US3692160A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid power control system for vehicles
Assignee: Twin Disc Inc
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Filing: 1970-08-24
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1990-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A fluid power control system for a vehicle having forward, reverse and speed range clutches, and the vehicle being driven from a source of power, such as an internal combustion engine, through a torque converter, which is controlled by a fluid actuated and modulated main clutch. The control system includes inhibitor valve means which functions to inhibit the shifting of the clutches between forward and reverse directions above predetermined vehicle speeds, and also inhibit speed gear shifting in a downward direction above a predetermined speed. The control system also includes cross-over valve means connected with the direction clutches and the speed change clutches so that when a shift from one clutch to the other is called for by the action of the operator, the clutch which had been engaged is held in engagement until the newly selected clutch is at least partially engaged, and then the clutch which had been engaged is released. This functions to eliminate heat generation which is otherwise caused by slow shifting which in turn permits the vehicle power source to build up inertia energy in the power input parts, such as the flywheels, main clutch and torque converter. The cross-over valve means thus eliminates the heat build up due to the conventional between-gears-neutral position, and the valve means are effective regardless of how slowly the clutches are shifted.
Inventors
- 👤 Conrad R Hilpert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:21
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T11/00; B60T11/10; B60T11/103; F; F16; F16H; F16H2712/00; F16H2712/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
In a vehicle having ground engaging means, a power transmission and brake, forward and reverse clutches of the hydraulically actuated type for driving said means in forward and reverse directions and for stopping said vehicle, a pressure fluid circuit including manually operated brake, forward and reverse fluid control valves for said brake, forward and reverse clutches, respectively, said circuit also including a brake control fluid line, manually operated direction controls connected to said forward and reverse clutches for operation thereof, inhibitor valve means including shiftable element means in fluid communication with and for controlling flow of pressure fluid from said fluid control valves, fluid lines from said inhibitor valves to said forward and reverse fluid control valves, a fluid pump driven in proportion to the vehicle ground speed and in fluid communication with said shiftable element means to cause shifting thereof, whereby when said vehicle is moving above a predetermined speed in one direction and said pump is correspondingly pumping pressure fluid to said inhibitor valve means, then when one of said direction control valves is actuated by the operator in calling for a reversal of vehicle direction, said inhibitor valve means being in fluid communication with said reverse clutch and said manually operated brake will cause manually controlled pressure fluid to actuate said manually operated brake and prevent a reverse shift until said vehicle speed slows down below said predetermined speed, and then said inhibitor valve means will permit said reversal of direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
In a vehicle having ground engaging means, a power transmission and brake, forward and reverse clutches of the hydraulically actuated type for driving said means in forward and reverse directions and for stopping said vehicle, a pressure fluid circuit including manually operated brake, forward and reverse fluid control valves for said brake, forward and reverse clutches, respectively, said circuit also including a brake control fluid line, manually operated direction controls connected to said forward and reverse clutches for operation thereof, inhibitor valve means including shiftable element means in fluid communication with and for controlling flow of pressure fluid from said fluid control valves, fluid lines from said inhibitor valves to said forward and reverse fluid control valves, a fluid pump driven in proportion to the vehicle ground speed and in fluid communication with said shiftable element means to cause shifting thereof, whereby when said vehicle is moving above a predetermined speed in one direction and said pump is correspondingly pumping pressure fluid to said inhibitor valve means, then when one of said direction control valves is actuated by the operator in calling for a reversal of vehicle direction, said inhibitor valve means being in fluid communication with said reverse clutch and said manually operated brake will cause manually controlled pressure fluid to actuate said manually operated brake and prevent a reverse shift until said vehicle speed slows down below said predetermined speed, and then said inhibitor valve means will permit said reversal of direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
299 words
In a vehicle having ground engaging means, a power transmission and brake, forward and reverse clutches for driving said means in forward and reverse directions and for stopping said vehicle, and also having a first speed range clutch and a second speed range clutch for driving said vehicle at low and high speeds, said clutches being of the hydraulically actuated type, a pressure fluid circuit including manually operated brake, forward and reverse fluid control valves for said brake, forward and reverse clutches, respectively, a reverse inhibitor valve including a shiftable element in fluid communication with and for controlling flow of pressure fluid from said fluid control valves, a fluid pump driven in proportion to the vehicle ground speed and in fluid communicaTion with said reverse inhibitor valve shiftable element to cause shifting thereof, a downshift inhibitor valve including a shiftable element in fluid communication with and for controlling flow to said speed range clutches, said downshift inhibitor valve element also being in fluid communication with said pump and with said reverse inhibitor valve, whereby when said vehicle is moving above a predetermined speed in one direction and said pump is correspondingly pumping pressure fluid to said inhibitor valves, then (1) when one of said direction control valves is actuated by the operator in calling for a reversal of vehicle direction, said inhibitor valves will cause pressure fluid to actuate said brake clutch until said vehicle speed slows down below said predetermined speed, and then said inhibitor valves will permit said reversal of direction, and (2) when a downshift from said second speed range clutch to said first speed range clutch is called for by said operator, said inhibitor valves will cause pressure fluid to hold vehicle in its former gear until said vehicle slows down below a predetermined speed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
