Power Engineering & Manufacturing, Ltd.

Deere & Company

Saul Herscovici

Lawrence Vernon Anderson

Karl Heinz Fresmann

A mechanically variable transmission is provided by a novel arrangement of sheaves in combination with a power ring which can be utilized with a planetary device to smoothly varying output speed from maximum rotational speed in one direction to maximum speed in the opposite direction while passing through or maintaining zero output speed or any other speed in a forward or reverse direction while the input speed is varied or remains constant. The novel arrangement provides changes in the output speed over the entire range of engine power and under all load conditions since declutching is not necessary to shift gears allowing the engine to operate at a constant horsepower over the entire range of throttle settings and can enhance engine efficiency by allowing the engine to operate at the lowest possible speed and highest torque. The infinitely variable speed transmission and engine can be controlled with a computer control to maintain the engine at full torque but the lowest possible speed while varying the infinitely variable transmission ratio to maintain a constant or desired ground speed.

Mechanically variable transmission

A method and control system for gear cutting machines such as hobbing equipment, shaper cutters and bevel-cutting equipment for achieving greater accuracy, productivity, and gears of increased quality while eliminating error, tedious calculations, labor and product variation is provided by employing a control system and utilizing a method of gear cutting wherein optimum cutter efficiency is maintained by electronically monitoring and controlling cutter input power, cutter shift and workpiece feed or in an alternative embodiment by varying index drive and feed drive in response to inputs measured from the cutter or cutter motor to produce gears approaching the optimum theoretical calculated configuration. The computer and control system can be readily adapted to existing gear cutting machines by utilizing an alternative embodiment of the invention which adds an encoder to the main cutter motor and replaces existing mechanical linkages for feed and index with variable speed electric motors and encoders to provide computer controlled index and feed rates that may be varied substantially instantaneously with the cutting of each gear tooth to maintain a predetermined cutter program. The method of cutting gears and the control system provides for the production of more accurate gears by eliminating the use of cams in shaper cutters and the use of change gears in hobbing machines and by properly controlling hob shift to result in an increased hob cutter lift and provide higher production of optimally designed gears.

Gear cutter

A method and control system for gear cutting machines such as hobbing equipment, shaper cutters and bevel-cutting equipment for achieving greater accuracy, productivity, and gears of increased quality while eliminating error, tedious calculations, labor and product variation is provided by employing a control system and utilizing a method of hobbing wherein optimum hob cutter efficiency is maintained by electronically monitoring and controlling hob input power, hob shift and workpiece feed to produce gears approaching the optimum theoretical calculated configuration. The method of cutting gears and the control system provides for the production of more accurate gears by eliminating the use of cams in shaper cutters and the use of change gears in hobbing machines and by properly controlling hob shift to result in an increased hob cutter life and provide higher production of optimally designed gears.

A speed reducer gear box comprising input, intermediate and output shafts rotatably mounted in a gear case. A hydraulic motor or the like is connected to the input shaft and is adapted to rotate the same. The intermediate shaft has a helical gear mounted thereon which is in mesh with a gear tooth portion on the input shaft whereby rotation of the input shaft by the hydraulic motor causes rotation of the intermediate shaft. A helical gear is also mounted on the output shaft for rotation therewith and is in mesh with a gear tooth portion on the intermediate shaft. A flywheel is mounted on the input shaft for rotation therewith to provide inertia to stabilize and to smooth out the operation of the gear box.

Speed reducer gear box with flywheel

A gear reduction apparatus includes a housing having first and second input shafts rotatably mounted therein and first and second flywheels mounted on the first and second input shafts respectively. Each input shaft is adapted to be connected to a power source and includes a toothed gear portion in mesh with a toothed gear portion of an output power mechanism which is thereby rotated at a lower angular velocity than the input shafts. The output power means may include a planetary gear system for further speed reduction prior to connection to a driven member.

Gear reduction apparatus

A speed reducer gearbox includes input, intermediate and output shafts rotatably mounted therein and a flywheel mounted for independent rotation about the intermediate shaft. The flywheel includes a toothed gear portion in mesh with an additional gear on the input shaft whereby the flywheel is rotated in response to rotation of the input shaft. The flywheel toothed gear portion and additional gear on the input shaft are of relative sizes such that the flywheel is rotated at a higher angular velocity than the input shaft.

Gearbox with high speed flywheel

An articulated four-wheel drive tractor has front and rear frame structures joined by vertical pivots and supported by front and rear drive axle assemblies. The tractor has a split, speed change transmission with a first section supported on the front frame structure and a second section supported on the rear frame structure. The first transmission section is driven by an engine mounted above the front axle structure and its output is transferred to the second transmission section through an upper driveshaft which crosses the axis of articulation and drives a gear train on the rear frame structure forwardly of the second transmission section. The second transmission section output shaft is connected directly to the rear axle assembly and is connected to the front axle assembly through a second driveshaft which crosses the axis of articulation below the upper driveshaft. A live PTO is connected to the engine output shaft in front of the first transmission section and includes a PTO driveshaft which crosses the axis of articulation between the first and second driveshafts. Each of the three driveshafts crossing the axis of articulation includes a pair of universal joints equally spaced to the front and rear of the pivot axis.

Articulated tractor

A four-wheel drive tractor with front and rear frame structures joined for articulation about a generally upright pivot has a split change speed-transmission. The first section of the transmission is supported on the front frame structure of the tractor and provides direct drive and overdrive speed ratios. A second section of the transmission is supported on the rear frame structure of the tractor and has a plurality of forward and reverse transfer ratios. A power take-off on the rear frame structure of the tractor is driven by the drive between the first and second sections of the transmission and includes selectively engageable and disengageable clutch means. An interlock between the clutch means and the first section of the transmission shifts the first section of the transmission to and/or holds the first section of the transmission in its direct drive condition whenever the PTO clutch is engaged. In this manner damage to any PTO driven implement coupled to the tractor as a result of overspeed is avoided.

Growing community of inventors

Waterloo, IA, United States of America

Saul Herscovici