GB651251A - Improvements in or relating to variable ratio torque transmitting mechanisms - Google Patents

Abstract

651,251. Hydromechanical variable-speed gearing ; friction and ratchet clutches. BORGWARNER CORPORATION. Feb. 26,1946, No. 5955. Convention date, May 18,1944. [Class 80(ii)] In a motor vehicle or other variable-speed gear having the pump and turbine elements 22, 23 of a hydraulic torque convertor connected respectively to a sun gear 19 and a driven planet carrier 2C whose interengaging planets mesh with the sun and with a driving annulus 16, the sun has a roller clutch or other one-way drive connection 60 with the element 22 and may be stationed by a brake 21 tc provide a fixed overdrive ratio. As shown, a hollow shaft 39, rotatable about an output shaft 40 to which the planet carrier 20 is splined, carries the sun 19 at one end and has slidably splined at the other end rotatable brake members 53 engaged, under the action of a hydraulically operated piston 58, between members 55 splined on a fixed gear casing 48. The converter reaction element 24 is connected to the casing 48 by a one-way roller clutch 52 to allow forward running. Separate mechanical reversing-gearing is provided behind the main gearing, a positive clutch member 76 sliding to give reverse through a gear cluster 68, neutral, or direct drive between the output shaft 40 .and propeller shaft 74. A centrifugal main friction clutch 12 connects the annulus 16 to the engine flywheel 10. Flyweights 32, pivoting on a reaction plate 30 rotating with the flywheel and positioned by a Belleville washer 31, act through struts on a presser plate 35 co-acting with a driven clutch plate connected by a circumferential spring coupling with a member 38 which supports the annulus 16. The member 38 is axially movable, under the torque reaction on the teeth of the annulus 16, which are helical, and thus forms the movable member of a ratchet clutch 64, 65 which is disengaged on normal driving but engages under reverse torque to drive the flywheel 10 from the output shaft 40 for push-starting of the engine. Pumps 47, 66 driven from the turbine element 23 and shaft 39 respectively maintain the converter fluid supply through conduits (not shown), so long as either of the shafts 39, 40 are rotating. Specification 651,316 is referred to.