Eaton Corporation

Other

John R Vandervoort

Alan R Davis

Joseph D Reynolds

Alan C Stine

Edward J Bogema

Elmer A Richards

John R Bevins

A synchronizer of the pin type employing a friction cone on the gear to be engaged. The synchronizing ring employs pins positively drivingly engaging an axially movable dogged shifting clutch splined to the output shaft and axially engageable with the gear to be engaged. In one embodiment, the synchronizer ring has a plurality of sprag members circumferentially spaced about the ring and pivoted thereon with the radially outer surface thereof tapered to frictionally engage the friction cone upon axial force application to the ring by the shifting clutch. In another embodiment the synchronizer ring has a plurality of sprag members circumferentially spaced within the ring and pivoted thereon with the radially inner surface thereon tapered to frictionally engage the friction cone upon axial force application to the ring by the shifting clutch. In both embodiments, the sprag members are pivoted by the camming action to increase the friction forces and effect synchronization without increase in the axial force applied to the ring.

Self-energizing synchronizer

A positive clutch system (100) is provided for selectively rotationally coupling and decoupling a first (22) and second (38) rotatable member. The total system rotational backlash is distributed to minimize the backlash component (222) dependent upon directions of relative rotation and to maximize the backlash component (220) independent of relative rotation.

Positive clutch structure

A compound transmission (10) comprising a main transmission section (12) connected in series with a range type multiple speed auxiliary drive train unit (14) having at least two selectable range type ratios, and a combined shift control unit (56) therefor, is provided.

Compound transmission and shift control therefor

A change gear transmission (12) is provided having an input component (16, 24, 26, 26A, 50, 53, 54 and 56), a connecting component (28, 60, 62, 64 and 80) and an output component (74) and includes a coupling (76) for drivingly connecting and disconnecting the connecting component from the output component. Preferably, the coupling is a positive clutch of the type having relatively low backlash between the interengaging clutch teeth (334, 336, 338, 340) to resist asynchronous engagement thereof.

Mechanical transmission and control method therefor

An auxiliary transmission section (102) for a compound transmission (100) is provided having three gear layers, combined range and splitter gearing and four distinct selectable auxiliary section ratios. The auxiliary transmission section includes an auxiliary section input shaft (28A), an output shaft (122), an auxiliary countershaft assembly (104), splitter (118), splitter/range (120) and range (124) gears, a two-position splitter clutch (126) rotationally fixed to the auxiliary section input shaft for coupling either the splitter gear or splitter/range gear to the auxiliary section input shaft and a two-position synchronized range clutch (128) rotationally fixed to the output shaft for coupling either the range/splitter gear or the range gear to the output shaft.

Auxiliary transmission section

An improved, multiple substantially identical countershaft assembly (16, 16A), change gear transmission (10) having at least two (20, 20A) countershafts is provided. The input gear (14) and each mainshaft gear (42, 44, 46, 48) is constantly engaged with a countershaft gear (24 and 24a, 26 and 26a, 28 and 28a, 30 and 30a, 32 and 32a) carried by each countershaft and all or substantially all of said input gear and mainshaft gears are provided with a number of gear teeth not evenly divisible by the number of countershafts whereby the level of noise generated by the meshing of the gear teeth is minimized.

Multiple countershaft transmission

An improved, blocked, change gear transmission utilizing at least one improved resilient jaw clutch assembly to selectively engage a selected gear to a shaft is provided. The improved jaw clutch assembly comprises two axially engageable jaw clutch members and a blocker mechanism to prevent engagement of the jaw clutch members until the jaw clutch members are rotating at a substantially synchronous speed. Preferably, one of the jaw clutch members carries axially and radially outwardly extending external clutch teeth designed for selective interengagement with axially and radially inwardly extending internal jaw clutch teeth carried by the other jaw clutch member. The improvement comprises providing a back-lash between the interengageable clutch teeth which is substantially greater than the back-lash normally utilized with similar clutch assemblies, said increased back-lash being in the range of five to fifteen times greater than normal back-lash and preferably about ten times greater than normal back-lash.

Blocked change gear transmission utilizing resilient shifting mechanisms

An improved simple change gear transmission having an extended range and/or number of gear ratios and minimized center distance and/or axial countershaft portion length is provided. The improved transmission utilizes a single main shaft which is pivotally mounted at one end and guided for free floating movement at the other end and at least two substantially identical countershafts which are compounded. Each countershaft has a plurality of ratio gears mounted therein which are grouped with identical ratio gears on the other countershafts. A plurality of mainshaft gears are disposed generally concentric of the mainshaft, but radially movable relative thereto and are in constant meshing engagement with and supported by the countershaft gears. Preferably, the mainshaft is floatably retained at the end thereof closest the input of the transmission while the other end thereof is mounted in a pivotal manner. The improvement comprises mounting the mainshaft gear closest the pivot point of the mainshaft, preferably the reverse mainshaft gear, radially and axially fixed relative to the mainshaft for rotative motion relative thereto, as by an anti-friction means such as a bushing or a bearing, and utilizing an idler gear assembly which is concentric with but freely floating relative to the mainshaft.

Change gear transmission

An improved, blocked, change gear transmission having an input shaft normally driven by a one-way prime mover and an output shaft normally connected to a driven device is provided. The improved blocked transmission utilizes at least one improved blocker and jaw clutch assembly which allows engagement of a selected ratio gear under static conditions, i.e., when the driven device is at rest and the blocked transmission is in neutral.

Blocked change gear transmission and improved blocker and jaw clutch

A simple change gear transmission having an extended range and/or number of gear ratios and minimized center distance and/or axial countershaft portion length is provided. The transmission utilizes a single main shaft and at least one countershaft which is compounded.

Extended range transmission

An improved change gear system having a plurality of spaced countershafts having parallel axes and means supporting the countershafts in a casing for rotation. Countershaft gears are provided on the countershafts and are concentric and rotatable therewith. A rotatable main shaft is provided which is arranged substantially parallel with the countershafts and is preferably located between a pair of the countershafts. Means are provided for pivotally supporting one end of the main shaft in addition to means for guiding the other end thereof in a free floating relation relative to the one end for movement in at least a direction transverse of a plane through the axes of two of the countershafts. A plurality of axially constrained thrust rings are fixed to the main shaft for rotation therewith and cooperate with a fixed thrust plate for transferring thrust loads on the main shaft to the casing. Clutching means are provided for effecting a driving connection between the countershafts and the main shaft.

Growing community of inventors

Richland, MI, United States of America

John R Vandervoort