Abstract: A differential drive unit receives a rotational input and provides two rotational outputs therefrom. A rotatable housing has fixedly attached therein a drive member, which includes a drive plate transverse angled slots extending from one side thereof to the other. A plurality of movable drive balls are provided in the slots. Disposed within the housing on either side of the drive plate are driven members having semi-spherical drive member-receivers formed therein. Upon rotation of the housing and its drive plate, the drive balls are thrown outwardly in the angled slots and come into contact with available drive ball receivers adjacent thereto. Such contact transfers the rotational drive force from the drive plate to the driven members. Driven members are in turn connected to respective driven shafts with wheels thereon. One wheel can on occasion be caused to be turned faster than the other, such as during a turn. Such occurrence causes its corresponding driven member to move relative to the drive plate.

Abstract: In a planetary gear apparatus according to the present invention, a first shaft and a second shaft are rotatably supported in a casing. A sun gear is fixed to the first shaft. A fixed internal gear located in the casing is arranged concentric with the sun gear. A rotary internal gear connected to the second shaft is arranged coaxially with the fixed internal gear, and the rotary internal gear has the difference M in the number of teeth with respect to the number of the teeth of the fixed internal gear. N (M.noteq.N, N.noteq.1) planet gears, which revolve around the sun gear, are disposed at equal intervals circumferentially. Each planet gear has a first portion, engaged with the fixed internal gear, and a second portion, engaged with the rotary internal gear. Either one of the first and second portions of the planet gear is engaged with the sun gear. When the number of planet gears is designated circumferentially by i=1, 2, . . .

Abstract: A belt driven continuously variable transmission unit which converts the rotation of the input member by continuously variable ratios, and a gear unit such as a planetary gear unit to which the output torque from said continuously variable transmission unit and torque from said input member transmitted through a transfer unit is fed and delivered to the output member, are provided. A clutch and arresting member, such as a brake and one-way clutch are provided on the input path to said gear unit from said transfer unit. When the arresting member is actuated to low speed mode, the gear unit functions as a reduction mechanism, whereas when the arresting member is engaged to high speed mode, the gear unit functions as a split-drive mechanism which combines the output torque from said continuously variable transmission unit with the torque transmitted through said transfer unit.

Abstract: An adjustable speed transmission according to the present invention comprises a variable speed pulley drive system and a multiple speed gear drive system. The pulley system and gear system are combined with a reversible gear system to provide a speed transmission system which is variable over a wide range of speeds while utilizing a conventional belt type speed pulley system.

Abstract: A control for a continuously variable transmission for quick downshifting to establish an effective engine brake running of an automotive vehicle, comprises a shift actuator, a shift operating mechanism for effecting a shifting in reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission in response to a change in operating position of the shift actuator, and a control unit for varying a speed at which the shift actuator changes its operating position when a manually operable valve is placed at a L range position and an engine throttle valve is fully closed. More specifically, the shift actuator changes its operating position at a higher speed for quick downshifting to a reduction ratio suitable for an effective engine brake running.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transaxle is disclosed that utilizes a removable hydraulic power unit with the power shaft thereto also used as an idler shaft in a double back power loop to reduce the size of the transaxle.

Abstract: A transmission differential includes a pair of output shafts mounted in a casing and non-rotatably received by a pair of bevel sun gears. A plurality of planet pinion shafts are received in apertures in the casing and rotatably support bevel planet gears. The inner end of each pinion shaft has a recess or groove therein. A central disc is positioned between the output shafts and engages the inner end of the pinion shafts to prevent radially inward movement thereof. The disc is received by the recesses to prevent rotation of the pinion shafts. Alternatively, a projection on the inner end of the pinion shafts can be received in a groove on an outer surface of the disc.

Abstract: A steer-by-driving power train has a single input dual output range transmission. The power train also has a hydraulic steering system which, during normal operation, distributes equal but opposite rotation to the output member through a reversing gear mechanism. A ground speed control transmission independent of engine speed is attained by disconnecting the steer mechanism from the reversing gear mechanism and connecting the steer system to the dual output of the range transmission and placing the gearing of the range transmission in neutral. The vehicle ground speed is controlled by controlling the displacement of the hydrostatic steer system.

Abstract: The present invention is an air control valve of an air clutch wherein an air valve assembly interlocking with an operated quantity of a clutch pedal is provided for controlling an air pressure supplied from an air pressure source to the air clutch. Control mechanism is provided for controlling a valve-open pressure of the air valve assembly by a hydraulic pressure from a master cylinder interlocking with the clutch pedal. The control mechanism includes first, second and third spring members of which spring constants gradually decreases in this order, and the valve-open pressure of the air valve body is adapted to be controlled while switching spring forces of the spring members in accordance with the operated quantity of the clutch pedal.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch for an automotive air conditioning system is disclosed which includes a rotor, an electromagnetic coil, and an armature plate. A boss is secured to a drive shaft and has a wave-shaped flange which is formed on the outer surface of the boss. A front plate is disposed forwardly of the wave-shaped flange of the boss through a ring-shaped washer of elastic material. A rear plate is disposed rearwardly of the wave-shaped flange of the boss through another ring-shaped washer of elastic material. The armature plate is connected to the boss, which connects the front plate and rear plate through the washers made of elastic material, respectively, through a plurality of leaf springs. When the above electromagnetic clutch is supplied with electric current, the rotational force in the direction opposite to the rotational force of the front plate and rear plate is added to the boss.

