Abstract: One end of a rotatable mixer drum is journalled by a spherical bearing mounted on the housing of a power transmission having its rotary output coupled to the drum by a drive shaft which axially penetrates the bearing. Arcuate splines at opposite ends of the drive shaft mesh with gear teeth of the transmission output gearing and with gear teeth carried by the drum whereby the shaft is free to deflect with respect to the transmission gearing and the drum gearing when the spherical bearing deflects as a result of drum-to-transmission misalignment. The shaft is arranged with respect to the bearing and the gear teeth engaged by its splines so that the total deflection of the bearing is divided between the ends of the shaft.

Abstract: A multispeed constant mesh gear transmission includes an input shaft together with first, second and third intermediate shafts arranged in a diamond or cruciform configuration together with an output shaft having an axis of rotation lying in a plane including the input shaft and the third intermediate shaft. In two different embodiments each of the three intermediate shafts include two multiplate fluid actuatable clutches shiftable under load. A plurality of gear trains selectively drive an output shaft at six different rotative speed ratios with respect to the input shaft in one direction of rotation of the output shaft and at three different speed ratios in the opposite or reverse direction of rotation of the output shaft. In one embodiment a total of six clutches and fourteen gears provide for the speed ratios and in a second embodiment a total of twelve gears and six clutches provide for the six forward and three reverse speed ratios.

Abstract: One end of a rotatable mixer drum is journalled by a spherical bearing mounted on the housing of a power transmission having its rotary output coupled to the drum by a drive shaft which axially penetrates the bearing. Arcuate splines at opposite ends of the drive shaft mesh with gear teeth of the transmission output gearing and with gear teeth carried by the drum whereby the shaft is free to deflect with respect to the transmission gearing and the drum gearing when the spherical bearing deflects as a result of drum-to-transmission misalignment. The shaft is arranged with respect to the bearing and the gear teeth engaged by its splines so that the total deflection of the bearing is divided between the ends of the shaft.

Abstract: One end of a rotatable mixer drum is journalled by a spherical bearing mounted on the housing of a power transmission having its rotary output coupled to the drum by a drive shaft which axially penetrates the bearing. Arcuate splines at opposite ends of the drive shaft mesh with gear teeth of the transmission output gearing and with gear teeth carried by the drum whereby the shaft is free to deflect with respect to the transmission gearing and the drum gearing when the spherical bearing deflects as a result of drum-to-transmission misalignment. The shaft is arranged with respect to the bearing and the gear teeth engaged by its splines so that the total deflection of the bearing is divided between the ends of the shaft.

Abstract: A three speed powershift gear transmission includes a torque converter mounted on the input shaft and driven by a fluid actuated modulating clutch to provide fine speed control in two output speed ranges, direct drive in a higher speed range and a reversing drive provided by a duplex planetary gear set. A single countershaft mounts the driven gears of the three speed ranges. The first or lowest speed driven gear is mounted on an overrunning clutch and the second driven gear is connectable to the countershaft by a fluid actuated clutch. The direct drive or third gear is fixed to the countershaft and is drivingly engaged to the input shaft through a fluid actuated clutch. The duplex planetary gear includes a friction clutch responsive to axial gear reaction forces to lock the ring gear to the planet gear carrier in forward drive and a fluid actuated brake for arresting rotation of the ring gear to provide reverse rotation of the planet gear carrier and the transmission output shaft.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism includes a hydrokinetic torque converter and a friction clutch disposed to form a positive mechanical drive from the input shaft to the output shaft of the torque converter. The friction clutch includes a piston disposed in the housing and forming opposed fluid chambers one of which includes the converter impeller and turbine disposed therein. An orifice in the piston conducts fluid from one chamber to the other and clutch engagement is controlled by regulating the fluid outflow from the other chamber. Clutch lockup or engagement may be controlled to be responsive to the pressure of fluid flowing into the converter or the difference in the pressure of the fluid flowing in and out of the converter.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism includes a hydrokinetic torque converter driven by a hydraulically actuated modulating friction clutch having a piston disposed in and sealingly engaged with the converter housing to form opposed fluid chambers. Fluid in the torque converter housing flows through an orifice between the chambers and exits the converter housing by way of a flow control valve. A pressure differential is imposed on the piston by controlling the outflow of fluid from one of the chambers to modulate clutch engagement for varying the power output of the torque converter.