Speed Responsive Clutch Or Brake Patents (Class 475/293)
  • Patent number: 10871204
    Abstract: A manual transmission unit has at least one input shaft, a transmission output shaft, a first intermediate shaft, a second intermediate shaft, a traction device, a plurality of gears and at least two traction wheels and a plurality of torque transmission devices for selectively connecting tooth and traction wheels to at least one of the shafts. Torque from the transmission input shaft can be transferred directly to the transmission input shaft by the traction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Schleich
  • Patent number: 8968143
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input member, an output member, a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms that are selectively engageable to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member, and one or more latches associated with one or more of the torque-transmitting mechanisms. The one or more latches engages the respective torque-transmitting mechanisms during or prior to a start event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Casie M. Bockenstette, Robert L. Moses, Carlos E. Marin, Zhen J. Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150051039
    Abstract: A planetary gear set module having planetary gear set and a biasing member. The biasing member may exert a biasing force on a component of the planetary gear set and may permit the component to rotate when sufficient torque is provided to overcome the biasing force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Keeney, Mark Smith, Lon Cooper
  • Publication number: 20140274548
    Abstract: A clutch for a power tool includes an adjustment ring configured to move axially relative to the housing while being rotated relative to the housing. A spring retainer is disposed axially rearward of the adjustment ring. The spring retainer is coupled for rotation together with the adjustment ring and configured to remain substantially axially stationary relative to the housing when rotated. A spring is disposed between the adjustment ring and the spring retainer. A clutch face is coupled to a portion of the transmission. A locking member is disposed between the spring retainer and the clutch face. The locking member is configured to transfer a holding force exerted by the spring to the clutch face. Rotation and axial movement of the adjustment ring alters the holding force exerted by the spring. When an amount of output torque exceeds the holding force, torque transmission to the output spindle is effectively interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Kelleher, Daniel L. Krout, David C. Tomayko
  • Publication number: 20140080657
    Abstract: A family of transmissions has four planetary gear sets, five controllable clutches and brake, and a passive one way brake. Selective engagement of the brakes and clutches in combinations of three produces eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The passive one way brake is engaged in the first forward speed ratio and overruns in the second through fifth forward speed ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Daniel Goleski, Steven Gerald Thomas, Reid Alan Baldwin
  • Publication number: 20140024489
    Abstract: A planetary gear set for a power tool is described, in particular for an electrically operated hand-held power tool. The planetary gear set has multiple gear stages, the planetary wheels of a gear stage, to which a movable annulus gear is assigned, being at least supported on shafts via rolling elements, the rolling elements being held on an assigned planet carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas Heber, Oliver Drews
  • Patent number: 8579755
    Abstract: A passive mechanical torque converter includes an input member which is coupled to an input of a first centripetal clutch. The output of the first centripetal clutch is coupled to both one element of a planetary gear assembly and the input of a second, double sided centripetal clutch. Another element of the planetary gear assembly is coupled to one side of a one way (overrunning) clutch, the other side of which is grounded. The output of the double sided centripetal clutch and the third element of the planetary gear assembly are coupled to an output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Andrew W. Phillips
  • Patent number: 8540600
    Abstract: A multi-speed transmission includes an input member, an output member, a stationary member, and a first and a second compound planetary gear set. The first compound planetary gear set has a first, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth member. The second compound planetary gear set has a first, a second, a third, and a fourth member. The first member of the second compound planetary gear set is continuously connected for common rotation with the output member. An interconnecting member continuously connects the first member of the first compound planetary gear set for common rotation with the second member of the second compound planetary gear set. The transmission has seven torque-transmitting mechanisms, including three brakes and four rotating-type clutches, that are engagable to establish up to fourteen forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Filippovich Kraynev, Vladimir Konstantinovich Astashev, Konstantin Borisovich Salamandra, Madhusudan Raghavan
  • Patent number: 8469855
    Abstract: A multi-speed transmission module is provided that can passively and automatically upshift and downshift between two speed ratios, even if the speed of the output member does not decrease. The transmission module includes a planetary gear set. A torque-transmitting mechanism is engageable to connect the two members of the planetary gear set for common rotation. A centripetal member is configured to apply a first axial force urging engagement of the torque-transmitting mechanism. The first axial force increases as the speed of the output member increases. A torque-to-thrust actuator, such as a ball screw actuator, is connected for rotation with the input member and is configured to apply a second axial force opposing engagement of the torque-transmitting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Andrew W. Phillips
  • Patent number: 8454473
