Granted Patent B2

US 12,624,734 · App. 19/037,182 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventors: Dustin Finn (Essexville, MI); John Jennings (West Bloomfield, MI)

Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.

F16D41/125F16D41/16F16H3/126F16D27/108F16D2500/10493F16D2500/30415F16D2500/50638F16D2500/7041F16H3/089F16H2063/3046

Abstract

Claims (149)

1 . A power transmission method comprising:

providing a first shaft, the first shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a second shaft, the second shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a gear assembly between the first shaft and the second shaft, the gear assembly including at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio;

providing a first coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft through the first gear ratio, the first coupling assembly including a notch plate, a pocket plate, and a locking element in a deployed position;

providing a second coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft through the second gear ratio, the second coupling assembly including a notch plate, a pocket plate, and a locking element movable between a deployed and nondeployed position; and

varying the speed of the first shaft in the same direction of rotation to select one of the first gear ratio and the second gear ratio, wherein deployment of the locking element of the second coupling assembly is based on the speed of the first shaft.

2 . The power transmission method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of varying the speed of the first shaft includes controlling the speed of the first shaft to engage the locking element of the second coupling assembly.

3 . The power transmission method of claim 1 including the step of:

transferring no torque through the first gear ratio when the locking element of the second coupling assembly is deployed.

4 . The power transmission method of claim 1 including the step of:

providing a third coupling assembly including a torque transmitting locking element; and

deploying the torque transmitting locking element of the third coupling assembly and enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in the first gear ratio or from the second shaft to the first shaft in the first gear ratio.

5 . The power transmission method of claim 1 including the step of:

providing a fourth coupling assembly including a torque transmitting locking element; and

deploying the torque transmitting locking element of the fourth coupling assembly and enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in the second gear ratio or from the second shaft to the first shaft in the second gear ratio.

6 . The power transmission method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of varying the speed of the first shaft includes reducing the speed of the first shaft until the speed of the first shaft synchronizes with the speed of the second gear ratio; and

moving the locking element of the second coupling assembly to a deployed position after the speed of the first shaft synchronizes with the speed of the second gear ratio.

7 . The power transmission method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of varying the speed of the first shaft includes reducing the speed of the first shaft until the speed of the first shaft is below the speed of the second gear ratio;

moving the locking element of the second coupling assembly to the deployed position; and

increasing the speed of the first shaft to engage the locking element of the second coupling assembly.

8 . The power transmission method of claim 1 including the step of:

reducing the speed of the first shaft until the speed of the first shaft is below the speed of the second gear ratio to disengage the locking element of the second coupling assembly;

moving the locking element of the second coupling assembly to the nondeployed position; and

increasing the speed of the first shaft to engage the locking element of the first coupling assembly.

9 . A power transmission method comprising:

providing a first shaft, the first shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a second shaft, the second shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a gear assembly between the first shaft and the second shaft, the gear assembly including at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio;

providing a first coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft through the first gear ratio, the first coupling assembly including a notch plate, a pocket plate, and a locking element in a deployed position;

providing a second coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft through the second gear ratio, the second coupling assembly including a notch plate, a pocket plate, and a locking element movable between a deployed and nondeployed position;

varying the speed of the first shaft to select one of the first gear ratio and the second gear ratio, wherein deployment of the locking element of the second coupling assembly is based on the speed of the first shaft;

the step of varying the speed of the first shaft includes reducing the speed of the first shaft until the speed of the first shaft synchronizes with the speed of the second gear ratio; and

moving the locking element of the second coupling assembly to a deployed position after the speed of the first shaft synchronizes with the speed of the second gear ratio.

10 . A power transmission method comprising:

providing a first shaft, the first shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a second shaft, the second shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a gear assembly between the first shaft and the second shaft, the gear assembly including at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio;

providing a first coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft through the first gear ratio, the first coupling assembly including a notch plate, a pocket plate, and a locking element in a deployed position;

providing a second coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft through the second gear ratio, the second coupling assembly including a notch plate, a pocket plate, and a locking element movable between a deployed and nondeployed position;

varying the speed of the first shaft to select one of the first gear ratio and the second gear ratio, wherein deployment of the locking element of the second coupling assembly is based on the speed of the first shaft; and

the step of varying the speed of the first shaft includes reducing the speed of the first shaft until the speed of the first shaft is below the speed of the second gear ratio and increasing the speed of the first shaft to engage the locking element of the second coupling assembly.

11 . The power transmission method of claim 10 wherein:

the step of reducing the speed of the first shaft until the speed of the first shaft is below the speed of the second gear ratio disengages the locking element of the second coupling assembly.

12 . A power transmission method comprising:

providing a first shaft, the first shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a second shaft, the second shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a gear assembly, the gear assembly including at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio;

providing a first one-way clutch including a forward torque transmitting locking element;

providing a second one-way clutch including a forward torque transmitting locking element;

deploying the forward torque transmitting locking element of the first one-way clutch and enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in the first gear ratio;

reducing the speed of the first shaft until the speed of the first shaft synchronizes with the speed of the second gear ratio; and

deploying the forward torque transmitting locking element of the second one-way clutch after the speed of the first shaft synchronizes with the speed of the second gear ratio and enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in the second gear ratio.

13 . The power transmission method of claim 12 including the step of:

providing a third one-way clutch including a reverse torque transmitting locking element; and

deploying the reverse torque transmitting locking element of the third one-way clutch and enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in the first gear ratio.

14 . The power transmission method of claim 13 including the step of:

providing a fourth one-way clutch including a reverse torque transmitting locking element; and

deploying the reverse torque transmitting locking element of the fourth one-way clutch and enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in the second gear ratio.

15 . The power transmission method of claim 12 including the step of:

increasing the speed of the first shaft to engage the forward torque transmitting locking element of one of the first one-way clutch and the second one-way clutch.

16 . The power transmission method of claim 12 including the step of:

enabling no torque in the first gear ratio when the forward torque transmitting locking element of the second one-way clutch is deployed.

17 . The power transmission method of claim 12 including the step of:

providing a one-way clutch including a regeneration torque transmitting locking element; and

deploying the regeneration torque transmitting locking element of the one-way clutch and enabling torque from the second shaft to the first shaft in the first gear ratio.

18 . The power transmission method of claim 12 including the step of:

providing a one-way clutch including a regeneration torque transmitting locking element; and

deploying the regeneration torque transmitting locking element of the one-way clutch and enabling torque from the second shaft to the first shaft in the second gear ratio.

19 . A power transmission method comprising:

providing a first shaft, the first shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a second shaft, the second shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a gear assembly, the gear assembly including at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio;

providing a first one-way clutch including a forward torque transmitting locking element, the first one-way clutch associated with the first gear ratio;

providing a second one-way clutch including a forward torque transmitting locking element, the second one-way clutch associated with the second gear ratio;

enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft through the second gear ratio with the forward torque transmitting locking element of the second one-way clutch in a deployed position;

moving the forward torque transmitting locking element of the second one-way clutch in a nondeployed position;

after the forward torque transmitting locking element of the second one-way clutch is in a nondeployed position, changing the rotation speed of the first shaft to engage the forward torque transmitting locking element of the first one-way clutch; and

enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft through the first gear ratio.

20 . The power transmission method of claim 19 including the step of:

reducing the speed of the first shaft below the speed of the second gear ratio wherein the forward torque transmitting locking element of the second one-way clutch moves to the nondeployed position.

21 . The power transmission method of claim 19 wherein:

increasing the speed of the first shaft to engage the forward torque transmitting locking element of the first one-way clutch and enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in the first gear ratio.

22 . The power transmission method of claim 19 including the step of:

providing a one-way clutch including a reverse torque transmitting locking element, the one-way clutch associated with the first gear ratio; and

deploying the reverse torque transmitting locking element of the one-way clutch and enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in the first gear ratio through the reverse torque transmitting locking element.

23 . The power transmission method of claim 19 including the step of:

providing a one-way clutch including a reverse torque transmitting locking element, the one-way clutch associated with the second gear ratio; and

deploying the reverse torque transmitting locking element of the one-way clutch and enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in the second gear ratio through the reverse torque transmitting locking element.

24 . The power transmission method of claim 19 including the step of:

providing a one-way clutch including a regeneration torque transmitting locking element, the one-way clutch associated with the first gear ratio; and

deploying the regeneration torque transmitting locking element of the one-way clutch and enabling torque from the second shaft to the first shaft in the first gear ratio.

25 . The power transmission method of claim 19 including the step of:

providing a one-way clutch including a regeneration torque transmitting locking element, the one-way clutch associated with the second gear ratio; and

deploying the regeneration torque transmitting locking element of the one-way clutch and enabling torque from the second shaft to the first shaft in the second gear ratio.

