Oshkosh Truck Corporation

LeRoy A Maxfield

Donald H Verhoff

Anthony A Bachhuber

Andrew B Gratton

Jeffrey M Miller

David R Church

A system for shifting gears in an auxiliary transmission is provided. The system enables shifting between gears of an auxiliary transmission without stopping the vehicle and without requiring a clutch between drive-line components. The system is activated by the operator while the vehicle is moving and includes safety features that preclude downshifting when the vehicle is traveling above a predetermined speed. The system is fully compatible with automatic main transmissions. An electronic control system monitors the rotational velocities or frequencies of the input and output shafts for clutchless shifting while the vehicle is moving.

Transit clutchless shifting of an auxiliary transmission

An auger type snow blower assembly having an auger with two sets of rotating ribbon spokes which transfer snow from the auger to an impeller inlet located at the mid-portion of the auger assembly, the ribbon spokes terminating a substantial distance short of the center of the auger assembly whereby snow lying directly in the center of the path of the auger assembly may move directly to the impeller inlet without contact with the ribbons. Further, the ribbons revolve around a generally cone-shaped structure at the ends of the auger assembly whereby the ribbons and the stationary cones cooperate to impel snow entering the auger assembly toward the impeller inlet. The auger assembly further includes a bi-directional, variable speed hydraulic drive system for the ribbon system consisting of variable forward speeds and reverse speeds, the forward speeds including a low ribbon speed high torque speed, and a high ribbon speed low torque speed, together with pressure relief valves to avoid the use of shear pins. The impeller is lined with UHMW polyethylene plastic to provide very low friction between the snow and the components of the impeller which come in contact with the snow.

Growing community of inventors

Oshkosh, WI, United States of America

LeRoy A Maxfield