Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle. The planetary gear train may include: an input shaft receiving torque of an engine; an output shaft outputting changed torque; a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements; a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements; a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotation elements; a fourth planetary gear set including tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotation elements. The planetary gear train improves power delivery performance and fuel economy by achieving at least nine forward speed stages with a minimum number of constituent elements being used, and improves driving stability of a vehicle by utilizing a low rotation speed of an engine.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0027654, filed on Mar. 8, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an automatic transmission for a vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    In the field of automatic transmissions, increasing the number of shift-stages is a useful technology for enhancement of fuel consumption and drivability of a vehicle. Increases in oil price have triggered competition in enhancing fuel consumption and efficiency of a vehicle. 
         [0005]    Due to such competition, research has been undertaken to achieve weight reduction and to enhance fuel consumption by so-called downsizing. We have discovered that on an automatic transmission it is desirable to simultaneously provide better drivability and fuel consumption by achieving more shift stages. 
         [0006]    In order to achieve more shift stages for an automatic transmission, the number of parts, especially the number of planetary gear sets, is typically increased, which may deteriorate installability, production cost, weight and/or power flow efficiency. 
         [0007]    Therefore, development of a planetary gear train capable of achieving improved efficiency with a reduced number of parts can improve fuel consumption by multiple shift-stages of an automatic transmission. 
         [0008]    An automatic transmission of eight or more shift-stages typically includes three to four planetary gear sets and five to six control elements (frictional elements), and may easily become long, thereby deteriorating installability. 
         [0009]    In this regard, disposing planetary gear sets in parallel or employing dog clutches instead of wet-type control elements is sometimes attempted. However, such an arrangement may not be widely applicable, and using dog clutches may easily deteriorate shift-feel. 
         [0010]    The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0011]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    The present disclosure provides a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission of a vehicle having advantages of improving power delivery performance and fuel economy by achieving nine forward speed stages and one reverse speed stage using a minimum number of constituent elements, and improving silent driving using a driving point positioned at a low engine speed. 
         [0013]    A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle according to one form of the present disclosure may include: an input shaft receiving torque of an engine; an output shaft outputting torque; a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements; a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements; a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotation elements; a fourth planetary gear set including tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotation elements; a first shaft connected with the first rotation element and directly connected with a transmission housing; a second shaft connecting the second rotation element and the ninth rotation element; a third shaft connecting the third rotation element and the sixth rotation element; a fourth shaft connected with the fourth rotation element, selectively connected with the third shaft, and directly connected with the input shaft; a fifth shaft connected with the fifth rotation element; a sixth shaft connecting the seventh rotation element and the tenth rotation element and selectively connected with the fourth shaft; a seventh shaft connecting the eighth rotation element and the twelfth rotation element, selectively connected with the fourth shaft or selectively connected with transmission housing; and an eighth shaft connected with the eleventh rotation element and directly connected with the output shaft. 
         [0014]    The second shaft and the fifth shaft may be selectively connected with the transmission housing respectively. 
         [0015]    The first, second, and third rotational elements of the first planetary gear set may be respectively a first sun gear, a first planet carrier, and a first ring gear, the fourth, fifth, and sixth rotational elements of the second planetary gear set may be respectively a second sun gear, a second planet carrier, and a second ring gear, the seventh, eighth, and ninth rotational elements of the third planetary gear set may be respectively a third sun gear, a third planet carrier, and a third ring gear, and the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotational elements of the fourth planetary gear set may be respectively a fourth sun gear, a fourth planet carrier, and a fourth ring gear. 
         [0016]    The planetary gear train may further include: a first clutch selectively connecting the third shaft and the fourth shaft; a second clutch selectively connecting the fourth shaft and sixth shaft; a third clutch selectively connecting the fourth shaft and the seventh shaft; a first brake selectively connecting the second shaft and the transmission housing; a second brake selectively connecting the fifth shaft and the transmission housing; and a third brake selectively connecting the seventh shaft and the transmission housing. 
         [0017]    One form of the present disclosure may achieve at least nine forward speed stages and one reverse speed stage by combining four planetary gear sets being simple planetary gear sets with six control elements. 
