Power Shifting in Industrial Vehicles

The fundamental advantages of the power shifting feature are greater vehicle and equipment productivity, operator convenience, and transmission durability. This paper discusses the use of power shifting by hydraulically actuated clutches. A detailed study of the clutch transmission set-up on industrial equipment and factors such as clutch drag, reverse ratios, hydraulic circuitry, and friction elements are illustrated.

Although complexities must be built into the mechanism to provide power shifting, the inherent advantages forced industrial tractor manufacturers to provide this requirement.