Abstract: A ships propulsion transmission system with at least one engageable friction clutch (10, 18) in the drive line between the ship engine (28, 30) and propeller (26), characterized by a device (20, 70, 6, 14, 76, 108) for setting the operating pressure of the friction clutch (10, 18) during the starting up process time-dependent and sequentially so that the operating pressure during the starting up process, is at least once, at a peak level and then subsequently is at a lower intermediate level, before it then is held at the final level.

Abstract: A transmission includes multiple lay shaft branches driven by gearing on an input shaft. Each lay shaft branch engages a common output gear and includes a clutch. The input shaft is journalled within a hydraulically adjustable bearing which controls input shaft displacement. When friction clutches are employed in the branches, maximum input shaft displacement is provided after clutch engagement to compensate for different frictional forces in each clutch. If positive locking clutches are employed in the branches, maximum input shaft displacement is permitted prior to engagement of the second clutch to provide synchronism between the primary and secondary components of the second clutch. In one embodiment, the adjustable bearing comprises a thrust bearing which permits axial movement of the input shaft while the input shaft gearing comprises helical ring gears having opposite slope.