Planetary gear transmission systems or components – Fluid drive or control of planetary gearing – Single impeller-turbine type fluid circuit divides or...
Reexamination Certificate
1993-08-26
2001-04-03
Wright, Dirk (Department: 3681)
Planetary gear transmission systems or components
Fluid drive or control of planetary gearing
Single impeller-turbine type fluid circuit divides or...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210297
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to automatic transmissions and more particularly to an automatic transmission having a torque converter and a planetary gear train.
Known automatic transmissions use torque-converter couplings with planetary gear trains. The gear trains can supply one or more gear reductions and reverse, depending upon the design, by simultaneously engaging or locking various elements of the planetary systems.
Automatic control of such transmissions is achieved by a complicated arrangement of disc clutches or brake bands which lock the various elements. The elements are operated by oil pressure and are regulated by governors. As the vehicle accelerates, the transmission causes shifts to occur. A shift is usually accompanied by a drop in power to the wheels of the vehicle and by vibration and hesitation. Shifts can be annoying and disconcerting to the operator of the vehicle particularly where they occur frequently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an automatic transmission which has no shift points and which is stepless and variable in operation.
It is another object of the invention to provide an automatic transmission which has a torque converter and a planetary gear train and which lacks the complicated arrangement of brake bands, valves, governors and the large number of other moving parts found in a conventional automatic transmission.
These and other objects are accomplished by the combination of a torque converter having input and output shafts and a planetary gear train. The combination comprises a first sun gear fixedly mounted to the output shaft; a first planetary gear meshing with the sun gear; a carrier to which the planetary gear is mounted for rotation and which is rotated by the input shaft; a second planetary gear rotated by the first planetary gear; and a drive shaft in co-axial alignment with the output shaft and having a second sun gear which is fixedly mounted thereon and which meshes with the second planetary gear.
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Print-out of U.S. patents uncovered in search conducted by the Canadian Industrial Innovation Centre, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Advertisement of Epilogics, Inc. of Los Gatos, CA entitled “The Perfect Transmission”.
“Revolutionary Transmission Demonstrated”, copied from Santa Cruz Sentinel, Aug. 27, 1989.
“Gearing for the Infinite”, by Stuart F. Brown,Popular Science(Automotive Newsfront), Aug. 1992.
“A Geared Neutral Transmission”, by Dan McCosh, Popular Science (Automotive Newsfront), Sep. 1991, pp. 31 and 35.
“Sliding Pins Shift CVT Speeds”, Machine Design (News Trends), Apr. 25, 1985, p. 40.
“New Transmission System Promises Smooth Driving, Increased Economy”,Business Japan, Mar. 1984, p. 103.
Mechanisms & Dynamics of Machinery 4th Ed Hamilton H Mabie.*
Standard Handbook of Machine Design Joseph E Shigley.
Ivat Technologies Inc.
Wright Dirk
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