299 words
In a vehicle having ground engaging means, a power transmission and brake, forward and reverse clutches for driving said means in forward and reverse directions and for stopping said vehicle, and also having a first speed range clutch and a second speed range clutch for driving said vehicle at low and high speeds, said clutches being of the hydraulically actuated type, a pressure fluid circuit including manually operated brake, forward and reverse fluid control valves for said brake, forward and reverse clutches, respectively, a reverse inhibitor valve including a shiftable element in fluid communication with and for controlling flow of pressure fluid from said fluid control valves, a fluid pump driven in proportion to the vehicle ground speed and in fluid communicaTion with said reverse inhibitor valve shiftable element to cause shifting thereof, a downshift inhibitor valve including a shiftable element in fluid communication with and for controlling flow to said speed range clutches, said downshift inhibitor valve element also being in fluid communication with said pump and with said reverse inhibitor valve, whereby when said vehicle is moving above a predetermined speed in one direction and said pump is correspondingly pumping pressure fluid to said inhibitor valves, then (1) when one of said direction control valves is actuated by the operator in calling for a reversal of vehicle direction, said inhibitor valves will cause pressure fluid to actuate said brake clutch until said vehicle speed slows down below said predetermined speed, and then said inhibitor valves will permit said reversal of direction, and (2) when a downshift from said second speed range clutch to said first speed range clutch is called for by said operator, said inhibitor valves will cause pressure fluid to hold vehicle in its former gear until said vehicle slows down below a predetermined speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
379 words
In a vehicle having ground engaging means, a power transmission and brake, forward and reverse clutches of the hydraulically actuated type for driving said means in forward and reverse directions and for stopping said vehicle, a pressure fluid circuit including manually operated brake, forward and reverse fluid control valves for said brake, forward and reverse clutches, respectively, inhibitor valve means including a shiftable element means in fluid communication with and for controlling flow of pressure fluid from said fluid control valves, a fluid pump driven in proportion to the vehicle ground speed and in fluid communication with said shiftable element means to cause shifting thereof, whereby when said vehicle is moving above a predetermined speed in one direction and said pump is correspondingly pumping pressure fluid to said inhibitor valve means, then when one of said direction control valves is actuated by the operator in calling for a reversal of vehicle direction, said inhibitor valve means will cause pressure fluid to actuate said brake clutch until said vehicle speed slows down below said predetermined speed, and then said inhibitor valve means will permit said reversal of direction; said vehicle also having a pair of fluid actuated gear shift clutches, a fluid pressure operated shiftable control valve including a shiftable portion for each of said gear shift clutches, said shiftable control valves having an operatoring pilot at each end for shifting said portion, a high hold pressure line connected to each of said shiftable control valves and communicable with said portion, an apply pressure line connected to each shiftable control valve and communicable with said portion, a cross-over fluid circuit including a double check valve between the operating pilot of one of said shiftable control valves and an operator pilot of the other control valve, said cross-over fluid circuit also communicable with said shiftable portion, control means for applying fluid pressure from said apply pressure line to the pilot of one of said shiftable control valves via said cross-over fluid circuit while at the same time high hold pressure is applied to the other shiftable control valve to hold the latter and its associated clutch until the clutch of said one shiftable control valve commences to be engaged, and then the clutch of said other shiftable control valve is released.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
379 words
In a vehicle having ground engaging means, a power transmission and brake, forward and reverse clutches of the hydraulically actuated type for driving said means in forward and reverse directions and for stopping said vehicle, a pressure fluid circuit including manually operated brake, forward and reverse fluid control valves for said brake, forward and reverse clutches, respectively, inhibitor valve means including a shiftable element means in fluid communication with and for controlling flow of pressure fluid from said fluid control valves, a fluid pump driven in proportion to the vehicle ground speed and in fluid communication with said shiftable element means to cause shifting thereof, whereby when said vehicle is moving above a predetermined speed in one direction and said pump is correspondingly pumping pressure fluid to said inhibitor valve means, then when one of said direction control valves is actuated by the operator in calling for a reversal of vehicle direction, said inhibitor valve means will cause pressure fluid to actuate said brake clutch until said vehicle speed slows down below said predetermined speed, and then said inhibitor valve means will permit said reversal of direction; said vehicle also having a pair of fluid actuated gear shift clutches, a fluid pressure operated shiftable control valve including a shiftable portion for each of said gear shift clutches, said shiftable control valves having an operatoring pilot at each end for shifting said portion, a high hold pressure line connected to each of said shiftable control valves and communicable with said portion, an apply pressure line connected to each shiftable control valve and communicable with said portion, a cross-over fluid circuit including a double check valve between the operating pilot of one of said shiftable control valves and an operator pilot of the other control valve, said cross-over fluid circuit also communicable with said shiftable portion, control means for applying fluid pressure from said apply pressure line to the pilot of one of said shiftable control valves via said cross-over fluid circuit while at the same time high hold pressure is applied to the other shiftable control valve to hold the latter and its associated clutch until the clutch of said one shiftable control valve commences to be engaged, and then the clutch of said other shiftable control valve is released.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
