1-8. (canceled)
9. A surgical fastener applying apparatus, comprising:
a cartridge half-section;
an anvil half-section, said cartridge and anvil half-sections being relatively movable from an unclamped position to a clamped position; and
a first clamp lever operatively connected to the cartridge half-section and a second clamp lever operatively connected to the anvil half-section; wherein each clamp lever is movable between a first position in which the cartridge and anvil half-sections are in the unclamped position, and a second position in which the cartridge and anvil half-sections are in the clamped position.
10. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cartridge and anvil half-sections may be unclamped from one another upon actuation of at least one of the first and second clamp levers.
11. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the cartridge and anvil half-sections includes a clamp lever latch configured and adapted to retain a respective clamp lever in said clamped position.
12. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 11, wherein each clamping lever includes a latch handle release member, each latch handle release member is biased in a proximal direction, each latch handle release member engages a respective clamp lever when said clamp lever is in said clamped position.
13. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 12, wherein distal movement of said latch handle release member results in disengagement from said respective clamp lever.
14. The surgical fastener applying apparatus of claim 13, wherein each clamp lever includes a clamp lever latch configured and adapted to selectively engage a respective one of said latch handle release members.
15. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a replaceable staple cartridge assembly receivable in said cartridge half-section, said cartridge assembly including a plurality of surgical staples.
16. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a pivotably mounted firing lever operatively associated with said pair of camming surface extensions to move said pair of camming surface extensions longitudinally to thereby sequentially fire said plurality of surgical staples in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of said pair of camming surface extensions, wherein the firing lever is pivotable to extend from a selected one of a right and a left side of the apparatus.
17. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a clamp latch, the clamp latch latching one of the clamp levers in a clamped configuration upon moving the clamp lever to the second position.
18. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a first clamp latch, and a second clamp latch, the first and second clamp latches latching the first and second clamp latches upon moving the clamp lever to the second position.
19. The surgical fastener applying apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the clamp latch prevents opening of either clamp lever once staple firing is initiated.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An electro-mechanical continuously variable transmission comprising:
(a) an input shaft to receive power from an engine;
(b) an output shaft;
(c) a generator;
(d) a planetary gear set coupled to said input shaft, to said output shaft and to an input of said generator;
(e) a motor coupled to said output shaft by a gear set having a fixed speed ratio;
(f) an energy storage device coupled to said generator and to said motor and operative to accept power from and supply power to said generator and to said motor;
(g) a controller coupled to said motor, generator and battery is operative to regulate power flow between said energy storage device and said generator, said energy storage device and said motor and between said generator and said motor;
(h) a split speed clutch coupled to two elements of said planetary gear set and operative to lock said two elements together and permit direct transfer of all power between said generator and said input shaft;
(i) a generator lockup brake coupled to said generator and operative to lock said generator from rotating;
(j) a generator output clutch coupled between said generator and said motor and operative in a locked mode to lock said generator to said motor; and
(k) a mechanical drive clutch coupled between one element of said planetary gear set and said output and operative to lock together the one element of said planetary gear set to said output allowing said planetary gear set to split power between said generator, said input shaft and said output shaft.
2. The transmission of claim 1, further including a range splitter coupled to said output shaft to enable two or more separate operating ranges for said transmission.
3. The transmission of claim 1, further including a regenerative steering system operative to split power between output ends when said main output shaft is used to provide drive force at two ends of said main output shaft.
4. The transmission of claim 1, further including a regenerative braking system to enable energy from braking to be stored in said energy storage unit.
5. The transmission of claim 1, wherein said generator and motor are arranged around a shaft parallel to said main output shaft.
6. The transmission of claim 1, wherein said generator and motor are arranged coaxially around said main output shaft.
7. The transmission of claim 1, wherein said generator and motor are arranged coaxially around said main output shaft and said main power input is at one end of said main output shaft.
8. The transmission of claim 1, further including a reverse gear system coupled to said main power input which reverse the output direction of said transmission.
9. The transmission of claim 1, further including a reverse gear system coupled to said main output shaft operative to reverse the output direction of said transmission.
10. The transmission of claim 1, wherein said split speed clutch is engaged, allowing said generator to act as a starting motor and send power to said input.