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July 20, 1943. F. R.

MOFARLAND 2,324,713
MOTOR VEHICLE
Filed July 29, _ 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

' INVENTOR.

BY
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W'PM
July 20, 1943. F. R. McFARLAND 2,324,713
MOTOR VEHICLE

Filed July 29, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

INVENTOR.
?ves?U/FirZ/azzd
@zivcngbi
Patented July; '20, V v v

STATES " rATENT? 2,324,713


Moron vEmc'LE _ -
' Forest 8.. McFarland, Huntington Woods, Mich,
s-aassignor to Packard Motor'Car Company; De;
' troit, Mich._, a corporation of -Michigan ' '
fApplication July 29, 1942, snnudiszj?or '
10 Claims. (emu-189.5) . i '

This invention. relates to , variable speed drive The torque converter can beof ,conventionallde-f
mechanism of the type including a fluid torque sign and consists of an impeller member liufixed
converter and epicyclic gearing. - V to the drive shaft by bolts 11, a driven member
, An object of. the invention is to provide. a I8 having a hub i9 splined to the forward e'nd
drivemechanism in which a torque converter of the driven shaft and a reaction member 20
and a pair of compounded epicyclic gear trains havingahub 2|. I - , n

can "be controlled to drive in a plurality of, for Forward speed drive is obtained through .a
ward speeds. > : ~ pair of compounded planetary gear trainer.
Another object of the invention is to provide a Sleeve 22 is splined onthe rear end of the driven
drive mechanism vin which an e?lcient direct 10 shaft and has two spaced sun gears 23,, 24.
drive is obtainedfrom a torque converter with formed thereon. -' Pinionsli of the forw'ardgear
out clutching the reaction member to the driv train mesh with sun gear .23 and pinions v26 of
ing member. - a > ' . the rear gear train mesh with sun gear2l. Ring "
Another objectof the invention is to provide gear 21 is fixed to drum 23' and meshes with
v a. torque converter-epicyclic gearing drive 15 pinions 25, and ring gear 29 meshes with pinions
mechanism with which full engine torque will 26. The drum rotation is controlledby brake
be delivered through the torque converter in band 21 I. . The pinions 26 are mounted to rotate
lower driving speeds and a portion of the engine on pins 30 supported on a carrier 3|, which can
torque will be delivered through the torque con- , be a ?anged forward end of the tail shaft, while _'
verter in direct drive. pinions 25 are mounted to rotate on pins 32 .
Other objects of the invention will appear from supported oncarrier 33. The gear trains are
the following description taken in connection compounded by fixing the carrier 33 to ring gear
withthe drawings, which form a part of this 29 through means of asplined connection 34..
speci?cation, in which: . Carrier 33 has a forwardly extending abut
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through drive 25 ment sleeve 35 supported on hearing 36 on the
mechanism incorporating the invention; > driven shaft. A hub 31 is splined on the for
Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately ward end of the sleeve in coaxial relation with
on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing one of the brake hub 2| of the torque converter reaction member
control devices; ~ and between such'liubs _is arranged rollers v38.
Fig. '3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional One of the hubs has circularly disposed bearing
.view corresponding to the forward. end of the surfaces for the rollers while the other hub has
' structure shown in Fig.1; ' angularly disposed bearing surfaces so that-a
Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional one-way driving connection or coupling can be
view corresponding to the, rear end of the struc automatically established between the hubs by
ture shown in Fig. 1,; > v the rollers. This one-way coupling serves to es
. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the section, tablish a connection by means of which the reac
lines A-A, BB, C0 and DD in Fig. 4. tion member can be held stationary or released.
