Patents Examined by Lance W. Chandler
  • Combined torque proportioning and reduction drive assembly
    Patent number: 4074591
    Abstract: A power transfer mechanism incorporates a planetary or epicyclic gear set which may be shifted between high and low-range conditions to establish torque proportioning and locked-up reduction drive modes. In the high-range mode, the carrier defines an input member and the sun and ring gears define output members. In the low-range mode, the sun gear defines an input member, the carrier an output member, and the ring gear a reaction member. A shifting sleeve includes relatively rotatable elements slidable together as a unit for establishing high and low-range conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation
    Inventor: Wesley Marion Dick
  • Apparatus for changing the speed ratio between first and second displaceable members
    Patent number: 4073198
    Abstract: In a device such as a spectrophotometer with an associated chart recorder in which the speed ratio between a first displaceable member and a second displaceable member may be selectively changed within a predetermined range of speed ratios, in a first embodiment of invention which is mechanical in nature, a number of gear trains in constant mesh with each other are provided to obtain the different speed ratios. Each of the gear trains has associated therewith a rotary disc with circumferentially even spaced apertures, the gear train obtaining an input from the first displaceable member by means of arms rotatable concentric with the discs, the arms carrying a pin adapted to enter into positive engagement with any one aperture, the number apertures depending on the scale served by the associated gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: Perkin-Elmer Limited
    Inventor: Michael A. Ford
  • Transmission-ratio-changer for multiple-transmission-ratio transmission arrangement
    Patent number: 4073204
    Abstract: A multiple-transmission-ratio transmission arrangement includes at least first and second transmission-ratio-establishing units, for example brake bands and/or clutches, having hydraulically activated and unactivated states and operative in the hydraulically activated state for establishing respective first and second transmission ratios. An arrangement for changing the transmission ratio of the transmission arrangement comprises, in combination, a source of hydraulic activating fluid and conduits connected to the source and to the hydraulically activatable transmission-ratio-establishing units. Electrically controllable valves in the conduits are operative for alternately permitting and preventing the supply of hydraulic activating fluid to the transmission-ratio-establishing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: Voith Getriebe KG
    Inventor: Heinrich Dick
  • Powered wrist joint
    Patent number: 4073201
    Abstract: A powered wrist joint consisting of a base having a pitch member mounted thereon for rotation about a pitch axis and a pitch drive mounted on the base for driving the pitch member about the pitch axis and a yaw shaft mounted on the pitch member on a yaw axis which is disposed at right angles to and intersects the pitch axis. A housing is mounted on the yaw shaft for rotation about the yaw axis. A yaw drive is mounted in the housing for driving the housing about the yaw axis and a roll shaft is mounted for rotation in the housing about the roll axis which is disposed at right angles to the pitch and yaw axes and intersects the pitch and yaw axes at their point of intersection thereby to provide a common center of pitch, yaw and roll gyration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: Spar Aerospace Products Limited
    Inventors: Henry J. Taylor, Philip N. P. Ibbotson
  • Planetary gearing arrangement for a transmission
    Patent number: 4070927
    Abstract: A planetary gearing arrangement having a plurality of interconnected planetary gear sets controlled by friction drive establishing devices such as clutches and brakes for selectively establishing a plurality of forward drive ratios and a reverse drive ratio. The number of forward drive ratios available is one greater than the number of friction drive establishing devices. Each ratio change between the forward drives is accomplished by a single transition interchange of the friction drive establishing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Polak
  • Automatic control of lockable differentials
    Patent number: 4070924
    Abstract: A pilot source of fluid pressure allows the engagement of a lockable differential into a locked mode in response to a pressure signal directed to it. Metering of the signal is related to the operating condition of the implements being carried by the vehicle regardless of operator initiation of the differential locking control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Assignee: International Harvester Company
    Inventors: Emil F. Moreno, Ralph S. Hajek, Julius F. Marquardt
  • Multiple pinion concentric drive
    Patent number: 4070923
    Abstract: Multiple pinion concentric drive with a gear of large diameter fixed on a driven shaft having disposed before each drive pinion and connected thereto a rotatable drive gearing unit which in turn is connected with a distributor gearing for driving the rotatable drive gearing unit, which latter has an outer concentric wheel pivoting on its bearing support and its reaction moment acting against an elastic member such as a hydraulic piston cylinder unit. The elastic support of the reaction moments of outer concentric wheels has among other advantages, the advantage that no reaction moments of different magnitude can occur and thus all transmitted power components in the individual power branches driving each drive pinion are of equal magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Assignee: WGW Westdeutsche Getriebe und Kupplungswerke GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Benthake
