Abstract: A method (FIGS. 4 and 4a) for making ring rolling preforms (102) of substantially toroidal shape for ring rolling (84) into substantially rectangular cross-sectional wall shaped forging blank rings (104) to be precision forged (86) into near net ring gear forgings (106) for heavy-duty drive axle ring gears (14) is provided. The method, and the preform forging die (138) used therefor, allow a series of preforms having between eighty percent (80%) to one hundred percent (100%) of the volume of the toroidal cavity portion (150) of the preform die to be forged utilizing a common die.

Abstract: A method for controlling an AMT system (10) is provided including sensing the recovery mode of operation of the fuel control (26) and, if the fuel control command out signal (THCMD) from the controller (42) is less than the demand input signal (THL), increasing the value of the fuel control command output signal (THCMD) until it is equal to the value of the throttle pedal demand input signal (THL) at a rate dependent upon currently engaged gear ratio (GR) from an initial value dependent upon engine speed (N).

Abstract: A control system (158) for a multi-speed splitter type change gear auxiliary transmission section (14) of a compound transmission (10) of the type permitting preselection of a selected auxiliary section gear ratio is provided. The control system includes an operator actuated selector valve (160) for selection of a desired auxiliary section gear ratio and for selectively pressurizing or exhausting first (2) and second (3) selectively pressurized and exhausted fluid conduits which are directly fluidly connected to first and second (186 and 184) inlet ports at the remotely located actuator assembly (152). The actuator assembly (152) includes pistons (144 and 150) for assuming at least three selectable positions corresponding to engagement of one of at least three selectable auxiliary transmission section ratios and is enclosed in a valve body housing (170) having enlarged cavities adjacent the inlet ports (182, 184, 186) to define enlarged fluid reservoirs (R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A torque converter disconnect and bypass clutch assembly (10) for an automatic mechanical transmission system (12) of the type comprising a fluid torque converter (20) drivingly interposed a drive engine (16) and a mechanical change gear transmission (14), preferably of the type utilizing a power synchronizing device (30), is provided. The torque converter disconnect and bypass clutch structure includes an independently engageable and disengageable torque converter disconnect friction clutch (24) and torque converter bypass friction clutch (26). A connecting member (74) is fixed for rotation with the transmission input shaft (72) and includes a first portion (76) associated with the torque converter disconnect clutch and a second portion (78) associated with the torque converter bypass clutch. In the preferred embodiment, the disconnect and by-pass clutches (24 and 26) are concentric and telescopically related to provide an axially compact structure.

Abstract: A vehicle braking control system is provided for sensing (76) the magnitude of the vehicle operator's demand for braking effort and for distributing the braking effort between the individually controllable vehicle (22) brake sites to achieve balanced braking (12) if relatively low braking effort demand (0% to A%) is sensed and to achieve proportional braking (14) if relatively high braking effort demand (B% to 100%) is sensed.

Abstract: A method for providing ring gears (14) for (12/14) is provided. The method comprises providing a near net ring gear forging (106) which is machined on other than the root and flank tooth surfaces (90), subjected to a carburizing heat treatment (92) and then subjected to a grinding operation, preferably utilizing cubic boron nitride grinding tools, to finish machine the tooth flank and root surfaces to the final configurations thereof (94).

Abstract: In order to provide pulsating thrust on vehicle half-shafts during excess differential actions such as occur on spin-outs or skids on ice, the side gear teeth are modified to exhibit two different e.g. involutes on the single tooth engagement zone (P.sub.1 -P.sub.2). Their junction line is a convex discontinuity (Q), the modified teeth becoming thicker. The pinions are typically unmodified.The pulsating increases friction, which reduces spin-out tendencies. The friction can be increased more by inserting friction rings between the side gears and their bearings.

Abstract: An improved air chamber mounting bracket (40) for mounting an air chamber (41) to a rotary cam (32) actuated brake (10) is provided. The bracket includes a slot aperture (70) and a multiple hole aperture (72) for receiving air chamber mounting fasteners (44 and 46) for properly and positively positioning the air chamber for use with various length (54) slack adjuster levers (39). The slot aperture and the multiple hole aperture are centered about a longitudinal axis (74) for constant alignment of the air chamber in each selected mounting position thereof.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A tire valve assembly (56, 58) for a central tire inflation system (10) effective to automatically isolate a tire (12) pressurized to less than a predetermined minimum pressure from the remainder of the system is provided. The tire valve assembly includes a control valve (58) and a low tire pressure shut-off valve (56) which are connected to a selectively pressurized and vented conduit (52) and to a conduit (68) fluidly communicating with the interior pressurized chamber (74) of the tire. A single selectively pressurized and vented conduit (52) operates the control valve and provides the sole connection of the assembly to pressurized fluid and/or to venting to atmosphere required for system operation other than for initial inflation of the tires to the predetermined minimum pressure thereof.

