Abstract: An improved change speed planetary transmission (100) of the type utilizing planetary gearing (102) to drivingly connect an input shaft (12) to an output shaft (14) is provided. The planetary gearing includes a sun gear (104) fixed for rotation with the input shaft, planet gears (110) constantly meshed with the sun gear and rotationally supported on planet gear shafts (114) carried by a planet carrier (116) fixed for rotation with the output shaft and a ring gear (120) constantly meshed with the planet gears. The ring gear is selectively axially moveable relative to the transmission housing (18) and the sun gear and planet gears to a first position for positive engagement with a clutch member (134) fixed for rotation with the housing to provide an indirect ratio mode of operation and to a second axial position for positive engagement with a clutch member (126) fixed to the sun gear to provide a direct ratio mode of operation. In the direct ratio mode of operation of the transmission, the forces (2F.sub.

Abstract: An improved control for an automatic transmission, preferably an automatic mechanical transmission (10), is provided. The improved control includes an operator selectable mode of operation (D.sub.1) for off-road and other higher resistance vehicle operating conditions. In the off-road mode of operation, the central processing unit (30) will generate upshift commands in accordance with an upshift shift point profile (OHU) such that, assuming constant output shaft speed and throttle position, the engine (12) output power following an upshift will be at least as great as the engine output power prior to the upshift.

Abstract: A shift control mechanism (10) for use in cooperation with a shift bar housing assembly (16) of a change gear transmission of the type comprising a shift bar housing (14) in which a plurality of axially moveable shift rails (18, 20, 22 and 24) are mounted is provided. The shift control mechanism includes a control housing (12) in which a shift yoke (64) is pivotably mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis (68) in a direction (Y--Y) transverse the axes of the shift rails. A shift lever (48) carrying a shift finger (52) at one end thereof and a shift knob (56) at the other end thereof is pivotably mounted in the shift yoke about an independent pivot axis (62) for pivotal movement in the direction (X--X) parallel the axes of the shift rails relative to the shift yoke and control housing.

Abstract: An improved spider assembly (46) for expanding shoe drum brakes (10) of the type utilizing cantilever mounted anchor pin members (18) is provided. The anchor pin includes a pivot surface portion (62) and a slightly enlarged headed portion (66) extending from the outboard side of the spider member (14). A specially configured washer (80) is slidably received upon the pivot surface portion of the anchor pin and is of a sufficient outer diameter (82) to axially retain the brake shoe webs (26) upon the anchor pin. The washer (80) is provided with a radially extending portion (94) and an axially extending portion (84) extending from the outer periphery of the radially extending portion at a diameter (86) greater than the outer diameter (88) of the anchor pin.

Abstract: A shifting mechanism (10) for a change gear transmission is provided. The shifting mechanism includes a plurality of axially shiftable shift rails (16, 18, 20 and 22) each of which carry shift forks (24, 26, 28 and 30) for axial movement therewith. Each of the shift rails is provided with a shift notch (34) and a interlock notch (44) all of which will align when the shift rails are in the axially centered neutral positions thereof. A shift shaft-shift finger assembly (76) extends generally transversely to the shift rails and is mounted in the shift mechanism housing (12) for axial movement along and rotational movement about its axis (122). The shift shaft (84) is axially movable in the space partially defined by the peripheral surfaces of the interlock notches.

Abstract: An improved control method and control system for an automatic change gear transmission (10) driven by a throttle controlled engine (12) is provided. The control system includes a processing unit (30) for receiving inputs indicating at least throttle position (18) and engine speed (20) and for processing these inputs in accordance with a program to determine the correct engaged gear ratio and for issuing command signals to a transmission shifting mechanism (26). The processing unit includes logic rules to determine conditions of operator selected stable operating conditions and to lower the engine speeds at which upshifts are commanded in response to such determination.

