Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, Ag.

Karlheinz Schachmann

Gerold Bieber

Anton Ott

Hansjorg Dach

Franz Boss

An infinitely variable compound transmission has a tripartite hydrodynamic torque converter having a pump, a turbine member and a guide member relatively rotatable about a common axis. An input pump shaft normally driven by an engine is connected to the pump, a guide shaft is connected to the guide member and coaxial with the pump shaft, and a turbine shaft coaxial with the guide and pump shafts is connected to the turbine member. A brake connected to the turbine shaft is energizable for immobilizing the turbine shaft against rotation. A coupling clutch connected between the turbine shaft and the guide shaft is actuatable for joint rotation of same about the axis. A bypass clutch is actuatable for connecting the pump shaft to one of the members. An infinitely variable belt transmission operatively connected to the guide shaft has an output shaft connectable to a load. In a starting position, only the coupling clutch is actuated with the brake and bypass clutch unactuated for driving the turbine and guide shafts purely hydraulically. In a forward drive position, both the bypass and coupling clutches are actuated with the brake unactuated for positively coupling the guide shaft and the shaft of the one member. In a reverse starting and drive position, the brake is actuated with the clutches both unactuated for reverse driving the guide shaft purely hydraulically.

Infinitely variable compound transmission

A hydraulic torque converter with a toroidal space bounded by a pump member, a turbine member and a free-wheeling stator has an inlet channel for fresh transmission fluid (oil) which opens into the pump torus at a location spaced from the pump member, preferably via the stator, whereby the relatively cool volume of newly admitted fluid mingles with the fluid already present instead of being immediately centrifugated toward the peripheries of the pump and turbine members from which it would quickly return to the sump. The inlet channel may include one or more radial passages in a spacer ring separating the stationary races of the journal bearings by which the pump member and the stator are supported on a trunnion rigid with the converter housing.

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Friedrichshafen, Germany

Karlheinz Schachmann