Simple stepless variables transmission

A stepless variable transmission connecting a rotating input shaft to a rotatable output shaft, comprising:

• a plurality of modules connecting said input shaft to said output shaft, each of said modules transmitting rotation of said input shaft to said output shaft only over a portion of a rotation of said output shaft;
• an input stage arm having a controllably movable input arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said input arm engagement member around an input stage center of motion drivably connected to said input shaft, said input stage center of motion and said input arm engagement member defining a controllably variable input stage arm radius, whereby rotation of said input shaft drives said input arm engagement member into circular motion around said input stage center of motion;
• an intermediate stage linkage mounted for rotation around an intermediate stage center of rotation, wherein said input arm engagement member is engaged with said intermediate stage linkage, whereby circular motion of said input arm engagement member drives said intermediate stage linkage into periodic rotational motion around said intermediate stage center of rotation;
• an output stage arm having a controllably movable output arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said output arm engagement member around an output stage center of motion, said output stage center of motion and said output arm engagement member defining a controllably variable output stage arm radius wherein said output stage arm is engaged in said intermediate stage linkage, whereby periodic rotational motion of said intermediate stage linkage drives said output arm engagement member into periodic circular motion around said output stage center of motion;
• an overrunning clutch mounted between said output arm engagement member and said output shaft, drivably connecting said output arm engagement member to said output shaft, whereby a portion of said periodic circular motion of said output arm engagement member drives said output shaft into rotational motion;
• and
• control means for simultaneously controllably varying said input stage arm radius and said output stage arm radius.

A process for steplessly variably transmitting rotation from a rotating input shaft to a rotatable output shaft, comprising:

• translating rotation of said input shaft into circular motion of an input stage arm having a controllably variable input arm radius around an input stage center of motion;
• converting said circular motion of said input stage arm into periodic rotational motion of an intermediate stage linkage mounted for rotation around an intermediate stage center of rotation;
• re-converting said periodic rotational motion of said intermediate stage linkage into periodic circular motion of an output stage arm having a controllably variable output stage arm radius around an output stage center of motion;
• extracting a useful portion of said periodic circular motion of said output stage arm;
• transmitting said extracted useful portion of said periodic circular motion into rotational motion of said output shaft;
• and
• simultaneously controllably varying said input stage arm radius and said output stage arm radius, whereby rotation of said input shaft is transmitted into stepless variable rotation of said output shaft.

A stepless variable transmission, comprising:

• translation means for translating rotation of said input shaft into circular motion of an input stage arm having a controllably variable input arm radius around an input stage center of motion;
• conversion means for converting said circular motion of said input stage arm into periodic rotational motion of an intermediate stage linkage mounted for rotation around an intermediate stage center of rotation;
• reconversion means for re-converting said periodic rotational motion of said intermediate stage linkage into periodic circular motion of an output stage arm having a controllably variable output stage arm radius around an output stage center of motion;
• extraction means for extracting a useful portion of said periodic circular motion of said output stage arm;
• transmitting means for transmitting said extracted useful portion of said periodic circular motion into rotational motion of said output shaft;
• and
• control means for simultaneously controllably varying said input stage arm radius and said output stage arm radius, whereby rotation of said input shaft is transmitted into stepless variable rotation of said output shaft.

A process for steplessly variably transmitting rotation from a rotating input shaft to a rotatable output shaft comprising:

• translating rotation of said input shaft into circular motion of an input stage arm around an input stage center of motion;
• converting said circular motion of said input stage arm into periodic rotational motion of an intermediate stage linkage mounted for rotation around an intermediate stage center of rotation, said input stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an input-intermediate center distance;
• re-converting said periodic rotational motion of said intermediate stage linkage into periodic circular motion of an output stage arm around an output stage center of motion, said intermediate stage center of rotation and said output stage center of motion defining an intermediate-output center distance;
• extracting a useful portion of said circular motion of said output stage arm;
• transmitting said extracted useful portion of said circular motion into rotational motion of said output shaft;
• and
• simultaneously controllably varying said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance, whereby rotation of said input shaft is transmitted into stepless variable rotation of said output shaft;
• wherein:
• said input stage arm and said input stage center of motion define an input arm radius;
• said output stage arm and said output stage center of motion define an output arm radius;
• said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance define an input-output center distance;
• and
• said input stage arm radius and said output stage arm radius are scaled so that stepless variable rotation of said output shaft can be effected by simultaneously changing said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance by equal and opposite amounts, whereby said input-output center distance remains constant.

