GB197715A - Improvements in and relating to variable speed gears and the controls thereof, for power driven vehicles and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

197,715. Dolton, J. H. Feb. 9, 1922. Variable-speed and reversing epicyclic gearing comprises two continuously - variable trains with spheres as described in Specification 173,899, combined and working differentially. An anangement in which the trains are combined in a single unit is shown in Fig. 1. The two sun gear pairs 6, 7 and 8, 9 turn with a driving-shaft 1, which is in line with a driven shaft 24. The planetary spheres 10, 11 are supported respectively by a brake ring 17 and by a driven sleeve 19. The outer pairs 12, 13 and 14, 15 arc carried by an idle barrel 16 which connects the trains, which are operated to change the speed by sliding a collar 20 to which the elements 6, 9 are secured. When the ring 17 is held by a brake 18 and the collar 20 is in mid position, the trains just neutralize one another. and the sleeve 19 is at rest. On moving the collar 20 one way or the other, the sleeve 19 is driven at increasing speed in one direction or the reverse. A clutch sleeve 23 slides on the end of the shaft 24 by means of which that shaft can be clutched to the sleeve 19, or to the shaft 1 for direct driving, or can be disconnected from both. In a modification, the planetary spheres are coupled and an outer pair is differentially driven. These forms are suitable for the main driving-gear of motor-vehicles and may be operated by a lever 26, Fig. 7, in a gate 27, Fig. 8. The movements in a slot 28 correspond to the movements of the collar 20 to vary the speed forwards or backwards. The transverse movement to point O has through a lever 29, Fig. 7, moved the clutch sleeve 23, Fig. 1, to neutral. The position P, Fig. 8, corresponds to the sleeve 28 having been moved to direct drive. Single trains may alternatively be used for the differential driving of a vehicle in steering. The combined trains may be used for driving a motorboat, being situated at 2, 2<a>, Fig. 9. The separate variable-speed and reversing gears 2, 2<a> are operated by levers 50, 51, Fig. 10, normally coupled together for simultaneous operation by a bolt 52. By lateral movement the levers may be separated so that the propellers though driven by a single motor may be differently actuated to manoeuvre the vessel.