Sectioned Multiple-Step Pulley Transmission
OwnerSean Colin Hackinginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pulley for a transmission system, including a central rotatable hub having a circumference; and a plurality of adjoining identical pulley segments rotatably mounted about the central hub circumference, wherein the adjoining pulley segments form an approximately circular stepped pulley shape and each of the pulley segments includes two sections providing two curved shelf surfaces for engaging a flexible drive member, each shelf having a different radius, forming higher and lower steps, and further wherein each of the pulley segments are independently rotatable about a radial axis with respect to the central hub.
Claims16
A multiple step pulley for variable power transmission, comprising:
- a central hub which rotates about a hub axis, said central hub having a hub shell;
- a plurality of operationally identical pulley segments rotatingly disposed on said hub shell and configured with pulley sections having at least first and second shelf portions which collectively align to engage a flexible drive member in a drive portion of the multiple step pulley as said central hub rotates under a force applied by the flexible drive member or at it applies force to a flexible drive member, and to disengage from the flexible drive member in a shift window portion of each rotation of said central hub about said hub axis, said pulley segments further configured with elements that engage a shifting mechanism;
- and
- a shifting mechanism operatively connected to said central hub and configured to selectively engage said each of pulley segments in said shift window portion;
- wherein said pulley segments rotate about a pulley segment axis substantially radial to said hub axis;
- and
- wherein said first and second shelf portions each define an arc having a different radius from said hub axis.
A pulley for a transmission system, comprising;
- a central rotatable hub having a circumference;
- and
- a plurality of adjoining identical pulley sections rotatably mounted about the central hub circumference, wherein the adjoining pulley segments form an approximately circular stepped pulley shape and each of said pulley segments includes two sections providing two curved shelf surfaces for engaging a flexible drive member, each shelf having a different radius, forming higher and lower steps, and further wherein each of said pulley segments are independently rotatable about a radial axis with respect to said central hub.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.