Referring now .to' the drawings by characters Carrier 33 has anabutment, drum 39 fixed there-_ . -
of reference, drive shaft i0 is the input member to by bolts 40 and brake band 4| is anchored at
and can be connected with a suitable source of 94 to casing l5 and encircles the drum. The
power, such as an engine (not shown). Tail brake band when clamped on the-drum will hold.
shaft II is the output member and can be con the carrier 33 and sleeve 35 stationary,-thus pro;
nected with a device to be driven, such as wheels viding an abutment on which rollers 33 wedge to
of a motor vehicle (not shown). A driven shaft hold the converter reaction memberstationary.
I2 is arranged between and in alignment with . The drum 39 serves as a housing for a clutch
the drive shaft and the tail shaft, the forward . and such housing consists of two sections secured
end of shaft l2 projecting into a recess in the together by bolts 42. _ A sleeve 43 extends; around
drive shaft and being carried therein by bearing r a portionof sleeve 35 and projects into the drum.
l3 and the rear end of shaft i2 projecting into splined to sleeve 43, within thev drum; is a periph
a recess in the tail shaft and being carried by erally splined hub 4'4. Clutch plates 45 alter
hearing I mounted therein. nately engage the drum bolts "and hub. splines
Reverse drive and plural forwardspeed drives to establish drivetherebetween when pressed to-- '
are obtained through a hydraulic torque con sether. The forward end of sleeve is splined- '
verter and compounded eplcyclic gear trains ' to a sleeve 46 fixed to the impeller member oi!"v
which are supported and housed in casing ll. 65 the torque converter.
2 2,324,713
When the clutch plates are engaged they will The carrier 3| for pinions 26'wil1 thus be rotated
transmit a portion of the drive directly from the and, as the carrier is a part of the tail shaft, the
torque converter impeller member to carrier 23. drive will pass to such shaft. The drive reduc- '
With the clutch plates disengaged, the drive is tion through the converter is initially approxi
transmitted from the torque converter driven mately 1.5 to 1, butapproaches 1 to 1 as the
member to the driven shaft and the sun gears torque demanded decreases.
for the epicyclic gear trains. _ when second speed forward drive through
Casing I! has transversely extending walls 33 the gearing is desired, brake II is released, the
' and SI therein. Sleeves 35, 43 and shaft l2 ex plate clutch is disengaged and brake 2'" is ap
tend through a journal bearing 52 formed by wall 10 plied so that drum 23 and ring gear 21, fixed
II and a seal 53 is arranged between the wall and to the drum, will~be held stationary. The drive
sleeve 4. The drum 3! has a forwardly pro will pass from the torque converter driven mem
jecting sleeve 54 mounted in bearing 52 and is ber to shaft l2 and to the sun gear sleeve 22
formed with angularly extending passages 55 ?xed to such shaft. As ring gear 21 is held
leading to a plurality of similar cylinders 58 in 15 stationary, pinion carrier 33 is driven forwardly
the forward end of such drum. Fluid under by pinions 25 at a reduced speed from sun gear
pressure can pass through conduit 58 in the cas 23 and will drive the reaction memberforwardly
ing to passages 55 and into the drum cylinders therewith. Reaction of the reaction member is
for actuating pistons 51 to press an actuator plate taken by planet gear carrier 33 and is taken by
53 in clutch engaging direction. The actuator 20 casing l5 through the ringgear 21, drum 23 and
plate has a ring boss 60 on one face engaging an brake 2H. Rlnggear '29 is driven forwardly by
end clutch plate and bosses 6| on the other face carrier 33 and pinions 26 are driven forwardly
contacting the pistons. The actuator plate is by the ring gear and sun gear 24. These two
normally urged to disengaging position by a plu speeds combine to rotate carrier 3| at a higher
rality of coil springs 32. speed than is developed in starting speed gear
Reverse drive is obtained through a third plane relation. _