  • Control valve for the working pressure of an automatic change-speed gear
    Patent number: 4070928
    Abstract: A control valve for the working pressure or for another pressure in an automatic transmission for vehicles, especially motor vehicles, in which a higher pressure fed in a throttled manner, possibly effective as pre-control pressure of a slide valve, is controlled in the manner of an excess pressure valve; the valve body of this control valve which is constructed as solenoid valve is acted upon by a control magnitude dependent on torque; the armature of the solenoid valve acts in the de-energized condition on the valve closure body with a predetermined force whereby this force is variable upon energization of the coil as a function of torque of the driving engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Arwed VON Koch
  • Device for changing the gear ratio of a variable speed gear mounted to a bicycle
    Patent number: 4065983
    Abstract: Discloses an electromechanical device for changing the gear ratio of a variable speed gear mounted to the hub of the rear wheel of a bicycle. The device consists of a changeover switch section to be mounted to the steering handle of the bicycle and an essential section to be coupled with the variable speed gear so as to operate the gear, said essential section includes a motor, gear means to be operated by said motor, and an electric circuit for connecting said motor to a power source. The electric circuit controls the motor according to the operation of the change-over switch and also controls the operation of the variable speed gear so that the gear ratio may be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1978
    Assignee: Maruishi Cycle Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Mimura
  • Multiple speed hub for a vehicle wheel
    Patent number: 4063469
    Abstract: In a multiple-speed hub for a bicycle or like vehicle, a driver is rotatably mounted on a shaft normally fixed on the bicycle frame. A hub shell whose axial ends are rotatably supported by the driver and the shaft respectively encloses a planetary gear transmission including a sun gear fixed on the shaft, an internally toothed ring gear and a planet carrier rotatable about the shaft axis, and a planet gear mounted on the carrier in simultaneous meshing engagement with the ring gear and sun gear. Two overrunning clutches are drivingly interposed between the ring and planet carrier respectively and the hub shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1977
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventor: Eduard Bergles
  • Compact planetary gear assembly
    Patent number: 4063470
    Abstract: A power transfer mechanism incorporates a planetary or epicyclic gear set which may be shifted between high and low-range conditions to establish direct drive and reduction ratio drive modes. The ring and planet gears are unloaded in high, thus avoiding vibration and wear commonly experienced when running locked up. The carrier defines an output member within which the planetary assembly is nested, thereby providing a shortened installation length for this type of unit. A shifting sleeve under the ring gear bearing support further shortens installation length. The sleeve includes a floating shift collar which does not disengage from the ring gear, thus eliminating one set of mesh points commonly encountered in this type of range selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1977
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation
    Inventor: Donald William Kelbel
  • Fuel injection control system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle
    Patent number: 4061055
    Abstract: A control system which controls the number of fuel-injected cylinders is used with an electronic type of automatic transmission system and includes compensating means or an engine operating parameter changing unit for changing a parameter fed to the transmission system to properly operate the same, thus increasing fuel economy or reducing fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Iizuka, Junichiro Matsumoto, Fumiaki Kato
  • Stepless speed change gear for motor propulsion systems of motor vehicles
    Patent number: 4060012
    Abstract: A stepless speed change gear of the type in which a main shaft and a driven shaft have respective pulleys formed by plates of controlled variable separation, interconnected by a vee belt. A drive shaft is housed coaxially within the main shaft and connected at one end through a friction clutch with a driving shaft of an engine, the other end of the drive shaft being connected to the main shaft through a reversing gear including an epicyclic gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1977
    Assignee: Sira Societa' Industriale Richerche Automotoristiche
    Inventor: Dante Giacosa
  • Transmission assembly comprising a main gearbox in series with countershafting providing at least two gear ratios
    Patent number: 4060005