A stepless variable transmission, comprising:

• translating means for translating rotation of an input shaft into circular motion of an input stage arm around an input stage center of motion;
• conversion means for converting said circular motion of said input stage arm into periodic rotational motion of an intermediate stage linkage mounted for rotation around an intermediate stage center of rotation displaced from said input stage center of motion by an input-intermediate center distance;
• reconversion means for re-converting said periodic rotational motion of said intermediate stage linkage into periodic circular motion of an output stage arm around an output stage center of motion displaced from said intermediate stage center of rotation by an intermediate-output center distance;
• extraction means for extracting a useful portion of said circular motion of said output stage arm;
• transmitting means for transmitting said extracted useful portion of said circular motion into rotational motion of said output shaft;
• and
• control means for simultaneously controllably varying said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance, whereby rotation of said input shaft is transmitted into stepless variable rotation of said output shaft;
• wherein:
• said input stage arm and said input stage center of motion define an input arm radius;
• said output stage arm and said output stage center of motion define an output arm radius;
• said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance define an input-output center distance;
• and
• said input arm radius and said output arm radius are scaled so that stepless variable rotation of said output shaft can be effected by simultaneously changing said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance by equal and opposite amounts, whereby said input-output center distance remains constant.

A stepless variable transmission connecting a rotating input shaft to a rotatable output shaft, comprising:

• an input stage arm having an input arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said input arm engagement member around an input stage center of motion drivably connected to said input shaft, whereby rotation of said input shaft drives said input arm engagement member into circular motion around said input stage center of motion;
• an intermediate stage linkage having an elongated slide mounted for rotation of said slide around an intermediate stage center of rotation, said input stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an input-intermediate center distance, wherein said input arm engagement member is engaged in said slide, whereby circular motion of said input arm engagement member drives said slide into periodic rotational motion around said intermediate stage center of rotation;
• an output stage arm having an output arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said output arm engagement member around an output stage center of motion, said output stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an intermediate-output center distance, wherein said output arm engagement member is engaged in said slide, whereby said periodic rotational motion of said slide drives said output arm engagement member into periodic circular motion around said output stage center of motion;
• an overrunning clutch mounted between said output arm engagement member and said output shaft, drivably connecting said output arm engagement member to said output shaft, whereby a portion of said periodic circular motion of said output arm engagement member drives said output shaft into rotational motion;
• and
• control means for simultaneously controllably varying said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance;
• wherein:
• said input stage center of motion and said input arm engagement member define an input arm radius;
• said output stage center of motion and said output arm engagement member define an output arm radius;
• said rotational motion of said output shaft defines an output speed;
• said rotational motion of said input shaft defines an input speed;
• said input speed and said output speed define a transmission ratio;
• said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance define an input-output center distance;
• and
• said input arm radius and said output arm radius are scaled so that said transmission ratio can be controllably varied by simultaneously changing said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance by equal and opposite amounts, whereby said input-output center distance remains constant.

A stepless variable transmission connecting a rotating input shaft to a rotatable output shaft, comprising:

• a plurality of modules connecting said input shaft to said output shaft, each of said modules transmitting rotation of said input shaft to said output shaft only over a portion of a rotation of said output shaft;
• wherein each of said modules comprises:
• an input stage arm having an input arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said input arm engagement member around an input stage center of motion drivably connected to said input shaft, whereby rotation of said input shaft drives said input arm engagement member into circular motion around said input stage center of motion;
• an intermediate stage linkage mounted for rotation around an intermediate stage center of rotation, said input stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an input-intermediate center distance, wherein said input arm engagement member is engaged with said intermediate stage linkage, whereby circular motion of said input arm engagement member drives said intermediate stage linkage into periodic rotational motion around said intermediate stage center of rotation;
• an output stage arm having an output arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said output arm engagement member around an output stage center of motion, said intermediate stage center of rotation and said output stage center of motion defining an intermediate-output center distance, wherein said output arm engagement member is engaged with said intermediate stage linkage, whereby said periodic rotational motion of said intermediate stage linkage drives said output arm engagement member into periodic circular motion around said output stage center of motion;
• an overrunning clutch mounted between said output arm engagement member and said output shaft, drivably connecting said output arm engagement member to said output shaft, whereby a portion of said periodic circular motion of said output arm engagement member drives said output shaft into rotational motion;
• and
• control means for simultaneously controllably varying said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance;
• wherein:
• said input stage center of motion and said input arm engagement member define an input arm radius;
• said output stage center of motion and said output arm engagement member define an output arm radius;
• said rotational motion of said output shaft defines an output speed;
• said rotational motion of said input shaft defines an input speed;
• said input speed and said output speed define a transmission ratio;
• said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance define an input-output center distance;
• and
• said input arm radius and said output arm radius are scaled so that said transmission ratio can be controllably varied by simultaneously changing said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance by equal and opposite amounts, whereby said input-output center distance remains constant.

A stepless variable transmission connecting a rotating input shaft to a rotatable output shaft, comprising:

• a plurality of modules connecting said input shaft to said output shaft, each of said modules transmitting rotation of said input shaft to said output shaft only over a portion of a rotation of said output shaft;
• wherein each of said modules comprises:
• an input stage arm having an input arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said input arm engagement member around an input stage center of motion drivably connected to said input shaft, whereby rotation of said input shaft drives said input arm engagement member into circular motion around said input stage center of motion;
• an intermediate stage linkage mounted for rotation around an intermediate stage center of rotation, said input stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an input-intermediate center distance, wherein said input arm engagement member is engaged with said intermediate stage linkage, whereby circular motion of said input arm engagement member drives said intermediate stage linkage into periodic rotational motion around said intermediate stage center of rotation;
• an output stage arm having an output arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said output arm engagement member around an output stage center of motion, said intermediate stage center of rotation and said output stage center of motion defining an intermediate-output center distance, wherein said output arm engagement member is engaged with said intermediate stage linkage, whereby said periodic rotational motion of said intermediate stage linkage drives said output arm engagement member into periodic circular motion around said output stage center of motion;
• an overrunning clutch mounted between said output arm engagement member and said output shaft, drivably connecting said output arm engagement member to said output shaft, whereby a portion of said periodic circular motion of said output arm engagement member drives said output shaft into rotational motion;
• and
• control means for simultaneously controllably varying said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance;
• wherein said control means comprises:
• a first cam operatively connected to said intermediate stage linkage to controllably vary said input-intermediate center distance;
• and
• a second cam operatively connected to said output stage arm to controllably said intermediate-output center distance.

A stepless variable transmission connecting a rotating input shaft to a rotatable output shaft, comprising:

• an input stage arm having an input arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said input arm engagement member around an input stage center of motion drivably connected to said input shaft, whereby rotation of said input shaft drives said input arm engagement member into circular motion around said input stage center of motion;
• an intermediate stage linkage having an elongated slide mounted for rotation of said slide around an intermediate stage center of rotation, said input stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an input-intermediate center distance, wherein said input arm engagement member is engaged in said slide, whereby circular motion of said input arm engagement member drives said slide into periodic rotational motion around said intermediate stage center of rotation;
• an output stage arm having an output arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said output arm engagement member around an output stage center of motion, said output stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an intermediate-output center distance, wherein said output arm engagement member is engaged in said slide, whereby said periodic rotational motion of said slide drives said output arm engagement member into periodic circular motion around said output stage center of motion;
• an overrunning clutch mounted between said output arm engagement member and said output shaft, drivably connecting said output arm engagement member to said output shaft, whereby a portion of said periodic circular motion of said output arm engagement member drives said output shaft into rotational motion;
• and
• control means for simultaneously controllably varying said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance;
• wherein:
• said control means comprises:
• a first cam operatively connected to said intermediate stage linkage to controllably vary said input-intermediate center distance;
• and
• a second cam operatively connected to said output stage arm to controllably vary said intermediate-output center distance.