Abstract: A remote master shift control mechanism (50) for mechanical shifting of a remotely controlled manual transmission (T) by applying a rotational (24) and an axial (22) motion to a connecting rod (20) operatively connected to the shift shaft (36) of the transmission is provided. The remote master shift control mechanism includes a master shift lever (66) which is attached to a master control shaft (54) by means of a clevis joint (81). The master control shaft is mounted in a control housing (52) for axial movement along and rotational movement about its axis (56) and includes at least one end (58) extending from the housing for operative (112) connection to the connecting rod.

Abstract: An automatic mechanical change gear transmission system (10) is provided. The transmisssion (12) is a splitter type comprising a main section (48) connected in series with a blocked splitter type auxiliary section (50). The auxiliary section blockers (172) and clutch members (164) are provided with ramps (218, 220, 222, 224) which will tend to align the blockers and ramps in a nonblocking condition under the influence of biasing spring (178) if the main section is in neutral. A control unit (38) receives input signals and commands transmission shifts in a sequence including shifting the main section into neutral and shifting the auxiliary section to a new ratio during each shift procedure.

Abstract: An improved two-way torque limiting coupling (10) of the type utilizing a single helical coil clutch (18) and an automatic slack adjuster utilizing same is provided. The coupling provides a driving connection between a first (12) and a second (14) rotatable adjacent members. The first member includes a bore (24) opening to an end (20) in which one end of coil clutch is received in interference fit to define an internal clutch interface (34) and the other member defines an annular outer periphery (26) about which the other end of the coil clutch is received in an interference fit to define an external clutch interface (36).

Abstract: A drum brake spider assembly (100) for an expanding shoe drum brake (10) having a removable anchor pin (18) is provided. A spider member (14) is provided with an anchor pin receiving bore (39) in which the anchor pin is removably received. The anchor pin receiving bore is provided with a first counterbore (114) at the inboard end thereof and a second counterbore (118) at the outboard end thereof. The anchor pin is provided with two annular grooves (122 and 124) in which are received first and second snap rings (128 and 130). The diameter (116) of the first counterbore is smaller than the outer diameter of the first snap ring when the snap ring is radially expanded sufficiently to remove same from the first groove in the anchor pin.

Abstract: A variable mechanical advantage/variable effective length shifting mechanism (30) is provided, preferably for shifting a synchronized positive clutch transmission. A compound mechanism comprises a first member (34) in the form of a variable mechanical advantage/variable effective length first class lever having a first lever portion (34), a second lever portion (42) and a fixed pivot axis (38), and a second member (44) in the form of a second class lever pivotably mounted about a pivot axis (70) extending substantially parallel to and spaced from the first pivot axis. A pivot pin (48) extending substantially parallel to the first and second pivot axis is slidably received in axially extending slots (46 and 84) provided in the first and second members, respectively. A resilient biasing member (58) is provided for resiliently biasing the pivot pin axially away from the first pivot axis and axially toward the second pivot axis.

Abstract: A variable mechanical advantage/variable effective length torque arm assembly (100) for a synchronized transmission is provided. The torque arm assembly comprises a substantially rigid body (102) fixedly mounted to a shift shaft (36) at one end (104) thereof for axial and rotational movement therewith. The body is provided with an axially extending elongated slot (106) in which a pivot pin (124) is received for pivotably attaching an axially movable control rod (22) to the body of the torque arm assembly. A biasing spring (134) bias the pivot pin to a first end of the slot closer to the axis of the shift shaft to define a first effective length (138) of the torque arm assembly which biasing force may be overcome by a sufficient resistance to rotation of the shift shaft (36) allowing the pivot pin to move away from the axis of the shift shaft to define a second effective length (140) of the torque arm assembly greater than the first effective length.

Abstract: An onboard tire inflation system (10) for controlling and/or monitoring the inflation pressure of a tire (18) from a remote control (22, 24) is provided. The system includes automatic valve means (32, 88) for isolating the interior chamber (20) of the tire and relieving fluid pressure on the rotary seals (78, 80, 82) during system steady state ("off") operating conditions.

Abstract: A variable mechanical advantage/effective length shift lever assembly (12) of the first class lever type for a synchronized transmission (10) is provided. The shift lever assembly comprises a relatively solid section (56 and 68) and a resiliently deflectable section (70). The shift lever assembly (12) defines a second portion (62) having a first effective length (72) when the deflectable section (70) is in the nondeflected position thereof and a second shorter effective length (80) upon deflection of the resiliently deflectable section (70).