491 words
In a vehicle having ground engaging means, a power transmission and brake, forward and reverse clutches for driving said means in forward and reverse directions and for stopping said vehicle, and also having a first speed range clutch and a second speed range clutch for driving said vehicle at low and high speeds, said clutches being of hydraulically actuated type, a pressure fluid circuit including manually operated brake, forward and reverse fluid control valves for said brakE, forward and reverse clutches respectively, a reverse inhibitor valve including a shiftable element in fluid communication with and for controlling flow of pressure fluid from said fluid control valves, a fluid pump driven in proportion to the vehicle ground speed and in fluid communication with said reverse inhibitor valve shiftable element to cause shifting thereof, a downshift inhibitor valve including a shiftable element in fluid communication with and for controlling flow to said speed range clutches, said downshift inhibitor valve element also being in fluid communication with said pump and with said reverse inhibitor valve, whereby when said vehicle is moving above a predetermined speed in one direction and said pump is correspondingly pumping pressure fluid to said inhibitor valves, then (1) when one of said direction control valves is actuated by the operator in calling for a reversal of vehicle direction, said inhibitor valves will cause pressure fluid to actuate said brake clutch until said vehicle speed slows down below said predetermined speed, and then said inhibitor valves will permit said reversal of direction, and (2) when a downshift from said second speed range clutch to said first speed range clutch is called for by said operator, said inhibitor valves will cause pressure fluid to hold vehicle in its original gear until said vehicle speed slows down below a predetermined speed; said vehicle also having a pair of fluid actuated gear shift clutches, a fluid pressure operated shiftable control valve including a shiftable portion for each of said gear shift clutches, said shiftable control valves having an operator pilot at each end for shifting said portion, a high hold pressure line connected to each of said shiftable control valves and communicable with said portion, an apply pressure line connected to each shiftable control valve and communicable with said portion, a cross-over fluid circuit including a double check valve between the operating pilot of one of said shiftable control valves and an operating pilot of the other control valve, said cross-over fluid circuit also communicable with said shiftable portion, control means for applying fluid pressure from said apply pressure line to the pilot of one of said shiftable control valves via said cross-over fluid circuit while at the same time high hold pressure is applied to the other shiftable control valve to hold the latter and its associated clutch until the clutch of said one shiftable control valve commences to be engaged, and then the clutch of said other shiftable control valve is released.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
491 words
In a vehicle having ground engaging means, a power transmission and brake, forward and reverse clutches for driving said means in forward and reverse directions and for stopping said vehicle, and also having a first speed range clutch and a second speed range clutch for driving said vehicle at low and high speeds, said clutches being of hydraulically actuated type, a pressure fluid circuit including manually operated brake, forward and reverse fluid control valves for said brakE, forward and reverse clutches respectively, a reverse inhibitor valve including a shiftable element in fluid communication with and for controlling flow of pressure fluid from said fluid control valves, a fluid pump driven in proportion to the vehicle ground speed and in fluid communication with said reverse inhibitor valve shiftable element to cause shifting thereof, a downshift inhibitor valve including a shiftable element in fluid communication with and for controlling flow to said speed range clutches, said downshift inhibitor valve element also being in fluid communication with said pump and with said reverse inhibitor valve, whereby when said vehicle is moving above a predetermined speed in one direction and said pump is correspondingly pumping pressure fluid to said inhibitor valves, then (1) when one of said direction control valves is actuated by the operator in calling for a reversal of vehicle direction, said inhibitor valves will cause pressure fluid to actuate said brake clutch until said vehicle speed slows down below said predetermined speed, and then said inhibitor valves will permit said reversal of direction, and (2) when a downshift from said second speed range clutch to said first speed range clutch is called for by said operator, said inhibitor valves will cause pressure fluid to hold vehicle in its original gear until said vehicle speed slows down below a predetermined speed; said vehicle also having a pair of fluid actuated gear shift clutches, a fluid pressure operated shiftable control valve including a shiftable portion for each of said gear shift clutches, said shiftable control valves having an operator pilot at each end for shifting said portion, a high hold pressure line connected to each of said shiftable control valves and communicable with said portion, an apply pressure line connected to each shiftable control valve and communicable with said portion, a cross-over fluid circuit including a double check valve between the operating pilot of one of said shiftable control valves and an operating pilot of the other control valve, said cross-over fluid circuit also communicable with said shiftable portion, control means for applying fluid pressure from said apply pressure line to the pilot of one of said shiftable control valves via said cross-over fluid circuit while at the same time high hold pressure is applied to the other shiftable control valve to hold the latter and its associated clutch until the clutch of said one shiftable control valve commences to be engaged, and then the clutch of said other shiftable control valve is released.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |