HIGH-LOW BRAKED GEAR DRIVE

Abstract: Power drive (10) for providing from a single speed range input drive motor (12) a dual speed range output and a braking function. The selective control of the output shaft (13) is effected through the use of only two clutches (27, 28) under the control of pistons (33, 40) and a biasing spring (38). The mechanism provides the desired control by suitable application of fluid pressure to associated piston chambers (34, 41) thereby effecting different operating conditions and connections of the gearing (15, 16, 17, 21, 22) of the drive.

Description: -1- Description High-Low Braked Gear Drive Technical Field This invention relates to power drives and in particular to power drives for use with a hydro¬ static motor. Background Art In one prior art drive system disclosed in U.S. Letters Patent 4,051,933 of Jene A. Beneke et al, a low inertia clutch and brake system includes a ro¬ tatabie shaft in high and low speed clutch assemblies spaced apart along the shaft. A brake assembly is disposed between the high and low clutch assemblies and includes friction means normally engaged with the housing to prevent rotation of the shaft. Fluid oper¬ ated pistons are provided for selectively disengaging the brake assembly and engaging one of the clutch as¬ semblies. In U.S. Letters Patent 4,068,639, Jene A. Beneke discloses a two-speed clutch and brake system utilizing high and low speed clutch assemblies spaced apart along a rotatabie shaft. A brake assembly is mounted between the clutch assemblies. -Adjacent ones of the pistons and brake plates are interconnected so that the brake assembly is disengaged when either of the clutch assemblies is engaged. The structure is arranged so that when both of the clutch assemblies are disengaged, the brake plates engage the friction surfaces with a stationary housing to brake the shaft. A transmission unit is shown, in U.S. Letters Patent 4,128,023 of Mark R. Kinder, to include cooper¬ ating gearing and clutches wherein both clutches may be disengaged in a free-wheeling mode , or selectively disengaged, against biasing means urging the clutches to engaged condition. The unit requires a ring gear fixed to the housing engaged by the planet gears meshed with the output shaft sun gear. Disclosure of Invention The present invention comprehends an improved power drive utilizing a pair of clutches driven from a single speed range drive motor to provide a multiple • speed range output and a braking of the output as a • result of selective control of the clutches. More specifically, the invention comprehends providing such a power drive including means for se¬ lectively actuating the clutch means , and means for causing the output member to be selectively driven by the drive motor through the clutch means and gearing of the drive selectively in a low speed range and a .high speed range, or braked as an incident of the selective actuation of the clutches. The means for actuating the clutch means may comprise first. and second piston means, respectively actuating the first and second clutches. The selec¬ tive actuation of the clutches is effective solely by the control of the piston means. ' In one of the driven connections provided by the clutch means, the output member.is driven directly from the drive motor. _ - The drive mechanism may be arranged to pro¬ vide a braked ' condition of the output member when the drive motor is stopped and brake release pressure is dropped. Further more specifically, the invention com¬ prehends such an improved power drive including a first element, a rotary power input element and a rotary power output element, an improved power trans¬ mission system for controlled connection of the input c.?ι and output elements to provide selectively a high speed output, a low speed output, and a braked condi¬ tion of the output, said improved power transmission system including a ring gear connected to the input element for rotation therewith, a sun gear coaxially of the ring gear, planet gears intermeshed with the ring and sun gears, carrier means carrying the planet gears and drivingly connected to the output element, first clutch means for selectively locking the sun gear to the fixed element, and second clutch means for selectively locking the sun gear to the ring gear, whereby the power transmission system selectively causes (a) the input element to be locked to the fixed element as a result of the first clutch means being arranged to lock the sun gear to the fixed element and the second clutch means being arranged to lock the sun ■ gear to said ring gear, (b) the input element directly drives the output element as a result of the second clutch means being arranged to lock the sun gear to the ring gear and the first clutch means being arranged to permit rotation of the sun gear relative to the fixed element, or (c) the input element drives the output element at a reduced speed through the planet gears as a result of the first clutch means being arranged to lock the sun gear to. the fixed element and the second clutch means being arranged to permit rotation of the ring gear relative to the sun gear. The power drive structure may include spring means for biasing the clutches to the