A stepless variable transmission connecting a rotating input shaft to a rotatable output shaft, comprising:

• an input stage arm having an input arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said input arm engagement member around an input stage center of motion drivably connected to said input shaft, whereby rotation of said input shaft drives said input arm engagement member into circular motion around said input stage center of motion;
• an intermediate stage linkage having an elongated slide mounted for rotation of said slide around an intermediate stage center of rotation, said input stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an input-intermediate center distance, wherein said input arm engagement member is engaged in said slide, whereby circular motion of said input arm engagement member drives said slide into periodic rotational motion around said intermediate stage center of rotation;
• an output stage arm having an output arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said output arm engagement member around an output stage center of motion, said output stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an intermediate-output center distance, wherein said output arm engagement member is engaged in said slide, whereby said periodic rotational motion of said slide drives said output arm engagement member into periodic circular motion around said output stage center of motion;
• an overrunning clutch mounted between said output arm engagement member and said output shaft, drivably connecting said output arm engagement member to said output shaft, whereby a portion of said periodic circular motion of said output arm engagement member drives said output shaft into rotational motion;
• and
• control means for simultaneously controllably varying said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance,
• wherein:
• said control means comprises:
• a first hydraulic actuator operatively connected to said intermediate stage linkage to controllably vary said input-intermediate center distance;
• and
• a second hydraulic actuator operatively connected to said intermediate stage linkage and said output stage arm to controllably vary said intermediate-output center distance.

A stepless variable transmission connecting a rotating input shaft to a rotatable output shaft, comprising:

• a plurality of modules connecting said input shaft to said output shaft, each of said modules transmitting rotation of said input shaft to said output shaft only over a portion of a rotation of said output shaft;
• wherein each of said modules comprises:
• an input stage arm having an input arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said input arm engagement member around an input stage center of motion drivably connected to said input shaft, whereby rotation of said input shaft drives said input arm engagement member into circular motion around said input stage center of motion;
• an intermediate stage linkage mounted for rotation around an intermediate stage center of rotation, said input stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an input-intermediate center distance, wherein said input arm engagement member is engaged with said intermediate stage linkage, whereby circular motion of said input arm engagement member drives said intermediate stage linkage into periodic rotational motion around said intermediate stage center of rotation;
• an output stage arm having an output arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said output arm engagement member around an output stage center of motion, said intermediate stage center of rotation and said output stage center of motion defining an intermediate-output center distance, wherein said output arm engagement member is engaged with said intermediate stage linkage, whereby said periodic rotational motion of said intermediate stage linkage drives said output arm engagement member into periodic circular motion around said output stage center of motion;
• an overrunning clutch mounted between said output arm engagement member and said output shaft, drivably connecting said output arm engagement member to said output shaft, whereby a portion of said periodic circular motion of said output arm engagement member drives said output shaft into rotational motion;
• and
• control means for simultaneously controllably varying said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance;
• wherein said control means comprises:
• a first hydraulic actuator operatively connected to said intermediate stage linkage to controllably vary said input-intermediate center distance;
• and
• a second hydraulic actuator operatively connected to said intermediate stage linkage and output stage arm to controllably vary said intermediate-output center distance.

A stepless variable transmission connecting a rotating input shaft to a rotatable output shaft, comprising:

