Modular arrangement for hydromechanical transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9488263-B2
Application number	US-201414461160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2014
Priority date	Aug 15, 2014
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

Transmission for coupling to hydromechanical power source includes differential and range modules including planetary gear arrangements, a plurality of selectively engagable clutch assemblies, and a drop box module, which includes a final output member. First and second power source paths provide power to the differential module. The clutch assemblies are selectively engagable 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 adapts the variable rotational power provided in the selected range for connection in a given application.

First claim

We claim:

1. A transmission for coupling to hydromechanical power source having a first power source path including a variator and a second power source path including at least one mechanical gear, the transmission comprising:
a differential module including at least one first planetary gear arrangement having a plurality of gears including a sun gear and a carrier,
the first power source path providing power to the sun gear of the differential module and the second power source path providing power to the carrier of the differential module,

a range module including at least one second planetary gear arrangement having a plurality of gears,
a plurality of selectively engagable clutch assemblies,
the plurality of selectively engagable clutch assemblies being selectively engagable to provide a plurality of directional ranges,
the plurality of selectively engagable clutch assemblies including at least five clutch assemblies,
at least a first clutch assembly, of the plurality of selectively engagable clutch assemblies, being selectively engagable to couple at least one gear from the first planetary gear arrangement of the differential module with at least one gear from the second planetary gear arrangement,
at least a second clutch assembly, of the plurality of selectively engagable clutch assemblies, being selectively engagable to couple with at least one gear from the second planetary gear arrangement, and

a drop box module,
the drop box module including 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, being transmitted through the drop box module to the final output member.

2. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first planetary gear arrangement includes a plurality of sun gears and a plurality of sets of planet gears.

3. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one second planetary gear arrangement includes a plurality of sun gears and a plurality of sets of planet gears.

4. The transmission according to claim 1 wherein the differential module in conjunction with selective engagement of the at least one first clutch assembly provides a torque/speed reduction from input from the first and second power source paths in at least one of a high and a low range to a gear of the at least one second planetary gear arrangement.

5. The transmission according to claim 1 wherein engagement of the at least one first clutch assembly provides a high gear range.

6. The transmission according to claim 1 wherein engagement of the at least one first clutch assembly provides a low gear range.

7. The transmission according to claim 1 wherein engagement of the at least one second clutch assembly provides a forward gear range.

8. The transmission according to claim 1 wherein engagement of the at least one second clutch assembly provides a reverse gear range.

9. The transmission according to claim 1 wherein engagement of the at least one second clutch assembly provides an auxiliary gear range.

10. The transmission according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of selectively engagable clutch assemblies includes at least one brake.

11. The transmission according to claim 1 wherein the drop box module is exchangeable to provide varied output configurations.

12. A transmission for coupling to a hydromechanical power source having a first power source path including a variator and a second power source path including at least one mechanical gear, the transmission comprising:
a differential module including a first planetary gear arrangement including first and second sun gears, first and second sets of planet gears, a first planet carrier and a first ring gear,
the first and second power source paths providing power to the differential module,

a range module,
the range module including a second planetary gear arrangement including third and fourth sun gears, third and fourth sets of planet gears, a second planet carrier, and a second ring gear,
at least one of said first carrier holding said first and second sets of planet gears, and said second carrier holding said third and fourth sets of planet gears,

a plurality of clutch assemblies,
the plurality of clutch assemblies being selectively engagable to couple at least one of the first and second planetary gear arrangements to provide a high-forward range, a low-forward range, and at least one reverse range, and a drop box module,
the drop box module including a plurality of gears providing rotational motion to 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, provided in the selected range, being transmitted through the drop box module to the final output member.

13. The transmission according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of clutch assemblies are selectively engagable to provide a low-reverse range and a high-reverse range.

14. The transmission according to claim 12 , further including a plurality of hubs rotatably mounted about a connection member of the first power source path,
at least one of the plurality of hubs being secured with at least one of the sun gears, and at least one of the plurality of clutch assemblies being selectively engagable to couple with at least one of the hubs.

15. The transmission according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of clutch assemblies includes at least four clutch assemblies.

16. The transmission according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of clutch assemblies includes at least five clutch assemblies.

17. A modular transmission for coupling to a primary driver, the modular transmission comprising:
a first power source path including a variator,
a second power source path including at least one mechanical gear,
a differential module including a first planetary gear arrangement including first and second sun gears, first and second sets of planet gears, a first planet carrier holding said first and second sets of planet gears, and a first ring gear,
the first and second power source paths providing power to the differential module,

a range module,
the range module including a second planetary gear arrangement including third and fourth sun gears, third and fourth sets of planet gears, a second planet carrier holding said third and fourth sets of planet gears, and a second ring gear,

a plurality of clutch assemblies,
a first clutch assembly, of the plurality of clutch assemblies, being selectively engagable to couple at least one gear of the first planetary gear arrangement and at least one gear of the second planetary gear arrangement,
a second clutch assembly, of the plurality of clutch assemblies, being selectively engagable to couple with at least one gear of the second planetary gear arrangement,
selective engagement and disengagement of the plurality of clutch assemblies providing a high-forward range, a low-forward range, and at least one reverse range, and

a drop box module,
the drop box module including a plurality of gears providing rotational motion to a final output member,
the differential module being coupleable to the range module to provide a variable rotational power to t

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Vasudeva Gaurav
• Cronin Michael G

Classifications

• F16H47/04 Primary

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

• F16H2037/0886

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