Torque cam assembly for variable speed drive and follower element therefor

Abstract

A torque cam assembly for variable speed belt drives having a driven sheave with an axially slidable flange, in which a collar is mounted on the shaft of the sheave and has a plurality of cams thereon, and a cam follower structure having generally axially protruding members is mounted on the slidable flange of the sheave for cooperating with the cams on the collar. Wear elements are disposed on the members and are adapted to contact the cams on the collar. Two sets of cams may be used with the cams of one set facing in one direction and the cams of the other set facing in the opposite direction, and a pair of wear elements is provided on each of the members for engagement with the facing cams. Each wear element is provided with a distinct protrusion of a generally conical shape to provide the initial contact area with the respective cam surface, for creating substantially equal load sharing relationship between the various cams.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.