Abstract:
A mechanical power transmission system for transforming and delivering power effectively and efficiently using external pressure to propel a vehicle. The mechanical power transmission system includes a case; rotational members; a gear set being in operable communication to at least one of the rotational members; and a clutch system being in operable communication to the gear set and using external fluid pressure from a fluid source to effectively change speeds.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to power transfer systems and more particularly pertains to a new mechanical power transmission system for transforming and delivering power effectively and efficiently using external pressure to propel a vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of power transfer systems is known in the prior art. More specifically, power transfer systems heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     The prior art includes transmissions comprising input and output shafts and also gear sets being in operable communication with the gear sets and clutches including friction plates with fluid from within the case being used to apply the clutch friction plates to effect speed changes by engaging selected gear sets. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new mechanical power transmission system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new mechanical power transmission system which has many of the advantages of the power transfer systems mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new mechanical power transmission system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art power transfer systems, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention includes a case; rotational members; a gear set being in operable communication to at least one of the rotational members; and a clutch system being in operable communication to the gear set for changing speeds. None of the prior art includes the combination of the elements of the present invention. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the mechanical power transmission system in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new mechanical power transmission system which has many of the advantages of the power transfer systems mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new mechanical power transmission system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art power transfer systems, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new mechanical power transmission system that uses external pressure to effectively change speeds. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new mechanical power transmission system that substantially increases fuel efficiency because of reduced weight due to the fluid being external rather than internal. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new mechanical power transmission system that will provide more overdrive or underdrive depending of the arrangement of the present invention. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a new mechanical power transmission system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the present invention and its relationships. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new mechanical power transmission system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the mechanical power transmission system  10  generally comprises a case  11 , rotational members  15 , 16  extending into the case  11 , a gear set  17 ,  18 ,  24   a - d ,  25  being in operable communication and conventionally connected to at least one of the rotational members  15 , 16  and being disposed in the case  11 , and a clutch means being movably engagable to the gear set  17 ,  24   a - d ,  25  and including fluid from an external fluid source  50  for effecting various speeds. The gear set  17 ,  24   a - d ,  25  includes a first gear  17  being in operable communication and conventionally connected to one of the rotational members  15 , 16 . The rotational members  15 , 16  include a first rotational member  15 . The first gear  17  is conventionally engaged to the first rotational member  15 . The gear set  17 , 24   a - d , 25  further includes a planetary carrier  18  being rotatably and conventionally disposed in the case  11  and also includes planetary gears  24   a - d  being rotatably and conventionally supported by the planetary carrier  18  and being in operable communication to and conventionally engaged to the first gear  17 . The gear set  17 , 24   a - d , 25  further includes a second gear  25  being rotatably and conventionally disposed in the case  11  and being in operable communication and engagable to the planetary gears  24   a - d.    
     The planetary carrier  18  includes a housing  19  having a side wall  20  and first and second ends  22 , 23 . The side wall  20  has slots  21   a - d  spacedly-disposed thereabout and therethrough. The planetary gears  24   a - d  are rotatably and at least partially disposed in and through the slots  21   a - d  and are in operable communication and enagable to the first and second gears  17 , 25 . The first rotational member  15  is disposed through the first end  22  of the housing  19 . The rotational members  15 , 16  also include a second rotational member  16  which is conventionally supported with bearings  31   b,c  and which is conventionally engaged in the second end  23  of the housing  19  of the planetary carrier  18  to achieve either under-drive or overdrive speed. 
     The clutch means includes at least one coupling member  28 , 33  being selected from a group comprising a cone clutch  33  and a gear coupler  28 . The cone clutch  33  has an opening centrally disposed therethrough with the first rotational member  15  being disposed through the opening of the cone clutch  33  and the cone clutch  33  being movably and biasedly journaled with a bearing  31   a , about and along the first rotational member  15  with a concavity end of the cone clutch  33  being engagable to the second gear  25 . The second gear  25  is a ring gear  25  to effect direct drive speed and is conventionally supported by a housing member  34 . The clutch means also includes a gear coupler  28  having an opening being centrally disposed therethrough with the second rotational member  16  being disposed through the opening of the gear coupler  28  with the gear coupler  28  being engaged about and movable along the second rotational member  16  and being engagable to the ring gear  25  for effecting direct drive speed by coupling the ring gear  25  to the second rotational member  16 . The gear coupler  28  has an end  29  with teeth  30  being spacedly extending outwardly therefrom. The gear coupler  28  is disc-shaped. The ring gear  25  has an outer end  26  with teeth  27  extending outwardly therefrom. The teeth  30  of the gear coupler  28  are engagable with the teeth  27  of the ring gear  25  to effect direct drive speed. 