Abstract: A blocked jaw clutch assembly (156) having a second positive stop member (200,202) to limit axial movement of a second jaw clutch member (116) away from the first stop member (134) is provided. During initiation of a shifting operation, if the first (164) and second (116) jaw clutch members are not at substantially synchronous rotation, the second stop member will limit axial movement of said first jaw clutch member (108, 164) to a preselect position (FIG. 9B) axially intermediate the neutral axial position (FIG. 9A) and fully engaged axial position (FIG. 9C) thereof.

Abstract: A compound change gear semi-blocked transmission (10) of the splitter type is provided. The transmission comprises a multi-speed main section (12) connected in series with an multi-speed auxiliary section (14). The main section utilizes manually engaged, non-blocked, nonsynchronized jaw clutch assemblies (56, 58, 60) while the auxiliary section utilizes resiliently shifted blocked jaw clutch assemblies (114, 116, 118, 120). The blocked jaw clutch assemblies are provided with ramps (176, 178, 180, 182) which will cause unblocking during a clutching operation if the main section is not engaged.

Abstract: A tire valve assembly (300) for a central tire inflation system (10) comprising a single valve body (302) having only a first (304) and a second (306) fluid connection from the exterior to the interior thereof is provided. The first fluid connection comprises a first port (304) connected to a selectively pressurized and exhausted conduit (52) and the second fluid connection comprises a second port (306) connected to the interior pressurized chamber (74) of an inflatable tire (12). The assembly includes first valve means (314) responsive to pressurization and exhausting of said selectively pressurized and exhausted conduit to establish or block, respectively, fluid communication between said first and second ports and second valve means (316) responsive to pressurization in said interior tire chamber to maintain said first valve means in the closed position thereof if said interior tire chamber is pressurized below a predetermined reference pressure.

Abstract: A vehicular transmission shift control system is provided for effecting automatic shifting between a group of sequentially related forward gear ratios provided by the transmission that includes a logic member (16) operative to receive and process an engine speed signal (22) and a gear ratio position signal (30) and to provide an output control signal (33) to a shift actuator (34) that is operative to enable automatic shifting between the sequentially related forward gear ratios whenever the lowest sequentially related forward gear ratios of the group is manually engaged by an operator of the vehicle.

Abstract: A pressurized fluid actuated shift bar housing assembly (12) for a change gear transmission (10) is provided having a plurality of shift bars (54, 56, 58), each shift bar having associated therewith a first (108) and a second (110) selectively pressurized and exhausted chamber utilized to axially position the shift bar in a first and second axially displaced position. A third relatively small volume selectively pressurized chamber (140) is utilized to positively axially position each of the shift bars in the nondisplaced axially centered positions thereof.

Abstract: A method for controlling an AMT system (10) is provided including sensing vehicle start from stop operation and providing closed loop control of both the clutch operator (30) and the fuel control (26) during such operation. A function (E) of the difference between actual (N) and desired (A) engine speed is calculated and compared to a reference (REF), and if greater than the reference, fuel supply to the engine (14) is not permitted to increase.

Abstract: A multiple, load-sharing countershaft assembly (12, 14) change gear transmission (10) utilizing double-helical gearing is provided.

Abstract: A method for precision forging of low to medium carbon level carbon and/or alloy steels is provided. The method include the steps of heating the properly prepared billets (20), preferably in a minimum oxidizing environment (36), to a preselected temperature falling in the range of 0.68-0.74, preferably 0.69-0.73, of the homologous temperature ratio (HTR) of the billet material and then precision forging the heated billets while at the preselected temperature.

Abstract: An automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (10) is provided. The transmission (12) is a splitter type comprising a main section (48) connected in series with a blocked splitter type auxiliary section (50). The auxiliary section blockers (172) and clutch members (164) are provided with ramps (218, 220, 222, 224) which will tend to align the blockers and ramps in a nonblocking condition under the influence of biasing spring (178) if the main section is in neutral. A control unit (38) receives input signals and commands transmission shifts in a sequence including shifting the main section into neutral and shifting the auxiliary section to a new ratio during each shift procedure.