Transmission with resiliently loaded mainshaft gears

Abstract

A shiftable change speed gear system, particularly a transmission, having resilient shifting mechanisms for simplifying the transmission structure and the shifting thereof. The transmission is preferably provided with multiple countershafts having countershaft gears thereon disposed in meshing engagement with main shaft gears encircling the transmission main shaft, said main shaft gears being supported on and solely by the countershaft gears. The main shaft gears are axially movable relative to the main shaft by conventional means for effecting shifting of the transmission. The main shaft gears cooperate with clutch rings which surround and are supported on and for rotation with the main shaft, the clutch rings also being axially movable relative to the main shaft and being resiliently urgeable in a direction toward the respective main shaft gear with which same cooperates, whereby shifting of the main shaft gear toward its respective clutch ring causes resilient axial movement of the latter until synchronization is achieved to permit the clutch ring to move axially in response to said resilient urging and engage the main shaft gear. The transmission, in one modification thereof, is provided with a range section which also incorporates a shiftable main shaft gear therein, the main shaft of the transmission comprising a single shaft which extends continuously through both the main transmission section and the range section.

The embodiment of the invention in which I claim an exclusive property or privilege are defined as follows: 
     
       1. In an interengageable jaw clutch system the combination comprising: first rotatable means and a first jaw clutch portion mounted thereon for axial sliding relationship therewith and positive rotation therewith about an axis;   second rotatable means coaxially related to said first means and a second jaw clutch portion arranged thereon for interengagement with said first jaw clutch portion upon relative axial movement of said jaw clutch portions toward one another;   one of said jaw clutch portions having drive teeth at a radius suitable for engaging with clutch teeth on the other jaw clutch portion, said one clutch portion having also blocking teeth projecting radially beyond and axially offset from said drive teeth;   blocker means coacting between said first and second jaw clutch portions for positively preventing engagement of said jaw clutch portions so long as a substantial difference in relative speed exists therebetween, said blocker means including an annular blocker having blocking portions arranged on and supported by said drive teeth for limited rotation with respect thereto and positioned axially between said blocking teeth and said clutch teeth when said jaw clutch portions are disengaged, some of said blocking teeth being provided with spaces therebetween capable of receiving therein said blocking portions when said blocking portions and said spaces are axially aligned to permit said blocking portions to relatively move axially past said blocking teeth so that said jaw clutch portions can be engaged with one another; and   a surface on said blocker frictionally cooperating with a surface on said other jaw clutch portion for circumferentially offsetting said blocker with respect to said one jaw clutch portion whenever and for so long as a substantial difference in relative rotative speeds exist between said respective jaw clutch portions, said blocking portions interfering with said blocking teeth when said blocker is circumferentially offset so as to prevent engagement of said jaw clutch portions.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein the drive teeth of said one jaw clutch portion are on an external surface thereof and the blocking teeth thereof extend radially outwardly beyond the peripheral tips of said drive teeth, wherein said spaces are defined in part by blocking teeth which have been at least partially removed from said one jaw clutch portion, and wherein the blocking portions of said blocker are internal projections substantially in mesh with the removed teeth of said one jaw clutch portion. 
     
     
       3. A system according to claim 1, wherein each said space is formed by at least partially removing one of said blocking teeth, said one jaw clutch portion also having a plurality of secondary spaces respectively aligned with said first-mentioned spaces, each secondary spacing formed by at least partially removing the drive tooth which is aligned with the removed blocking teeth; each said blocking portion including an enlarged center portion which is normally maintained in said secondary space, said center portion having a width less than the width of said secondary space whereby said blocker is permitted to undergo limited rotation with respect to said one jaw clutch portion;   each said blocking portion further including a pair of end portions projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said center portion and being disposed to overlie the free ends of the adjacent drive teeth disposed on opposite sides of said secondary space when said center portion is located in said secondary space, said end portions being adapted to be axially aligned with and abut against said blocking teeth when said blocking portion is offset from a central position to prevent said jaw clutch portions from being shifted into engagement with one another, said center portion and said end portions being relatively slidable into said first-mentioned space when said center portion is in said central position within said secondary space to permit said jaw clutch portions to be relatively moved into engagement with one another.   
     
     
       4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the drive teeth and clutch teeth as formed on the jaw clutch portions project radially relative to said axis but project in opposite direction, said drive teeth and clutch teeth intermeshing with one another when said jaw clutch portions are engaged with one another, and wherein said blocking portions comprise toothlike members which also project radially relative to said axis, said toothlike members projecting in a direction opposite to said drive teeth. 
     
     
       5. A system according to claim 1, further including spring means coacting between said first jaw clutch portion and said first rotatable means for resiliently urging said first jaw clutch portion in a direction towards said second jaw clutch portion. 
     
