Infinitely variable transmission
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorRichard J. Line
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is an infinitely variable transmission having a frusto-coni impeller mounted on a block alongside a frusto-conical roller, the smaller end of the impeller being opposite the larger end of the roller. The transmission includes a wheel translatable along the impeller and roller, the wheel contacting both the impeller and roller in a selected set of wheel positions so that the wheel transfers rotary motion of the impeller to the roller. The transmission includes a mechanism to adjust the translation path of the wheel to compensate for wheel wear and a mechanism to vary the pressure with which the wheel contacts the impeller and roller.
Claims6
An infinitely variable transmission, comprising:
- a block;
- a roller rotatably mounted to the block, the roller having a frusto-conical roller surface, a smaller diameter roller end and a larger diameter roller end;
- an impeller rotatably mounted to the block alongside the roller, the impeller having a frustoconical impeller surface, a smaller diameter impeller end and a larger diameter impeller end, the smaller diameter impeller end being in opposed relation to the larger diameter roller end;
- the roller having a roller tangent line in the same plane as a rotational axis of the roller and on the roller surface;
- the impeller having an impeller tangent line in the same plane as a rotational axis of the impeller and on the impeller surface;
- a transfer wheel contacting the impeller tangent line and the roller tangent line;
- control means for translating the wheel along the tangent lines;
- a spindle;
- a spindle axis along which the wheel translates;
- spindle mounting means for mounting the spindle on the block, the spindle mounting means comprising
- a smooth round end closely and slidably fit in the block so that the mounting means can rotate and translate relative to the block, the smooth round end oriented obliquely to a surface of the block facing the roller and impeller;
- an outer portion defining an orifice accommodating the spindle;
- locking means for releasably locking the spindle mounting means in an fixed position relative to the block.
An infinitely variable transmission, comprising:
- a block;
- a roller rotatably mounted to the block, the roller having a frusto-conical roller surface, a smaller diameter roller end and a larger diameter roller end;
- an impeller rotatably mounted to the block alongside the roller, the impeller having a frustoconical impeller surface, a smaller diameter impeller end and a larger diameter impeller end, the smaller diameter impeller end being in opposed relation to the larger diameter roller end;
- the roller having a roller tangent line in the same plane as a rotational axis of the roller and on the roller surface;
- the impeller having an impeller tangent line in the same plane as a rotational axis of the impeller and on the impeller surface;
- a transfer wheel contacting the impeller tangent line and the roller tangent line;
- control means for translating the wheel along the tangent lines;
- a mount having a mount axis oblique to the block, the mount axis being perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the transfer wheel;
- a guide on the mount;
- means for journalling a spindle, the journalling means translatable with respect to the guide along the mount axis;
- means for biasing the journalling means downward along the mount axis.
An infinity variable transmission, comprising:
- a block having two extensions protruding therefrom;
- a first spinning member comprised of a roller rotatably mounted to the block, the roller having a frusto-conical roller surface, a smaller diameter roller end and a larger diameter roller end;
- a second spinning member comprised of an impeller rotatably mounted to the block, the impeller having a frusto-conical impeller surface, a smaller diameter impeller end, and a larger impeller end, the smaller diameter impeller end being in opposed relation the larger diameter roller end;
- a shaft mounted between the two extensions;
- a collar translatable on the shaft;
- a transfer wheel mounted on the collar;
- cables connected to the collar whereby pulling one of the cables translates the collar and wheel;
- wherein a selected spinning member has an engagement shoulder protruding radially from the frusto-conical surface, the transmission further comprising:
- a clutch plate axially aligned with the shoulder;
- means for moving the clutch plate into engagement with the shoulder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.