Abstract: A removable reusable nut lock system (10) of the locking cap type for positively selectively removably retaining a standard nut (12) on the externally threaded end of a shaft (14) is provided. The lock nut assembly comprises an internally threaded bore (22) provided in the end of an externally threaded shaft having internal threads (24) of an opposite hand as the external threads (16) on the shaft. A locking cup member (26) is provided for slipping over the outer periphery of the nut for rotation therewith and the locking cup member is provided with a flange (32) having a plurality of ramp type ratchet teeth (38) on the outer periphery thereof. A locking cap member (28) is provided having an externally threaded stud (50) fixed thereto and a plurality of locking fingers (58, 60) extending radially outwardly and downwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A power screw type disc brake having an internal automatic slack adjustor of the single acting, clearance sensing type is provided. The actuating/clearance sensing mechanism (10) of the disc brake includes a power screw (18) selectively rotatable by means of a lever (12) which power screw is threadably engaged with a power nut (42) axially moveable but rotationally fixed relative to a housing (22). The power nut is resiliently urged by a spring (70) into constant engagement with a push rod member (50) which carries a pressure member (16) threadably attached thereto. The push rod member is axially and rotationally moveable relative to the housing and the pressure member (16) is axially moveable but rotationally fixed relative to the housing whereby rotation of the push rod member will result in axial movement of the pressure member for slack or running clearance adjustment purposes.

Abstract: An improved mainshaft gear retainer assembly (66, 68) for a twin countershaft (18, 18A) transmission (10) having at least one pair of floating mainshaft gears (44-46, 48-50) positioned close together in groups of two and clutchable to a mainshaft (40) one at a time by positive clutches (54, 56, 58) is provided. The improved mainshaft gear retainer assembly prevents axial movement of the two closely positioned gears and reacts the axial forces on a clutched one of the mainshaft gears toward and away from the other mainshaft gear to the mainshaft by means of thrust surfaces (78, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136) which are all rotating, or tending to rotate, at the same speed as the clutched mainshaft gear and the mainshaft. The gear retainer comprises relatively simple components and allows easy assembly and disassembly of the mainshaft gears and gear retainers from the mainshaft.

Abstract: A multiple substantially identical countershaft powershift transmission is provided. The transmission (10) comprises an input shaft (12) and preferably three (16, 18 and 20) input gears and an output gear (22) concentric and rotatable relative thereto. A plurality of substantially identical countershaft assemblies (42, 42A) carrying countershaft gears (54, 56, 58 and 60) constantly meshed with the input gears and output gear surround the input shaft and an output shaft (24) generally coaxial with input shaft (12) and carrying the output gear (22) rotationally fixed thereto are provided. A first double acting friction clutch mechanism (26) for selectively frictionally coupling first speed input gear (16) or third speed input gear (18) to the input shaft and a second double acting friction clutch mechanism (28) for selectively coupling second speed input gear (20) or fourth speed output gear (22) are provided and are concentric and driven by the input shaft (12).

Abstract: An improved expanding shoe drum brake (10) is provided. The brake includes a pair of brake shoes (20) pivotably retained on an anchor structure (18). The shoes include brake tables (22) and webs (26), the webs are resiliently urged by a spring (132) into constant sliding engagement with three guide surfaces (78, 88 and 114) to locate the webs on a plane (P) relative to the spider and to retain a substantially parallel relationship between the shoe friction material (24) and the brake drum (12) thereby minimizing the required running clearance (44) or slack of the brake.

Abstract: An improved expanding shoe drum brake (10) is provided. The brake includes a shaft-like mounting structure (42) for retaining the hook ends (40) of a heavy duty brake return spring (28). The retaining assembly includes a fixed portion (44) and an axially movable portion (46). The axially movable portion is normally abutting with the fixed portion but may be selectively axially moved away therefrom for assembly and disassembly of return spring (28) from the brake assembly (10).