High efficiency, high output transmission with linear clutch actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10859145-B2
Application number	US-201916682514-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2019
Priority date	Dec 22, 2016
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing is operationally coupled to the shift actuator and a linear clutch actuator. The linear clutch actuator is a self-adjusting actuator, and the transmission includes a self-adjusting clutch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transmission, comprising:
an input shaft configured to couple to a prime mover by an input clutch;
a countershaft having a first plurality of gears mounted thereon;
a main shaft having a second plurality of gears mounted thereon;
an output shaft selectively providing a torque output to a driveline;
a shift actuator structured to selectively couple the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling at least one of the first plurality of gears to the countershaft and the second plurality of gears to the main shaft, wherein the shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing, and wherein the countershaft and the main shaft are at least partially positioned within the housing;
an integrated actuator housing, wherein the shift actuator is operationally coupled to the integrated actuator housing;
a clutch actuator housing mounted directly to the integrated actuator housing, wherein a linear clutch actuator is positioned at least partially within the clutch actuator housing for disengaging the input clutch.

2. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the linear clutch actuator is pneumatically activated, wherein the linear clutch actuator has a first extended position and a second retracted position, and wherein the linear clutch actuator includes a near zero dead air volume in the second retracted position.

3. The transmission of claim 2 , wherein the linear clutch actuator is a self-adjusting actuator.

4. The transmission of claim 3 , the transmission further comprising a self-adjusting clutch.

5. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the linear clutch actuator is pneumatically activated, wherein the linear clutch actuator has a first extended position and a second retracted position, and wherein the linear clutch actuator includes a near zero dead air volume in the second retracted position, wherein the linear clutch actuator is a self-adjusting actuator, the transmission further comprising a self-adjusting diaphragm spring clutch.

6. The transmission of claim 5 , wherein the transmission comprises an automated truck transmission.

7. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the transmission comprises an automated truck transmission, the transmission further comprising a diaphragm clutch.

8. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the integrated actuator housing comprises a single air supply port, and wherein both of the linear clutch actuator and the shift actuator are powered through the single air supply port.

9. An automated truck transmission, comprising:
an input shaft configured to couple to a prime mover;
a countershaft having a first plurality of gears mounted thereon;
a main shaft having a second plurality of gears mounted thereon;
an output shaft selectively providing a torque output to a driveline;
a shift actuator structured to selectively couple the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling at least one of the first plurality of gears to the countershaft and the second plurality of gears to the main shaft, wherein the shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing, and wherein the countershaft and the main shaft are at least partially positioned within the housing;
an integrated actuator housing, wherein the shift actuator is operationally coupled to the integrated actuator housing;
a clutch actuator housing, wherein a linear clutch actuator is positioned at least partially within the clutch actuator housing; and
wherein the linear clutch actuator is a self-adjusting actuator, the transmission further comprising a self-adjusting clutch.

10. The transmission of claim 9 , wherein the integrated actuator housing comprises a single air supply port, and wherein both of the linear clutch actuator and the shift actuator are powered through the single air supply port.

11. The transmission of claim 9 , wherein the self-adjusting clutch comprises a diaphragm spring clutch.

12. The transmission of claim 11 , wherein the integrated actuator housing comprises a single air supply port, and wherein both of the linear clutch actuator and the shift actuator are powered through the single air supply port.

13. A transmission, comprising:
wherein the transmission is an automated truck transmission;
an input shaft configured to couple to an upstream driveline component;
a countershaft having a first plurality of gears mounted thereon;
a main shaft having a second plurality of gears mounted thereon;
an output shaft selectively providing a torque output to a downstream driveline component;
a shift actuator structured to selectively couple the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling at least one of the first plurality of gears to the countershaft and the second plurality of gears to the main shaft, wherein the shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing, and wherein the countershaft and the main shaft are at least partially positioned within the housing;
an integrated actuator housing, wherein the shift actuator is operationally coupled to the integrated actuator housing;
a clutch actuator housing, wherein a linear clutch actuator is positioned at least partially within the clutch actuator housing; and
wherein the linear clutch actuator is a self-adjusting actuator, the transmission further comprising a self-adjusting clutch, wherein the self-adjusting clutch comprises a diaphragm spring clutch.

14. The transmission of claim 13 , wherein the linear clutch actuator is pneumatically activated, wherein the linear clutch actuator has a first extended position and a second retracted position, and wherein the linear clutch actuator includes a near zero dead air volume in the second retracted position.

15. The transmission of claim 14 , wherein the integrated actuator housing comprises a single air supply port, and wherein both of the linear clutch actuator and the shift actuator are powered through the single air supply port.

16. The transmission of claim 15 , wherein the linear clutch actuator comprises a progressive actuator, and wherein a position of the progressive actuator corresponds to a position of the self-adjusting clutch.

Assignees

• Eaton Cummins Automated Trans Tech Llc

Inventors

• Peterson Paul
• Jackson Graeme Andrew
• Smith Timothy Scott
• Wilson Paul
• Chimner Christian
• Wota Andrzej
• Strehlow Kirk

Classifications

• F16H2057/02026

  Connection of auxiliaries with a gear case; Mounting of auxiliaries on the gearbox · CPC title

• F16D2048/0293

  Hydraulic circuits combining clutch and transmission actuation · CPC title

• F16H57/0494

  with variable gear ratio or for reversing rotary motion · CPC title

• F16H57/043

  within rotary parts, e.g. axial channels or radial openings in shafts · CPC title

• F16H57/021

  Shaft support structures, e.g. partition walls, bearing eyes, casing walls or covers with bearings · CPC title