Eaton Corporation

James D Gluys

Timothy S Smith

William R Chene

Robert E Servoss

John Gerard Mulvihill

Gerald E Maddocks

Dazy O Ozomaro

Kenneth J Kruizenga

A synchronizer ( ) with improved blockers ( ) and pre-energizers ( ). The synchronizer includes blocker pins ( ) that extend axially through blocker openings ( ) in a radially extending shift flange ( ) and split pin pre-energizers ( ) having pairs of members ( ) extending axially through pre-energizer openings ( ) in the flange. The openings ( ) are defined by blocker and pre-energizer rings ( ) respective disposed in openings ( ) in the flange.

Synchronizer

A pin-type, double-acting synchronizer and gear assembly (10) with friction rings (26, 46 and 28, 48), jaw members (30, 38 and 32, 40) axially secured together by retainers (44), three circumferentially spaced pins (50) including blocker shoulders for preventing asynchronous engagement of the jaw clutches, and pre-energizer assemblies (52) to ensure initial engagement of the friction rings and blocker shoulders in response to initial engaging movement of a shift flange (42), and self-energizing ramps (20a-20d and 62a-62d). The assembly (10) includes improved jaw members and self energizing ramps, an improved shift flange, improved pre-energizers, and improved jaw member retainers. A second synchronizer and gear assembly embodiment (110) includes the above improvements plus an over stress reduction of splines 112g, 140 when gear 116 is connected to shaft 112.

Pin-type synchronizer

A pin-type, double-acting synchronizer mechanism (10) with friction rings (26, 46 and 28, 48), jaw members (30, 38 and 32, 40) axially secured together by retainers (44), three circumferentially spaced pins (50) including blocker shoulders for preventing asynchronous engagement of the jaw clutches, and pre-energizer assemblies (52) to ensure initial engagement of the friction rings and blocker shoulders in response to initial engaging movement of a shift flange (42), and self-energizing ramps (20a-20d and 62a-62d). The synchronizer includes improved jaw members and self energizing ramps, an improved shift flange, improved pre-energizers, and improved jaw member retainers.

A fluid interface between fluid conduits (14, 56) defined in two members (12, 52) attached in surface (20)-to-surface (58) contact with an O-ring seal (64) resiliently received in a counterbore cavity (62) is provided. A test passage (54) is provided from the cavity to the exterior, which will be blocked by the seal and will allow limited fluid from the cavity to the exterior in the absence of the seal whereby the presence or absence of fluid flow through the test passage is indicative of the absence or presence, respectively, of a properly installed seal.

Fluid interface

A single-shaft shifting mechanism (200) for shifting a multiple-speed mechanical transmission (10) is provided. The mechanism includes an axially and rotationally movable shift shaft (204) to which a separate shift block (202) is mounted for axial and rotational movement therewith. The shift block (202) is mounted to the shift shaft (204) with shoulders (210, 212) formed on the shaft and complementary surfaces (236, 238) formed on the block to take axial loading and by pairs of complementary ramps (230, 232, 244, 246) formed on the block and/or shaft clamped together by a shanked fastener (188). The opposed surfaces (222, 248) of the shaft and block through which the shank (188A) of the fastener passes are configured to remain separated.

Shift shaft and shift block assembly

An apparatus for venting a transmission is disclosed which provides a transmission breather for allowing pressure equalization between the interior and exterior of a transmission while reducing or eliminating fluid expulsion from the transmission due to bridging of a fluid film across the breather. The breather includes a standpipe disposed within a housing which contains a filter. Air, transmission fluid, mist, and vapor flow through the standpipe and through the filter which captures the fluid, mist and vapor while allowing filtered air to be vented to the environment through at least one aperture in the housing. The filter facilitates coalescence of the transmission fluid which is returned to the transmission via at least one space formed between the standpipe and the housing. In one embodiment, the breather is mounted to a shift bar housing of the transmission. The shift bar housing includes an annular protrusion for shielding the breather from excessive exposure to the fluid while also resisting formation of a fluid film across its opening.

Apparatus for venting a transmission

An improved elongate key (92) is provided for securing thrust washers to a mainshaft (48) of a transmission (100). Key (92) has a substantially triangular cross-sectional configuration having rounded intersections between adjacent surfaces rendering it easily insertable axially through keyways defined between external axially extending grooves (66) in mainshaft (48) and aligned internal grooves (86) in the thrust washer which itself is preferably provided with rounded corners (90) to enhance the strength thereof.

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Portage, MI, United States of America

James D Gluys