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US RE37,458 E1Granted
Hydro-mechanical transmission
AssigneeCase Corporation
InventorJoachim Horsch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydro-mechanical transmission for an agricultural work vehicle is provided including a motor, a clutch and a differential assembly. The clutch which is rotatably supported by a housing includes first and second input shafts and a first output shaft. The first output shaft is configured to selectively couple to the first and second input shafts. The motor is coupled to the second input shaft, and the differential assembly which is rotatably supported by the housing is coupled to the first output shaft. The differential assembly includes a third input shaft coupled to the first output shaft, and a fourth input shaft coupled to the motor, and a second output shaft. The speed of the second output shaft is a combination of the speeds of the third and fourth input shafts.
Claims28
A hydro-mechanical transmission comprising:
- a transmission housing;
- a clutch assembly rotatably supported by the housing, the clutch assembly including a first input shaft, a second input shaft and a first output shaft, the clutch assembly being configured to selectively couple the output shaft to the first and second input shafts;
- a motor coupled to the second input shaft;
- a differential assembly rotatably supported by the housing, the assembly including a third input shaft coupled to the first output shaft, a fourth input shaft coupled to the motor, and a second output shaft, wherein the speed of the second output shaft is a combination of the speeds of the third and fourth input shafts;
- an output speed transducer supported by the housing to generate an output speed signal representative of the speed of the second output shaft;
- an electrically controlled clutch actuating circuit;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the speed transducer and the actuating circuit to control the engagement and disengagement of the first and second input shafts to the first output shaft.
5 more elements
A method for increasing the speed of the output of a transmission of the type including:
- a transmission housing;
- a clutch assembly rotatably supported by the housing, the clutch assembly including a first input shaft, a second input shaft and a first output shaft, the clutch assembly being configured to selectively couple the output shaft to the first and second input shafts;
- a motor coupled to the second input shaft;
- and a differential assembly rotatably supported by the housing, the assembly including a third input shaft coupled to the first output shaft, a fourth input shaft coupled to the motor, and a second output shaft, wherein the rotational speeds of the second output shaft is a combination of the rotational speeds of the third and fourth input shafts, and the rotational speeds of the first input shaft and the second output shaft are a predetermined ratio when the fourth input shaft is stationary;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- operating the first input shaft at a first rotational speed;
- operating the clutch assembly to couple only the second input shaft with the first output shaft;
- monitoring the first rotational speed;
- increasing the rotational speed of the motor to a speed which rotates the second output shaft at a second rotational speed such that the ratio of the first and second rotational speeds is within a predetermined range of the predetermined ratio;
- and
- operating the clutch assembly to couple the first input shaft with the first output shaft after the ratio of the first and second rotational speeds is within the predetermined range.
8 more elements
A threshing system for a combine comprising:
- a transmission housing;
- a clutch assembly rotatably supported by the housing, the clutch including a first input shaft, a second input shaft and a first output shaft, the clutch assembly being configured to selectively couple the output shaft to the first and second input shafts;
- a hydraulic motor coupled to the second input shaft;
- a differential assembly rotatably supported by the housing, the assembly including a third input shaft coupled to the first output shaft, a fourth input shaft coupled to the motor, and a second output shaft, wherein the speed of the second output shaft is a combination of the speeds of the third and fourth input shafts;
- an internal combustion engine coupled to the first input shaft;
- a hydraulic pump coupled to the engine and in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor;
- and
- a threshing rotor coupled to the second output shaft.
5 more elements
A method for increasing the speed of a threshing system rotor using a transmission including:
- a transmission housing, a clutch assembly rotatably supported by the housing, the clutch assembly including a first input shaft, a second input shaft and a first output shaft, the clutch assembly being configured to selectively couple the output shaft to the first and second input shafts;
- a hydraulic motor coupled to the second input shaft;
- a differential assembly rotatably supported by the housing;
- the assembly including a third input shaft coupled to the first output shaft;
- a fourth input shaft coupled to the motor, and second output shaft coupled to the threshing rotor, wherein the rotational speed of the rotor is a combination o of the rotational speeds of the third and fourth input shafts, and the rotational speeds of the first input shaft and the second output shaft are a predetermined ration when the fourth input shaft is stationary;
- an internal combustion engine coupled to the first input shaft;
- and a hydraulic pump coupled to the engine and in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- operating the first input shaft at a first rotational speed defined by the speed of the engine;
- operating the clutch assembly to couple only the second input shaft with the first output shaft;
- monitoring the first rotational speed;
- increasing the rotational speed of the motor to a speed which rotates the rotor at a second rotational speed such that the ratio of the first and second rotational speeds is within a predetermined range of the predetermined ratio;
- and
- operating the clutch assembly to couple the first input shaft with the first output shaft after the ration of the first and second rotational speeds is within the predetermined range.
11 more elements
A hydro-mechanical transmission comprising:
- a transmission housing;
- a clutch assembly rotatably supported by the housing, the clutch assembly including a first input shaft, the clutch assembly being configured to selectively couple the output shaft to the first and second input shafts;
- a motor coupled to the second input shaft;
- a differential assembly rotatably supported by the housing, the assembly including a third input shaft coupled to the first output shaft, a fourth input shaft coupled to the motor, and a second output shaft, wherein the speed of the second output shaft is a combination of the speeds of the third and fourth input shafts;
- a speed transducer supported by the housing to generate a speed signal representative of the speed of one of the first input shaft and the second output shaft;
- an electrically controlled clutch actuating circuit;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the speed transducer and the actuating circuit to control the engagement and disengagement of the first and second input shafts to the first output shaft.
5 more elements
A threshing system for a combine comprising:
- a transmission housing;
- a clutch rotatably supported by the housing, the clutch including a first input shaft, a second input shaft and a first output shaft, the clutch being to selectively couple the output shaft to the first and second input shafts;
- a hydraulic motor coupled to the second input shaft;
- a differential assembly rotatably supported by the housing, the assembly including a third input shaft coupled to the first output shaft, a fourth input shaft coupled to the motor, and a second output shaft, wherein the speed of the second output shaft is a combination of the speeds of the third and fourth input shafts;
- an internal combustion engine coupled to the first input shaft;
- a hydraulic pump coupled to the engine and in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor;
- a multi-speed gear transmission coupled to the second output shaft;
- and
- a threshing rotor coupled to the second output shaft.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.