tary gear train compounded withthe forward When third speed forward or direct drive
drive gear trains. A sun gear 10 has pinions II is desired, brakes 4| and 2'" are released
meshing therewith and these pinions are mounted and clutch plates 45 are engaged. The abut
on pins 12 supported on carrier l3. The pinions ment sleeve 35 will be held with sleeve 43
mesh with ring gear 14 fixed to drum l5 and rota through engagement of the clutch plates to
tion of the drum is controlled by. brake band It. change the torque converter into a ?uid cou
The carrier is splined on the tail shaft and the pling. the abutment sleeve being. held with the
sun gear is provided with a sleeve extension 11 converter reaction member through the one-way
having a ?anged forward end 18 ?xed to rotate coupling. Drive will be from the driven mem
with ring gear 29. The sleeve extension is sup ber of the ?uid coupling to shaft :2 which will
ported in a journal bearing 13 on wall 5|. rotate sun gears 25 and 23. As gear 23 and
The brake bands can be operated by similar pinions 25 are driven through clutch engage
mechanisms responsive to ?uid pressure con ment at the same speed as the sun gears are
trolled by suitable valving controlled to operate 40 rotated by shaft l2, the tail shaft will be driven
as desired. The ?uid pressure can be provided at engine speed except for slippage in the ?uid
by a pump consisting of gears 80 and 3| con coupling. The reaction is taken by the clutch.
tained in a housing 82 in the casing and such To obtain reverse drive, brakes ll and 2'"
pump can also be utilized for maintaining pres are released, the plate clutch is disengaged and
sure in the torque converter. Gear 30 1s keyed brake 16 is applied to drum IS. -The drive will
to sleeve 43 that is driven directly from the drive be from the converter driven member and shaft
shaft through the impeller member of the torque I2 to sun gear sleeve '22. The reaction member
converter. Suitable ?uid passages in the casing is free to be driven reversely and through. the
lead from the pump to cylinders 30-, 3| and 92 in one-way drive connection with sleeves 35 will
the casing and in such cylinders are arranged pis operate carrier 33 and ring gear 23 therewith.
tons, as indicated by numeral 93, connected to Reaction from sleeve 22 through planetary pin
and operable to actuate the three brake bands ions 26 will drive them reversely as the integral
which are anchored in the casing as indicated carrier and tail shaft are. stationary to start
at 94. > . with. Sleeve 22 also tends to drive the tail shaft
, When brakes l6, 2" and ti are released and forwardly through pinions 26. Sun gear ll
the clutch plates 45 are disengaged, the drive drives pinions '|| through reaction on gear H,
mechanism will be in neutral and no drive will, which is held stationary, in reverse at reduced
be transmitted to the tail shaft. In all forward speed. Due to torque coming from pinions H
speeds, the reverse brake I8 is released so that in reverse drive being greater than torque on
the reverse gear train will-idle. To place the shaft H in forward direction, shaft II will be
drive mechanism in starting forward speed re- - driven reversely at reduced speed.
lotion, brake 2" is released, brake 4| is applied As previously stated, any suitable means can
and the clutch plates 45 are released. As drum be provided for controlling the ?uid pressure
39 is attached to carrier 33 and sleeve 35, they for applying the brakes and engaging the plate
will be held stationary by brake 4| and ring gear clutch. It will be seenthat the abutment of
25 ?xed to carrier 33 will be held stationary. the converter reaction member reacts against
The reaction member will be held from reverse the transmission case in starting speed, against
rotation because it is coupled to sleeve 35 and the the pinion carrier of the forward gear train in
reaction will be taken by the casing through second speed, and is locked to the driven shaft
brake 4|. The drive will pass from the torque 70 in direct drive. The three forward speeds de
' converter driven member to shaft l2 to rotate scribed are actually second, third and fourth
sun gears 23 and 24. Brake 2', being released, speeds due to the torque converter action. This
allows the forward gear train to idle and ring arrangement of gearing avoids clutching of the
gear 29, held stationary by carrier 33, will cause reaction member to the driving member in
pinions 23 to carry the carrier 3| therewith 75 the torque converter to obtain an e?icient direct