    Abstract: A two-speed transmission for transmitting a drive torque of a vehicle, having an input shaft drivable by a drive unit, a planetary gear system with sun gear, planet gears, planet carriers and ring gear and an output shaft, the sun gear having a rotationally fixed connection to the input shaft and the planet carrier having a rotationally fixed connection to the output shaft, and having a regulatable clutch system whereby the planet carrier can be fixed either relative to the input shaft or relative to the ring gear, and having an exclusively engageable and disengageable clutch system whereby the ring gear can be fixed relative to a housing that supports the planetary gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dierk Reitz
  • Publication number: 20130029804
    Abstract: In an assembly with a planetary gear train, which includes the elements sun gear, planet carrier with planetary gears and ring gear, two elements, in particular the sun gear and the planet carrier, are coupled with each other via an overrunning clutch. A clutch bridges the overrunning clutch. Bridging is discontinuous and controlled by a control device based on the relative rotation of the two elements to be coupled. For example, one rotation speed sensor can measure the rotation speed of an electric machine, whereas another rotation speed sensor can measure the rotation speed of a crankshaft of an combustion engine. In a motor vehicle, the combustion engine can be coupled with an electric machine, using different gear ratios during startup or boosting and in generator operation. In addition, the electric machine can drive an air-conditioning compressor when the combustion engine is not running.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Andreas Misala
  • Patent number: 8157694
    Abstract: In an outboard motor having a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power of an engine to a propeller, the power transmission mechanism has a transmission ratio changing unit having a planetary gear train including a sun gear, planetary gears, and an internal gear. The internal gear is connected to an input side shaft on the engine side. The planetary gears are connected to an output side shaft on the propeller side. The sun gear is connected to a stationary portion via a one-way clutch. The planetary gears and the internal gear and/or the sun gear are connected by an on-off clutch. When the on-off clutch is disengaged, the one-way clutch is engaged and the speed from the input side shaft is outputted from the output side shaft with a reduced speed. When the on-off clutch is engaged, the speed from the input side shaft is outputted from the output side shaft with the same speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakamura, Yoshihiko Okabe
  • Patent number: 8137231
    Abstract: An automatic transmission for an electric vehicle hub includes an external motor rotor fixedly connected with a motor shaft; a sun gear; at least three first planet gears; and at least three second planet gears coaxially fixed with the corresponding first planet gears and which are engaged with the sun gear. The first and the second planet gears are respectively engaged with first and second internal gears, and the second internal gear has a diameter greater than that of the first internal gear. The rotating disk is arranged between the first internal gear and the second internal gear, and a hub is fixed to exterior of the rotating disk. The automatic transmission further includes a clutch device, making the rotating disk and the first internal gear contact with each other for a transmission of slower rpm, and when the rpm reaches critical, at a high-speed rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Fairly Bike Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiang-Yi Lin
  • Patent number: 8113981
    Abstract: A multi-speed transmission includes a first power transmission module driven by an input shaft. A second power transmission module is driven by the first power transmission module. A third power transmission module is driven by the second power transmission module and drives an output shaft. Each power transmission module includes an actuation mechanism and a planetary gearset. Each actuation mechanism controls the output of its respective planetary gearset to one of a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio. One of the actuation mechanisms includes a clutch and a spring biasing a member to rotate and cause a corresponding actuation of the clutch. The clutch causes two members of the respective planetary gearset to rotate at substantially the same speed and provide the first gear ratio. The actuation mechanism selectively restricts the member from rotating and prevent actuation of the clutch to provide the second gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: MAGNA Powertrain USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm E. Kirkwood, Dumitru Puiu
  • Patent number: 8105199
    Abstract: A power transmission mechanism transferring a power output from an engine to a propeller includes a transmission planetary gear train that transforms the output power of the engine before it is transferred to the propeller. The transmission planetary gear train includes a transmission sun gear, a transmission double planetary gear set, and a transmission internal gear, in which the transmission sun gear is connected via the first clutch to the input end shaft extending into the engine, and the transmission sun gear is also connected via the second one-way clutch to the housing. In addition, the transmission double planetary gear set is connected via the second clutch to the input end shaft extending into the engine, and the transmission double planetary gear set is also connected via the first one-way clutch to the housing. Further, the transmission internal gear is connected to the output end shaft extending toward the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Okabe
  • Patent number: 8047955
