U.S. Patent Specifications

In variable ratio transmission mechanism of the type and for the purpose indicated, the combination of a driving shaft on which two gear wheels of different sizes are mounted together, a driven shaft on which an impeller may be mounted, two oppositely directed cone clutch members connected to the driven shaft in a position at one side of the said two gear wheels, two concentric shafts coaxial with said driven shaft and separately rotatable but both movable in the axial direction in relation thereto, a cone clutch member and a pinion on each of the said concentric shafts the clutch member being adapted to engage one of the clutch members on said driven shaft and the pinion meshing with one of the gear wheels on the driving shaft, and hydraulic means for moving the said concentric shafts in the axial direction and thereby causing engagement and disengagement of the clutch members on these shafts and the corresponding clutch members on said driven shaft whereby said shaft will be driven at one or the other of two alternative speeds.