Drive system for an infinitely variable drive transmission
OwnerLawrence A. Andersoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improvement relating to an infinitely variable ratio transmission having a pair of oppositely oriented variable diameter torque input and output pulleys is disclosed wherein the conical surfaces of the pulleys include a multiplicity of axially and circumferentially movable sprocket bars to accommodate the fixed length of an inextensible drive belt or chain wrapping about the pulleys.
Claims27
In an infinitely variable ratio transmission having a first variable diameter pulley torque input member and second variable diameter pulley output member, wherein said second variable diameter pulley is oriented with respect to said first variable diameter pulley such that the axis of rotation of said second variable diameter pulley is parallel to the axis of rotation of said first variable diameter pulley wherein torque is transmitted from said first variable diameter pulley to said second variable diameter pulley by an endless, inextensible belt, the improvement comprising:
- a) a multiplicity of radially extending channels circumferentially spaced over the conical surfaces of said variable diameter pulleys,
- b) a sprocket bar positioned in each of said radially extending channels for engaging said inextensible belt, wherein said sprocket bars are free to move both normal to said pulley's surface and circumferentially within each of said channels,
- c) resilient means positioned between said sprocket bars and their associated channel bottom whereby said sprocket bars are biased outward toward said pulley's conical surface.
An infinitely variable ratio drive transmission comprising:
- a) a variable diameter pulley input torque member and a variable diameter pulley output torque member, wherein said variable diameter pulleys are oriented with respect to one another such that the axis of rotation of said torque input variable diameter pulley is parallel to said axis of rotation of said torque output variable diameter pulley
- b) an inextensible, endless belt means circumscribing said variable diameter pulley input torque member and said variable diameter pulley output torque member whereby said input torque is transferred from said input variable diameter pulley to said output variable diameter pulley,
- c) a multiplicity of radially extending channels circumferentially spaced over the conical surface of said variable diameter pulleys,
- d) a sprocket bar positioned in each of said radially extending channels for engaging said belt, wherein said sprocket bars are free to move both normal to said pulley's conical surface and circumferentially within said channel,
- e) resilient means positioned between said sprocket bars and their associated channel bottom whereby said sprocket bar is biased outward toward said pulley's conical surface.
An infinitely, variable ratio, drive transmission comprising:
- a) a first variable diameter pulley torque input member and a second matching variable diameter torque output member, wherein the axis of said first member is parallel to the axis of said second member
- b) an endless, inextensible belt means circumscribing said input torque member and said output torque member whereby said input torque is transferred from said input torque member to said output torque member,
- c) a multiplicity of radially extending channels circumferentially spaced over the external conical surface of said input torque and output torque members,
- d) a sprocket bar positioned in each of said radially extending channels for engaging said belt means wherein said sprocket bars are free to move both normal to said pulley's conical surface and circumferentially within said channel,
- e) resilient means positioned between said sprocket bars and their associated channel bottom whereby said sprocket bar is biased outward toward said pulley's surface.
An infinitely variable ratio drive transmission comprising:
- f) a variable diameter pulley torque input member and a matching variable diameter pulley torque output member,
- g) an inextensible endless belt circumscribing said input torque member and said torque output member whereby said input torque is transferred from said torque input member to said torque output member, said belt including an inextensible runner having a multiplicity of free floating beads thereon,
- h) a multiplicity of radially extending channels circumferentially spaced over said variable diameter pulley's flanged surface,
- i) a sprocket bar positioned within each of said radially extending channels for engaging said belt and wherein,
- j) said resilient means is positioned between said sprocket bars and their associated channel bottom whereby said sprocket bars are biased outward toward the surface of said variable pulley's flange surface.
In an infinitely variable ratio transmission having a first variable diameter pulley torque input member and second variable diameter pulley output member, each of said variable diameter pulleys having a first and second sheave, said second variable diameter pulley being oriented with respect to said first conical variable diameter pulley such that the axis of rotation of said second variable diameter pulley is parallel to the axis of rotation of said first variable diameter pulley wherein torque is transmitted from said first variable diameter pulley to said second variable diameter pulley by an endless, inextensible belt, the improvement comprising:
- a) a multiplicity of radially extending channels circumferentially spaced over the conical surface of said first sheave of each said variable diameter pulley,
- b) a sprocket bar positioned in each of said radially extending channels for engaging said inextensible belt, wherein said sprocket bars are free to move both normal to said pulley's surface and circumferentially within each of said channels,
- c) resilient means positioned between said sprocket bars and their associated channel bottom whereby said sprocket bars are biased outward toward said pulley's conical surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.