. V V 9,884,718
r3
drive. The arrangement. whenin-direct drive pling for connecting the sleeve and reaction
or-third speed provides, in .e?ectra ?uid cou member together, planetary gearing having a sunv
pling drive and in second speed alters the char gear ?xed to the driven shaft and a pinion car;
acteristics of the torque converter toward that . rier-in driving relation with the tail shaft and
of a ?uid coupling, The torquejconverter has fixed to the sleeve, an abutment'drum ?xed to. 1
the feature of taking full enginetorque in the the carrier, means operable to hold or release the "
two lower forward speeds and .approximatelsr drum, a sleeve ?xed to rotate with the impeller. '
only 40% of engine torque inv direct drive. As member. and a clutch for drivingly connecting
av result, there will be a smooth starting drive the sleeve ?xed to the impeller member with the
and a minimum slippage in direct .drive.
Although the inventionhasbeen described in 5. A variable vspeed drive mechanism, compris~ _
' connection with a speci?c embodiment, the ing a driven shaft, a tail shaft, a power-operated
principles involved are susceptible .of numerous ?uid torque converter having impeller, reaction
other applications which will readily occur to and driven members, said driven member being
persons skilled in the art; The invention is 15 ?xed to the driven shaft, a sleeve on the driven
therefore to be limited only as indicated by the shaft, a one-way coupling. for connecting the
scope of the appended claims. sleeve and the reaction member, planetary gear
What is claimed is: ing having a sun gear ?xed to the driven shaft
1, Variable speed drive mechanism compris- - and. a pinion carrier in driving relation with the
' ing a drive shaft; a tail shaft;,a'.driven shaft 21) tail shaft and ?xed to the sleeve, an abutment
intermediate the drive shaft and the tail'shaft; drum ?xed to the carrier, an anchored brake for
a ?uid torque converter having an impeller ?xed vholding or releasing said drum, a sleeve rotatably
- tovthe drive shaft, a driven member ?xed to mounted on the ?rst mentioned sleeve ?xed to
the driven shaft and a reaction member; a re-, rotate with the impeller member and projecting
action sleeve; one-way driving means for con 25 into the drum, normally disengaged clutch plates
necting the reaction sleeve with the reaction engaging the drum and the sleeve projecting
member; an epicyclic gear train having a pinion therein, and power means operable to engage said
carrier ?xed to the abutment sleeve, a sun gear clutch plates. -
?xed to the driven shaft, a ring gear and pinions 6. A variable speed drive mechanism compris
engaging the sun and ring gears; a drum ?xed ing a tail shaft; a driven shaft; a power-operated ,
to the carrier; anchored brake means operable ?uid torque converter having impeller, reaction
to engage and hold the drum; a drive sleeve con and driven members, said driven member being
nected. to rotate with the converter impeller ?xed to the driven shaft; an abutment sleeve; a
member; clutch means operable'to connect the one-way coupling for connecting the sleeve with
drum with the drive sleeve rotating with the the reaction member; compounded front and rear
impeller member; a drum to which the ring planetary gear trains having sun gears ?xed to
gear is ?xed; anchored brake means operable the driven shaft, ring gears, a forward pinion
to engage and hold the ring gear carrying drum; carrier ?xed to the sleeve, and a rear pinion car
a secondepicyclic gear train having a sun gear rier ?xed to the tail shaft and to the ring gear
?xed to the driven shaft, a pinion carrier ?xed 40 of the forward gear train; means for holding the '
to the tail shaft, a ring gear?xed to the ?rst forward carrier; means for holding the forward
mentioned carrier, and pinions engaging the ring gear; and clutch means for connecting the
ring gear and sun gear in the second gear train. forward carrier with the torque converter'im
2. A variable speed drive mechanism com peller member. '
prising a tail shaft, a driven shaft, a power-op 45 '7. A variable speed drive mechanism compris
erated ?uid torque converter having impeller, ing a tail shaft; a driven shaft; a power-operated
reaction and driven members, said driven mem ?uid torque converter having impeller, reaction
ber being ?xed to the driven shaft, an abutment and driven members, said driven member being
sleeve, a one-way coupling for connecting the fixed to the driven shaft; an abutment sleeve; a
sleeve with the reaction member, epicyclic gear one-way coupling for connecting the sleeve with