         [0018]    One form of the present disclosure may achieve at least eleven forward speed stages and one reverse speed stage by combining four planetary gear sets being simple planetary gear sets with seven control elements. 
         [0019]    In addition, a planetary gear train according to one form of the present disclosure may improve engine driving efficiency by multi-stages of an automatic transmission, and may improve power delivery performance and fuel consumption. 
         [0020]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a planetary gear train according to one form of the present disclosure; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an operational chart for respective control elements at respective shift stages in a planetary gear train according to one form of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0024]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
       DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
             B 1 , B 2 , B 3 : first, second, and third brakes 
             C 1 , C 2 , C 3 : first, second, and third clutches 
             PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 3 , PG 4 : first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets 
             S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 : first, second, third, and fourth sun gears 
             PC 1 , PC 2 , PC 3 , PC 4 : first, second, third, and fourth planetary gears 
             R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 : first, second, third, and fourth ring gears 
             IS: input shaft 
             OS: output shaft 
             TM 1 , TM 2 , TM 3 , TM 4 , TM 5 , TM 6 , TM 7 , TM 8 : first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth shafts 
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
         [0035]    Hereinafter, one form of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to drawings. 
         [0036]    However, parts which are not related with the description are omitted for clearly describing forms of the present disclosure and like reference numerals refer to like or similar elements throughout the specification. 
         [0037]    In the following description, dividing names of components into first, second, and the like is to divide the names because the names of the components are the same as each other and an order thereof is not particularly limited. As used herein, “connect” and its variants includes connection for transmission of force such as torque, e.g., a first component connected to a second component for rotation therewith, or a first component connected to a second component for fixation of the components, e.g. braking or resisting movement. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a planetary gear train according to one form of the present disclosure. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a planetary gear train includes first, second, third, and four planetary gear sets PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 3 , and PG 4  arranged on a same axis, an input shaft IS, an output shaft OS, eight shafts TM 1  to TM 8  interconnecting rotational elements of the first, second, third, and four planetary gear sets PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 3 , and PG 4 , three clutches C 1  to C 3  and three brakes B 1  to B 3  as control elements, and a transmission housing H. 
         [0040]    Torque input from the input shaft IS is shifted by cooperative operation of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 3 , and PG 4 , and then output through the output shaft OS. 
         [0041]    The planetary gear sets are arranged in the order of first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 3 , and PG 4 , from an engine side. 
         [0042]    The input shaft IS is an input member and the torque from a crankshaft of an engine is input into the input shaft IS, after being torque-converted through a torque converter. 
         [0043]    The output shaft OS is an output member, is disposed in parallel with the input shaft IS, and transmits driving torque to a driving wheel through a differential apparatus. 
         [0044]    The first planetary gear set PG 1  is a single pinion planetary gear set and includes a first sun gear S 1 , a first planet carrier PC 1  rotatably supporting a first pinion P 1  that is externally meshed with the first sun gear S 1 , and a first ring gear R 1  that is internally meshed with the first pinion P 1  respectively as first, second, and third rotation elements N 1 , N 2 , and N 3 . 
         [0045]    The second planetary gear set PG 2  is a single pinion planetary gear set and includes a second sun gear S 2 , a second planet carrier PC 2  rotatably supporting a second pinion P 2  that is externally meshed with the second sun gear S 2 , and a second ring gear R 2  that is internally meshed with the second pinion P 2  respectively as fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements N 4 , N 5 , and N 6 . 
         [0046]    The third planetary gear set PG 3  is a single pinion planetary gear set and includes a third sun gear S 3 , a third planet carrier PC 3  rotatably supporting a third pinion P 3  that is externally meshed with the third sun gear S 3 , and a third ring gear R 3  that is internally meshed with the third pinion P 3  respectively as seventh, eighth, and ninth rotation elements N 7 , N 8 , and N 9 . 
         [0047]    The fourth planetary gear set PG 4  is a single pinion planetary gear set and includes a fourth sun gear S 4 , a fourth planet carrier PC 4  rotatably supporting a fourth pinion P 4  that is externally meshed with the fourth sun gear S 4 , and a fourth ring gear R 4  that is internally meshed with the fourth pinion P 4  respectively as tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotation elements N 10 , N 11 , and N 12 . 
