axial load;
• and
• means for applying an axial load to said plurality of driving elements concentrically along said drive shaft.

An automatic transmission for driving a rotating wheel having an axle mounted onto a support frame, said transmission comprising, in combination:

• a power input means mounted to said frame for receiving power input;
• a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said support frame;
• means for transmitting said power input from said power input means to said drive shaft causing said drive shaft to rotate;
• a plurality of driving elements mounted for rotation freely about said drive shaft in at least one direction and having engagement means on the surface thereof, each of said driving elements being supported by a load bearing hub having an overriding clutch interposed between said hub and said driving element, one of said driving elements being a lead driver connected to said drive shaft for driven rotation along with said drive shaft, said driving elements being located at successively greater distances along said drive shaft from said axle with said lead driver being the farthest from said axle;
• a drive plate coupled to said rotating wheel and having a surface extending outwardly away from said axle, said drive plate having on said surface a plurality of concentrically arranged engagement means which mate simultaneously with said engagement means on said driving elements for transmitting rotational power from said drive shaft to said drive plate;
• means for transferring torsional thrust between said plurality of driving elements under axial load;
• and
• means for applying an axial load to said plurality of driving elements concentrically along said drive shaft.

An automatic transmission for driving a rotating wheel having an axle mounted onto a support frame, said transmission comprising, in combination:

• a power input means mounted to said frame for receiving power input;
• a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said support frame;
• means for transmitting said power input from said power input means to said drive shaft causing said drive shaft to rotate;
• a plurality of driving elements mounted for rotation freely about said drive shaft in at least one direction and having engagement means on the surface thereof, each of said driving elements being rotatably supported within a loading spool including a sleeve bearing mounted on said drive shaft, a pair of spool members, a ratchet pawl and ball bearings between said spool members and said driving element, one of said driving elements being a lead driver connected to said drive shaft for driven rotation along with said drive shaft, said driving elements being located at successively greater distances along said drive shaft from said axle with said lead driver being the farthest from said axle,
• a drive plate coupled to said rotating wheel and having a surface extending outwardly away from said axle, said drive plate having on said surface a plurality of concentrically arranged engagement means which mate simultaneously with said engagement means on said driving elements for transmitting rotational power from said drive shaft to said drive plate;
• means for transferring torsional thrust between said plurality of driving elements under axial load;
• and
• means for applying an axial load to said plurality of driving elements concentrically along said drive shaft.

An automatic transmission for driving a rotating wheel having an axle mounted onto a support frame, said transmission comprising, in combination:

• a power input means mounted to said frame for receiving power input;
• a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said support frame;
• means for transmitting said power input from said power input means to said drive shaft causing said drive shaft to rotate;
• a plurality of driving elements mounted for rotation freely about said drive shaft in at least one direction and having engagement means on the surface thereof, each of said driving elements being supported by a loading spool including a bearing hub and a loading flange, one of said driving elements being a lead driver connected to said drive shaft for driven rotation along with said drive shaft, said driving elements being located at successively greater distances along said drive shaft from said axle with said lead driver being the farthest from said axle;
• a drive plate coupled to said rotating wheel and having a surface extending outwardly away from said axle, said drive plate having on said surface a plurality of concentrically arranged engagement means which mate simultaneously with said engagement means on said driving elements for transmitting rotational power from said drive shaft to said drive plate;
• means for transferring torsional thrust between said plurality of driving elements under axial load comprising a torsion disk disposed adjacent to said loading flange;
• and
• means for applying an axial load to said plurality of driving elements along said drive shaft.

An automatic transmission for driving a rotating wheel having an axle mounted onto a support frame, said transmission comprising, in combination:

• a power input means mounted to said frame for receiving power input;
• a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said support frame;
• means for transmitting said power input from said power input means to said drive shaft causing said drive shaft to rotate;
• a plurality of driving elements mounted for rotation freely about said drive shaft in at least one direction and having engagement means on the surface thereof, one of said driving elements being a lead driver connected to said drive shaft for driven rotation along with said drive shaft, said driving elements being located at successively greater distances along said drive shaft from said axle with said lead driver being the farthest from said axle;
• a drive plate coupled to said rotating wheel and having a surface extending outwardly away from said axle, said drive plate having on said surface a plurality of concentrically arranged engagement means which mate simultaneously with said engagement means on said driving elements for transmitting rotational power from said drive shaft to said drive plate;
• means for transferring torsional thrust between said plurality of driving elements under axial load;
• and
• means for applying an adjustable axial load to said plurality of driving elements along said drive shaft comprising a compression spring mounted around said drive shaft and means for loading said spring in the axial direction.