     The clutch means also includes ports  12 , 13  being disposed through at least one wall of the case  11  and being in fluid communication with the fluid source  50 , and also includes actuators  41 - 44  being in fluid communication to the ports  12 , 13  with the actuators  41 - 44  being in operable communication and conventionally engaged to the cone clutch  33  and the gear coupler  28  with fluid from the fluid source  50  being conventionally controlled and applied to the actuators  41 - 44  to cooperatively move the cone clutch  33  and the gear coupler  28  relative to the ring gear  25 . The actuators  41 - 44  includes a first actuator  41  which is conventionally disposed inside the case  11  and is in operable communication and conventionally engaged to the cone clutch  33  for moving the cone clutch  33  to engage or disengage from the ring gear  25 , and also includes a second actuator  42  which is conventionally disposed and mounted outside the case  11  and is in operable communication and in conventional contactable relationship to the gear coupler  28  for urging the gear coupler  28  in cooperation with the cone clutch  33  to engage or disengage from the ring gear  25 . 
     Upon fluid from the fluid source  50  actuating the first and second actuators  41 , 42 , the first actuator  41  moves the cone clutch  33  into engagement with the ring gear  25  and the second actuator  42  simultaneously moves the gear coupler  28  into engagement with the ring gear  25  for direct drive speed. The fluid source  50  includes a hydraulic pump being in fluid communication and conventionally connected to the case  11 . The first actuator  41  includes a conventional throw-out bearing. The fluid from the fluid source  50  moves the throw-out bearing; whereupon the throw-out bearing engages and moves the cone clutch  33 . The second actuator  42  includes a conventional hydraulic cylinder and fork. The fluid from the fluid source enters the hydraulic cylinder and moves the fork; whereupon the fork engages and moves the gear coupler  28 . 
     The clutch means also includes braking members  32 , 35  being engagable to the ring gear  25  to prevent the rotation of the ring gear  25  to effect either under-drive or overdrive speed. Other actuators  43 - 44  are in operable communication and in conventional contactable relationship to the braking members  32 , 35  and are in fluid communication to the fluid source  50  for urging the braking members  32 , 35  to engage or disengage from the ring gear  25 . The braking members  32 , 35  include a band  32  which is conventionally engagable about the ring gear  25  and also includes a pin  35  which is conventionally engagable to the ring gear  25 . The actuators  41 - 44  include a third actuator  43  which is disposed and conventionally mounted outside the case  11  and is in fluid communication to the fluid source  50  and in operable communication and in conventional contactable relationship to the band  32  and also includes a fourth actuator  44  which is also disposed and conventionally mounted outside the case  11  and is in fluid communication to the fluid source  50  and in operable communication and in conventional contactable relationship to the pin  35 . The fluid from the fluid source  50  is conventionally controlled and applied to the third and fourth actuators  43 , 44  to cooperatively engage the band  32  about the ring gear  25  and to engage the pin  35  with the ring gear  25 , respectively, to prevent rotation of the ring gear  25  to effect either under-drive or overdrive speed. The third and fourth actuators  43 , 44  are conventional hydraulic cylinders. The fluid from the fluid source  50  enters the hydraulic cylinders and moves the conventional pistons (not shown) in the hydraulic cylinders; whereupon, the pistons contact and move the braking members  32 , 35 . 
     In use, a drive source  40  such as an engine, or any suitable drive transmitting device such as a torque converter or another transmission transmits rotational power to one of the rotational members  15 , 16  which in turn actuates the gear set  17 , 24   a - d , 25  and the gear set  17 , 24   a - d , 25  then actuates another rotational member  15 , 16  which drives the drive wheels  60  at various speeds. For under-drive or overdrive speed, the ring gear  25  is decoupled from the second rotational member  16  and is prevented from rotating to achieve either under-drive or overdrive speed. The planetary gears  24   a - d  are locked up as a result with the planetary carrier  18  effecting rotation of one of the rotational members  15 , 16 . Fluid pressure from the fluid source  50  is applied to the third and fourth actuators  43 , 44  which urges the braking members  32 , 35  to engage the ring gear  25  and prevent the rotation thereof to achieve either under-drive or overdrive speed. Fluid pressure is conventionally applied to the third and fourth actuators  43 , 44  which cooperatively and conventionally move and engage the band  32  about the ring gear  25  and urge and move the pin  35  into engagement with the ring gear  25  to achieve either under-drive or overdrive speed upon the planetary carrier  18  driving one of the rotational members  15 , 16 . 
     For direct drive speed, the baking members  32 , 35  are conventionally disengaged from the ring gear  25 , fluid pressure from the fluid source  50  is conventionally applied to the first and second actuators  41 , 42  which cooperatively move the cone clutch  33  and the gear coupler  28  into engagement with the ring gear  25 . The gear coupler  28  is conventionally engaged about the second rotational member  16 . The first rotational member  15  drives the planetary gears  24   a - d  which rotate the ring gear  25 , and the ring gear  25  drives the second rotational member  16  since the ring gear  25  is coupled to the second rotational member  16 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the mechanical power transmission system. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.