Abstract: A transmission/transaxle assembly for vehicles such as lawn and garden tractors which includes a housing, a dual input, a constant mesh planetary gear assembly, differential gear, axle, and output gear which transfer the planetary gear output to the differential gear and axle. The assembly reduces the rotational speed of two power inputs to a single, lower speed output and allows clutchless, infinitely variable forward, neutral and reverse output speeds by varying the rotational speed of at least one of the inputs with respect to the other. The assembly is compact and provides efficient lubrication through emersion of portions of the planetary gear assembly which continuously rotate in an oil compartment. The axes of the input shafts are arranged transverse to the axis of the output axles such that the assembly will easily accommodate vertical drive shaft engines in tractors or mowers.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control apparatus wherein a first shift valve controls a speed change between a first speed stage and a second speed stage higher than the first speed stage. A second shift valve controls a speed change between the second speed stage and a third speed stage higher than the second speed stage in accordance with the throttle pressure and the governor pressure. In the third speed stage, the line pressure is supplied to an engaging device for the third speed stage and a control port through the first and second shift valves. The line pressure supplied to the control port counterbalances a spring force opposed to the governor pressure in the second shift valve. In a 2-range, the line pressure supplied to the control port counterbalances the compensating pressure related to an intake throttle position. In the 2-range, the line pressure is supplied to an engaging device for the second speed through an L-range shift valve, a second speed holding valve and the second shift valve.

Abstract: Sun gears of a single planetary gear unit and a dual planetary gear unit are connected with respect to each other, carriers of the respective gear units in the connected state are connected to an output member, an input member is connected to a ring gear of the single planetary gear unit through a first clutch and also to a sun gear through a second clutch, and the sun gear and a ring gear of the dual planetary gear unit are stoppable by retaining means. When travelling forward, the ring gear of the single planetary gear unit is inputted with torque from the input member based on the state of connection of the first clutch.

Abstract: A control is disclosed wherein an engine coolant temperature or an idle engine speed is sensed and the minimum desired reduction ratio is limited based on the sensed result, thus preventing an engine from vibrating or stalling.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a continuously variable transmission includes an electronic control system and a hydraulic control system. In the hydraulic control system solenoid valves are used in conjunction with fluid control valves to regulate the various fluid pressure levels in the system. A variable displacement pump provides fluid under pressure in the main line. A modulator valve, connected to the main line, provides a controlled low pressure to the various control assemblies. Thus the solenoid valve and associated components can be more economical than in those systems where only the normal line pressure arrangement is used.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved throttle valve regulating system for automatic transmissions for motor vehicles. In such automatic transmissions, the throttle valve reciprocates in a bore as a result of the action of a plunger and a throttle valve spring to control the flow and pressure of transmission fluid or oil to effect gear shifting. The present improvement provides a rigid spacing element of predetermined length received within the throttle valve spring for urging the valve towards a full throttle position in the event that the valve sticks in the bore in a lower throttle position. The system further includes a high rate spring located in the full throttle position in the bore to prevent sticking of the valve in that position, and a low rate spring similarly positioned in the bore to counteract the force of the throttle valve spring for returning the throttle valve to a low throttle or zero position.

Abstract: Sun gears of a single planetary gear unit and a dual planetary gear unit are connected with respect to each other, carriers of the respective gear units in the connected state are connected to an output member, an input member is connected to a ring gear of the single planetary gear unit through a first clutch, to a sun gear through a second clutch and also to a ring gear of the dual planetary gear unit through a third clutch, and the sun gear and a ring gear of the dual planetary gear unit are stoppable by retaining means. When in forward travelling, the ring gear of the single or dual planetary gear unit is inputted with torque from the input member based on connection of the first and/or third clutch.

Abstract: A blocked jaw clutch assembly (156) of the type having sensor unblocking ramps (176, 178, 180, 182) is provided with structure tending to cause the blocking torque friction surface (188) carried by the blocker ring (124) to frictionally engage the blocking torque friction member (190) carried by the first jaw clutch member (108, 164, 188) with a circumferentially non-symetrical axial force.

Abstract: A planetary gear system employs a retarder to provide fluid coupling of power during startup and fluid braking during deceleration. At idle with the output shaft stationary, an input shaft rotates in one direction and the retarder rotates in the opposite traction. When the retarder is activated by adding working fluid, the resultant torque coupled to the output shaft rotates the output shaft in the same direction as the input shaft. The retarder rotor can be mechanically braked to produce a first mechanical gear. Further coupling rotates the input shaft, output shaft and retarder rotor at the same speed in the same direction to form a second mechanical gear. Hydrodynamic braking can be performed in the second mechanical gear by adding working fluid to the retarder. A control system is disclosed which varies the level of working fluid during acceleration to a value which permits the input shaft to rotate at a required value regardless of the acceleration input signal.

Abstract: It comprises a motor shaft (1); a driven member (5), revolving at different speeds; two reduction members (6, 7) comprising each a series of driving elements (10, 11). The two reduction members (6, 7) are coaxial between themselves and with respect to the motor shaft (1) and it comprises at least one rotor (12) driven by the motor shaft (1) comprising at least three pairs of actuating members (15, 16; 17,18; 19,20), one of the actuating members (15, 17, 19) of each pair cooperating with driving elements (10) of one of the reduction members (6), whereas the other actuating occurrence. (16, 18,20) of each pair cooperates with driving elements (11) of the other reduction member (7).

