Patent GB-190710378-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Variable-speed and Reversing Gearing
Inventor: WILLIS PERCY RICHARD JULIUS
Filed: 1907-05-04
Granted: 1908-06-04
Abstract: 10,378. Willis, P. R. J., [Fletcher, H. O.]. May 4. Variablespeed gearing; clutches. - Relates to variablespeed gearing, suitable for motor-vehicles, of the class in which driving and driven shafts are in line and a countershaft is arranged parallel to them, and comprises means for effecting the speed - variations without shock, and for operating and locking the gears. The driving- shaft 7 is adapted to be connected to the driven shaft 9 for a direct high-speed drive by a friction clutch 18, 19, Figs. 1 and 7. For the second and third speeds, power is transmitted from the gears 11, 12, fast on the shaft 7, to the countershaft 8 by way of slidable gears 13, 14 and to a gear 15 fast on the shaft 9 by way of a gear 16 mounted and operating as described in Specification No. 7697, A.D. 1907. For reversal, a train of gears 23, 21, 20 operates instead of the train 16, 15. The gear 13 is mounted as shown in Fig. 8, screwing upon a sleeve 31 which slides on a feather &c. on the shaft 8. The sleeve 31 is operated by toggles 29 pivoted to a fixed collar 27 actuated by a sliding grooved collar 35. A clutchcone 40 adapted to be engaged by a recess in the gear 13 is free to slide on the shaft 8, and is held pressed to the left by a spring 43 butting against a flanged collar 42. When the gear 13 is carried by its sleeve 31 sufficiently far to the right to begin to mesh with the rotating gear 11, it immediately screws along the sleeve against the action of a volute spring 37 until the member 40 is engaged. The member 40 yields to any shock by sliding till it strikes its collar 42, after which the gear 13 drives the shaft 8 positively. The gear 14 is actuated similarly by a collar 50. The clutch member 18, Figs. 1 and 7, slides on the shaft 7, is operated in either direction through bevel-gearing by the effort of the motor. A ring 70 slidably keyed to the shaft 7 carries planet-pinions 71 which mesh with bevel-gears 68, 69 formed externally with ratchet teeth adapted to be caught by pawls 84, 85. If the pawl 85 holds the gear 69 against rotation, a screwing action is set up, the shaft 7 screws through the gear, and the member 18 is thrust to the right through a thrust bearing 76 and spring 79 so as to engage the member 19. If the pawl 84 holds the gear 68, the gear 69 is rotated in the opposite direction so as to unscrew and allow the clutch to be disengaged by a spring 83. The screwing action is automatically stopped by an incline on the ring 70 gradually lifting the operative pawl. The pawls 84, 85 have projections normally resting on a boss 66, Fig. 1, upon a rod 24. When this boss is moved to allow a projection to drop into a slot 67, the corresponding pawl comes into action. The rod 24 carries arms 34, 52 for actuating the collars 35, 50, respectively, an arm 63 for actuating the collar shown in connexion with the gear 16, and an arm 65 for actuating the idler 21. The rotary and sliding motions are given to the rod 24 by means shown in Fig. 6 and on the left of Fig. 1. A frame 96 pivoting about links 101' carries with it the outer end of the rod 24, thereby effecting the longitudinal movements of that rod. The frame 96 carries also a transverse rod 95 through which the rod 24 is geared to a vertical rod 99 rotated through gearing by a handle 25. The handle 25 therefore gives the turning movements to the rod 24 The frame 96 is locked by a spring catch 105 operated from a handle 110. The rod 24 is prevented from turning at a wrong time by a plate 111 with a projection 112 adapted to engage one or other of a series of fixed holes, the relative positions of which are indicated to the attendant upon a dial 114, Figs. 5 and 6, by a pointer 115.