     
       6. An interengageable clutch system, comprising: first jaw clutch means supported for rotation about an axis, said first jaw clutch means including an annular peripheral surface and a set of first clutch teeth projecting radially therefrom;   second jaw clutch means coaxially aligned with said first jaw clutch means and supported for rotation about said axis, said second jaw clutch means including a set of second clutch teeth projecting radially therefrom, said first and second clutch teeth projecting radially in opposite directions and being sized to meshingly engage with one another;   means for effecting relative axial shifting of said first and second jaw clutch means between a first position wherein said first and second clutch teeth are in a disengaged and axially spaced relation and a second position wherein said first and second clutch teeth are meshingly engaged;   blocking means coacting between said first and second jaw clutch means for preventing same from being shifted into said second position so long as a substantial difference exists in the rotational speed between said first and second jaw clutch means, said blocking means including a set of blocking teeth fixedly associated with said first jaw clutch means and projecting radially from the peripheral surface associated therewith, said blocking teeth being axially aligned with said first clutch teeth and projecting radially beyond the free ends of said first clutch teeth so that said blocking teeth have a radial dimension which is greater than the radial dimension of said first clutch teeth, and at least one of said blocking teeth being at least partially removed to define a space;   said blocking means further including a ring-shaped blocker concentric with said first jaw clutch means and supported thereon, and means coacting between said blocker and said first jaw clutch means for permitting limited rotation therebetween, said blocker also being axially slidable relative to said first jaw clutch means and having a blocking portion projecting therefrom adapted for slidable reception within said space when said first and second jaw clutch means are shifted into said second position, said locking portion having a part thereof positioned to interfere with said blocking teeth and prevent said first and second jaw clutch means from being shifted into said second position when said blocker is circumferentially offset with respect to said first jaw clutch means due to a substantial difference existing in the rotative speeds between said first and second jaw clutch means; and   said blocker and said second jaw clutch means having opposed, tapered annular surfaces which frictionally cooperate with one another to reduce the relative rotational speed between said first and second jaw clutch means when they are being relatively shifted toward said second position. .Iadd. 7. In an interengageable jaw clutch system the combination comprising:   first rotatable means and a first jaw clutch portion mounted thereon for axial sliding relationship therewith and positive rotation therewith about an axis;   second rotatable means coaxially related to said first means and a second jaw clutch portion arranged thereon for interengagement with said first jaw clutch portion upon relative axial movement of said jaw clutch portions toward one another;   one of said jaw clutch portions having drive teeth at a radius suitable for engaging with clutch teeth on the other jaw clutch portion, said drive teeth having leading edges for engagement with the clutch teeth of the other jaw clutch portion and defining the effective drive portions of said drive teeth, said one jaw clutch portion having also blocking teeth, said blocking teeth having leading portions generally axially aligned with the effective drive portions of said drive teeth and trailing portions generally axially offset the effect drive portions of said drive teeth, said trailing portions extending radially beyond the outer radial surfaces of said leading portions;   blocker means coacting between said first and second jaw clutch portions for positively preventing engagement of said jaw clutch portions so long as a substantial difference in relative speed exists therebetween, said blocker means including an annular blocker having blocking portions arranged on and supported by said drive teeth for limited rotation with respect thereto and positioned axially between the trailing portion of said blocking teeth and said clutch teeth when said jaw clutch portions are disengaged, one of said trailing portions of said blocking teeth and said blocking portion defining an array of spaces in cross section, said spaces capable of receiving therein the other of said trailing portions of said blocking teeth and said blocking portions when said spaces and said other of said trailing portions and said blocking portions are aligned to permit said blocking portions to relatively move axially past said trailing portions of said blocking teeth so that said jaw clutch portions can be engaged with one another; and   a surface on said blocker frictionally cooperating with a surface on said other jaw clutch portion for causing said blocker to rotate relative to said one jaw clutch portion to the extent permitted by said drive teeth whenever and for so long as a substantial difference in relative rotative speeds exist between said respective jaw clutch portions, said blocking portions interferring with said trailing portions of said blocking teeth when said blocker is rotated relative to said first jaw clutch portion to the extent permitted by said drive teeth so as to prevent engagement of said jaw clutch portions. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 8. In an interengageable jaw clutch system the combination comprising:   first rotatable means and a first jaw clutch portion mounted thereon for axial sliding relationship therewith and positive rotation therewith about an axis;   second rotatable means coaxially related to said first means and a second jaw clutch portion arranged thereon for interengagement with said first jaw clutch portion upon relative axial movement of said jaw clutch portions toward one another;   one of said jaw clutch portions having drive teeth at a radius suitable for engaging with clutch teeth on the other jaw clutch portion, said drive teeth having a leading edge for engagement with clutch teeth on the other jaw clutch portion, said drive teeth leading edges defining the leading edge of said one jaw clutch portion, said one jaw clutch portion having also a plurality of circumferentially spaced blocking teeth having a leading edge axially offset the leading edge of the drive teeth, the outer periphery of said one jaw clutch circumferentially aligned with said blocking teeth and extending from the leading edge of said one jaw clutch portion to the leading edge of said blocking teeth having a radial extension less than the radial extension of said blocking teeth;   blocker means coacting between said first and second jaw clutch portions for positively preventing engagement of said jaw clutch portions so long as a substantial difference in relative speed exists therebetween, said blocker means including an annular blocker having blocking portions arranged on and supported by said drive teeth for limited rotation with respect thereto and positioned axially between said blocking teeth and said clutch teeth when said jaw clutch portions are disengaged, one of said blocking teeth and said blocking portions being provided with spaces therebetween capable of receiving therein the other of said blocking teeth and said blocking portions when the other of said blocking teeth and said blocking portions and said spaces are aligned in the direction parallel to the axis of the jaw clutch to permit said blocking portions to relatively move axially past said blocking teeth so that said jaw clutch portions can be engaged with one another; and   a surface on said blocker frictionally cooperating with a surface on said other jaw clutch portion for offsetting said spaces with respect to said other of said blocking teeth and said blocking portions whenever and for so long as a substantial difference in relative rotative speeds exist between said respective jaw clutch portions, said blocking portions interferring with said blocking teeth when said spaces are offset with respect to said other of said blocking teeth and said blocking portions so as to prevent engagement of said jaw clutch portions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the drive teeth and clutch teeth as formed on the jaw clutch portions project radially relative to said axis but project in opposite direction, said drive teeth and clutch teeth intermeshing with one another when said jaw clutch portions are engaged with one another, and wherein said blocking portions comprise toothlike members which also project radially relative to said axis, said toothlike members projecting in a direction opposite to said drive teeth. .Iaddend.