Caterpillar Tractor Co.

James G Starling

Craig W Riediger

Gerald D Hardy

Eugene Alan Plouzek

Jay J Wait

A rotating clutch assembly has an annular axially movable clutch piston for engaging and disengaging the clutch. The piston is moved in one direction by means of fluid under pressure and in an opposite direction under the influence of spring-biased retractor pins. The annular piston is mounted within a housing member and a plurality of the retractor pins transpierce the housing member and engage the annular piston in free-floating, self-aligning disposition, The annular piston is equipped with a plurality of enlarged slots and recesses and the retractor pins are each equipped with an enlarged shoulder portion adapted to be loosely received within the recesses of the annular piston. Assembly of the piston in the housing member is greatly facilitated in that alignment of the retractor pins within the receiving slots of the piston is non-critical and self-adjusting.

Floating pin retractors for clutch pistons

A manually operated clutch valve adapted for use with a forward-reverse clutch provides modulated flow by use of a combination of linearly tapered metering slots and passages on the valve spool lands. The valve provides for linear pressure rise for proportionate lever movement in addition to the capability of selection of forward or reverse clutch engagement. Linear pressure rise occurs until about 90% of the maximum spool travel has been achieved at which point the full flow is abruptly provided to produce engagement of the clutch and thereby prevent a stick clip clutch condition.

Combination pressure control selector valve

A control system, for a rotating clutch having a rotating housing with a cavity adapted to axially slidably receive a clutch actuating piston therein and defining a clutch actuating chamber therebetween, includes a source of fluid, a control valve for infinitely variably supplying the fluid through a path in the housing to the actuating chamber so that the actuating piston is biased in a direction to engage the clutch, a plurality of passages in the housing disposed in fluid communication with the actuating chamber and the path, and including a fluid exhaust passage connecting therewith, and a differentially sensitive centrifugal valve slidably disposed in the passages for relieving fluid from the actuating chamber to the exhaust passage in response to centrifugal force and to fluid pressure in the actuating chamber, and in opposition to fluid pressure in the path in a differential area ratio responsive manner.

Controls for a centrifugal fluid clutch

A drive assembly having a shroud structure for providing a low friction covering of securing elements which, in projecting from a rotation portion of the drive assembly, would otherwise cause a power and efficiency loss as the result of a friction drag produced in movement of the projecting elements through a body of lubricating and cooling fluid. The shroud structure is secured to the rotating element by securing structure received in recesses in the shroud to further effectively minimize friction drag losses.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

James G Starling