    Abstract: A two-stage machine tool transmission, in particular a spindle drive transmission, includes a planetary gearset in which a spindle or a spindle insert can be connected to a drive output of a transmission, which has a first drive output shaft and the second drive output shaft, such that the first drive output shaft is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a drive input shaft and can optionally be connected, via a first shift element, to a sun gear of the planetary gearset. The second drive output shaft is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a carrier of the planetary gearset. A ring gear of the planetary gearset is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the transmission housing and a second shift element is provided such that a connection between the spindle or a spindle insert and, optionally, the first or the second drive output shaft, is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Harald Eckert
  • Patent number: 7914413
    Abstract: An automatic transmission that is structured such that the first clutch, the third clutch, and the fourth clutch are disposed in an axial direction more toward the speed-reduction planetary gear than the planetary gear unit; friction plates of the first clutch are disposed so as to be offset in the axial direction with respect to friction plates of the third clutch and friction plates of the fourth clutch; and the friction plates of the fourth clutch are disposed such that at least a portion thereof coincides in the axial direction with the friction plates of the third clutch on an inner peripheral side of the friction plates of the third clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nishida, Hiroshi Katou, Masashi Kitou, Yuichi Seki, Hiroki Shintani
  • Patent number: 7873457
    Abstract: A power transfer assembly for use in a four-wheel drive vehicle has a torque transfer mechanism equipped with a power-operated clutch actuator for controlling adaptive engagement of a friction clutch and a control system for controlling actuation of the clutch actuator. The control system and its method of operation are adapted to control actuation of the clutch actuator based on whether the vehicle is operating in an engine drive mode or an engine coast/braking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: MAGNA Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Thomas Christöfl, Martin Parigger, Andreas Teuschel
  • Patent number: 7867132
    Abstract: A gear transmission comprises a traveling load detection element including an upstream detection member, a downstream detection member and a biasing member. One of the upstream and downstream detection members is an axially slidable detection member which is axially slidable along an output shaft. One of the upstream and downstream detection members has a first engagement part and a second engagement part. The first engagement part and the second engagement part generate respective forces for sliding the axially slidable detection member opposite to the biasing direction of the biasing member. The forces are changed according to variation of the traveling load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Tomoyuki Ebihara, Hiroshi Tottori, Kazunari Koga
  • Publication number: 20100323839
    Abstract: A forward-reverse switching device for a vehicle includes a planetary gear set and a one-way clutch coupled to any two rotating elements among first, second and third rotating elements, each corresponding to any one of a ring gear, a carrier and a sun gear, of the planetary gear set. The first rotating element is coupled to a driving force source. The third rotating element is coupled to a drive wheel. Rotation of the second rotating element is prohibited to rotate the third rotating element in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the first rotating element. The first to third rotating elements are integrally rotated to rotate the third rotating element in the same direction as the first rotating element. The one-way clutch is engaged when the rotational speed of the third rotating element exceeds the rotational speed of the first rotating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kawai
  • Publication number: 20090203489
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine that generates power and a transmission device arranged to change the speed of rotation of the engine and to transmit the rotation to a propeller. The transmission device includes a planetary gear type transmission mechanism arranged to shift to any of a plurality of speed positions, and the planetary gear type transmission mechanism is controlled to shift such that a sun gear and planetary gears unitarily rotate when a speed position is a normally used speed position. The outboard motor achieves a reduction in load normally caused by engagements between gears in a normally used speed position and also achieves significant improvement in durability of the gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiko OKABE, Daisuke NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 7559870
    Abstract: A torque limiting coupling including: (a) an input gear (7) and an output (8) gear interconnected by a torque limiting device; (b) gear chain (9) interconnecting the input and output gears; and (c) a torque limiting device which retains the gear train (7, 8, 9) to prevent relative rotation of the gear train (7, 8, 9) and the input (7) and output gears (8) to provide a 1:1 input output ratio below a predetermined level of input torque and releases the gear train to allow relative rotation between the input (7) and output gears (8) at or above the predetermined level whereby excess torque is dissipated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Orbital 2 Ltd
    Inventor: Raymond John Hicks
  • Patent number: 7462126
    Abstract: A vehicular automatic transmission is provided with a reduction planetary gear for reducing and outputting an inputted rotation of an input shaft, first and third clutches for enabling the transmission of a reduced rotation reduced through the reduction planetary gear, a planetary gear unit having second and third sun gears to which the reduced rotation is transmitted by the first and third clutches and a fourth clutch for enabling the transmission of the inputted rotation to the second sun gear. The fourth clutch is linked to the second sun gear of the planetary gear unit via output side members, i.e., a clutch drum and a link member, of the third clutch to commonly use as the output side members. Thereby, the automatic transmission may be compactly built.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Fukuyama, Toshihiko Aoki, Minoru Todo, Kazuhisa Ozaki, Takuya Fujimine, Takuya Ishii, Tomochika Inagaki, Yousuke Andoh
