Patent ID: 6896638
Filing Date: 2005-05-24
Classification: F16D,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A synchronizing arrangement for a planetary gear, wherein the planetary gear includes first and second axially spaced apart coupling rings on a common rotation axis; an axially moveable ring gear extending around the rotation axis and situated axially between the first and second coupling rings, the ring gear being axially moveable in opposite axial directions for selectively coupling to either the first or the second of the coupling rings for achieving various respective gear positions; a first synchronizing ring between the ring gear and the first coupling ring and extending around the rotation axis, a second synchronizing ring between the ring gear and the second coupling ring and extending around the rotation axis, the synchronizing rings being supported with respect to the ring gear to be rotatable in a limited manner relative to the ring gear around the axis; the first and second synchronizing rings having first and second external locking teeth respectively lockable with the ring gear on axial movement toward the respective one of the first and second synchronizing rings to lock the gear ring axial movement and provide connection to the respective one of the first and second coupling rings before synchronous rotation of the ring and the respective one of the coupling rings is achieved; respective cooperating friction surfaces between the first synchronizing ring and the first coupling ring and between the second synchronizing ring and the second coupling ring and the friction surfaces at the respective one of the first and second synchronizing rings being adapted to be pressed into friction engagement as the ring gear is moved in the direction toward the respective one of the first and second coupling rings; a first and second locking device radially inward of the ring gear respectively toward each end of the ring gear and positioned with respect to the ring gear and the synchronizing rings for transferring axial force from the ring gear to the respective one of the first and second synchronizing rings at which the ring gear is to be coupled with the respective one of the first and second coupling rings; a respective first and second groove around the radial inside of the ring gear and toward each axial end of the ring gear; a respective third and fourth groove in the radial outside of the first and second synchronizing rings, respectively; each of the third and fourth grooves in the first and second synchronizing rings respectively has a respective one of a first and second hollow extending around the synchronizing ring and located toward the axial side of the grooves nearest to the respective coupling ring, the hollows being and positioned and shaped for receiving the respective one of the first and second locking devices therein and also being shaped for the locking devices to be compressed in the hollows by the ring gear being disposed to apply radial force to the respective locking device, and the ring gear being shaped for applying such radial force as the ring gear is being moved toward the respective one of the first and second coupling rings where the locking device is in the respective hollow; each locking device comprising a substantially annular locking device which is capable of being compressed in the radial direction, the first locking devices being in each of the first and third grooves and the second locking device being in the second and fourth grooves, enabling the locking device to move axially as the ring gear moves axially.