Infinitely variable transmission
OwnerDetlev Hofmanninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An infinitely variable transmission has its input and output shafts interconnected by at least two pairs of friction members for the transmission of motion therebetween. One of the members of each pair is a conical sleeve and the other is an ellipsoidal member which is received within the conical sleeve and is in frictional engagement therewith. One of the friction members is eccentrically supported by a support disc which is rotatable about an axis spaced from the axis of the other of the pairs of friction members so that rotation of the support disc changes the angle between the axis of the friction members of each pair so as to change the ratio of motion transmission.
Claims14
An infinitely variable transmission comprising a housing;
- input and output shafts rotatably supported in said housing, each of said shafts having an axis;
- at least one pair of friction members which are pivotal relative to each other, and one being operatively connected to said input shaft, and the other to said output shaft for the transmission of motion therebetween, one of said friction members being a conical sleeve and the other being an ellipsoidal member received in said conical sleeve and being in frictional engagement therewith;
- a support disc mounted in said housing for rotation about an axis which is spaced from the axis of at least one of said input and output shafts and having one of said friction members eccentrically supported therein for rotation about an axis spaced from the axis of said support disc;
- means for forcing said friction members toward, and into frictional engagement with, one another;
- and control means associated with said support disc for rotating said disc for changing the motion transmission ratio between said input and output shafts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.