Patent ID: 9109666
Filing Date: 2015-08-18
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
1. A dual ratio constant-mesh gearbox, comprising: a housing; an input drive shaft at least partially contained within said housing, wherein said input drive shaft is coupled to a vehicle propulsion electric motor; a sun gear rigidly coupled to said input drive shaft; a planetary lockup plate rigidly coupled to said sun gear; a ring gear; a set of planetary gears interposed between said sun gear and said ring gear, wherein said set of planetary gears are in constant mesh with said sun gear and said ring gear; a planetary gear carrier coupled to said set of planetary gears and to an output drive shaft, wherein said output drive shaft is at least partially contained within said housing; a sprag clutch assembly contained within said housing, wherein said sprag clutch assembly permits rotation of said ring gear in a first direction and prevents rotation of said ring gear in a second direction; and a clutch member corresponding to a second clutch, wherein said second clutch is separate from and independent of said sprag clutch assembly, wherein said clutch member is translatable from at least a first position to a second position, wherein a first surface of said clutch member is in contact with said planetary lockup plate and locks said ring gear to said sun gear when said clutch member is located in said first position, and wherein when said clutch member is located in said second position said ring gear is unlocked from said sun gear and said first surface of said clutch member is no longer in contact with said planetary lockup plate.