locking arrange- ment and means for selectively applying releasing forces to oppose the biasing action of the spring means for providing the desired control of the power drive. Still further, the invention comprehends the provision of a power transmission system including first. and second clutch means and improved means for selectively operating the clutch means including a first fluid pressure-operated force-applying means, a second fluid pressure-operated force-applying means, spring means biasing the first and second clutch means to an engaged condition, and force transfer means.as¬ sociated with the force-applying means for causing the first clutch means to be in the engaged condition and the second clutch means to be in released condi¬ tion as a result of force being applied only by the first force-applying means, and the first clutch means to be in released condition and the second clutch means to be in the engaged condition as a result of force being applied by both the first and second force-applying means. The power drive mechanism of the present in¬ vention is extremely simple and economical of construc¬ tion wh ile yet providing the improved functioning and operation discussed above in a novel and simple manner. Brief Description of Drawing FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary diametric section of a power drive mechanism embodying the invention, the mechanism being shown as arranged in a high speed range condition; FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary diametric section similar to that of Figure 1 but showing the arrange¬ ment of the mechanism in a low speed range condition; FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary diametric section similar to that of Figure 1 but showing the arrange¬ ment of the mechanism in a braked condition; and FIGURE 4 is a transverse section taken sub¬ stantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 3. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a power drive generally designated 10 is- shown to comprise a power transmis¬ sion system wherein an input shaft 11 is driven by a drive motor, such as hydrostatic motor 12; for driving an output member, such as output shaft 13. Referring to Figure 1, input shaft 11 is pro¬ vided with a flanged hub 14 defining a radially outer ring gear 15. The ring gear drives an inner sun gear 16 through a plurality of planet gear assemblies 17, each including a plurality of planet gears 18 carried on a suitable carrier 19. Carriers 19, in turn, are • mounted to an output carrier 20 defining an output - gear 21 meshing with a gear 22 provided on shaft 13. An annular bearing 55 is provided between sun gear 16 and shaft 13 to center and stabilize the end of the sun gear furthest from the meshing planet gear carriers 19. Mechanism 10 further includes an outer housing .23 provided with a bearing 24 for journaling the output shaft 13. As shown, the housing may be secured to a frame 25 by suitable bolts 26. Disposed within housing 23 is a first clutch 27 and a second clutch 28. Clutch 27 includes clutch plates 29 splined to a carrier portion 30 of sun gear 16, and clutch plates 31 splined to an inwardly di¬ rected spline ' 32 on housing 23. A high piston 33 is received in a piston cham¬ ber 34 defined by the end wall 35 of housing 23. Pis¬ ton 33 is connected to the pressure plate 36 of clutch 27 through a plurality of pins 37. Pressure plate 36 and load ring 39 are biased to engage clutches 27 and 28, respectively, by spring means 38 which may comprise a plurality of Belleville springs. Load ring 39 defines a low piston 40 received in a piston chamber 41 of a housing portion 42 retained -6- to the housing 23 by suitable securing ring 43. Low piston 40 acts to remove spring means 38 force from second clutch 28, leaving only first clutch 27.engaged, c Piston 33 acts on clutch 28 through pins 37, pressure plate 36, connector ring 54 and load ring 39. Load ring 39 includes a reaction plate portion 45 act¬ ing through a thrust bearing 46 against a clutch plate 47 of clutch 28. Clutch 28 includes first plates 48 10. splined to spline 49 on- an extension ' 50 of sun gear 16. Second plates 51 of the clutch 28 are splined to a spline 52 on ring gear .15. A backup plate 53 is secured to ring gear 15 for transferring a thrust load from clutch 28 to the ring gear. 15 High piston 33 acts to overcome low piston 40 force and move pressure plate 36, spring means 38 and load ring 39 to the left. This movement removes the spring means 38 force from first -clutch 27, disengag¬ ing it. Further movement engages second clutch 28 20 through load ring 39. As shown in Figure l,.the power drive 10 is arranged to drive the output member 13 from drive motor 12 through a high speed range. In.effecting such oper¬ ation, a high fluid pressure, such . as approximately 150 25 lbs. psi is applied to chamber 41 by suitable conven¬ tional means (not shown) . In the illustrated embodi- • ent, such pressure effects a force of approximately 4,070 lbs. on the low piston 40 urging it to the right. A fluid pressure of approximately 350 lbs. psi is ap- 0 plied to piston chamber 34 so as to provide a force of approximately 5,680 lbs. urging the piston 33 to the left. This