Method and apparatus for transmitting torque

A method of operating a pulley assembly, comprising:

• inducing a radial force component on an outer circular member of the assembly by means of a belt bearing upon the periphery of the outer member, transferring the force from the belt radially to an inner circular member movably disposed substantially within the outer member through an interface which will transmit only substantially radial forces to displace the inner member within the outer member, interlocking the inner member and outer member at a position removed from a line through the direction of the radial force bearing upon the outer member from the belt as a function of the displacement, inducing a torque between the inner member and the outer member to produce a force at the interlock between the inner member and the outer member, and maintaining the relationship between the interlock position and the position at which the radial force is applied to the periphery of the pulley when the pulley assembly is rotated.

Apparatus for advantageously utilizing torque, comprising:

• an outer member, an inner member disposed substantially within the outer member and secured therein to permit substantial radial movement between the inner member and the outer member, first means to transmit radial forces between the inner member and the outer member, and second means to selectively and sequentially interlock the inner member and the outer member together at positions substantially constant relative to a position at which an external radial force may be applied to the outer member to preclude appreciable rotation therebetween, whereby an advantageous force couple may be produced between a force applied to the outer member at the second means as a result of a torque between the inner member and the outer member, and an external radial force applied to the outer member, which force couple tends to rotate the apparatus.

Apparatus, comprising:

• an outer circular member having a plurality of equally-spaced, concentrically patterned openings defined therein spaced from the outer and inner edges of the members, the outer member having defined thereon annular shoulders concentric with the annular openings pattern, and an inner circular member having a plurality of pins axially protruding therefrom and arranged in an annular pattern complementary to the pattern of the openings, the pins being of a diameter less than the diameter of the openings, the inner member also having opposed inwardly and axially oriented projections in the form of annular ring of a diameter larger than the diameter of the shoulders, the inner member being supported by the projections interfacing with the shoulders of the outer ring and the pins being positioned within the openings, whereby the inner member can be displaced by a radial force between the inner and outer members, such displacement being limited by the shoulders and projections, and the pins and openings function as an interlock between the inner and outer members at limited positions remote from and determined by the position at which the radial force is applied to the outer member.

Apparatus, comprising:

• a first member, a second member of a diameter less than that of the first member and secured against axial movement within the diameter of the first member with limited freedom for radial movement, and means responsive to the displacement of the second member radially with respect to the first member to sequentially interlock the first and second member at selected positions as a function of the relative displacement of one member relative to the other member.

A wheel assembly, comprising:

• a ring form outer member provided with concentric annularly located series of equi-arcuately spaced-apart openings, an inner member diametrically smaller than the outer member mounted on means to impart torque to the inner member relative to the outer member, the inner member being provided with a concentrically annularly located series of equi-arcuately spaced pins projecting from one side of the surface, said pins being smaller in diameter than the outer member openings, and means retaining the inner and outer members in side-facing radially movable relationship, with each pin extending into one of said openings, whereby radial loads imposed upon the inner member causes the center of the inner member to be in a horizontal plane below the center of the outer member, and moves a top pin and a bottom pin to radially load-bearing position against the bearing surfaces of the respective openings into which said pins extend, and when torque is applied to the inner member, the dislocation of the inner member within the outer member causes force to be transmitted through the pins interfacing with the respective openings at one or more locations substantially constant relative to the direction of application of the radial force to the inner member.

A wheel assembly, comprising:

• a circular outer member provided with a concentrically annularly located series of equi-arcuately spaced-apart openings, an inner circular member diametrically smaller than the outer member, said inner member being provided with a concentric annularly located series of equi-arcuately spaced-apart pins projecting fron one side surface in an axial direction, said pins being smaller in diameter than the outer member openings, means retaining the inner and outer members in side facing relatively radially movable relationship, with each pin extending into one of said openings, complementary interfacing annular surfaces on the inner member and outer members which limit radial movements of the inner member relative to the outer member, such annular surfaces being substantially concentric and the annular surface of the inner member being of a somewhat larger diameter than the annular surface of the outer member, whereby radial movement and resulting displacement of one member relative to the other member is limited by the annular surfaces, and the pins interlock in the openings as a function of the displacement of one member relative to the other member.