Abstract: A control device for a torque converter in an automatic speed change gear for vehicles having an input shaft connected to a driving shaft of the engine through a torque converter having a pump disc associated with the driving shaft and a turbine disc associated with the input shaft. Between the pump disc and the turbine disc there is interposed a hydraulically operated direct coupling clutch which is capable of directly coupling the pump and the turbine discs and wherein between an oil pressure cylinder of the direct coupling clutch and a high pressure oil passage connected to an oil pressure source and a low pressure oil passage connected to an oil reservoir there is disposed a centrifugal valve operatively connected with the turbine disc for placing the oil pressure cylinder in communication with the low pressure oil passage at the time of low speed rotation and with the high pressure oil passage at the time of high speed rotation.

Abstract: A transmission comprising a torque convertor and a power shift gear box having rotatable input and output shafts, multi-ratio drive means to produce different speeds of rotation of the output shaft relative to the input shaft, said drive means including gears which are in constant mesh and clutches, which are engageable and disengageable under load, to connect the gears in a desired drive path, control means for operating the clutches of the multi-ratio drive means to change the ratio of the gear box in dependence upon an electrical signal derived from rotation of a first element associated with the torque convertor input shaft and of a second element associated with an intermediate shaft upstream of the multi-ratio drive means and downstream of a variable torque capacity clutch located between the torque convertor output shaft and the multi-ratio drive means.

Abstract: In a transmission control system for a multiple speed ratio powershift transmission having a speed control valve and a plurality of fluid pressure operated clutches adapted to establish torque ratio changes, an electronic speed sensing system and downshift valve means for automatically shifting the transmission one step from a higher speed ratio to a lower speed ratio at a first predetermined vehicle ground speed by diverting the fluid for pressurizing a higher speed ratio clutch to a lower speed ratio clutch and then automatically shifting the transmission from the lower speed ratio back to the higher speed ratio at a second higher predetermined vehicle ground speed by ceasing the diverting of the pressurized fluid, with the fluid diverting being possible only when the speed control valve setting corresponds with the higher speed ratio.

Abstract: A stepless variable stroke drive particularly suitable for a bicycle transmission has a crank driven input element comprising a carrier housing journaled for rotation on a spindle. Mounted within the carrier, journaled on individual axles, radially spaced to the spindle, are four planet gears which engage an output sun gear. Recessed into one side of each planet gear is a concentric channel whose outer circumference is constructed with ratchet teeth and whose inner circumference journals a crank ring having pawls for engaging the ratchet teeth. The ring also has a follower which engages a cylindrical cam channel fixed on and adjustable to various eccentricities relative to the spindle. As the carrier housing rotates, the crank ring follower engages the cam channel causing the crank rings to angularly oscillate at an amplitude proportional to the cam channel eccentricity.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed wherein a starter provides power for starting an engine and the starter gearing and an overrunning clutch are arranged so that the engine drives an accessory coupled to the starter by using particular elements of the starter gearing while other elements of the gearing come to rest, thereby eliminating separate drive means between the starter and accessory.

Abstract: A transmission mechanism for vehicles comprising main clutch means having a primary clutch and a secondary clutch, primary and secondary propeller shafts for primary and secondary transmissions adapted to be intermittently rotated by the operation of said main clutch means, a first transmission system adapted to transmit the transmission power of said primary propeller shaft, a second transmission system adapted to transmit the transmission power of said secondary propeller shaft, and a reduction gearing for interlocking said secondary propeller shaft with said second transmission system. Further disposed is a transmission unit having a uni-directional clutch adapted to permit engine power to be transmitted only in the direction from said secondary propeller shaft to said primary propeller shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device incorporating a two-speed transmission including a first drive gear which is mounted for common rotation with an input shaft drivingly connected to an engine and which meshes with a first driven gear mounted for rotation coaxially with a drive shaft drivingly connected to the propeller shaft and further including a second drive gear which is mounted for rotation coaxially with and independently of the input shaft and which meshes with a second driven gear mounted for common rotation with the drive shaft. The drive shaft is drivingly connected to the first driven gear by a one-way, overrunning clutch and is driven by the input shaft through the first drive and driven gears at low and moderate engine speeds.

