HYDROMECHANICAL CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

摘要

A hydromechanical continuously variable power transmission for converting rotating mechanical power at one combination of rotational velocity and torque to another combination of rotational velocity and torque over a continuous range, includes a hydraulic pump, operatively driven by an input shaft, and a hydraulic motor operatively driving an output shaft. The hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor are coupled together mechanically through a pair of planet sets, and are coupled together hydraulically through a manifold, such that hydraulic fluid pressurized by said pump drives the motor, and spent fluid from the motor is cycled back to the pump where it is re-pressurized. Both planet sets are arranged co-axially with the input shaft and the output shaft, and the hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor are arranged in series with each other on opposite sides of the manifold, and parallel to the input and output shafts, thereby optimizing the use of space and keeping the overall length of the transmission to a minimum, and minimizing required lengths of said input and output shafts.