Patents Examined by Stephen B. Andrews
  • Patent number: 4637269
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a work vehicle such as a tractor is disclosed, with an engine, an input shaft coupled to the engine, a change-speed mechanism, a hydraulic clutch, an auxiliary change-speed mechanism and a reduction mechanism housed in a common transmission case. Power from the reduction mechanism is transmitted to the rear wheels through a rear differential and to the front wheels through a drive shaft and a front differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Hasegawa, Tetsu Fukui
  • Patent number: 4635508
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling the gear engaged by an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, whereby gear change operations are temporarily inhibited when a signal indicative of a fault condition in a load signal or a speed signal is sensed. The signals representing the speed and load of the vehicle are ordinarily employed directly to determine the gear engaged by the transmission. If a fault condition, such as may be due to a short circuit or open circuit of the corresponding sensor, is detected, to prevent skidding due to a sudden change to an incorrect gear, the gear presently engaged is held for a predetermined period of time. After that predetermined period of time, if the fault condition still exists, the transmission is shifted to the safest gear. Otherwise, the present gear is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki K.K.
    Inventor: Takumi Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 4628751
    Abstract: In a gear synchronizer assembly of the well-known type, an internal splined portion of a clutch sleeve includes first internal splines engageable with external splines of a synchronizer ring and second internal splines engageable with external splines of a spline piece. The first internal splines of the clutch sleeve are formed smaller in axial length than the second internal splines of the clutch sleeve to reduce the shift stroke of the clutch sleeve as short as possible and to avoid increase of relative rotation between the clutch sleeve and the spline piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhito Ikemoto, Yukio Terakura
  • Patent number: 4628770
    Abstract: An overdrive system for a four-wheel drive vehicle has an automatic transmission the output of which is transmitted to front wheels and to rear wheels through a drive gear and a driven gear and a hydraulically operated four-wheel drive clutch. The system comprises an overdrive clutch for coupling an oil pump drive shaft of the automatic transmission to the driven gear. When the overdrive clutch is engaged, the rotation of the oil pump drive shaft is transmitted to the front wheels through the clutch and driven gear and drive gear for overdriving the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Kodama, Kenichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 4627310
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a speed transformer adaptor comprising an input shaft and an output shaft and a plurality of gear systems coaxially assembled within a casing. The gear systems individually comprise a rotatable member having a first portion forming an externally toothed sun gear and a second cylindrical portion having internal gear teeth. The externally toothed sun gear portion of each gear system is coaxially positioned within the cylindrical portion of the adjacent gear system. A pinion gear is disposed within the cylindrical portion of each gear system for engaging the sun gear and the internally toothed gear to transmit power therebetween. A clutch is provided and when not engaged allows the adaptor to function to provide high speed rotation of the output shaft with low speed rotation of the input shaft, and when slidably engaged allows the input shaft, casing, gear systems and output shaft to rotate in unison to provide a 1:1 input/output ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Inventor: Brian Coburn
  • Patent number: 4625585
    Abstract: A torque-proportioning differential of the helical pinion type includes a housing having a body section to one end of which is removably connected a cover section, the one body section end being machined to define a central longitudinal bore and a plurality of circumferentially spaced pairs of longitudinal pinion cavities in longitudinal communication with each other and with the central bore, respectively. The pinion cavities of each pair are of unequal depth, thereby to receive corresponding longitudinally offset helical pinions, respectively. In order to maintain the pinion of the cavity of greater depth adjacent the bottom wall of the cavity, a hub extension is provided on the other end of that pinion which extends the length of the pinion for engagement at its free end with a thrust surface carried by the housing cover section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Tractech, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter L. Dissett
  • Patent number: 4620455