force being transmitted through the push pins 37 urges the low clutch pressure plate 36 to the left in overcoming the lower force developed by piston 35 40 and acting through spring means 38 tending to urge the low clutch pressure plate 36 to the right. The pin 37 further acts through a connector ring 54 on load ring 39 to further move the reaction plate 45 to the left so as to cause clutch.28 to be- come ' engaged. Reaction plate 44 remains stationary at all times. ' The clutching force acting on clutch 28 is effectively approximately 1610 lbs., comprising the differential between the low piston force and the high piston force which, as indicated above, are opposed at this time. As the low clutch 27 remains disengaged, the clutching of the drive motor to the output shaft is effected solely through the second clutch 28. The actuation of the second clutch causes ring gear 15, sun gear 16, and the ' output carrier 20 to be locked, thereby giving a direct drive to the output shaft 13 from the input shaft 11. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the parameters, such as the areas and pressures of low piston 40 and high piston 33, may be varied as long as the desired forces and force differentials are provided. Referring now -to the arrangement of Figure 2, a low range driving of the output shaft 13 from the drive motor 12 is effected by removing pressure from the piston chamber 34 while maintaining the 150 lb. psi pressure On the low piston 40. Under such conditions, piston 40 is moved to the right, thereby moving the load ring 39 to the right to release the high clutch 28. Movement of the load ring 39 to the right further increases the force transmitted through spring means 38 acting on the clutch plate 36 to approximately 3,790 lbs., the remainder of the high piston force being routed to housing 23 through the connector 54 and the ends of spline teeth 32. Under these conditions, sun gear 16 is locked to housing 23 by clutch 27 and becomes the reaction member for the planetary gear assembly 17. This permits the ring gear 15 which is driven by the motor 12 to drive the output carrier 20 at reduced speed and with increased torque so as to define the low speed range operation of the drive system. Referring now to Figure 3, the braked con¬ dition of the power drive is illustrated. As shown therein, spring means 38 is utilized to engage both the low and high clutches 27 and 28 as a result of the removal of fluid pressure from each of the piston chambers 34 and 41. Under this condition, spring 38 •acts through the pressure plate 36 and against the reaction plate 44 to actuate clutch 27. Concurrently, the spring means urges the load ring 39 to the left, as seen in Figure 3, causing reaction plate 45 to act through bearings 46 and clutch plate 47 to engage the clutch 28. The spring force may be approximately 3,700 lbs. so as to effect a positive actuation of the clutches, thereby assuring that low clutch 27 effec- tively locks sun gear 16 to the housing " 23 and high clutch 28 locks the output carrier 20 to the sun gear 16, thereby effectively preventing rotation of the final drive shaft 13. Thus, the power drive 10 provides an improved dual speed range drive of the output shaft member from a single speed range drive motor, as well as a braking of the output shaft member as a result of the control of fluid pressure to either of two piston chambers of the mechanism. The disposition of the mechanism in each of the three different operating conditions is effectively positive under the control of the pistons and biasing spring means. In the event the drive motor is stopped, no pressure is applied to the piston chamber 41 and, thus effecting an automatic braking of output shaft 13. _ 9 _ Industrial Applicability The power drive of the present invention is adapted for a wide range of industrial applications. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the invention may be utilized in any power drive wherein a single speed range drive motor is employed with the output drive comprising a dual speed range output. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the drive motor may comprise any conventional drive motor, the hydrostatic drive motor of the dis¬ closure being exemplary only. In the- illustrated embodiment, the power drive provides both a direct connection mode and a speed reduction mode. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the drive may be utilized to pro¬ vide a direct connection as well as an overdrive oper¬ ation mode by interchanging the input and output con¬ nections. The power drive is advantageously adapted for use where positive braking of the output shaft is re¬ quired as the spring biasing means of the power drive effectively locks the output shaft when the piston chambers are vented. The power drive may be advantageously util- ized in connection with earthworking vehicles and the like conventionally utilizing such hydrostatic motors so as to provide extended drive ranges with the single speed range motor and permitting the selective speed range changing and braking operations by simple con- trol of the pistons of the mechanism. Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the in¬ vention. ( -~~-~-^ .

