Patents by Inventor W. Gene Stevens

W. Gene Stevens has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4771647
    Abstract: A countershaft transmission includes first and second directional clutches and first, second and third speed clutches of the hydraulically actuated, rotating disc type to provide three forward speeds and three reverse speeds for a track-type tractor or the like. Included is an input shaft with first and second gears connected to rotate therewith that define midplanes normal to the input shaft. The directional clutches and the speed clutches are located axially between the midplanes in radially aligned relationships and a plurality of other constantly meshing gears are used including at least one pair of gears located axially exteriorly of the midplanes for compactness and to promote speed reduction ratio flexibility. A second embodiment provides six forward speeds by adding a directional clutch and another gear within the same compact dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: W. Gene Stevens
  • Patent number: 4146120
    Abstract: A transmission control assembly for a transmission having an input clutch movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, a plurality of gears, a shaft, and a plurality of sliding collars selectively coupling the gears to the shaft, the control assembly including an input clutch control system having a manually operated input clutch control member movable between a first position and a second position for respectively selecting the engaged and disengaged positions of the input clutch, a shift control mechanism for urging one of the sliding collars into an active position connecting one of the gears to the shaft, the shift control mechanism having a manually operated speed control member movable between a plurality of speed positions, and an interlock control system for automatically preventing movement of the speed control member between the speed positions until the input clutch control member is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1979
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: W. Gene Stevens
  • Patent number: 4142421
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement for a vehicle includes a housing assembly mounted on the rear end of the vehicle, a tubular transmission input shaft supported substantially within the housing assembly, an engine driven shaft extending through the transmission input shaft, and an input clutch assembly connected between the engine driven shaft and the transmission input shaft for selectively coupling them together, the input clutch assembly being adjacent and accessible through a rear cover of the housing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: W. Gene Stevens, Raymond P. Cobb
  • Patent number: 4126201
    Abstract: A compact transmission arrangement for a vehicle includes a constant mesh transmission and a bevel gear driven by the transmission which are mounted within a common housing assembly releasable from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1978
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: W. Gene Stevens
  • Patent number: 4074592
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission couples a plurality of input driven planetary arrangements with a plurality of selectable direct drive gear reduction means. The plurality of input driven planetary arrangements include a reverse planetary gear arrangement and in the preferred embodiment two forward planetary gear arrangements. The two forward planetary gear arrangements, each of which includes a ring gear which may be stopped, share a common planet carrier which drives the selectable direct drive gear reduction means. The reverse planetary gear arrangement includes a planet carrier which may be stopped, thus an associated reverse ring gear rotates in an opposite direction relative the input shaft. The reverse ring gear is coupled to the common planet carrier of the forward planet section. The direct drive section includes three drive gears in the preferred embodiment rotatably mounted on a quill shaft driven by the common planet carrier and coaxially mounted about the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: W. Gene Stevens, Willis E. Windish
  • Patent number: 4074581
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission couples a planetary type reduction section and a multi range speed section by means of a directional drive section. The planetary reduction section provides two underway speed ranges for each speed and direction combination selected in the multi range speed section and directional drive section. The two speed ranges available in the planetary reduction section are obtained through a rotating clutch selectively operable to engage the planet carrier with the input shaft to drive an output sun gear interconnected with the directional drive section, and a brake to stop rotation of the planet carrier relative the input shaft to allow the output sun gear to be driven by planet gears mounted on the planet carrier. Coaxial arrangement of the directional drive section about the input shaft permits direct drive of a power takeoff coupling mounted on the input shaft and further allows mounting of an accessory drive gear on the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: W. Gene Stevens