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A drive assembly includes a casing containing a planetary gear assembly. A speed control arrangement is provided in association with the planetary gear assembly to vary the speed of rotation of an output member relative to the speed of rotation of an input member. The speed control arrangement inclu

A drive assembly includes a casing containing a planetary gear assembly. A speed control arrangement is provided in association with the planetary gear assembly to vary the speed of rotation of an output member relative to the speed of rotation of an input member. The speed control arrangement includes a first disc pack which is engaged under the influence of a spring to prevent relative rotation between a ring gear and a planet carrier. A second disc pack is also engageable under the influence of a spring to prevent rotation of the ring gear relative to the casing. Hydraulic motors are selectively operable to release the disc packs against the influence of the associated springs. In the event of a failure in the source of hydraulic fluid, both disc packs are engaged with a resulting braking of rotation of the driven wheel. A secondary or towing clutch is selectively disengageable to release the output member and wheel for rotation, even though both of the disc packs are engaged. The springs cooperate with the disc packs in such a manner that wear is minimized. Compact construction of the drive assembly is promoted by eliminating the use of bearings to hold the ring gear against sidewise movement. The compact construction of the drive assembly is also promoted by forming the ring gear with a pair of annular side sections which have the same inside diameter and which extend axially outwardly from opposite sides of the ring gear into engagement with disc packs.

대표청구항 ▼

A drive assembly for use in driving a driven member, said drive assembly comprising a casing, a planetary gear assembly disposed within said casing, said planetary gear assembly including a sun gear, a ring gear, a planet carrier, and a planet gear on said planet carrier connected with said sun and

A drive assembly for use in driving a driven member, said drive assembly comprising a casing, a planetary gear assembly disposed within said casing, said planetary gear assembly including a sun gear, a ring gear, a planet carrier, and a planet gear on said planet carrier connected with said sun and ring gears, input means for effecting rotation of at least one of said gears, output means connected with said planetary gear assembly for effecting rotation of the driven member, said output means including a first section connected with said planet carrier and a second section to be connected with the driven member for rotation therewith, brake means operable from an engaged condition to a disengaged condition, said brake means being effective in the engaged condition to hold said first output section and said one gear against rotation relative to said casing, said brake means being effective in the disengaged condition to enable said first output section and said one gear to be rotated relative to said casing, and clutch means operable between an engaged condition interconnecting said first and second output sections and a disengaged condition enabling said second output section to be rotated relative to said first output section and said casing when said brake means is in said engaged condition, said clutch means including a clutch member encircling said second section and movable between a first position engaging said first and second output sections and a second position spaced from one of said output sections, spring means for urging said clutch member toward said first position and retaining means for retaining said clutch member in said second position against the influence of said spring means, said retaining means comprising a rod having a threaded connection with said clutch member and which upon rotation thereof in one direction effects movement of said clutch member to said second position due to said threaded connection and retains said clutch member thereat. A drive assembly for use in driving a driven member, said drive assembly comprising a casing, a planetary gear assembly in said casing, said planetary gear assembly comprising a rotatable sun gear, a rotatable ring gear, a rotatable planet gear connected with said sun and ring gears, and a planet carrier supporting said planet gear for movement relative to said ring gear about the axis of rotation of said sun gear, input means for effecting rotation of at least one of said gears, output means connected with said planetary gear assembly for effecting rotation of the driven member, clutch means operable between an engaged condition holding said planet carrier and ring gear against movement relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said clutch means is ineffective to hold said planet carrier and ring gear against movement relative to each other, said clutch means being rotatable relative to said casing about the axis of rotation of said sun gear with said planet carrier and ring gear when said clutch means is in said engaged condition, and a disc spring operable between an active condition urging said clutch means to the engaged condition and an inactive condition in which said disc spring is ineffective to urge said clutch means to the engaged condition, said disc spring being spaced from said casing and acting between a first bearing surface area on said planet carrier and a second bearing surface area on said clutch means when said disc spring is in the active condition to enable said disc spring to rotate relative to said casing with said planet carrier and clutch means, said disc spring being spaced from said planet carrier and clutch means and acting against a third bearing surface area on said casing when said disc spring is in the inactive condition to enable said planet carrier and first clutch means to rotate relative to said disc spring when said disc spring is in the inactive condition, and means for moving said disc spring between its active and inactive conditions.