US 2026/0298315 A1Published application

Belt drive systems and methods

AssigneeDeere & Company

InventorsLOGAN K. TRUEBLOOD, THOMAS J. ROHLFING

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Abstract

Adjustable pulley systems and methods for controlling operation of adjustable pulley systems are disclosed. An example pulley system includes a driver pulley with a circumferential groove that is adjustable in size, an input shaft coupled to the driver pulley, a driven pulley with a circumferential groove that is adjustable in size, an output shaft coupled to the driven pulley, an idler pulley having a position that is movable relative to the input shaft or the output shaft, and an endless belt extending between the driver pulley and the driven pulley and engaged with the idler pulley. A size of the circumferential groove of the driver pulley and a position of the idler pulley being coordinated to alter a speed of the output shaft and improve a lifespan of the endless belt.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A pulley system comprising:

a first pulley rotatable with a first shaft about a first axis, the first pulley including:
a first sheave portion;
a second sheave portion laterally offset from the first sheave portion;
and
a first circumferential groove formed between the first sheave portion and the second sheave portion, a size of the first circumferential groove adjustable in response to movement one of the first sheave portion or the second sheave portion relative to the other of the first sheave portion or the second sheave portion;
a second pulley rotatable with a second shaft about a second axis, the second pulley including:
a third sheave portion;
a fourth sheave portion;
and
a second circumferential groove formed between the third sheave portion and the fourth sheave portion, a size of the second circumferential groove adjustable in response to movement of one of the third sheave portion or the fourth sheave portion relative to the other of the third sheave portion or the fourth sheave portion;
a movable idler pulley rotatable about a third axis;
an endless belt extending between the first pulley and the second pulley and engaged with the movable idler pulley, a position of the movable idler pulley being adjusted relative to the first axis or the second axis in combination with the size of the first circumferential groove being adjusted to maintain rotation of the second shaft at a selected rotational speed.

9 more elements

A method of controlling an output speed of a pulley system, the method comprising:

selecting a rotational speed of an output shaft of the pulley system;
rotating an input shaft of the pulley system at a first rotational speed, an adjustable driver pulley coupled to and rotatable with the input shaft;
and
altering a speed of the output shaft from a first rotational speed to the selected rotational speed in response to altering an effective diameter of an adjustable driver pulley of the pulley system in cooperation with altering a position of an idler pulley of the pulley system.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/349,394Filed 3 Oct 2025
Priority: 31 Mar 2025
Published: 1 Oct 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F16H 7/02
Gearings for conveying rotary motion by endless flexible members: with belts; with V-belts
F16H 61/662
Specially adapted for continuously variable gearings: with endless flexible members
F16H 2007/185
Means for guiding or supporting belts, ropes, or chains: the guiding surface in contact with the belt, rope or chain having particular shapes,…
F16H 2061/66204
With endless flexible members: control for modifying the ratio control characteristic