Automatic torque compensating drive system
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorsNathan W. Bonny, K. Mike McCoy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic torque compensating drive system for a hydrostatic transmission, having a torque compensating control mechanism adjusting the swash plate of the hydraulic motor, the swash plate being spring biased to a low-torque, high-speed position and rotatable through a range of positions to a high-torque, low-speed position in response to increasing hydraulic system pressure. When used with a pair of transmissions, a linkage may join the control mechanisms of each transmission to synchronize their torque adjustments.
Claims25
A drive system, comprising:
- a first transmission disposed in a first housing and producing a first output;
- and
- a first torque control mechanism engaged to the first transmission to adjust the torque level of the first output to produce a continuous range of torque from a low-torque value to a high-torque value, the first torque control mechanism comprising a first biasing member to bias the first output to the low-torque value;
- a second transmission, substantially similar to the first transmission, disposed in a second housing and capable of producing a second output substantially similar to the first output;
- a second torque control mechanism engaged to the second transmission capable of adjusting the torque level of the second output to produce a continuous range of torque from the low-torque value to the high-torque value, the second torque control mechanism comprising a second biasing member to bias the second output to the low-torque value;
- wherein the low-torque value corresponds to a high rotational speed at the first and second outputs, and the high-torque value corresponds to a low rotational speed at the first and second outputs.
A vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- a prime mover mounted to the frame;
- a first transmission driven by the prime mover and mounted to the frame, wherein the first transmission comprises a first torque control mechanism and a first output axle, wherein the first torque control mechanism adjusts the first transmission to produce a continuous range of torque at the first output axle, the torque ranging from a low-torque value to a high-torque value;
- a second transmission, substantially similar to the first transmission, driven by the prime mover and mounted to the frame, wherein the second transmission comprises a second torque control mechanism and a second output axle, wherein the second torque control mechanism adjusts the second transmission to produce a continuous range of torque at the second output axle, the torque ranging from the low-torque value to the high-torque value;
- a first wheel driven by the first output axle and a second wheel driven by the second output axle;
- a first biasing member engaged to the first torque control mechanism, wherein the output of the first transmission is biased to the low-torque value;
- a second biasing member engaged to the second torque control mechanism, wherein the output of the second transmission is biased to the low-torque value;
- wherein the low-torque value corresponds to a high rotational speed at the first and second output axles, and the high-torque value corresponds to a low rotational speed at the first and second output axles.
A transmission system comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor disposed in the housing and having a torque output;
- an adjustable motor swash plate operatively engaged to the motor to control the torque output of the motor;
- a pump disposed in the housing and having a hydraulic output operatively connected to the motor;
- an adjustable pump swash plate operatively engaged to the pump to control the hydraulic output of the pump;
- and
- a torque control mechanism engaged to the motor swash plate to adjust the torque output of the motor to produce a continuous range of torque from a low-torque value to a high-torque value, the torque control mechanism comprising a biasing member to bias the torque output to the low-torque value.
A drive system comprising a transmission disposed in a housing and producing an output, and a torque control mechanism engaged to the transmission to adjust the torque level of the output to produce a continuous range of torque from a low-torque value to a high-torque value, the torque control mechanism comprising a biasing member to bias the output of the transmission to the low-torque value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.