Patent GB-355750-A (GB)
IPC: F16H57/10
Filed: 1930-02-18
Abstract: 355,750. Variable-speed gearing. FORD MOTOR CO., Ltd., 93, Regent Street, London. Feb. 18, 1930, No. 5457. Convention date, Feb. 18, 1929. Void [Published under Sect. 91 of the Acts]. [Class 80 (ii).] Variable-speed epicyclic gearing for a vehicle includes a pedal 141, Fig. 2, which on being depressed turns a valve 138 admitting oil from a pump 133 to a pipe 136 where it acts to open the engine clutch 16, to open the solid-drive clutch 98, and to turn cams 126, which release all the speed brakes, all in that order. The gearing being free, selection is made by a control lever 166, Fig. 7, moving to one of the positions 1 .. 4, R, Fig. 8. On pedal 141 being released, valve 138 connects pipe 136 to sump 144, and the selected brake or clutch and engine clutch are engaged in the reverse order. In Fig. 3, 40 is the piston adapted to open clutch 16 against spring 35. This is a dry clutch. Piston 110 is adapted to open clutch 98, which runs in oil and is held in by spring 101 through a system of levers. Clutch 98 is between two brake drums 81, 84 and effects fourth speed. The third speed or first reduced drive is through a simple three-element train 64, 78, 80, Fig. 6, when sun gear 80 is held by brake 122 upon drum 81. The driven shaft 67 of the gearing is secured to the carrier 75 of the planets 78 and also to the driven sun gear 73 of compound or stepped trains yielding second and first forward speeds and reversed drive. The stepped planets 60 .. 63 are upon a carrier 54, to which is secured the internal gear 64 of the simple train, and which is in turn secured to clutch shaft 23. Suns 83, 86, 89 are secured to brake drums 84, 87, 90 acted on by brakes 114, 121, 130. The brake surfaces are V-shaped without linings, since the torque is taken up on engine clutch 16 after any brake has been engaged. The brakes are the same as brake 114, Fig. 5. Two brake shoes are normally held upon the drum 84 by springs 118 unless prevented by selector-bars 145, 146, one of each lying between each pair of ears 115 on the shoes. The last effect of depressing clutch pedal 141 is to turn shafts 123, which have a cam 126 between each pair of ears 115 on all the brakes. The shafts 123 are connected by a link 129, Fig. 4, and operated from a cylinder 130. The selection is made by moving the bars 145, 146. Figs. 9 and 10, which are connected respectively to selector bars 155, 156, Fig. 7. Gaps 172 in bars 145 allow bars 146 to act so that one step to the left of Fig. 10 brings in speed R, two steps to the left brings in speed 1, and one step to the right brings in speed 2. Gaps 171 in bars 146 allow bars 145 to act so that one step to the right of Fig. 9 brings in speed 3 and one step to the left brings in speed 4 by letting in solid drive clutch 98. These steps correspond to positions of the upper end of selector lever 116, Fig. 7, as shown in Fig. 8. This arrangement of reverse and extralow forward speed, which may readily be used alternately, is useful in starting a vehicle in sand or mud. The movement to the left of bars 145, Fig. 9, for speed 4 leaves a plunger 175, Fig. 4, free to be shot clear of lever 109 by spring 176. Plunger 175 normally locks solid-driving clutch 98 disengaged, and it is by freeing the plunger by gap 173, Fig. 9, that the clutch is brought in in the speed selection.