• a plurality of modules connecting said input shaft to said output shaft, each of said modules transmitting rotation of said input shaft to said output shaft only over a portion of a rotation of said output shaft;
• wherein each of said modules comprises:
• an input stage arm having an input arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said input arm engagement member around an input stage center of motion drivably connected to said input shaft, whereby rotation of said input shaft drives said input arm engagement member into circular motion around said input stage center of motion;
• an intermediate stage linkage mounted for rotation around an intermediate stage center of rotation, said input stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an input-intermediate center distance, wherein said input arm engagement member is engaged with said intermediate stage linkage, whereby circular motion of said input arm engagement member drives said intermediate stage linkage into periodic rotational motion around said intermediate stage center of rotation;
• an output stage arm having an output arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said output arm engagement member around an output stage center of motion, said intermediate stage center of rotation and said output stage center of motion defining an intermediate-output center distance, wherein said output arm engagement member is engaged with said intermediate stage linkage, whereby said periodic rotational motion of said intermediate stage linkage drives said output arm engagement member into periodic circular motion around said output stage center of motion;
• an overrunning clutch mounted between said output arm engagement member and said output shaft, drivably connecting said output arm engagement member to said output shaft, whereby a portion of said periodic circular motion of said output arm engagement member drives said output shaft into rotational motion;
• and
• control means for simultaneously controllably varying said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance;
• wherein:
• said control means comprises:
• an elongated linkage having a first end, pivoted for rotation at said first end, operatively connected along a first portion of its length to said intermediate stage linkage to controllably vary said input-intermediate center distance and operatively connected along a second portion of its length to said output stage arm to controllably vary said intermediate-output center distance.

A stepless variable transmission connecting a rotating input shaft to a rotatable shaft, comprising:

• an input stage arm having an input arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said input arm engagement member around an input stage center of motion drivably connected to said input shaft, whereby rotation of said input shaft drives said input arm engagement member into circular motion around said input stage center of motion;
• an intermediate stage linkage having an elongated slide mounted for rotation of said slide around an intermediate stage center of rotation, said input stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an input-intermediate center distance, wherein said input arm engagement member is engaged in said slide, whereby circular motion of said input arm engagement member drives said slide into periodic rotational motion around said intermediate stage center of rotation;
• an output stage arm having an output arm engagement member mounted for circular motion of said output arm engagement member around an output stage center of motion, said output stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an intermediate-output center distance, wherein said output arm engagement member is engaged in said slide, whereby said periodic rotational motion of said slide drives said output arm engagement member into periodic circular motion around said output stage center of motion;
• an overrunning clutch mounted between said output arm engagement member and said output shaft, drivably connecting said output arm engagement member to said output shaft, whereby a portion of said periodic circular motion of said output arm engagement member drives said output shaft into rotational motion;
• and
• control means for simultaneously controllably varying said input-intermediate center distance and said intermediate-output center distance;
• wherein:
• said control means comprises:
• an elongated linkage having a first end, pivoted for rotation at said first end, operatively connected along a first portion of its length to said intermediate stage linkage to controllably vary said input-intermediate center distance and operatively connected along a second portion of its length to said output stage arm to controllably vary said intermediate-output center distance.

A stepless variable transmission connecting a rotating input shaft to a rotatable output shaft, comprising:

• a plurality of modules connecting said input shaft to said output shaft, each of said modules transmitting rotation of said input shaft to said output shaft only over a portion of a rotation of said output shaft;
• wherein each of said modules comprises:
• an input stage arm having an input arm engagement member adjacent to a first end mounted adjacent to a second end for circular motion of said input arm engagement member around an input stage center of motion drivably connected to said input shaft, whereby rotation of said input shaft drives said input arm engagement member into circular motion around said input stage center of motion;
• an intermediate stage linkage having an elongated slide mounted for rotation of said slide around an intermediate stage center of rotation, said input stage center of motion and said intermediate stage center of rotation defining an input-intermediate center distance, wherein said input arm engagement member is engaged in said slide whereby circular motion of said input arm engagement member drives said slide into periodic rotational motion around said intermediate stage center of rotation;
• an output stage arm having an output arm engagement member adjacent to a first end mounted adjacent to a second end for circular motion of said output arm engagement member around an output stage center of motion, said intermediate center of rotation and said output stage center of motion defining an intermediate-output center distance, wherein said output arm engagement member is engaged in said slide, whereby said periodic rotational motion of said slide drives said output arm engagement member into periodic circular motion around said output stage center of motion;
• a differential mounted between said output arm engagement member and said output shaft, drivably connecting said output arm engagement member to said output shaft, whereby a portion of said periodic circular motion of said output arm engagement member drives said output shaft into rotational motion;
• and
• a screw having first and second portions having first and second pitches respectively,
• said first portion being operatively connected to said intermediate stage linkage to controllably vary said input-intermediate center distance;
• and
• said second portion being operatively connected to said output stage arm to controllably vary said intermediate-output center distance.