Modular arrangement for hydromechanical transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10948063-B2
Application number	US-201815911531-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2018
Priority date	Mar 5, 2018
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) may include differential and range modules that include planetary gear arrangements, a plurality of selectively engageable clutch assemblies, and a drop box module with a final output member. First and second power source paths may provide power to a same end of the differential module. The clutch assemblies may be selectively engageable to provide variable rotational power from the differential module to the range module, and from the range module to the drop box module in a plurality of directional ranges. The drop box module may adapt the variable rotational power provided in the selected range for connection in a given application.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transmission comprising:
a differential module that includes a first planetary gear arrangement having a first plurality of gears including a sun gear and a carrier,
the first planetary gear arrangement being a Ravigneaux planetary gear set;

a first power source path to provide power to the sun gear;
a second power source path to provide power to the carrier via a connection member,
the connection member being directly connected to the carrier, and
the power from the first power source path and the power from the second power source path to be provided via a same end of the differential module;

a range module that includes a second planetary gear arrangement having a second plurality of gears;
a plurality of selectively engageable clutch assemblies that are selectively engageable to provide a plurality of directional ranges,
at least one clutch assembly, of the plurality of selectively engageable clutch assemblies, being selectively engageable to couple at least one gear from the first planetary gear arrangement with at least one gear from the second planetary gear arrangement; and

a drop box module that includes a final output member,
the differential module being coupleable to the range module to provide a variable rotational power to the range module,
the range module being coupleable to the drop box module to direct the variable rotational power in a selected direction,
the variable rotational power, provided in the selected direction, to be transmitted through the drop box module to the final output member.

2. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the power from the first power source path and the power from the second power source path are to be provided to the differential module without passing through the range module.

3. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the variable rotational power is to be provided along a single shaft or a single direction from the differential module to a sun gear of the second plurality of gears of the second planetary gear arrangement of the range module.

4. The transmission of claim 3 , wherein the variable rotational power is to be provided to the sun gear of the second plurality of gears of the second planetary gear arrangement after bypassing a ring gear of the second plurality of gears of the second planetary gear arrangement.

5. The transmission of claim 3 , wherein the variable rotational power is to be provided to the sun gear of the second plurality of gears of the second planetary gear arrangement without bypassing a ring gear of the second plurality of gears of the second planetary gear arrangement.

6. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the variable rotational power is to be provided along multiple shafts or multiple directions from the differential module to a sun gear of the second plurality of gears of the second planetary gear arrangement of the range module.

7. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the range module is positioned at an opposite end of the differential module from the end via which the power from the first power source path and the power from the second power source path is to be provided to the differential module.

8. The transmission of claim 1 , wherein the range module is not positioned at an opposite end of the differential module from the end via which the power from the first power source path and the power from the second power source path is to be provided to the differential module.

9. The transmission of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
an auxiliary pump drive coupleable to a variator of the first power source path,
an auxiliary pump drive coupleable to the second power source path,
a parking brake coupleable to the final output member, or
some combination thereof.

10. A transmission, comprising:
a differential module that includes a first planetary gear arrangement that includes a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a first set of planet gears, a second set of planet gears, a first planet carrier, and a first ring gear,
the first planetary gear arrangement being a Ravigneaux planetary gear set;

a range module that includes a second planetary gear arrangement that includes a third sun gear, a fourth sun gear, a third set of planet gears, a fourth set of planet gears, a second planet carrier, and a second ring gear;
a first power source path that includes a variator;
a second power source path that includes at least one mechanical gear,
the first power source path and the second power source path to provide power to the differential module without passing through the range module,
the second power source path to provide power to the first planet carrier via a connection member, and
the connection member being directly connected to the first planet carrier;

a plurality of clutch assemblies including at least a first clutch assembly and a second clutch assembly,
the first clutch assembly being selectively engageable to couple at least one gear of the first planetary gear arrangement and at least one gear of the second planetary gear arrangement,
the second clutch assembly being selectively engageable to couple with at least one gear of the second planetary gear arrangement; and

a drop box module that includes a final output member,
the differential module being coupleable to the range module to provide a variable rotational power to the range module,
the range module being coupleable to the drop box module to direct the variable rotational power in a selected range,
the variable rotational power, in the selected range, to be transmitted through the drop box module to the final output member.

11. The transmission of claim 10 , wherein the first power source path and the second power source path are to provide power to the differential module via a same end of the differential module.

12. The transmission of claim 10 , wherein the variable rotational power is to be provided along a single shaft or a single direction from the differential module to the range module.

13. The transmission of claim 12 , wherein the variable rotational power is to be provided to the third sun gear or the fourth sun gear after bypassing the second ring gear.

14. The transmission of claim 12 , wherein the variable rotational power is to be provided to the third sun gear or the fourth sun gear without bypassing the second ring gear.

15. The transmission of claim 10 , wherein the variable rotational power is to be provided along multiple shafts or multiple directions from the differential module to the range module.

16. The transmission of claim 10 , further comprising at least one of:
an auxiliary pump drive coupleable to the variator,
an auxiliary pump drive coupleable to the second power source path, or
a parking brake coupleable to the final output member.

17. A machine that includes a transmission, the transmission comprising:
a first power source path that includes a variator;
a second power source path that includes at least one mechanical gear;
a differential module that includes a first planetary gear arrangement having a first plurality of gears including a sun gear and a carrier,
the first planetary gear arrangement being a Ravigneaux planetary gear set,
the first power source path to provide power to the sun gear,
the second power source path to provide power to the carrier via a connection member,
the connection member being directly connected to the first planet carrier, and
the power to the sun gear and the power to the carrier to be provided from a same direction relative to the differential module;

a rang

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Seipold John
• Marsh Stephen

Classifications

• F16H2037/0886

  with switching means, e.g. to change ranges · CPC title

• F16H47/04 Primary

  the mechanical gearing being of the type with members having orbital motion · CPC title

• F16H37/084

  at least one power path being a continuously variable transmission, i.e. CVT · CPC title

• F16H2047/045

  the fluid gearing comprising a plurality of pumps or motors · CPC title