Infinitely variable transmission
OwnerDouglas Magyariinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An infinitely variable transmission comprising a pair of rotary, generally conical, torque-transmitting members, each being mounted for rotation on its geometric axis, the angularity of the axes, one with respect to the other, being variable, the outer surfaces of each member having torque-transmitting needles extending outwardly from the generally conical surface, the needles of one member meshing with the needles of its companion member, the needles being capable of flexing whereby torque may be transmitted through the rotary members without frictional sliding motion at the area of meshing engagement of the needles, the angularity of one member with respect to the other permitting a wide torque-transmitting ratio range.
Claims7
An infinitely variable power transmission mechanism for transmitting torque from a rotary torque input shaft to a rotary torque output shaft comprising first and second rotary members forming a torque flow path from the torque input shaft to the torque output shaft;
- the torque input shaft and the torque output shaft having axes that are spaced apart, one with respect to the other;
- at least one of the first and second rotary members having a generally conical surface, said surface having a continuously curved profile that extends from one axial end thereof to the opposite axial end;
- the rotary members having surfaces that are engageable at an area of engagement;
- the first member and the second member each including a cluster of torque transmitting needles on its surface, the needles extending in a radially outward direction relative to the shaft axes;
- the needles of the first member being in meshing contact with the needles of the second member in the area of engagement whereby torque is transferred from one rotary member to the other;
- the rotary members being defined in part by ribbons having spaced pockets formed thereon, a needle received in each pocket and held in place by welding to define a ribbon and needle assembly;
- and
- the ribbon and needle assembly of the at least one rotary member being wound about the generally conical surface of the at least one rotary member with one edge of the ribbon of the at least one rotary member engaging the generally conical surface of the at least one rotary member, the ribbon of the at least one rotary member being generally perpendicular to the conical surface, the one edge of the ribbon being welded to the conical surface.
A method for transmitting torque in an infinitely variable transmission from a first rotary member to a second rotary member comprising the steps of:
- forming the first rotary member with a generally conical shape with a reduced diameter at one end thereof and a large diameter at the other end thereof;
- forming the second rotary member with a generally conical surface with a reduced diameter at one end thereof and a large diameter at the other end thereof;
- covering each surface of the rotary members with torque-transmitting needles, the needles of one surface meshing with the needs of the other surface in an area of mesh;
- mounting each rotary member about separate rotary axes with the reduced diameter end of one rotary member adjacent the large diameter end of the other rotary member and the large diameter end of said one of the rotary members adjacent the reduced diameter end of said other rotary member;
- adjusting the angular position of the rotary axes, one with respect to the other, whereby the speed ratio of the transmission is varied and the area of mesh changes between a maximum speed ratio position and a minimum speed ratio position;
- the step of covering each surface of the rotary members with torque-transmitting needles comprising forming a ribbon with pockets on each side thereof;
- feeding wire stock toward the ribbon and tack welding the wire stock in the ribbon pockets;
- cutting the wire stock into predetermined lengths to define the needles;
- wrapping the ribbons about the rotary members with the needles extending outwardly from the surfaces of the rotary members, the ribbons thereby covering the surfaces;
- and
- welding one edge of the ribbons to the surfaces of the rotary members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.