Abstract: The invention relates to a final drive assembly. An axle final drive assembly includes an axle housing, and axially inner and outer axle bearings supported by the axle housing. An axle shaft has a flange and is supported for rotation by the outer axle bearing. A planetary transmission has a planet carrier fixed for rotation with the flange of the axle shaft. The planet carrier has a neck which is supported for rotation by the inner axle bearing. The planetary transmission also has a ring gear and a plurality of planet gears which are positioned axially between the inner and outer axle bearings.

Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle includes an input shaft, a carrier sun shaft, and an output shaft. A planetary gear set includes a sun gear coupled with the carrier sun shaft, a ring gear coupled with the output shaft, and a plurality of planetary gears enmeshed between the sun gear and the ring gear. A plurality of shift elements each include a first gear coupled with the input shaft, and a second gear coupled with the carrier sun shaft and enmeshed with the first gear. A plurality of shift clutches are each selectively coupled between a corresponding shift element and the input shaft or carrier sun shaft. A low range clutch is selectively coupled between the input shaft and the plurality of planetary gears. A high range clutch is selectively coupled between the carrier sun shaft and the output shaft. A reverse range clutch is selectively coupled between an immovable feature and the plurality of planetary gears.

Abstract: A hydromechanical powertrain for a ground vehicle. The powertrain, more specifically a transmission, includes an input shaft that is coupled to a rotational power source and an output shaft that is coupled to a load. A first hydrostatic unit coupled to a first gear, while a second hydrostatic unit is selectively coupled to one of a pair of clutches. The first of the clutches has a first clutch gear that is selectably coupled to a first mode gear, which is in turn rotationally fixed to the output shaft. The second of clutches has a second clutch gear that is selectively coupled to a second mode gear, which is in turn rotationally fixed to the input shaft. Also coupled to the input shaft is a planetary gear set.

Abstract: The invention relates to a final drive assembly. An axle final drive assembly includes an axle housing, and axially inner and outer axle bearings supported by the axle housing. An axle shaft has a flange and is supported for rotation by the outer axle bearing. A planetary transmission has a planet carrier fixed for rotation with the flange of the axle shaft. The planet carrier has a neck which is supported for rotation by the inner axle bearing. The planetary transmission also has a ring gear and a plurality of planet gears which are positioned axially between the inner and outer axle bearings.

Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle includes an input shaft, a carrier sun shaft, and an output shaft. A planetary gear set includes a sun gear coupled with the carrier sun shaft, a ring gear coupled with the output shaft, and a plurality of planetary gears enmeshed between the sun gear and the ring gear. A plurality of shift elements each include a first gear coupled with the input shaft, and a second gear coupled with the carrier sun shaft and enmeshed with the first gear. A plurality of shift clutches are each selectively coupled between a corresponding shift element and the input shaft or carrier sun shaft. A low range clutch is selectively coupled between the input shaft and the plurality of planetary gears. A high range clutch is selectively coupled between the carrier sun shaft and the output shaft. A reverse range clutch is selectively coupled between an immovable feature and the plurality of planetary gears.

Abstract: A hydromechanical powertrain for a ground vehicle. The powertrain, more specifically a transmission, includes an input shaft that is coupled to a rotational power source and an output shaft that is coupled to a load. A first hydrostatic unit coupled to a first gear, while a second hydrostatic unit is selectively coupled to one of a pair of clutches. The first of the clutches has a first clutch gear that is selectably coupled to a first mode gear, which is in turn rotationally fixed to the output shaft. The second of clutches has a second clutch gear that is selectively coupled to a second mode gear, which is in turn rotationally fixed to the input shaft. Also coupled to the input shaft is a planetary gear set.