Claims: -10- Claims 1. In a power drive (10) having a drive motor (12), clutch means including a first clutch (27) and a second clutch (28) , power transmission gearing (15,16,17,21,22) and an output member (13), the im- provement comprising: means (32,34,40,41) for selectively actuating said clutch means; and means for causing said output member (13) to be connected at all times so as to be either (a) driven by said drive motor through said clutch means and gear¬ ing selectively in a low speed range and a high speed range, or (b) braked as an incident of selective acu- ation of said clutch. 2. The power drive of Claim 1 wherein spring biasing means (38) are provided for causing said clutch means (27,28) and gearing (15,16,17,21,22) to be selec¬ tively actuated to brake said output member. 3. The power drive of Claim 1 wherein said drive motor (12) comprises a single speed hydrostatic motor. 4. The power drive of Claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said clutch means comprises a first piston means (33,34) for actuating said first clutch (27) and a second piston means (40,41) for ac- tuating said second clutch (28) , said last named means comprising means for effecting said low speed range, high speed range, and braked operations solely by con¬ trol of said first and second piston means. 5. The power drive of Claim 1 wherein said last named means causes said output member (13) to be directly driven from said drive motor (12) through said clutch means (27,28) and gearing (15,16,17,21,22) in one of said selective speed range operations. 6. The power drive of Claim 1 wherein said last named means comprises means for causing said clutch means (27,28) to be actuated to effect a braked condition of the output member (13) wherein the drive motor (12) is stopped. 7. The power drive of Claim 1 wherein said - last named means comprises first fluid pressure oper¬ ated means (33,34) for causing said output member (13) to-be selectively (a) driven by said drive motor (12) through said clutch means (27,28) and gearing (15,16, 17,21,22), or (b) braked, and a second fluid pressure operated means (40,41) ' ' for causing said output member (13) to be selectively driven in either of said speed ranges when said first fluid pressure operated means is arranged to cause said output member to be driven. 8. In a power drive (10) having a fixed element (23), a rotary power input element (12) and a rotary power output element (13) , an improved power transmission system for controlled connection of the input and output elements to provide selectively a high speed output, a low speed output and a braked condition of the output, said improved power trans¬ mission system comprising: -12- a ring gear (15) connected to said input element for rotation therewith relative to said fixed element (23); a sun gear (16) coaxially of said ring gear; planet gears (18) intermeshed with said ring and sun gears; carrier means (19) carrying said planet gears and drivingly connected to said output element; first clutch means (27) for selectively locking said sun gear to said fixed element; and second clutch means (28) for selectively locking said sun gear to said ring gear, whereby said power transmission system selectively causes (a) said input element to be locked to said fixed element as a result of said first clutch means arranged to lock said sun gear to said fixed element and said second clutch means being arranged to lock said sun gear to said ring gear, (b) said input element directly drives said output element as a result of said second clutch means being arranged to lock said sun gear to said ring gear and said first clutch means being arranged to permit rotation of said sun gear relative to said fixed ele¬ ment, or (c) said input element drives said output element at a reduced speed through said planet gears as a result of said first clutch means being arranged to selectively lock said sun gear to said fixed element and said second clutch means being arranged to permit rotation of said ring gear relative to said sun gear. 9. The power drive structure of Claim 8 in¬ cluding spring means (38) for biasing said first and second clutches (27,28) to said locking arrangements thereby to selectively lock said input element to- said fixed element (23). -13- • 10. The power drive structure of Claim 8 in¬ cluding spring means (38) for biasing said first and second clutches (27,28) to said locking arrangements thereby to selectively lock said input element to said fixed element (23) and means (33,34,40,41) for selec¬ tively applying releasing forces to oppose the biasing action of said spring means (38) in selectively releas¬ ing said first and second clutch means (27,28) from said locking arrangements. 