Patent GB-728122-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to propulsion systems in particular for vehicles
Inventor: CLERK ROBERT CECIL
IPC: F16H33/02
Filed: 1950-08-23
Abstract: 728,122. Variable-speed gear. GYREACTA TRANSMISSIONS, Ltd. Aug. 13, 1951 [Aug. 23, 1950; Dec. 29, 1950], Nos. 20902/50 and 31643/50. Class 80 (2). [Also in Groups XXVI, XXXI and XXXIII] A propulsion system for use with an engine or other prime mover comprises a power input shaft, a first train of differential gearing having a summation first element coupled to an output shaft, a second element coupled to a fly-wheel which in normal service rotates in a predetermined direction, and a third element, a second train of differential gearing comprising a summation first element coupled to the second element of the first train, a second element coupled to the summation element of the first train, and a third element, and first and second means, for example, clutches, the first means being operable to couple the input shaft to the third element of' the first train, whereby to establish a driving connection between the input shaft and the output shaft with the output .torque in the same direction as the input torque, the gearing reaction being transmitted - to the fly-wheel from the second element of the first train with effect to retard the fly-wheel, the second means being operable to couple the input shaft to the third element of the second train, whereby to establish a driving connection between the input shaft and the output shaft with the output torque in the contrary direction to the input torque, with the gearing reaction transmitted to the fly-wheel from the summation element of the second train with effect to accelerate the fly-wheel. In the application to a land vehicle driven by an internal-combustion engine, an engine shaft 47 is coupled through a friction clutch 461 to a sun-shaft 46 of a gear train I, a planet carrier 48 of which is directly connected to a shaft 49 driving the vehicle wheels and an annulus 50 having twice the number of teeth of the sun gear 45 on the shaft 46. The shaft 47 is also engageable through a clutch 54, with a sleeve 53 carrying a sun gear 52 of a train II which engages planet-wheels 57 on a carrier 55 directly connected to annulus 50 of train I. An annulus 56 having twice the number of teeth of sun 52, is directly connected to carrier 48 of train I. A friction brake 58 is engageable to arrest annulus 50 of train I and planet carrier 55 of train II to provide a velocity ratio of 1/1 between gear 56 and sun 52. An annulus gear 62 of a planetary change-speed gear train III is directly connected through a sleeve 63 and bevel gearing to a fly-wheel 61 and a planet carrier 64 of train III is directly connected to annulus 50 of train I. A sun-wheel 65 of tiain III is controllable by a brake 66 or may be coupled to gear 62 by a friction clutch 67. In operation, the arrangement provides : a first gear in which only clutch 461 and brake 58 are engaged and fly-wheel 61 idles, the shaft 49 being accelerated by the engine ; a second gear in which only clutch 46<SP>1</SP> and brake 66 are engaged, the shaft 49 then being driven by the engine and fly-wheel; a third gear in which only clutches 46<SP>1</SP> and 67 are engaged, the shaft 49 being driven under the same torque but at a higher maximum speed ; a direct drive from the engine to shaft 49 in which clutches 46<SP>1</SP> and 54 are engaged and the fly-wheel idles; and regenerative braking in which only clutch 54 and brake 66 are engaged. A hydraulic turbo coupling may be provided between the engine and clutches 46<SP>1</SP> and 54. The clutches and brakes may be of the electromagneticallyactuated friction type. In another arrangement (Fig. 2, not shown) comprising four planetary gear trains, a pair of clutches between the engine shaft and the gear trains are operable by means of a clutch thrust to yield four operating conditions for the arrangement. These are : (a) an accelerating position in which the speed of an intermediate driven shaft is increased from zero to a maximum, corresponding to maximum engine-shaft speed with a constant torque ratio between the engine and the intermediate shaft over the whole range ; (b) a direct drive position in which there is no driving connection between the engine and fly-wheel ; (c) a braking position in which braking energy is stored kinetically in the flywheel ; (d) an initial storage of energy position in which the engine initiates iotation of the fly-wheel or increases its speed to a normal maximum. In this arrangement, movements of certain elements of the gear trains are controlled by electromagnetically operated servoarmatures of the type described in Specification 625,277. In a similar arrangement (Fig. 3, not shown), regenerative braking down to zeio output speed is possible and the initial energy storage conditions provide for increased flywheel speed at the end of the earlier stages of the fly - wheel acceleration period. In the accelerating position, the arrangement is such that the fly-wheel may, according to its speed, increase or decrease the idling speed of the engine when the vehicle is stationary, with a corresponding decrease or increase respectively in the speed of the fly-wheel. An additional gear train is provided between the intermediate driven shaft and an output shaft to provide an alternative overall low range of speeds for the latter in addition to a 1 : ratio and neutral position. The torque ratio between the intermediate and output shafts may be 1:1 or 1.6 : 1 irrespective of the position of the clutch thrust. In the above arrangements, accelerating torque and regenerative braking is applied to all four vehicle road wheels and a drive automatically differentiating as between front and rear wheels as disclosed in Specification 728,206, may be provided. The invention is applicable to lifts, colliery winding gear, cranes and earth moving equipment. According to the first Provisional Specification, the invention is applicable to aircraft to provide an assisted take-off. According to the second Provisional Specification engine exhaust gases may be utilized in a turbine connected to the fly-wheel. In all arrangements, the fly-wheel may be in the form of a disc which is thickened at its centre and which may be thickened at its edges, see Fig. 4 (not shown). The Specification includes figures for the dimensions of the flywheel expressed in terms of its radius. Preferably the fly-wheel runs in an anti-friction footstep bearing in an evacuated enclosure.