  • Patent number: 7351180
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic speed changing device in which speed is automatically changed according to a predetermined amount of rotation without user's arbitrary manipulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: MBI, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Moon-Soo Yoo
  • Patent number: 7300376
    Abstract: An electromagnetic selection device of a two-stage planetary gear set (1) having one input shaft (2) and one output shaft (3), one sun gear (8), one ring gear (11), one planet carrier (10) with planetary gears (9), one transmission housing (6) and one sliding sleeve (14) for switching one first gear in which the ring gear (11) can be coupled with the housing (6) and one second gear in which the ring gear (11) can be coupled with the sun gear (8), the sliding sleeve (14) being movable by way of one electromagnet consisting of magnet coils (22, 23) and one armature (24). It is proposed that the armature (24) be situated rotatably, but axially fixed, upon the sliding sleeve (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Harald Eckert, Manfred Auer
  • Publication number: 20040147359
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a constant mesh clutch for transmission of rotational movement between an input and an output, comprising a first sun gear and a second sun gear, a number of planet gears in mesh with said sun gears and held in a carrier, wherein said carrier has a disc formed integral with it and extending radially for a caliper fixed on the flywheel house to apply a braking force upon it; and said second sun gear has a shaft formed integral with it and serving to carry said first sun gear. As a different braking force is applied on said disc, the power transmitted from said first sun gear through said planet gears to said second sun gear also changes, thus realizing a stepless transmission of power between an input and an output. The constant mesh clutch of the present invention is not only simple in structure and easy to maintain, but also has a high efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Wai Hung Ip
  • Patent number: 6648790
    Abstract: The family of transmissions has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission family members include three planetary gear sets with two brakes, four clutches and three fixed interconnections. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to at least one member of the planetary gear arrangement and an output member that is continuously connected with another of the planetary gear members. The two brakes and four clutches provide interconnections between various gear members and with the transmission housing, the input or output shaft, and the three fixed interconnections, and are operated in combinations of two to establish at least seven forward speed ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Madhusudan Raghavan, Patrick Benedict Usoro, Norman Kenneth Bucknor
  • Patent number: 6464613
    Abstract: A device and method for shifting the operating speed of a machine while under load. The machine includes a casing, an input and output shaft. The device includes a clutch mechanism, a primary carrier, a cluster gear, a ring gear, a first and second gear. The clutch mechanism is operably associated with the input shaft. The primary carrier is operably coupled to rotate the output shaft. The cluster gear is rotatably coupled to the primary carrier. The first gear is rotatably mounted within the casing and second gear is rotatably mounted on the first gear. The first and second gear are in mesh with the cluster gear. The cluster gear is adapted to rotate around the first and second gears on primary carrier when one of the first gear and the second gear is engaged thereby rotating the output shaft at the operating speed corresponding to the engaged gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Eskridge Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall Kolb, Darrell L. Durham
  • Patent number: 5865703
    Abstract: Multi-stage change of speed between an input shaft and an output shaft on the same axis in a casing is achieved by planetary gear systems provided in multi-stages on the same axis in the casing. Sun gears 4 of plural groups of the planetary gear systems, having different velocity ratios, are fixed to one shaft. Carriers of each group of the planetary gear systems are connected to the other shaft to rotate as one body. A braking device can brake an internal gear of each group of the planetary gear systems individually, thus causing only the planetary gear system of a desired velocity ratio to perform transmission of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Shiokawa, Shozo Shiokawa
  • Patent number: 5628234
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator has two motors which normally operate at the same speed and combine (sum) to move a load via a rotary actuator output member. If the motors begin to operate at different speeds, this indicates that the system has failed, and the output member is automatically decoupled from the remainder of the actuator. This leaves the output member free to rotate relative to the remainder of the actuator. The speeds of the motors are monitored by a differential mechanism which produces a rotary output proportional to the average of the two motor speeds. This average is normally the same as the speed of the output member. Decoupling of the output member occurs when this average deviates from the output member speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: GEC-Marconi Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: David J. C. Crook, Eugene E. Shube
  • Patent number: 5492512
    Abstract: A brake system for an automobile comprises a planetary gear set, a clutch operating unit and an emergency braking unit. The planetary gear set is disposed between gear and clutch assemblies of the automobile and includes a bell-shaped casing with a central neck connected securely to an input shaft of the gear assembly. The bell-shaped casing has an annular wall portion with an internal thread therein, a sun gear disposed centrally in the casing and fixed to a clutch shaft of the clutch assembly which passes axially and centrally therethrough, and a planet gear which meshes with the internal thread of the casing and the sun gear. The planet gear has a planet shaft connected rotatably to a clutch shell of the clutch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Chung-Da Wu
