Self-adjusting variable speed idler pulley
OwnerRudolph Moschettoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An idler pulley, which adjusts itself to variable power transmission speeds by providing a wide range of effective pulley diameters automatically, is disclosed. In its preferred form, the pulley has four spindles with freely rotating sleeves, two directed inwardly from either side, all positioned in the same plane and in changeable circular orbit, for guiding the power transmission belt or chain used with the pulley. The size of the circular orbit of the spindles, corresponding to the effective pulley diameter, is permitted to vary with the power transmission speed by the scissors-like action of the pulley side assemblies which support the spindles.
Claims6
Self-adjusting variable-speed idler pulley for guiding a power transmission element, which comprises:
- a non-rotating pulley support shaft;
- and
- two pulley side wall assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising:
- four edge elements pivotally connected at their ends sequentially to form a parallelogram;
- a side support bar pivotally connected at each of its ends to the center of one of an opposing parallel disposed pair of said four edge elements, said support bar having a centrally disposed bore of a configuration complementary to, and for mounting non-rotatably on, said pulley support shaft;
- a cross-brace pivotally connected at each of its ends to the center of one of the parallely disposed pair of said four edge elements not connected by said side support bar, said cross-brace having a centrally disposed bore for mounting for free rotation on said pulley support shaft;
- a pair of spindles mounted at opposite corners of said parallelogram and projecting inwardly from said side wall assembly in substantially parallel relationship to said pulley support shaft;
- and
- a pair of sleeve members, one mounted for free rotation on each of said pair of spindles, said sleeve members adapted to carry and guide the power transmission element;
- said two pulley side wall assemblies being mounted non-rotatably on said pulley support shaft in facing relationship, at an angular displacement of 45 degrees with respect to one another, so that said sleeve members on said spindles are aligned in a common plane and are disposed in changeable circular orbital relationship for guiding the power transmission element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.