US PATENT CLASS 477
Class Notes


Current as of: June, 1999
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477 /   HD   INTERRELATED POWER DELIVERY CONTROLS, INCLUDING ENGINE CONTROL



DEFINITION

Classification: 477/

This is the class for structure wherein operation of an engine* either regulates or is regulated by the operation of a clutch*, a gear transmission*, or a brake*.

LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES

This class was formed from patents in previously existing Classes 74 and 192 related to interrelated controls between an engine and a transmission, clutch, or brake. Therefore the line between this and other classes is the same as between Class 74 and Class 192 and other classes.

REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

60, Power Plants, especially

347+, and 445+ for interrelated control between a motor and a device of Class 60.

74, Machine Element or Mechanism, for gearing, per se, and

for control for gearing lacking interrelated motor control. 123, Internal-Combustion Engines,

319+, for devices to regulate engine speed in an internal combustion engine.

180, Motor Vehicles, for interrelated control between an engine and a transmission, clutch, or brake, and also including significant vehicle structure.

188, Brakes, for brakes, per se.

192, Clutches and Power-Stop Control, for clutches and clutch operators.

318, Electricity: Motive Power Systems, especially

3+, for the combination of a significant electrical motor and a load device; and see the Class Definition, Load Device Driven By The Motor (Including Power, Motion, Force, or Torque Transmitting Devices) for a statement of the line between the classes.

474, Endless Belt Power Transmission Systems or Components, for endless belt transmissions and control therefore, but lacking interrelated motor control.

475, Planetary Gear Transmission Systems or Components, for planetary gear transmissions and control therefore, but lacking interrelated motor control.

476, Friction Gear Transmission Systems or Components, for friction gear transmissions and control therefore, but lacking interrelated motor control.

701, Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location,

51+, for vehicle transmission control including significant calculations but absent specific transmission control structure. GLOSSARY:

The following glossary will define words or phrases used in the class and subclass definitions and are identified by an asterisk which appears after the word, or in the instance of a phrase, after the last word of the phrase:

BRAKE:

Mechanism operable to stop a rotatable part with respect to a stationary part. If a brake is used as a part of transmission (i.e., in a planetary transmission to change gear ratio or direction), such a brake is classified with transmission control rather than brake control.

CLUTCH:

Mechanism operable to couple two relatively rotatable parts together for common rotation or to uncouple such parts. The clutch* as used in the definition of this class or subclasses is a clutch* that may be used without a gear transmission* or in advance of or behind a gear transmission* in a power train. If a clutch is used as a part of transmission (i.e., in a planetary transmission to change gear ratio or direction), such a clutch is classified with transmission control rather than clutch control.

ENGINE:

A primary source of rotational energy.

GEARING POWER PATH:

Mechanism including relatively rotatable bodies having engaging surfaces or which are drivingly connected by a belt or chain whereby a rotatable body will impart to or receive rotary motion or power from another rotary body by rolling contact.

GEAR TRANSMISSION: Mechanism including at least one gearing power path*, said mechanism being capable of changing the speed ratio* or rotational direction between a mechanical output of an engine* and a load*.

INPUT SHAFT:

Mechanism that receives rotational motion from an engine* and transfers such motion to a gear transmission* or to a clutch*.

LOAD:

Mechanism that receives rotational motion from a gear transmission* or clutch* to do useful work.

OUTPUT SHAFT:

Mechanism that receives rotational motion from a gear transmission* or clutch* and transfers such motion to a load*.

SPEED RATIO:

Rotational velocity of an output shaft* divided by the rotational velocity of an input shaft.*