Abstract: An integrated power system for use with a gas turbine engine is provided for driving and steering a tracked vehicle under the control of the vehicle's operator. The system includes a multispeed transmission for transmitting power from a free power turbine, included in the gas turbine engine, to combining planetary gear systems driving the vehicle, elements of the combining planetary gear systems also being driven by a variable displacement hydraulic steering motor. The transmission is connected to a direct displacement pump for supplying fluid under pressure to the steering motor and to an accumulator which stores and releases energy to the pump to reduce shock to the system as the speed ratio of the transmission is changed in response to the speed of the free power turbine. A control system, responsive to the vehicle's operator, determines operation of the hydraulic steering motor to effect steering as well as controlling the power output of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission with constant torque is designed using an epicyclic gear mechanism with a casing that rotates freely within an electromagnetic braking device. The braking device utilizes magnetic particles filling a gap between the inner diameter of the braking device and the outer casing of the epicyclic gear mechanism such that when the particles are magnetized, they form an adhesive-like resistance to rotation of the epicyclic gear annulus.

Abstract: A high power-to-weight ratio vehicle whose drive train includes an engine with an infinitely variable transmission coupled thereto and the transmission output shaft connected to the vehicle drive wheels has a transmission with a planetary gear structure whose ring gear is mounted for rotation with the transmission input shaft, whose planetary gears are mounted on a carrier associated with the transmission output shaft and whose sun gear is mounted on a hollow shaft which has one toroidal disc of a toric traction roller transmission mounted thereon while the other toroidal disc of the toric traction roller transmission which is disposed adjacent the one disc and in engagement therewith through pivotally supported traction rollers is mounted on the transmission input shaft such that the traction roller transmission is at the highest speed-up ratio for lowest vehicle speed.

Abstract: In an upshift timing system which provides a drain passage at higher flow resistance for a first friction engaging device to be disengaged when a hydraulic fluid pressure of a second friction engaging device to be engaged supplied as an actuating pressure to a control port of an upshift timing control valve is less than a certain value and at lower flow resistance when the actuating pressure is greater than the certain value, the control port is supplied with the actuating pressure directly from a pressure chamber of the second friction engaging device via a passage which is separate from a passage which supplies actuating pressure from a pressure source to the pressure chamber of the second friction engaging device.

Abstract: A tractor transmission includes a pair of dual power clutches that connects an engine to an input shaft through a gearset that selectively makes a direct connection or overdrives the shaft in accordance with the engaged or disengaged state of the clutches. A synchronizer connects the input shaft to an interior shaft of the transmission. A gear selector moves the sleeve of the synchronizer into engagement either with a gear on the input shaft or a gear on the interior shaft. When certain upshifts are made, the gear selector causes the clutch that overdrives the input shaft gear to disengage and the clutch that directly connects the input shaft gear to the engine to engage. This action slows the gear toward the synchronous speed at which the synchronizer connects the input gear to the interior shaft with minimal shifting effort.

Abstract: A device which drives accessories such as an alternator or a cooling water pump utilizing output of an automobile engine, includes an input shaft installed to an output shaft of the engine, a continuously variable transmission with differential planetary mechanism of the frictional transmission type installed between the shaft and a pulley connected to the accessories, and a pressure adjusting device for adjusting the pressure of the frictional transmission oil retained in an annular chamber enclosing the continuously variable transmission. The pressure adjusting device is connected in communication with the annular chamber and includes bleed holes for providing a free liquid surface of the frictional transmission oil so that variation in pressure of the frictional transmission oil is absorbed by the vertical movement of the free liquid surface.

Abstract: A control device for a continously variable belt transmission device, including driving and driven pulley assemblies with an endless belt assembly fitted in a power transmitting manner around them in V-shaped grooves thereof to provide power transmission therebetween at a speed change ratio, the driving and driven pulley assemblies having respective first and second pressure chambers, each of which according to supply of hydraulic fluid pressure to it alters the effective pulley radius of its pulley assembly.

Abstract: An additional range device for an infinitely variable split output synchronously shifting hydromechanical steering transmission having integral steering and multiple forward ranges wherein the additional range device provides an additional different input to an existing range mechanism to drive that range mechanism in a new speed range to constitute a new higher range for the transmission.

Abstract: In the speed reducer disclosed, the gear ring (12) of the planetary gear train is connected via a pair of diametrically-opposed appendages (13) with a corresponding pair of vertically disposed and parallel double-acting hydraulic cylinders (14) suspended via ball-and-socket joints beween the gear unit and a fixed structure. Each cylinder shows a low pressure (31) and a high pressure (32) oil chamber connected to low and high pressure hydraulic accumulators (33, 34) respectively by means of respective throttle valves (35, 36) in parallel with respective ball check valves (37, 38). There are no bearings between the gear case (18, 19)and the shaft instead, the output shaft hub is fitted with an assembly which incorporates thrust rings and a rotary seal (20) featuring diametrial-flow lubrication to ensure freedom from foreign matter.

Abstract: A device for varying an equivalent inertia moment of a flywheel comprises a flywheel, a manual transmission including an input shaft and an output shaft, a ring gear coupled to the flywheel, a sun gear coupled to the output shaft and a pinion engaging with the ring gear and the sun gear. A planetary gear mechanism consisting of the ring gear, the sun gear and the pinion increases the equivalent inertia moment of the flywheel during idling, at low speeds and decreases same during normal running, thereby suppressing vibration and noise during idling and improving response during normal running.