Abstract: A control system for use in controlling the operation of an overdrive transmission of a vehicle. The system includes a circuit containing a relay coil and a limit switch in series relationship with the governor switch of the transmission. The relay has two sets of double acting contacts, one set being provided to control current flow to the coil of a solenoid used to actuate the overdrive and the other set providing a grounding effect for the distributor side of the ignition coil of the vehicle. The limit switch is mounted so that it is actuated and deactuated by merely moving the gear shift lever of the vehicle. To this end, the gear shift lever has a bracket which engages a switch arm of the limit switch to move the switch arm as a function of the movement of the gear shift lever.

Abstract: In a transmission control system for a multiple speed ratio powershift transmission having a plurality of fluid pressure operated clutches adapted to establish torque ratio changes and also including an electronic speed sensing system and downshift valve means for automatically shifting the transmission from a higher speed ratio to a lower speed ratio at a first predetermined vehicle ground speed, the addition of a downshift inhibitor or delay circuit for prohibiting downshifts from the higher speed ratio to the lower speed ratio while the vehicle undergoes a full throttle directional reversal.

Abstract: A processing device capable of starting the sequence of the speed change operations automatically in the gearbox of a vehicle, such as the automatic transmission of a truck. A first comparator (302) compares the data received from a gearbox condition detecting device (500) and that received from a speed ratio selection device (200). In the event of a difference, the comparator (302) sends to a gearbox control device (400) either a pulse for increasing by one speed ratio, or a pulse for decreasing by one speed ratio.

Abstract: An improved accessory drive which employs the crankshaft and camshaft of an internal combustion engine to operate, at different times, the accessory drive system for the engine; the camshaft rotating at exactly 50% of the speed of the crankshaft. A clutching system disconnects the crankshaft from the accessory drive system at a predetermined speed of rotation to allow the slower camshaft to assume activation of the accessory drive system.

Abstract: Transmission and engine control means for a vehicle wherein the engine is connected through at least one friction clutch to a transmission having a positively geared power train therethrough. A low speed governor is provided to sense an engine speed at or shortly below idling speed and functions to increase fuel supply to the engine as same is lugged down for maintaining, within the capacity of the engine, at least said selected minimum speed. Further, means are provided responsive to the position of the throttle control, such as the accelerator pedal, for modulating the engagement pressure of said clutch in response to the position of such throttle control, progressive opening of the throttle effecting progressive increase in the torque transmitting capacity of the clutch, whereby the torque transmitting capacity of the clutch is under all throttle settings maintained at a value a little greater than the load torque normally applied thereto at such throttle setting.

Abstract: An electronic means senses the difference in rotational speed between a main shaft gear to be engaged and the main shaft, and actuates a friction disc assembly to connect the low gear to the main shaft to accelerate the countershaft and thus the gear to be engaged if the gear speed is lower than the main shaft speed, and to connect the first gear to the transmission casing to decelerate the countershaft and thus the gear if the gear speed is higher than the main shaft speed, shifting from neutral into the desired gear ratio is prevented until the gear and main shaft speeds are synchronized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for automatically activating a machine as a function of a base signal without using electrical contacts.The device according to the invention consists principally of means supplying a variable electric current as a function of the rate to be imparted to the machine, of a servolimiter converting into a variable hydraulic control pressure said electric current duly processed and amplified, of at least one hydraulic distributor associated with at least one control jack, the slide valves of the distributor being subject to the action of said variable hydraulic control pressure and at least to the action of counteracting elastic means having predetermined calibration values and the associated jacks being activated by a general service pressure transmitted by the distributors and acting on the elements of the machine to be controlled automatically.