Abstract: A steering system for a tracked vehicle extracts a portion of power from an engine which propels the vehicle, and combines the power with the remainder of the engine power by differential gear assemblies at the tracks of the vehicle for effecting a steering movement of the vehicle while the vehicle is being propelled in either the forward or reverse direction by the engine. The steering system includes a variable hydrodynamic torque converter coupled to the engine and outputting torque via a reversing gear set to an output shaft system having gears for constraining the output shafts to rotate in opposite directions. A clutch assembly is located outside of a housing which encloses the torque converter, and includes individual clutches which are selectively activated to couple forward or reverse rotation from the reversing gear set to the output shafts for selectively steering the vehicle in a right turn or a left turn.

Abstract: A composite turbo-fan/turbo-shaft gas turbine engine system is provided wherein the fan is driven through a variable geometry torque coverter whose input is driven by the turbine power shaft supplied through a reduction gear. Actuation of the variable geometry of the torque converter provides a wide variety of operating modes including all power to the power output shaft and combinations in between.