    Abstract: A traction roller transmission having a number of planetary type rollers disposed in an annular spaced formed between a sun roller rotatable with one shaft and a traction ring surrounding the sun roller. The traction ring, the planetary rollers and the sun roller all have annular projections and recesses with inclined hard metallic lubricated side surfaces by which the planetary rollers are in engagement with the sun roller and the traction ring for the transmission of motion therebetween. Preferably, means are provided for forcing planetary rollers into engagement with the traction ring and the sun roller with forces which depend on the torque transmitted through the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4617841
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission which is shiftable from a 4th speed ratio to a 2nd speed ratio. A 2-3 shift valve (24) has a first port (124g) communicating with a first friction unit (C3) and a second port (124h) communicating with a fluid conduit (412) supplied with an actuating fluid pressure. The first port (124g) is allowed to communicate with the first port (124h) when the 2-3 shift valve (24) assumes a downshift position thereof. A 4-3-2 changeover valve (23) is provided which urges a 2-3 shift valve (22) toward a downshift position thereof when a fluid pressure in the first port (124g) increases beyond a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Sugano
  • Patent number: 4615240
    Abstract: An engine shaft drives oppositely rotating bevel gears which can be coupled to a hollow clutch shaft by forward and reverse clutches. The clutch shaft is coupled to the input shaft of a six-speed, change-speed gearbox through a two-stage epicyclic range gear with a direct drive clutch and brakes for engaging the overdrive and underdrive stages, respectively. An epicyclic creep gear can be selectively switched in upstream of the range gear. Thus, a coupling sleeve couples the clutch shaft either to the input of the range gear or to the input sun wheel of the creep gear. Since the creep gear reverses the sense of rotation, a changeover of control of the clutches is effected when the creep gear is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Heinz Weiss
  • Patent number: 4612825
    Abstract: Limited slip differential mechanisms and assembly techniques therefore are disclosed providing enhanced strength and durability without increase in over all size. Positioning the parting plane of a two part differential mechanism case outside the chain of elements transmitting the torque through the differential mechanism while at the same time increasing the size of side and pinion gears within the case and modifying both the case interior machining technique and the technique for assembling the components within the case yields the strength and durability advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Auburn Gear
    Inventor: James L. Engle
  • Patent number: 4610184
    Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission requiring no external controls is shown in its preferred embodiment of the present invention as including a power housing rotatably mounted on an input and an output shaft. The output shaft includes a planetary cage and planetary gears located in the interior of the power housing. The planetary gears are in gearing relation with a sun gear located on the input shaft in the interior of the power housing and also in gearing relation with a ring gear formed as part of the power housing. Lubricant is provided in the interior of the power housing. If the load is sufficient to cause slippage, the resistance of the load coupled to the input rotation causes the power housing to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of the input and output shafts when the output is initially accelerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Inventor: Paul Taylor
  • Patent number: 4610181
    Abstract: A power transmission device for starting in forward or reverse, particularly for a motor vehicle having a heat engine, characterized in that it comprises a simple three-pinion planetary gear train associated with a clutch and brake to give reduced energy dissipation during starting in reverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventors: Daniel Houley, Patrice Baudoin
  • Patent number: 4607542
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission wherein a first friction unit (C3) is engaged in downshifting from the 4th speed ratio to the 3rd speed ratio and it is engaged in downshifting from the 4th speed ratio to the 2nd speed ratio. A first port (124g) of a 3-4 shift valve (24) communicates with the first friction unit (C3) and it is allowed to communicate with a second port (124h) when the 3-4 shift valve (22) assumes a downshift position thereof. The second port (124h) communicates via a first passage (454) with a fluid conduit (412) supplied with an actuating fluid pressure. A second passage (452) is provided which connects the second port (124h) to the fluid conduit (412). The first and second passages are provided with first and second orifice devices (662, 660), respectively. The second fluid passage (452) is blocked when a 2-3 shift valve (22) assumes a downshift position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Sugano
  • Patent number: 4604914
    Abstract: A reaction brake band assembly for a multiple ratio power transmission mechanism comprising a brake drum connected to a gear element of the transmission mechanism, and a reaction piston engaged by the anchor end of the brake band for applying a threshold brake band force and for cushioning brake band application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Alan R. Fisher
