Transmission arrangement for a vehicle

• US 10,584,772 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2015
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Dersjo, Jan, Mattsson, Per, Lehikoinen, Mathias, Åkerblom, Mats, Muller, Jorg, Leesch, Mirko, Resch, Rico
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Justin
• Application Number:
  US15/758,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20180231104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,644 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0065 the gear ratios comprising nine forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0069 the gear ratios comprising ten forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0073 the gear ratios comprising eleven forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0078 the gear ratio comprising twelve or more forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0091 the gear ratios comprising three reverse speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2012 with four sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2048 with seven engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2097 comprising an orbital gear set member permanently connected to the housing, e.g. a sun wheel permanently connected to the housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/66 composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/686 with orbital gears

Abstract

A transmission arrangement for a vehicle includes a first, a second, a third, and a fourth planetary gear set including a sun gear, a planet carrier and a ring gear, respectively, wherein the transmission arrangement further includes a transmission housing, an input shaft and an output shaft, wherein the sun gear of the first planetary gear set and the input shaft are operatively connected to each other; the ring gear of the first planetary gear set and the ring gear of the second planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other; the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set and the sun gear of the third planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other; the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other; the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other; and the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set and the output shaft are operatively connected to each other.

Claims

1. A transmission arrangement for a vehicle, the transmission arrangement comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth planetary gear set comprising a sun gear, a planet carrier and a ring gear, respectively, wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises a transmission housing, an input shaft and an output shaft, wherein

the sun gear of the first planetary gear set and the input shaft are operatively connected to each other;

the ring gear of the first planetary gear set and the ring gear of the second planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other;

the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set and the sun gear of the third planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other;

the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other;

the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set are operatively connected to each other; and

the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set and the output shaft are operatively connected to each other.

2. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a first connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the input shaft to the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set.

3. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a second connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and to the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set.

4. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a third connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set to the ring gear of the first planetary gear set and to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set.

5. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission, arrangement comprises a fourth connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set to the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set.

6. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a first locking mechanism for selectively locking the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set to the transmission housing.

7. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a second locking mechanism for selectively locking the ring gear of the third planetary gear set to the transmission housing.

8. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a third locking mechanism for selectively locking the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set to the transmission housing.

9. The transmission arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the stationary gear ratio of each one of the first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets are negative.

10. A vehicle comprising a prime mover and a gearbox, wherein the gearbox comprises a transmission arrangement according to claim 1.

11. A method for controlling a transmission arrangement, the transmission arrangement comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth planetary gear set comprising a sun gear, a planet carrier and a ring gear, respectively, wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises a transmission housing, an input shaft and an output shaft, whereby:

the sun gear of the first planetary gear set being operatively connected to the input shaft;

the ring gear of the first planetary gear set being operatively connected to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;

the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set being operatively connected to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the sun gear of the second planetary gear set being operatively connected to the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set being operatively connected to the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set;

the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set being operatively connected to the output shaft;

wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises;

a first connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the input shaft to the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set;

a second connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and to the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set;

a third connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set to the ring gear of the first planetary gear set and to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;

a fourth connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set to the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set;

a first locking mechanism for selectively locking the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set to the transmission housing;

a second locking mechanism tier selectively locking the ring gear of the third planetary gear set to the transmission housing; and

a third locking mechanism for selectively locking the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set to the transmission housing;

wherein for at least one of the gears of the transmission arrangement, the method comprises the steps of;

positioning three of the locking and connecting mechanisms in an engaged state; and

positioning four of the locking and connecting mechanisms in a disengaged state.

12. A control unit configured to control a transmission arrangement, the transmission arrangement comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth planetary gear set comprising a gear, a planet carrier and a ring gear, respectively, wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises a transmission housing, an input shaft and an output shaft, wherein:

the sun gear of the first planetary gear set being operatively connected to the input shaft;

the ring gear of the first planetary gear set being operatively connected to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;

the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set being operatively connected to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set;

the sun gear of the second planetary gear set being operatively connected to the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set;

the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set being operatively connected to the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set;

the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set being operatively connected to the output shalt wherein the transmission arrangement further comprises;

a first connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the input shaft to the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set;

a second connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the fourth planetary gear set to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and to the planet carder of the second planetary gear set;

a third connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set to the ring gear of the first planetary gear set and to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set;

a fourth connecting mechanism for selectively connecting the planet carrier of the second planetary gear set to the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set;

a first locking mechanism for selectively locking the planet carrier of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set to the transmission housing;

a second locking mechanism for selectively locking the ring gear of the third planetary gear set to the transmission housing; and

a third locking mechanism for selectively locking the planet carrier of the first planetary gear set to the transmission housing;

wherein for at least one of the gears of the transmission arrangement, the control unit (600) is configured to;

position three of the locking, and connecting mechanisms in an engaged state; and

position four of the locking and connecting mechanisms in a disengaged state.