         [0048]    In the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 3 , and PG 4 , the second rotation element N 2  is directly connected to the ninth rotation element N 9 , the third rotation element N 3  is directly connected to the sixth rotation element N 6 , the seventh rotation element N 7  is directly connected to the tenth rotation element N 10 , and the eighth rotation element N 8  is directly connected to the twelfth rotation element N 12 , such that the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 3 , and PG 4  are operated while having a total of eight shafts TM 1  to TM 8 . 
         [0049]    The eight shafts TM 1  to TM 8  will be described in further detail. 
         [0050]    The eight shafts TM 1  to TM 8  directly connect a plurality of rotation elements among the rotation elements of the planetary gear sets PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 3 , and PG 4 , are rotation members that are directly connected to any one rotation element of the planetary gear sets PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 3 , and PG 4  and rotate with the any one rotation element to transmit torque, or are fixed members that directly connect any one rotation element of the planetary gear sets PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 3 , and PG 4  to the transmission housing H to fix the any one rotation element. 
         [0051]    The first shaft TM 1  is connected with the first rotation element N 1  (first sun gear S 1 ) and directly connected with the transmission housing H, thereby always acting as a fixed element. 
         [0052]    The second shaft TM 2  directly connects the second rotation element N 2  (first planetary gear PC 1 ) and the ninth rotation element N 9  (third ring gear R 3 ), and is selectively connected with the transmission housing H, thereby selectively acting as a fixed element. 
         [0053]    The third shaft TM 3  directly connects the third rotation element N 3  (first ring gear R 1 ) and the sixth rotation element N 6  (second ring gear R 2 ). 
         [0054]    The fourth shaft TM 4  is connected with the fourth rotation element N 4  (second sun gear S 2 ), and directly connected with the input shaft IS so as to always be operated as an input element. 
         [0055]    The fourth shaft TM 4  is selectively connected with the third shaft TM 3 , and selectively connected with the third shaft TM 3  and the input shaft IS, thereby acting as a selective input element. 
         [0056]    The fifth shaft TM 5  is connected with the fifth rotation element N 5  (second planetary gear PC 2 ) and selectively connected with the transmission housing H, thereby acting as a selective fixed element. 
         [0057]    The sixth shaft TM 6  directly connects the seventh rotation element N 7  (third sun gear S 3 ) and the tenth rotation element N 10  (fourth sun gear S 4 ), is selectively connected with the fourth shaft TM 4 , and is selectively connected with the input shaft IS, thereby acting as a selective input element. 
         [0058]    The seventh shaft TM 7  directly connects the eighth rotation element N 8  (third planetary gear PC 3 ) and the twelfth rotation element N 12  (fourth ring gear R 4 ), and is selectively connected with the transmission housing H, thereby acting as a selective fixed element. 
         [0059]    The eighth shaft TM 8  is connected with the eleventh rotation element N 11  (fourth planetary gear PC 4 ) and directly connected with the output shaft OS, thereby always acting as an output element. 
         [0060]    In addition, three clutches C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  are disposed at portions at which any two shafts among the eight shafts TM 1  to TM 8  including the input shaft IS and the output shaft OS are selectively connected to each other. 
         [0061]    In addition, three brakes B 1 , B 2 , and B 3  are disposed at portions at which any one shaft among the eight shafts TM 1  to TM 8  is selectively connected to the transmission housing H. 
         [0062]    Arrangements of the three clutches C 1  to C 3  and the three brakes B 1  to B 3  are described in detail. 
         [0063]    The first clutch C 1  is disposed between the input shaft IS or the fourth shaft TM 4  and the third shaft TM 3 , and selectively connects the input shaft IS, the fourth shaft TM 4 , and the third shaft TM 3 . 
         [0064]    The second clutch C 2  is disposed between the input shaft IS or the fourth shaft TM 4  and the sixth shaft TM 6 , and selectively connects the input shaft IS, the fourth shaft TM 4 , and the sixth shaft TM 6 . 
         [0065]    The third clutch C 3  is disposed between the input shaft IS or the fourth shaft TM 4  and the seventh shaft TM 7 , and selectively connects the input shaft IS, the fourth shaft TM 4 , and the seventh shaft TM 7 . 
