Gearless hydro-mechanical transmission

A gearless hydro-mechanical transmission for providing a variable speed and torque output from an external mechanical power source and an external hydraulic power source, comprising:

• a stationary case having a first inlet/outlet port and a second inlet/outlet port;
• an output shaft mounted within said case for rotation about a central axis;
• a mechanical input mounted in coaxial alignment with said output shaft for rotation about said central axis, said input being connected to and rotatable driven by said mechanical power source;
• a rotatable hydraulic motor having first and second fluid chambers, and a drive unit for rotatably driving a driven unit, said driven unit being coupled to drive said output shaft;
• and
• means for conducting pressurized hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic power source to said hydraulic motor for driving said driven unit of said hydraulic motor by said drive unit, said means including a pressure manifold, an annular port plate, an annular pressure force manifold, a distributor valve, and first and second passage means, said pressure manifold being carried by said case, said port plate being carried by said pressure manifold, said distributor valve being carried by and rotatable with said drive unit of said hydraulic motor, said pressure force manifold being carried within said valve, and said first and second passage means each being separately disposed through said case, pressure manifold, port plate, pressure force manifold and distributor valve to separately conduct fluid from said first and second inlet/outlet ports, respectively, to said first and second chambers of said hydraulic motor.