26 . A power transmission system comprising:

a first shaft rotatable at a variable speed;

a second shaft rotatable at a variable speed;

a gear assembly between the first shaft and the second shaft, the gear assembly including at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio;

a first coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft in the first gear ratio, the first coupling assembly including a notch plate, a pocket plate, and a locking element in a deployed position;

a second coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft in the second gear ratio, the second coupling assembly including a notch plate, a pocket plate, and a locking element movable between a deployed and nondeployed position; and

an actuator operative to move the locking element of the second coupling assembly based on the speed of the first shaft without a change of direction of the first shaft relative to the speed of the second gear ratio to enable torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in either the first gear ratio or the second gear ratio.

27 . The power transmission system of claim 26 wherein:

the locking element of the first coupling assembly in the deployed position is a forward torque transmitting element; and

the first coupling assembly includes a reverse torque transmitting locking element movable between a deployed position and a nondeployed position.

28 . The power transmission system of claim 26 wherein:

the locking element movable between a deployed position and a nondeployed position of the second coupling assembly is a forward torque transmitting element; and

the second coupling assembly includes a reverse torque transmitting locking element movable between a deployed position and a nondeployed position.

29 . The power transmission system of claim 26 wherein:

the locking element of the first coupling assembly in the deployed position is a forward torque transmitting element;

the first coupling assembly includes a reverse torque transmitting locking element movable between a deployed position and a nondeployed position;

the locking element of the second coupling assembly movable between a deployed position and a nondeployed position is a forward torque transmitting element; and

the second coupling assembly includes a reverse torque transmitting locking element movable between a deployed position and a nondeployed position.

30 . The power transmission system of claim 26 including:

the locking element of the first coupling assembly movable between the deployed position and a nondeployed position.

31 . The power transmission system of claim 26 wherein:

the actuator moves the locking element of the second coupling assembly to a deployed position after the speed of the first shaft synchronizes with the speed of the second gear ratio.

32 . The power transmission system of claim 26 including:

reducing the speed of the first shaft until the speed of the first shaft synchronizes with the speed of the second gear ratio; and

moving the locking element of the second coupling assembly to a deployed position after the speed of the first shaft synchronizes with the speed of the second gear ratio.

33 . A power transmission system comprising:

a first shaft rotatable at a variable speed;

a second shaft rotatable at a variable speed;

a gear assembly between the first shaft and the second shaft, the gear assembly including at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio;

a first coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft in the first gear ratio, the first coupling assembly including a notch plate, a pocket plate, and a locking element in a deployed position;

a second coupling assembly enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft in the second gear ratio, the second coupling assembly including a notch plate, a pocket plate, and a locking element movable between a deployed and nondeployed position;

enabling torque transfer from the first shaft to the second shaft in one of the first gear ratio and the second gear ratio based on the speed of the first shaft; and

the locking element of the second coupling assembly moves between the deployed and nondeployed position based on the speed of the first shaft and the speed of the second gear ratio.

34 . A power transmission method comprising:

providing a first shaft, the first shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a second shaft, the second shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a gear assembly, the gear assembly including at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio;

providing a first one-way clutch including a torque transmitting locking element, the first one-way clutch associated with the first gear ratio;

providing a second one-way clutch including a torque transmitting locking element, the second one-way clutch associated with second gear ratio;

deploying the torque transmitting locking element of the first one-way clutch and enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in the first gear ratio;

changing the speed of the first shaft without changing the direction of rotation of the first shaft to synchronize the speed of the first shaft with the speed of the second gear ratio; and

deploying the torque transmitting locking element of the second one-way clutch after the speed of the first shaft synchronizes with the speed of the second gear ratio and enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft in the second gear ratio.

35 . A power transmission method comprising:

providing a first shaft, the first shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a second shaft, the second shaft rotatable at a variable rotation speed;

providing a gear assembly, the gear assembly including at least a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio;

providing a first one-way clutch including a torque transmitting locking element, the first one-way clutch associated with the first gear ratio;

providing a second one-way clutch including a torque transmitting locking element, the second one-way clutch associated with the second gear ratio;

enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft through the second gear ratio with the torque transmitting locking element of the second one-way clutch in a deployed position;

moving the torque transmitting locking element of the second one-way clutch to a nondeployed position; and

after the torque transmitting locking element of the second one-way clutch is in a nondeployed position, changing the rotation speed of the first shaft without changing the direction of the first shaft to engage the torque transmitting locking element of the first one-way clutch enabling torque from the first shaft to the second shaft through the first gear ratio.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (34)