11. The power drive structure of Claim 8 in¬ cluding spring means (38) for biasing said first and second clutches (27,28) to said locking arrangements thereby to selectively lock said input element to said fixed element (23) and means (33,34,40,41) for selec- tively applying releasing forces to oppose the bias¬ ing action of said spring means (38) in selectively releasing said first and second clutch means (27,28) from said locking arrangements, said means for apply¬ ing the releasing forces comprising fluid pressure means (33,34,40,41). 12. The power drive structure of Claim 8 in¬ cluding spring means (38) for biasing said first and second clutches (27,28) to said locking arrangements thereby to selectively lock said input element to said fixed element (23) and means (33,34,40,41) for selec¬ tively applying releasing forces to oppose the biasing action of said spring means (38) in selectively re¬ leasing said first and second clutch means (27,28) from said locking arrangements, said means for apply- ing the releasing forces comprising first fluid pres¬ sure means (33,34) arranged to urge said second clutch to a released arrangement against the biasing action of said spring means- (38) . 13. The power drive structure of Claim 8 in¬ cluding spring means (38) for biasing said first and second clutches (27,28) to said locking arrangements thereby to selectively lock said input element to said fixed element (23) and means (33,34,40/41) for selec¬ tively applying releasing forces to oppose the biasing action of said spring means (38) in selectively re¬ leasing said first and second clutch means (27,28) from said locking arrangements, said means for apply— ing the releasing forces comprising first fluid pres¬ sure means (33,34) arranged to urge said second clutch to a released arrangement against the biasing action of said spring means (38), and second fluid pressure means (40,41) arranged to selectively oppose said first fluid pressure means (33,34) to cause said second clutch means (28) to be arranged to lock said sun gear (16) to said ring gear (15) . 14. In a power transmission system (10) hav¬ ing first (27) and second (28) clutch means, improved means for selectively operating the clutch means com¬ prising: a first fluid pressure-operated force-applying means (33,34) ; a second fluid pressure-operated force-applying means (40,41) ; spring means (38) biasing said first and second clutch means to an engaged condition; and force transfer means associated with said force- applying means (39) for causing at all times (a) said first clutch means to be in the engaged condition and said second clutch means to be in a released condition as a result of force being applied only by said first force-applying means, (b) said first clutch means to be in the released condition and said second clutch -15- means to be in the engaged condition as a result of forces applied by both said first and second force- applying means, or (c) said first and second clutch means concurrently to be in the engaged condition. 15. The power transmission system of Claim 14 wherein said spring means (38) is compressed be¬ tween said first (27) and second (28) clutch means. 16. The power transmission system of Claim 14 wherein said spring means (38) is compressed be- tween said first (27) and second (28) clutch means and means (39) are provided for selectively mechanically connecting said first and second force-applying means (33,34,40,41) in parallel with said spring means (38). 17. The power transmission system of Claim 14 wherein said spring means (38) is compressed be¬ tween said first (27) and second (28) clutch means, said second force-applying means (40,41) developing a force substantially higher than the force developed by said first force-applying means (33,34). 18. The power transmission system of Claim 14 wherein said force-applying means (33,34,40,41) comprise piston means. 19. The power transmission system of Claim 14 wherein said spring means comprises Belleville spring means (38) .

Inventors: HERR C
Applicants: CATERPILLAR TRACTOR CO, HERR C
Application year: 1980
Main classification: F16H3
IPC codes: F16D67, F16H3