Two-speed planetary gear mechanism
US5006100A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 1990 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 7, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H2200/2064
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A particularly compact planetary gear mechanism includes an axially shiftable ring gear to provide either a direct drive mode or a speed reduction ratio mode between an input sun gear thereof and an output planet carrier thereof. In a first embodiment, the ring gear is urged in a first direction by a compressible spring apparatus to a conjoint coupled relationship with the sun gear for direct drive. In a less frequently used mode the ring gear is urged by a hydraulically actuated annular piston closely encircling it into a fixed relationship with a stationary coupling in opposition to the compressible spring apparatus. A second embodiment has no spring apparatus so that the annular piston is hydraulically biased in either axial direction for positively shifting the ring gear. A speed reduction ratio of about 3 or 4:1 is obtained in the secondary mode so that when the planetary gear mechanism is used in a vehicle a relatively low ground speed is maintainable which is especially useful for specialized attachments such as a snow blower, broom or the like. With this construction the sun gear transmits only a relatively small proportion of the total torque during the normal direct drive…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.