Abstract: A back-up steering system is provided having a hydraulic pump, an accumulator, a mode control valve, a main solenoid valve, and a pair of back-up solenoid valves. The system is connected, to left and right service brakes. The hydraulic pump and the accumulator are both connected to a main hydraulic line. The main solenoid valve is connected to the main line, a common fluid sump, and the mode control valve. The back-up solenoid valves are each connected to the main line, the sump and the mode control valve. The service brakes are connected to the mode control valve. During normal operation the mode control valve is set so that the service brakes are in fluid communication with the mode control valve and the main solenoid valve. When the main solenoid valve is actuated the pump is in fluid communication with both service brakes for simultaneous actuation thereof, in response to operator induced braking.

Abstract: A transmission having one or more clutches and brakes wherein only one clutch or brake need be engaged to connect the input to the output is equipped with a two-step actuator valve arrangement in which two valves, arranged in series, must be opened before any clutch or brake is engaged to power the output shaft. A single first-step actuator valve is arranged in series with a plurality of second-step actuator valves. Each of the second-step valves controls a clutch or brake.

Abstract: A transmission having one or more clutches and brakes wherein only one clutch or brake need be engaged to connect the input to the output is equipped with a two-step actuator valve arrangement in which two valves, arranged in series, must be opened before any clutch or brake is engaged to power the output shaft. A single first-step actuator valve is arranged in series with a plurality of second-step actuator valves. Each of the second-step valves controls a clutch or brake.

Abstract: In a hydro-mechanical transmission having a hydrostatic unit and a mechanical gear train, the hydrostatic unit is resiliently mounted in the transmission housing to reduce the transmission of noise and vibration to the housing. Movement of the hydrostatic unit is facilitated by mounting the planetary carrier on a ball bearing instead of taper roller bearings. The ball bearing allows the carrier limited movement transverse to the axis of rotation of the carrier. To further reduce wear of the gear faces, one or more of the meshing gears at the point of relative movement have crowned gear faces rather than straight gear faces. This avoids a single line of contact of the meshing teeth at the tooth edge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a restricted or bypassed transmission oil filter by providing pressure transducers on both sides of the oil filter whereby the pressure differential will indicate the extent of filter restriction. A first alarm is activated at a first pressure differential to indicate a restricted filter and the need for filter replacement. A second, higher level, alarm is activated to indicate the filter is bypassed and the engine is reduced in speed to allow the pressure and the pressure differential to drop to the point that the filter is no longer bypassed. This enables the vehicle to be operated with limited capabilities to allow the vehicle to be driven to the shop for filter replacement. If the lowered engine speed is insufficient to reduce the pressure differential to stop the bypass, then the engine speed is further reduced to a low idle and the transmission shifted to neutral.

Abstract: The output speed of a hydrostatic unit in a transmission is determined using a pair of variable reluctance sensors, one on a gear driven by the hydrostatic unit output and the other on the carrier of the planetary system. One of the two sensors will always be measuring a relatively high speed from which the hydro output is directly determined or indirectly determined using the current engine speed. Thus the frequency of the speed sensor used to determine the hydrostatic unit output speed is not decreased at slow hydrostatic unit output speeds.

Abstract: A transmission with a mechanical cold start valve that dumps the pump output to the suction side of the pump to prevent oil pressure build up and thereby prevent pump toque loads from being applied to the engine during engine cranking. The oil eventually forces the valve closed after oil passes through a long orifice passage. The length of time for this to occur is dependent on the oil temperature and the length and diameter of the orifice passage. In colder temperatures, more time will be required for the valve to close, thus aiding in the cold starting of the engine.

Abstract: A hydro-mechanical transmission having a planetary system with three planetary gear sets including a reversing planetary gear set together with two clutches and a reverse brake to provide an infinitely adjustable speed change over the speed range from −20 kph to 60 kph without an additional direction change gear set. The transmission has two forward speed ranges and one reverse speed range. The planetary system has fixed mechanical and hydrostatic power input elements and a fixed output element. The low and high range clutches and the reverse brake direct power flow through the transmission along different paths to produce the different gear ratios. Transmission efficiency is maximized at the field use speed and the transport road speed where an agricultural tractor is most often operated.