Abstract: A four wheel drive transfer case transmits power from the output of a vehicle transmission to front and rear differential assemblies. The transfer case includes an input shaft coupled to the output shaft of the vehicle transmission, and an interaxle planetary gear differential for dividing power between a rear output shaft connected to the vehicle rear differential and a front output shaft connected to the vehicle front differential. An electromagnetic friction clutch is located in the transfer case and is adapted to selectively lock the planetary gear differential to prevent slip between the front and rear output shafts. An electronic control is operative to selectively engage the electromagnetic clutch to lock the differential for a predetermined time period when a predetermined amount of slip is detected between the front and rear output shafts.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission equipped with a lock-up clutch (6) capable of transmitting engine power to the automatic transmission (1) directly or via a torque converter (2), the automatic transmission has sensors (11, 12) for detecting an input rotational speed and an output rotational speed of the transmission, a control system including a shift start determination step (66) for judging start of a shift by comparing a ratio of the input rotational speed to the output rotational speed with a gear ratio prevailing prior to a shift and a shift end determination step (68) for judging end of a shift by comparing the ratio of the input rotational speed to the output rotational speed with a gear ratio prevailing after a shift, and a lock-up solenoid (10) responsive to output signals from the shift start determination step and shift end determination step for releasing the lock-up clutch (6) during a shift.

Abstract: A multi-speed powershaft transmission comprising a speed transmission assembly, a range transmission assembly, and a master clutch for selectively connecting the speed and range transmission assemblies. The speed transmission assembly includes a speed input section which is connectable to a driven powershaft and a speed output section which is connected to the master clutch. A cluster gear assembly interconnects the speed input and output sections. The speed input section includes two hydraulically operated clutch assemblies capable of producing two different forward input speed ratios. The speed output section comprises a plurality of clutch operated driven gear assemblies and is capable of producing at least three equally different forward output speed ratios and one reverse output speed ratio. Any of the plurality of driven gear assemblies included in the speed output section are engaged by powershifting through the pair of hydraulically operated clutch assemblies included in the speed input section.

Abstract: A mechanical actuator assembly which automatically releases the load controlled by the actuator when the actuator jams or otherwise fails. The actuator assembly has two kinetic energy sources, the outputs of which are normally summed for application to the load. A monitoring device monitors the two kinetic energy outputs. When the relationship between those outputs deviates substantially from a predetermined relationship, the load is disconnected from the actuator assembly.

Abstract: A multi-range, dissipative, infinitely variable ratio transmission has a planetary gearset with at least four distinct gear components including an input gear, an output gear and a pair of independently rotatable gears; a first hydroviscous brake connected to one of the rotatable gears; a second hydroviscous brake connected to the other of said rotatable gears; and a circuit including brake operating units for selecting which of said brakes is operable and for controlling the amount of slip of the operable brake in order to cover all combinations of input and output speed within their respective ranges with minimal slip of a hydroviscous brake to maximize efficiency of the transmission.

Abstract: A transmission is operable to establish a plurality of forward speed ratios for a vehicle. The interchange of ratios is controlled by an electro-hydraulic valve arrangement and an inhibiting valve. If electrical power is discontinued and the transmission is operating in the highest speed ratio, the inhibit valve will maintain the highest speed ratio. At lower speed ratios the control will shift the transmission to the third highest speed ratio. During normal operation, the forced downshift from the highest ratio to the third highest ratio is delayed by the inhibit valve until the second highest ratio has been engaged. This prevents engine overspeed which might otherwise occur.

Abstract: An assembly capable of varying the relative phase of rotation between a driving sprocket wheel and a camshaft comprises a carrier fixed to the sprocket wheel and carrying compound idler bevel gears including inner idler gears which mesh with a bevel gear fixed to the camshaft to impart rotation to the camshaft and including outer idler gears which mesh with a ring gear carried by a sleeve shaft which is adjustable in angular position by a worm gear and a worm-wheel arrangement to vary the phase of the camshaft rotation relative to the phase of the sprocket wheel rotation.

Abstract: A motor vehicle comprises a primary driven axle and a secondary driven axle which is adapted to be arbitrarily driven under the control of an electric control device. In order to ensure a more reliable handling of the vehicle during a braking, the electric control device comprises a switch, which is arranged to be automatically enabled in response to a rise of the speed of travel of the vehicle to a predetermined value and which in an enabled state is arranged to respond to a braking operation or a predetermined braking operation by a disabling of the drive train leading to the secondary driven axle and to maintain the drive train disabled, and an additional switch, which is manually operable to enable the drive train.

Abstract: A non-jamming rotary mechanical actuator for aircraft control surfaces includes a pair of fixed ring gears separated by a moving ring gear. An end plate having a central bore therethrough and a bearing member for rotatably supporting a shaft is mounted at each outer side of said pair of fixed ring gears. Each ring gear has an internal gear surface. The shaft includes an integral inner cam member having a first offset and an outer cam member having a second offset. In driving relationship with said outer cam member is a compound gear having three sets of gear teeth for intermittent contact with said internal gear surfaces of the three ring gears. When a shear member located between the two cam members is broken due to torque overload, the cam members rotate relative to each other so that the compound gear loses contact with the ring gears, thus preventing jamming.

Abstract: In known combinations of a planetary gear transmission with a continuously variable friction drive transmission, unsatisfactory accuracy in operation and excessive overall dimensions are found to be disadvantageous.The transmission according to the invention comprises a planetary gear transmission (11) operatively connected to a continuously variable friction drive transmission (12) with spherical rolling members (19).The transmission according to the invention is finely or infinitesimally adjustable over a wide range of positive or negative transmission ratios and particularly suitable for employ in a closed control system.