         [0066]    The first brake B 1  is disposed between the second shaft TM 2  and the transmission housing H, and selectively connects the second shaft TM 2  with the transmission housing H. 
         [0067]    The second brake B 2  is disposed between the fifth shaft TM 5  and the transmission housing H, and selectively connects the fifth shaft TM 5  with the transmission housing H. 
         [0068]    The third brake B 3  is disposed between the seventh shaft TM 7  and the transmission housing H, and selectively connects the seventh shaft TM 7  with the transmission housing H. 
         [0069]    The control elements including the first, second, and third clutches C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  and the first, second, third, and three brakes B 1 , B 2 , and B 3  may be multi-plates friction elements of wet type that are operated by hydraulic pressure. 
         [0070]      FIG. 2  is an operational chart for respective control elements at respective shift stages in a planetary gear train according to one form of the present disclosure. 
         [0071]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , two control elements among the first, second, and third clutches C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  and the first, second, and third brakes B 1 , B 2 , and B 3  are operated at each speed stage in the planetary gear train. One form of the present disclosure can achieve at least one reverse speed stage and at least nine forward speed stages. 
         [0072]    The second and third brakes B 2  and B 3  are simultaneously operated at a first forward speed stage D 1 . 
         [0073]    In a state that torque of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth shaft TM 4  and the first shaft TM 1  always acts as a fixed element, the fifth shaft TM 5  and the seventh shaft TM 7  are operated as the fixed elements by the operation of the second and third brakes B 2  and B 3 . Therefore, the torque of the input shaft IS is shifted into the first forward speed stage, and the first forward speed stage is output to the output shaft OS connected to the eighth shaft TM 8 . 
         [0074]    The second clutch C 2  and third brake B 3  are simultaneously operated at a second forward speed stage D 2 . 
         [0075]    In a state that the sixth shaft TM 6  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the second clutch C 2 , the torque of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth shaft TM 4  and the sixth shaft TM 6 . 
         [0076]    In addition, in a state that the first shaft TM 1  always acts as a fixed element, the seventh shaft TM 7  is operated as a fixed element by the operation of the third brake B 3 . Therefore, the torque of the input shaft IS is shifted into the second forward speed stage by cooperative operation of respective shafts, and the second forward speed stage is output to the output shaft OS connected to the eighth shaft TM 8 . 
         [0077]    The second clutch C 2  and second brake B 2  are simultaneously operated at a third forward speed stage D 3 . 
         [0078]    In a state that the sixth shaft TM 6  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the second clutch C 2 , the torque of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth shaft TM 4  and the sixth shaft TM 6 . 
         [0079]    In addition, in a state that the first shaft TM 1  always acts as a fixed element, the fifth shaft TM 5  is operated as a fixed element by the operation of the second brake B 2 . Therefore, the torque of the input shaft IS is shifted into the third forward speed stage by cooperative operation of respective shafts, and the third forward speed stage is output to the output shaft OS connected to the eighth shaft TM 8 . 
         [0080]    The second clutch C 2  and first brake B 1  are simultaneously operated at a fourth forward speed stage D 4 . 
         [0081]    In a state that the sixth shaft TM 6  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the second clutch C 2 , the torque of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth shaft TM 4  and the sixth shaft TM 6 . 
         [0082]    In addition, in a state that the first shaft TM 1  always acts as a fixed element, the second shaft TM 2  is operated as a fixed element by the operation of the first brake B 1 . Therefore, the torque of the input shaft IS is shifted into the fourth forward speed stage by cooperative operation of respective shafts, and the fourth forward speed stage is output to the output shaft OS connected to the eighth shaft TM 8 . 
         [0083]    The first and second clutches C 1  and C 2  are simultaneously operated at a fifth forward speed stage D 5 . 
         [0084]    In a state that the third shaft TM 3  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the first clutch C 1 , and the sixth shaft TM 6  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the second clutch C 2 , the torque of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth shaft TM 4  and the sixth shaft TM 6 . 
         [0085]    In addition, the first shaft TM 1  is operated as a fixed element. Therefore, the torque of the input shaft IS is shifted into the fifth forward speed stage by cooperative operation of respective shafts, and the fifth forward speed stage is output to the output shaft OS connected to the eighth shaft TM 8 . 