ing connected withthe driven shaft, the tail the reaction member; compounded front and rear
shaft and the reaction sleeve, abutment means planetary gear trains having sun gears ?xed to
operable to hold or release the sleeve, and the driven shaft, ringgears, a forward pinion
means including a clutch operable to lock the carrier ?xed to the sl eve, and a rear pinion car
sleeve and the impeller member to rotate to--' rier ?xed to the tail shaft and to thering gear I
gether. _
of the forward gear train; abutment means ?xed
3. A variable speed drive mechanism compris to the forward carrier; an anchored brake for
ing a tail shaft, a driven shaft, 9. power-operated holding the abutment means stationary;a clutch '
?uid torque converter having impeller, reaction operable to directly connect the abutment means
and driven members, said driven member being GO with the impeller member; and means operable
?xed to the driven shaft, an abutment sleeve, a to hold the forward ring gear stationary. ,
one-way coupling for connecting the sleeve with 8. A variable speed drive mechanism compris
the reaction member, planetary gearing having ing a tail shaft; a driven shaft; a power-operated
a sun gear ?xed to the driven shaft and a pinion ?uid torque converter having impeller, reaction
carrier in driving relation with the tail shaft and driven members, said driven member being
and ?xed to the abutment sleeve, abutment ?xed to the driven shaft; an abutment sleeve; a
means operable to hold or release the carrier, and one-way coupling for connecting the sleeve with
means including a clutch operable to connect the the reaction member; compounded front and rear
impeller member in direct driving relation with planetary gear trains having sun gears ?xed to
the carrier and the sleeve. ' U V . the driven shaft, ring gears, a forward pinion
4. A variable speed drive mechanism compris carrier ?xed to the sleeve, and a rear pinion car
ing a driven shaft, a tail shaft, a power-operated rier ?xed to the tail shaft and to the ring gear
?uid torque converter having impeller, reaction of the forward gear train; a, drum ?xed to the
and driven members, said driven member being forward carrier; an anchored brake for holding
?xed to the driven shaft, a sleeve, a one-way cou or releasing said drum; means for holding or re
4 2,824,713
leasing said front ring gear: and a power-actu 10. a variable speed driven mechanism com
ated clutch for connecting said drum in direct prising a casing; a tail shaft; a driven shaft; a
drive relation with the impeller member. power-operated ?uid torque converter having
9. A variable speed drive mechanism compris impeller, reaction and driven members, said
ing a tail shaft; a driven shaft; a power-operated driven member being fixed to the driven shaft;
?uid torque converter having impeller, reaction on abutment sleeve; a one-way coupling for con
necting the sleeve with the reaction member; '
and driven members, said driven member being two compounded planetary gear trains having
?xed to the driven shaft; an abutment sleeve; sun gears ?xed vto the drivenshaft, ring gears, a
a one-way coupling for connecting the sleeve with
pinion carrier ?xed to the sleeve, and another
the reaction member; two compounded planetary 10 pinion
having sun gears ?xed to the driven carrier ?xed to the tail shaft and to the
gear trains ring gear of the other gear train; means oper
shaft, ring gears, a pinion carrier fixed to the able to hold the forward carrier stationary;
sleeve, and another pinion carrier fixed to the tail means operable to hold the forward ring gear
shaft and to the ring gear of the other gear train; stationary, the reaction being taken by the eas
means for holding the forward carrier; means 15 ing when the ring and carrier holding means are
for holding the forward ring~gear; and means for
?xing the forward carrier to rotate with the im operative, but such means being operable only
peller member, the drive passing partially - one at a time; and means for establishing a direct
drive connection between the forward carrier
through the forward carrier from the impeller
member and partially through the driven shaft 20 and the impeller member, said last mentioned,
from the driven member to the planetary gearing means being effective when the holding means
when the forward carrier is ?xed to rotate with are released.
the impeller member and the holding means are FOREST R. MCF'ARLAND.
released.

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