Rockwell International Corporation

Edward G Trachman

Shan Shih

John Arzoian

Daniel W Roper

A transmission has torque converter with an impeller, primary and secondary turbines and a stator. In a first planetary gear set the carrier is connected to the primary turbine, the sun gear is connected to the secondary turbine and the ring gear is connected to a friction clutch. This friction clutch is used in the first and last forward driving phases and in reverse. A second planetary gear set has a second carrier connected to the output shaft and a second ring gear connected to the first carrier. A brake is connected to the friction clutch and to the second sun gear for low forward speed range. A second friction clutch locks up the second planetary gear in high speed. A one-way clutch connected to the stator provides phase differentiation in all forward speed ranges. A third friction clutch between the impeller and second turbine is required in conjunction with the first and second clutches to provide the final driving phase. Another brake brakes the primary turbine, the first carrier, and the second ring gear in reverse operation, causing the secondary turbine to drive the first sun gear and the first ring gear to drive the second sun gear through the first clutch to turn the output shaft slowly in reverse.

Transmission and method of operation

A transmission has a torque converter with an impeller, primary and secondary turbines and a stator. In a first planetary gear set the carrier is connected to the primary turbine, the sun gear is connected to the secondary turbine and the ring gear is connected to a one-way clutch. A second planetary gear set has a second carrier connected to the output shaft and a second ring gear connected to the first carrier. A brake is connected to the one-way clutch and to the second sun gear for low forward operation. The one-way clutch is used in the first phase of low forward and in reverse. A clutch locks up the second planetary gear set in drive operation. The one-way clutch is centrifically disabled before and during drive operation. A second brake brakes the primary turbine, the first carrier, and the second ring gear in reverse operation, causing the secondary turbine to drive the first sun gear and the first ring gear to drive the second sun gear through the one-way clutch to turn the output shaft slowly in reverse. A second one-way clutch connected to the stator provides phase differentiation in low forward and drive operations.

Transmission apparatus and method

A transmission has a torque converter with an impeller, primary and secondary turbines and a stator. In a first planetary gear set the carrier is connected to the primary turbine, the sun gear is connected to the secondary turbine and the ring gear is connected to a one-way clutch. A second planetary gear set has a second carrier connected to the output shaft and a second ring gear connected to the first carrier. A brake is connected to the one-way clutch and to the second sun gear for low forward operation. The one-way clutch is used in the first phase of low forward and in reverse. A clutch locks up the secondary planetary gear set in drive operation. The one-way clutch is centrifically disabled before and during drive operation. A second brake brakes the primary turbine, the first carrier, and the second ring gear in reverse operation, causing the secondary turbine to drive the first sun gear and the first ring gear to drive the second sun gear through the one-way clutch to turn the output shaft slowly in reverse. A second one-way clutch connected to the stator provides phase differentiation in low forward and drive operations.

Control method for planetary transmission having four element torque

Planetary transmission apparatus having a four element torque converter

A low power electric motor slowly leads a spring, which rapidly operates a two speed axle shift. An electric motor drives a nonreversing worm gear which engages a gear rack on a shaft. The shaft supports a caged spring. The motor moves the shaft, compressing the spring against one end of the cage, storing energy required for shifting. A solenoid piston holds the cage in position. When the shift is desired, the solenoid is tripped, the piston is raised and the spring moves the cage. An arm on the cage moves the shift lever. The solenoid piston engages the opposite detent in the cage and holds the cage in the new position. As the cage arrives at the new position, a lug trips a microswitch which completes a circuit to operate the motor in the reverse direction. The motor worm slowly drives the gear which slowly drives the rack to move the shaft in the reverse direction, compressing the spring against the opposite end of the cage. When the shaft moves sufficiently to fully load the spring, a lug on the shaft trips the switch turning the motor off. The next pulsing of the solenoid causes the spring to drive the cage in the opposite direction, back towards its first position, where the solenoid locks the cage. A lug in the cage trips the switch, turning the motor on to run in a forward direction, driving the shaft to its original position and compressing the spring until a lug on the shaft engages a switch, turning the motor off.

Two speed axle

A low power electric motor slowly load to spring, which rapidly operates a two speed axle shift. An electric motor drives a nonreversing worm gear which engages a gear rack on a shaft. The shaft supports a caged spring. The motor moves the shaft, compressing the spring against one end of the cage, storing energy required for shifting. A solenoid piston holds the cage in position. When the shift is desired, the soleniod is tripped, the piston is raised and the spring moves the cage. An arm on the cage moves the shift lever. The solenoid piston engages the opposite detent in the cage and holds the cage in the new position. As the cage arrives at the new position, a lug trips a microswitch which completes a circuit to operate the motor in the reverse direction. The motor worm slowly drives the gear which slowly drives the rack to move the shaft in the reverse direction, compressing the spring against the opposite end of the cage. When the shaft moves sufficiently to fully load the spring, a lug on the shaft trips the switch turning the motor off. The next pulsing of the solenoid causes the spring to drive the cage in the opposite direction, back towards its first position, where the solenoid locks the cage. A lug in the cage trips the switch, turning the motor on to run in a forward direction, driving the shaft to its original position and compressing the spring until a lug on the shaft engages a switch, turning the motor off.

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Birmingham, MI, United States of America

Edward G Trachman