         [0086]    The second and third clutches C 2  and C 3  and first brake B 1  are simultaneously operated at a sixth forward speed stage D 6 . 
         [0087]    In a state that the sixth shaft TM 6  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the second clutch C 2 , and the seventh shaft TM 7  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the third clutch C 3 , the torque of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth shaft TM 4 , the sixth shaft TM 6 , and the seventh shaft TM 7 . 
         [0088]    In addition, the first shaft TM 1  is operated as a fixed element. Therefore, the torque of the input shaft IS is shifted into the sixth forward speed stage by cooperative operation of respective shafts, and the sixth forward speed stage is output to the output shaft OS connected to the eighth shaft TM 8 . 
         [0089]    The first and third clutches C 1  and C 3  are simultaneously operated at a seventh forward speed stage D 7 . 
         [0090]    In a state that the third shaft TM 3  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the first clutch C 1 , and the seventh shaft TM 7  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the third clutch C 3 , the torque of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth shaft TM 4 , the third shaft TM 3 , and the seventh shaft TM 7 . 
         [0091]    In addition, the first shaft TM 1  is operated as a fixed element. Therefore, the torque of the input shaft IS is shifted into the seventh forward speed stage by cooperative operation of respective shafts, and the seventh forward speed stage is output to the output shaft OS connected to the eighth shaft TM 8 . 
         [0092]    The third clutch C 3  and first brake B 1  are simultaneously operated at an eighth forward speed stage D 8 . 
         [0093]    In a state that the seventh shaft TM 7  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the third clutch C 3 , the torque of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth shaft TM 4  and the seventh shaft TM 7 . 
         [0094]    In addition, in a state that the first shaft TM 1  always acts as a fixed element, the second shaft TM 2  is operated as a fixed element by the operation of the first brake B 1 . Therefore, the torque of the input shaft IS is shifted into the eighth forward speed stage by cooperative operation of respective shafts, and the eighth forward speed stage is output to the output shaft OS connected to the eighth shaft TM 8 . 
         [0095]    The third clutch C 3  and second brake B 2  are simultaneously operated at a ninth forward speed stage D 9 . 
         [0096]    In a state that the seventh shaft TM 7  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the third clutch C 3 , the torque of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth shaft TM 4  and the seventh shaft TM 7 . 
         [0097]    In addition, in a state that the first shaft TM 1  always acts as a fixed element, the fifth shaft TM 5  is operated as a fixed element by the operation of the second brake B 2 . Therefore, the torque of the input shaft IS is shifted into the ninth forward speed stage by cooperative operation of respective shafts, and the ninth forward speed stage is output to the output shaft OS connected to the eighth shaft TM 8 . 
         [0098]    The first clutch C 1  and third brake B 3  are simultaneously operated at a reverse speed stage REV. 
         [0099]    In a state that the third shaft TM 3  is connected to the input shaft IS with the fourth shaft TM 4  by the operation of the first clutch C 1 , the torque of the input shaft IS is input to the fourth shaft TM 4  and the third shaft TM 3 . 
         [0100]    In addition, in a state that the first shaft TM 1  always acts as a fixed element, the seventh shaft TM 7  is operated as a fixed element by the operation of the third brake B 3 . Therefore, the torque of the input shaft IS is shifted into the reverse speed stage by cooperative operation of respective shafts, and the reverse speed stage is output to the output shaft OS connected to the eighth shaft TM 8 . 
         [0101]    The planetary gear train according to one form of the present disclosure may achieve at least nine forward speed stages and one reverse speed stage by combining four planetary gear sets PG 1 , PG 2 , PG 3 , and PG 4  with the three clutches C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  and the three brakes B 1 , B 2 , and B 3 . 
         [0102]    In addition, a planetary gear train according to one form of the present disclosure may realize shift stages appropriate for rotation speed of an engine due to multi-stages of an automatic transmission and improve driving stability of a vehicle by utilizing a low rotation speed of an engine. 
         [0103]    In addition, a planetary gear train according to one form of the present disclosure improves engine driving efficiency by multi-stages of an automatic transmission, and may improve power delivery performance and fuel consumption. 
         [0104]    While this disclosure has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical forms, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed forms, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0105]    The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.