Patent ID: 6062022
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A continuously variable hydrostatic transmission comprising:a housing;an input shaft journaled in the housing;a hydraulic pump unit driven by the input shaft;a hydraulic motor unit grounded to the housing;an output shaft journaled to the housing;a wedge-shaped swashplate positioned between the hydraulic pump and motor units and including ports accommodating pumped flow of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and motor units, the swashplate connected to the output shaft in torque-coupled relation and pivotal to an infinite number of angular positions to respectively set an infinite number of transmission ratios;a lock-up clutch for selectively coupling the input shaft directly to the output shaft; anda ratio controller coupled to pivot the swashplate to angular positions setting transmission ratios between 1:0 and 1:1 and engaging the lock-up clutch when the swashplate is pivoted to an angular position setting the 1:1 transmission ratio.