Transmission having torque converter and planetary gear train

• US 6,210,297 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1993
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IVAT Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: IVAT Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Knight, Irwin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US08/111,861
• Time in Patent Office: 2,777 Days
• Field of Search: 475/35, 475/47
• US Class Current: 475/35
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 47/085 with at least two mechanical connections between the hydraulic device and the mechanical transmissions

Abstract

The automatic transmission comprises a torque converter and a planetary gear train. The gear train includes a first sun gear which is keyed to the output shaft of the torque converter. A first planetary gear meshes with the sun gear and that gear is keyed to an axle. The axle is mounted for rotation to a carrier and the carrier is rotated by the input shaft of the torque converter so that as the carrier rotates so too does the axle. A second planetary gear is also keyed to the axle and that gear meshes with a second sun gear. The latter sun gear rotates a drive shaft.

Claims

1. The combination of a torque converter and a planetary gear train,

torque converter comprising:

an outer body,

an input shaft fixedly attached to the body so that the body rotates with the input shaft,

an impeller driven by the input shaft,

a turbine coupled to the impeller, and

an output shaft driven by the turbine; and

the planetary gear train comprising;

a first sun gear fixedly mounted to the output shaft,

a first planetary gear meshing with the first sun gear,

a carrier to which the first planetary gear is mounted for rotation, the carrier being fixedly attached to the body and rotated with the body by the input shaft,

a second planetary gear rotated by the first planetary gear,

a drive shaft in co-axial alignment with the output shaft, and

a second sun gear fixedly mounted on the drive shaft and meshing with the second planetary gear,

wherein the carrier encases the first sun gear and the first planetary gear.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the number of teeth formed on said second sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same.

4. The combination as claimed in claims 1 wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same and the number of teeth formed on said second sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said first sun gear to the number of teeth on said first planetary gear is approximately 2:

3.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same and wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said first sun gear to the number of teeth on said first planetary gear is approximately 2:

3.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of teeth formed on said second sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same and wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said second sun gear to the number of teeth on said second planetary gear is approximately 3:

2.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same and the number of teeth formed on said second sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same, wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said first sun gear to the number of teeth on said first planetary gear is approximately 2:

3 and wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said second sun gear to the number of teeth on said second planetary gear is approximately 3;

2.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is hollow and includes a side wall and first and second end walls within which the first sun gear and the first planetary gear are located;

the first end wall of the carrier is fixedly attached to the body of the torque converter;

the second sun gear and the second planetary gear are located exterior to the carrier; and

the drive shaft projects beyond the second end wall.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the torque converter is located within the hollow carrier.

11. The combination of a torque converter and a planetary gear train,

the torque converter comprising:

an outer body,

an input shaft fixedly attached to the body so that the body rotates with the input shaft,

an impeller driven by the input shaft,

a turbine coupled to the impeller, and

an output shaft driven by the turbine; and

the planetary gear train comprising;

a first sun gear fixedly mounted to the output shaft,

a first planetary gear meshing with the first sun gear,

a planetary shaft on which the first planetary gear is fixedly mounted,

a carrier on which the planetary shaft is mounted for rotation, the carrier being fixedly attached to the body and rotated with the body by the input shaft,

a second planetary gear fixedly mounted to the planetary shaft,

a drive shaft in co-axial alignment with the output shaft, and

a second sun gear fixedly mounted on the drive shaft and meshing with the second planetary gear;

wherein the carrier encases the first sun gear and the first planetary gear.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein the number of teeth formed on said second sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same.

14. The combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same and the number of teeth formed on said second sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same.

15. The combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said first sun gear to the number of teeth on said first planetary gear is approximately 2:

3.

16. The combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same and wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said first sun gear to the number of teeth on said first planetary gear is approximately 2:

3.

17. The combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein the number of teeth formed on said second sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same and wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said second sun gear to the number of teeth on said second planetary gear is approximately 3:

2.

18. The combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same and the number of teeth formed on said second sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same, wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said first sun gear to the number of teeth on said first planetary tear is approximately 2:

3 and wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said second sun gear to the number of teeth on said second planetary gear is approximately 3;

2.

19. The combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein the carrier is hollow and includes a side wall and first and second end walls within which the first sun gear and the first planetary gear are located;

the first end wall of the carrier is fixedly attached to the body of the torque converter;

the second sun gear and the second planetary gear are located exterior to the carrier; and

the drive shaft projects beyond the second end wall.

20. The combination of claim 19, wherein the torque converter is located within the hollow carrier.

21. The combination of a torque onverter and a planetary gear train,

the torgue converter comprising:

an outer body,

an input shaft fixedly attached to the body so that the body rotates with the input shaft,

an impeller driven by the input shaft,

a turbine coupled to the impeller, and

an output shaft driven by the tubine; and

the planetary gear train comprising;

a first sun gear fixedly mounted to the output shaft,

a pair of first planetary gears meshing with the first sun gear and disposed on diametrically opposite sides thereof,

a pair of planetary shafts on each of which a respective one of the first planetary gears is fixedly mounted,

a carrier on which the planetary shafts are mounted for rotation, the carrier being fixedly attached to the body and rotated with the body by the input shaft,

a pair of second planetary gears, each of which is fixedly mounted to a respective one of the planetary shafts,

a drive shaft in co-axial alignment with the output shaft, and

a second sun gear fixedly mounted on the drive shaft and meshing with the second planetary gears, the second planetary gears being on diametrically opposite sides of the second sun gear;

wherein the carrier encases the first sun gear and the pair of first planetary gears.

22. The combination as claimed in claim 21 wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same.

23. The combination as claimed in claim 21 wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same.

24. The combination as claimed in claim 21, wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same and the number of teeth formed on said second sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same.

25. The combination as claimed in claim 21, wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said first sun gear to the number of teeth on said first planetary gear is approximately 2:

3.

26. The combination as claimed in claim 21, wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same and wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said first sun gear to the number of teeth on said first planetary gear is approximately 2:

3.

27. The combination as claimed in claim 21, wherein the number of teeth formed on said second sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same and wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said second sun gear to the number of teeth on said second planetary gear is approximately 3:

2.

28. The combination as claimed in claim 21, wherein the number of teeth formed on said first sun gear and on each of said second planetary gears is the same and the numer of teeth formed on said second sun gear and on each of said first planetary gears is the same, wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said first sun gear to the number of teeth on said first planetary gear is approximately 2:

3 and wherein the ratio of the number of teeth on said second sun gear to the number of teeth on said second planetary gear is approximately 3;

2.

29. The combination in claim 21, wherein the carrier is hollow and includes a side wall and first and second end walls iwthin which the first sun gear and the first planetary gears are located;

the first end wall of the carrier is fixedly attached to the body of the torque converter;

the second sun gear and the second planetary gears are located exterior to the carrier; and

the drive shaft projects beyond the second end wall.

30. The combination of claim 29, wherein the torque converter is located within the hollow carrier.