Step-less, hydraulic power transmission
OwnerAlphonse A. Pouliotinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The step-less hydraulic power transmission of the present invention comprises essentially two gear pumps including a first pump that is reversible and continuously variable, in which the per revolution output is directly proportional to engine RPM. The first pump is driven by an engine and delivers a continuous flow of oil through a closed loop to a second gear pump which drives an output shaft. The direction of rotation in the second gear pump is determined by the polarity of oil flow delivered to it by the first gear pump. The gear tooth shape is such that, at any point along the gear axis, there is only one point of contact between a first gear and a second gear.
Claims21
A hydraulic power transmission system having a gear assembly, said hydraulic power transmission system comprising:
- a first driven gear of said gear assembly having a plurality of first helical gear teeth formed thereon;
- a second gear of said gear assembly having a plurality of second helical gear teeth formed thereon, said first helical gear teeth and said second helical gear teeth selectively meshing with one another;
- and
- each of said first helical gear teeth and each of said second helical gear teeth define an outer periphery, wherein contact between any of said first helical gear teeth and any of said second helical gear teeth occurs at only one contact point on said outer periphery of any of said first helical gear teeth and any of said second helical gear teeth when said first driven gear and said second gear are meshing.
A method for providing a continuously variable hydraulic transmission system, said hydraulic transmission system including a gear assembly, an engine crankshaft, an output shaft, a hydraulic fluid and a control apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- shaping a first driven gear of said gear assembly to include a plurality of first helical gear teeth radiating outwardly therefrom;
- shaping a second gear of said gear assembly to include a plurality of second helical gear teeth radiating outwardly therefrom, said first helical gear teeth and said second helical gear teeth being selectively meshable with one another;
- and
- forming each of said first helical gear teeth and each of said second helical gear teeth so as to define an outer periphery, wherein contact between any of said first helical gear teeth and any of said second helical gear teeth occurs at only one contact point on said outer periphery of any of said first helical gear teeth and any of said second helical gear teeth when said first driven gear and said second gear are meshing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.