  • Patent number: 4602527
    Abstract: A differential for motor vehicles and the like effectively providing smooth power transmission from an input drive shaft driving two gears fixed axially spaced thereon driving with pin-like teeth, on side faces thereof, a driven gear having peripheral teeth oval in cross section and coaxial with two output bevel sun gears disposed opposed and having respective power output shafts for differential driving of the motor vehicle left and right wheels during turns. The output sun gears are disposed concentric with the driven gear with a common axis of rotation normal to the axis of rotation of the drive gears. The sun gears are driven differentially during vehicle turns by two bevel planetary gears each having as axis of rotation fixed in the driven gear and extending radially toward the axis of rotation common with the sun gears and symmetrical to the axis of rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Shigeru Tamiya
    Inventor: Shigeru Tamiya
  • Patent number: 4602519
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of automobile transmissions, and is specifically directed to the method of modifying a standard multi-speed transmission to obtain a lightweight two speed racing transmission, having an improved power to weight ratio, and a simplified shifting pattern, which are particularly desirable for modified, sprint, and stock cars racing on oval tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Inventors: John Atkins, Michael A. Bonicelli, Charles E. Conser
  • Patent number: 4599917
    Abstract: Automatic transmission with stepped ratios for vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a system inhibiting untimely changes to the higher ratio, which system is arranged so that, on the one hand it generates a negative acceleration curve (3) located mainly below the up shift (1) and down shift (2) curves and an increasing throttle opening curve (4) located slightly above the negative acceleration curve and, on the other hand, it only enables the shift up to the higher ratio if the value of the opening (.alpha.c) settles down, i.e. stops varying for a minimum time and if the corresponding configuration point in the plane of the vehicle speeds and throttle openings lies either between the up shift curve (1) and the negative acceleration curve (3) if the opening varies in the decreasing direction, or between the increasing opening curve (4) and the up shift curve (1) if the opening varies in the increasing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventors: Francois Leorat, Gerard Pannier
  • Patent number: 4599918
    Abstract: A control system for a motor vehicle drive unit consisting of reciprocating piston engine and of a transmission, in which the drive unit is so controlled that the engine power corresponding to the respective drive pedal position lies always as close as possible but below a stored engine output curve; for that purpose, the engine rotational speed, the drive pedal position, and the engaged transmission speed are determined, whose values are fed to a control apparatus which, in addition to the storage device for the engine power function, also contains stored values for the transmission speeds and which determines and controls the optimum transmission speed in several interrogating and comparison cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Stelter, Rainer Wuest, Peter op de Beeck, Gerd Bofginer
  • Patent number: 4597310
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for cylinders, such as drying cylinders, in a paper machine of the type which comprises a number of cogwheels, such as gears, which intermesh to constitute a gear transmission. The cogwheels of the gear transmission are fitted within a casing situated on the side of the drying section of the paper machine, and in accordance with the invention, both the cogwheel shafts as well as the axle journal of the drying cylinder to be driven are rotatably mounted or journaled to the same casing. The casing in which the cogwheels are fitted is substantially trapezoidal in shape, preferably a "regular" trapezoid (the non-parallel sides are substantially equal in length). Several such trapezoidally-shaped casings may be co-operatively mounted in the drying section to form a composite drive arrangement for the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Valmet Oy
    Inventor: Vaino Panttila
  • Patent number: 4597312
    Abstract: A convertible single speed single reduction drive axle (200) convertible to a shiftable two speed planetary double reduction drive axle (10) is provided. The convertible drive axle (200) utilizes a locking gear (204) and locking gear pins (206) with the same components as found in a two speed double reduction axle (10) with the exception of several components such as the sliding clutch gear (94), idler pinion gears (84), high speed clutch plate (90), clutch plate dowel pins (92), idler pinion pins (88), shift fork (112) and thrust washer (126), which are not utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Bradford W. Hicks, Jeffrey O. Rolf, Lewis J. Valentine