[aglooka]

Hi there,

I wonder if there is somewhere a primer on how tank transmissions actually worked, how do you steer a tank ? I know that oodles of designs were produced. So if anyone has a primer on that subject ? I don't mind if it is dry technical stuff. I'm mostly interested in earlier systems (say into wwII), with special interest in very early tank transmissions and steering methods.

Many Greetings and thanks,

Aglooka

[Shortround6]

aglooka, on Sat 6 Feb 2010 0647, said:

Hi there,

I wonder if there is somewhere a primer on how tank transmissions actually worked, how do you steer a tank ? I know that oodles of designs were produced. So if anyone has a primer on that subject ? I don't mind if it is dry technical stuff. I'm mostly interested in earlier systems (say into wwII), with special interest in very early tank transmissions and steering methods.

Many Greetings and thanks,

Aglooka

Try; "DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF FIGHTING VEHICLES". by OGORKIEWICZ, Richard M.

I believe there is a chapter just on transmissions with diagrams and without being too technical. It is an older book but should be available form used book sellers.

[Coldsteel]

A couple of the better ones I know of:

http://www.gizmology.net/tracked.htm - Note that the Cletrac here is drawn wrong.

http://www.scmec.us/diffs3.html

[cbo]

Shortround6, on Sat 6 Feb 2010 1354, said:

Try; "DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF FIGHTING VEHICLES". by OGORKIEWICZ, Richard M.

I believe there is a chapter just on transmissions with diagrams and without being too technical. It is an older book but should be available form used book sellers.

Same authors "Technology of Tanks" also has a chapter on transmissions.

cbo

[Przezdzieblo]

Coldsteel, on Sat 6 Feb 2010 1516, said:

http://www.gizmology.net/tracked.htm - Note that the Cletrac here is drawn wrong.

Pardon, what is wrong here?

[Martin M]

If you have any Spielbergers at home, start with the Panzer I and II (where it starts with simple clutches and brakes) and go thru the lot of them. There is usually a drawing or two which explains each type.

Then go to "how stuff works" etc and take a look at planetary gear systems.
That takes care of another batch.

The Cletrac of the Sherman ( = large construction machinery IIRC) is different but you can find something by the usual google.

The early heavies and modern systems get be to confusing as they often combine several sets of xyz.

[aglooka]

Thanks for all the replies !

Aglooka

[Coldsteel]

Przezdzieblo, on Mon 8 Feb 2010 0335, said:

Pardon, what is wrong here?

The left and right cyan gears should overlap inside the diff housing. The way they are drawn there the green drives the dark blue, the dark blue pushes the cyan gears around the red sun gears but without that overlap there is nothing to stop the cyan gears spinning resulting in no power to the red sun gears. When I first saw it I could not for the life of me figure out how it was meant to work, I had to build one before I realised the problem was with that drawing.

If you compare it to figure 1 in the second link you should be able to see the difference.

[Przezdzieblo]

Ok, I see what you mean. Yes, diagram is simplified.

If anyone interested, this is one more diagram, might be easier to understand Cletrac steering system:
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/4845/cletrac.th.jpg

[rmgill]

Then there's the issue of wrapping your brain around how epicyclic gears and gearboxes work. The wilson self changing gearboxes that are in the various british tanks is another layer of complexity. On the Daimler AC's transmission which shares some components with a number of British tanks, in the form of the gear box (ignore the bit about the fluid coupling). (about 5:20)

[Jason L]

You really, really need to start with a machine elements/mechanics of mechanisms text to understand all of the nuts and bolts of how stuff works. It makes for understanding the gobbledygook system of gears and how the whole system works much easier.

I think I posted some pics I took of a cut up sherman trans on here a few years ago too if you're interested.

[DKTanker]

aglooka, on Sat 6 Feb 2010 0547, said:

Hi there,

I wonder if there is somewhere a primer on how tank transmissions actually worked, how do you steer a tank ? I know that oodles of designs were produced. So if anyone has a primer on that subject ? I don't mind if it is dry technical stuff. I'm mostly interested in earlier systems (say into wwII), with special interest in very early tank transmissions and steering methods.

Many Greetings and thanks,

Aglooka

This link depicts the interior of an Allison CD-850, versions of which have been used on US tanks since 1949.

Sorry, I'm not able to cut and paste the picture.

This post has been edited by DKTanker: 08 February 2010 - 1622 PM

[Przezdzieblo]

DKTanker, are you sure that it is not CD-500?

[DKTanker]

Przezdzieblo, on Tue 9 Feb 2010 0115, said:

DKTanker, are you sure that it is not CD-500?

Could be you're right*, though this page says that the principles remain the same for all CD transmissions except for the X1100 for the M1, which is significantly different. Either way, it was the best set of drawings and explanations I could find for the CD transmission.

*In fact I know the opening set of drawings is not the CD-850 however, Figure 24-10 does show the valve controls and inputs from the CD-850. Not having disassembled a CD transmission I'll go with what they say, the principle remains the same.

This post has been edited by DKTanker: 09 February 2010 - 0733 AM

[Przezdzieblo]

For sure it is not CD-850 which had not a lockup clutch. The question here would be is that diagram of double (like CD-500) or tripple (like CD-850) differential transmission, or even CD-500 specificly. But agree, principles of those subtypes seems to be about the same.


Coldsteel,

Quote

I had to build one before I realised the problem was with that drawing.

:blink: Would it be possible to see transmission builded by you?

[Coldsteel]

Przezdzieblo, on Wed 10 Feb 2010 0016, said:

For sure it is not CD-850 which had not a lockup clutch. The question here would be is that diagram of double (like CD-500) or tripple (like CD-850) differential transmission, or even CD-500 specificly. But agree, principles of those subtypes seems to be about the same.
Coldsteel,

:blink: Would it be possible to see transmission builded by you?

Yes, it's not a real one obviously. But it does replicate the important functions of the unit, and it did allow me to see how the guts of it actually works, and why it was used in the likes of the M3/M4 despite the limitation of a single radius turn. It is a very neat system really.
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/4548/cletracmodel.th.jpg
Note that the smaller gears outside the white gear carrier have been drilled out and glued to the pulleys (also drilled out) to allow them to turn independent of the axles. Other than that it's just Technic parts left over from when I was a kid.