Transmission device for land vehicle, such as a cart

• US 20050202926A1
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Antonov Automotive Technologies Limited (Antonov Plc)
• Original Assignee: Antonov Automotive Technologies BV
• Inventors: Dazin, Guillaume, Antonov, Roumen
• Granted Patent: US 7,229,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/293
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 43/10 the centrifugal masses acting directly on the pressure ring, no other actuating mechanism for the pressure ring being provided
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/54 one of the central gears being internally toothed and the other externally toothed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/04 Combinations of toothed gearings only F16H37/06 takes precedence

Abstract

For a first gear ratio, the flyweights engage the clutch and thus connect the input to the sun wheel, whilst the ring gear is immobilised by the free wheel. For the second gear ratio, the flyweights push the ring gear against the axial thrust of the helical teeth in a direction causing the engagement of the clutch against the ring and thus, at the same time, the disengagement of the clutch. The thrust produced by the teeth on the ring gear decreases and transmission then occurs from the input to the ring gear, whilst the sun wheel is immobilised by its free wheel. The speed increases further, the flyweights rise further, compress the prestressed springs and push the ring in the direction of the engagement of the clutch, which produces direct drive.

Claims

1. An automatic transmission device, particularly for land vehicles, comprising:

a rotational input element (3) and a rotational output element (4);

a first (5) and a second (6) toothed element that each mesh with a third toothed element (7);

first (11) and second (12) coupling means to selectively couple a first one of the rotational input and output elements with the first (5) and second (6) toothed elements respectively;

a third coupling means (74, 76) to selectively couple the second (4) of the two rotational input and output elements with the third toothed element (7);

first (8) and second (9) stopping means to selectively immobilise the first (5) and second (6) toothed elements respectively;

a first actuator (111) for the first coupling means (11); and

a second actuator (62) capable of a first position in which the first coupling means (11) is capable of an engaged state and a disengaged state, and the second coupling means (12) is disengaged, and a second position in which the first coupling means (11) is disengaged and the second coupling means (12) is in an engaged state.

2. An automatic transmission device according to claim 1, characterised in that in the second position, the second actuator (62) exerts thrust on the first actuator (111) in the direction of the disengagement of the first coupling means (11).

3. An automatic transmission device according to claim 2, characterised in that said thrust is exerted by the intermediary of the second coupling means (12).

4. An automatic transmission device according to claim 3, characterised in that the first actuator (111) is at the same time a counterbearing for the second coupling means (12) in an engaged state.

5. An automatic transmission device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second actuator (62) is capable of a third position in which the first (11) and second (12) coupling means are in an engaged state.

6. An automatic transmission device according to claim 5, characterised in that in its third position, the second actuator (62) acts on a third actuator (116), which pushes the first coupling means (11) against the first actuator (111).

7. An automatic transmission device according to claim 5, characterised by a prestressed spring (121) between the second actuator (62) and the second coupling means (12).

8. An automatic transmission device according to claim 5, characterised by a prestressed spring (121) fitted to define a strength threshold that the second actuator (62) must exceed to move from its second to its third position.

9. An automatic transmission device according to claim 1, characterised in that it has a third actuator (116) fitted to selectively place the first coupling means (11) in an engaged state by pushing the first coupling means (11) against the first actuator (111).

10. An automatic transmission device according to claim 1, characterised in that it has for the first actuator (111) a first control means (113) for the gradual setting in motion of the vehicle.

11. An automatic transmission device according to claim 10, characterised in that the first control means (113) is of centrifugal type.

12. An automatic transmission device according to claim 11, characterised in that the first control means (113) has centrifugal flyweights (118) sensitive to the speed of the rotational input element (3) and tending to put the first coupling means (11) in an engaged state.

13. An automatic transmission device according to claim 1, characterised in that it has for the second actuating means (62) a second control means with centrifugal flyweights (131) sensitive to the speed of rotation of the third toothed element (7) and/or the output element (4).

14. An automatic transmission device according to claim 1, characterised in that it has means to apply thrust (P_A) produced by teeth to the second actuator (62) in the direction of the movement of the second actuator (62) from second to first position.

15. An automatic transmission device according to claim 14, characterised in that the second actuator (62) is attached to the second toothed element (6).

16. An automatic transmission device according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the first (8) and second (9) stopping means is a free wheel.

17. An automatic transmission device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first toothed element (5) is a sun wheel, the second toothed element (6) is a ring gear and the third toothed element (7) is a planet carrier on which the planet pinions (72) mesh with the sun wheel (5) and the ring gear (6).

18. An automatic transmission device according to claim 1, characterised in that it has reversing means (14) which, at least indirectly, selectively hold the second actuator (62) in its first position.