    Inventor: Ying-Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 5478292
    Abstract: In a speed change gear system (1) in accordance with the present invention for changing between forward movement and rearward movement of a vehicle and for changing a speed of the vehicle by selectively fixing sun gears, carriers and ring gears of a plurality of epicyclic gear devices with respective mating clutches (8, 14, 24, 28), a brake (29) is connected to an output shaft (21) of this speed change gear system (1) to share energy absorption of the respective clutches, and the hydraulic pressure for the brake (29) is controlled in accordance with a rotation rate of the output shaft (21). Therefore, these clutches (8,14,18,24,28) can be small-sized. When the brake (29) is released, a quantity of lubrication oil being supplied is reduced, and therefore the stirring resistance of the lubrication oil can be reduced, and the transmission efficiency can be satisfactory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masayuki Sato, Takashi Kuse
  • Patent number: 5372106
    Abstract: A drive assembly for auxiliary units of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, which may be mounted at an end wall of the internal combustion engine especially coaxially relative to the crankshaft, has two switchable gear stages between its input shaft, driven by the crankshaft and its output shaft, driving the auxiliary units. Gear changing is ejected by actuating a friction coupling. The friction coupling, in the connected condition, engages a direct gear and, in the disconnected condition, drives a reduction gear via a locking freewheeling device. An actuating assembly for the friction coupling includes adjusting discs which are held in a housing of the drive assembly so as to be arranged coaxially relative no the friction coupling and which are rotatable relative to one another. One of the adjusting discs, in the form of a supporting ring, is axially supported in the housing of the drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: GKN Automotive AG
    Inventor: John R. Botterill
  • Patent number: 5263906
    Abstract: A multi-speed mechanical automatic transmission has two planetary gear trains, each including a sun gear, planet gears mounted in a planet carrier, and a ring gear. The first planetary gear train provides low gear and direct drive; the second train modifies low gear operation of the first train to provide an intermediate gear operation. The first sun gear is fixed to an input shaft, and the first planet carrier drives an output shaft. The second planet carrier is coupled to rotate the first ring gear in one direction, and free wheels or selectively actuated friction brakes prevent rotation of the first and second ring gears in the opposite direction. The first planetary train has helical gears, and a direct drive clutch selectively couples the first ring gear to the first planet carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Antonov Automotive North America B.V.
    Inventor: Roumen Antonov
  • Patent number: 5083990
    Abstract: A two-speed power transmission for a power tool comprises a housing (10), an input shaft (20), an output shaft (15), a planetary gear (18) and a torque responsive gear shift mechanism (19) for directing torque through the planetary gear (18) in a high torque/low speed drive mode or past the planetary gear (18) in a low torque/high speed drive mode. The gear shift mechanism (19) comprises a driving member (26) connected to the sun wheel (21) of the planetary gear (18), a driven member (27) connected to the output shaft (15), and a number of axially movable coupling elements (30) arranged to intercouple in a first position the driving member (26) and the driven member (27) and intercouple in a second position the planet wheel carrier (24) of the planetary gear (18) and the driven member (27). The coupling elements (30) are continuously supported in the radial direction by an axially extending coupling sleeve (28) formed in one piece with the planet wheel carrier (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools AB
    Inventor: Erik R. Rahm
  • Patent number: 5083991
    Abstract: An automatic speed-variating system includes: a first speed-variating device formed on a driving rotating device such as a bike pedal and its driving chain sprocket having a first planetary gear system and a ratchet wheel for preliminarily manually variating a speed of the driving rotating device, and a second speed-variating device formed on a follower rotating device such as a follower chain sprocket formed on a bike rear wheel driven by the driving rotating device having at least a second planetary gear system operatively engageable with the follower chain sprocket by at least a centrifugal coupling for automatically variating a speed of the follower rotating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Inventor: Chung-Chieh Yang
  • Patent number: 4986556
    Abstract: A chainless motocross bicycle features a bicycle frame with no bottom bracket or seat post, a pedal drive shaft located on the axis of the rear wheel, and a single speed planetary transmission located inside the rear wheel hub. The transmission includes a ring gear with an integral extension of the ring gear clamped in the bicycle frame dropout on the right side; multiple planet gears rotatably mounted on a planet gear carrier driven by the pedal drive shaft, with each planet gear in constant mesh with the ring gear and with a sun gear rotatably mounted on the pedal drive shaft; and a conventional one way clutch coupling the sun gear with the wheel hub. The compact nature, low maintenance, and simplicity of this arrangement provides an attractive alternative to chain driven motocross bicycles which are conventionally ridden with the rider standing on the pedals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Inventor: Dirck T. Hartmann