    Abstract: The transmission assembly comprises a gearbox in series with countershafting providing two gear ratios.In order to allow an easy adaptation of the countershafting to a conventional gearbox and allow a change in the gear ratio of the countershafting while the vehicle is in motion, there is provided in the control mechanism of the countershafting a delay device. This device stores energy corresponding to changes in the position of a gear pre-selecting lever associated with the countershafting so long as the change gear lever of the gearbox is in a position in which a gear ratio of the gearbox is engaged. This device restores the energy as soon as the change gear lever is brought to its neutral position and allows the pre-selected gear of the countershafting to be engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1977
    Assignee: Automobiles Peugeot
    Inventor: Jean Remy Bost
  • Transmission for driving a movable element, particularly a component in a machine tool, at high speed or creep speed
    Patent number: 4059029
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission for driving a movable element, particularly a component in a machine tool, at high speed or creep speed, in the form of a divided drive having one branch for the transmission of high speed and one branch for the transmission of creep speed and at least one member in one of the two branches being locked when creep speed is selected. The invention provides that for high speed and creep speed a pulse motor is provided and that for compensating the error in the actual position of the movable element from its required position an adjusting clutch is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1977
    Inventor: Ingo M. Cawi
  • Transmission-regulating device for motor vehicle
    Patent number: 4058029
    Abstract: A device for regulating the transmission of a vehicle incorporating a speed variator and a reverse gear has a hydraulic regulating member and an electrically operated valve disposed in a discharge conduit of the member. Two parallel normally open arms of the energizing circuit of the valve may be closed by two switches respectively operated by a member connected to the accelerator of the vehicle and by a member connected to the reversing gear, energization of the electrically operated valve leading to an interruption of the discharge conduit of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme Automobiles Citroen
    Inventor: Andre F. Estaque
  • Driving system for use in motor vehicle
    Patent number: 4056988
    Abstract: A driving system acting in conjunction with a motor vehicle having a torque convertor coaxially coupled to the output shaft of the engine, and transfer means having a driving gear coaxially coupled to the output shaft of the overdrive means and a driven gear coupled to its driving gear. Overdrive means having a planetary gear mechanism are coaxially coupled to the output shaft of the torque convertor, and include an output shaft coupled to the driving gear of the transfer means. An automatic transmission is coaxially coupled to the driven gear of the transfer means and includes a planetary mechanism and friction engaging means to provide the desired mode of operation. A differential gear having a driving gear coupled to the output shaft of the automatic transmission drives the motor vehicle. The automatic transmission is positioned below the overdrive means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seitoku Kubo, Kojiro Kuramochi, Kunio Morisawa, Kiyoshi Ohnuma
  • Vehicle drive
    Patent number: 4056989
    Abstract: A drive system for a vehicle includes a fluid pump which drives a fluid motor which in turn drives a variable speed transmission of the type including an input toroidal disc, an output toroidal disc, and wheel means rollingly connecting the input and output discs, with the output disc being used to drive the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Walter M. Shaffer
  • Automatic multi-speed transmission and overdrive combination
    Patent number: 4056990
    Abstract: Automatic multi-speed transmission and overdrive combination in which during drive other than overdrive an engine input shaft drives a fluid torque converter, the turbine of which drives a turbine shaft which connects to the pinion carrier of a planetary gear set, from which drive is supplied, by the carrier or sun gear thereof, to the input shaft of a speed change unit for transmission of drive at requisite ratios to an output shaft. During overdrive, the torque converter is bypassed, the engine input shaft being connected directly to the turbine shaft, the sun gear of the planetary gear set is held stationary, and the speed change unit input shaft is coupled to the ring gear of the gear set, thereby permitting the rotary speed of the output shaft to be maintained while the engine speed is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Hatano
  • Variable output transmission
    Patent number: 4055091
    Abstract: The present invention relates to variable output transmissions which utilize mechanical square wave generators. The square wave generator comprises a plurality of relatively rotatable driver gears mounted on a first common shaft, and a plurality of driven gears mounted to the bevel gears of a differential, the differential carrier and pinion thereof being fixedly mounted on a second common shaft. The driven and driver gear meshingly engage, the rotation of the driver gears imparting a relative pattern of rotation to the driven gears to cause the differential carrier and the second shaft to rotate with an angular velocity determined by the relative angle of mounting the driver gears. The output angular velocity of the generators is applied to the output shaft of the transmission such that by varying the relative angle of mounting the driver gears the output of the transmission may be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1977
    Assignee: Ker-Train Systems N.V.
    Inventor: John Hugh Kerr