Belt drive systems and methods
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsLOGAN K. TRUEBLOOD, THOMAS J. ROHLFING
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Adjustable pulley systems and methods for controlling operation of adjustable pulley systems are disclosed. An example pulley system includes a driver pulley with an adjustable groove, an input shaft coupled to the driver pulley, a driven pulley with an adjustable groove, an output shaft coupled to the driven pulley, and an endless belt extending therebetween. A center distance between the input shaft and this output shaft is adjustable to increase a diameter of the endless belt along the driver pulley, the driven pulley, or both.
Claims21
A pulley system comprising:
- a first pulley rotatable 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 groove formed between the first sheave portion and the second sheave portion, a size of the 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 about a second axis;
- and
- an endless belt extending between the first pulley and the second pulley, one of the first axis or the second axis moveable relative to the other of the first axis or the second axis in response to adjustment of the first groove to maintain a diameter of the endless belt along one of the first groove or the second groove at a selected diameter.
A method for altering stress in an endless belt of a pulley system, the method comprising:
- selecting a rotational speed of an output shaft of the pulley system;
- determining a speed ratio using a rotational speed of an input shaft and the selected rotational speed of the output shaft;
- altering a first size of a first groove of a driver pulley coupled to the input shaft;
- and
- altering a size of a center distance between the input shaft and an output shaft to alter a second size of a second groove of a driven pulley coupled to the output shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.