Continuously variable transmission
AssigneeDonald C. Miller
InventorDonald C. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A continuously variable transmission. The transmission includes a plurality of power adjusters, such as spherical balls, frictionally interposed between a driving and a driven member. The driving and the driven member are each rotatably disposed over a main shaft. The spherical balls are configured to rotate about a modifiable axis and thereby provide a continuously variable shifting capability by adjusting the ratio between the angular velocity of the driving member in relation to the driven member. The system includes automatic and manual shifting gearing for adjusting the speed of the transmission. The system also includes a support a support member which is rotatably disposed over the main shaft and frictionally engaged to each of the spherical balls.
Claims13
An automatic shifting transmission comprising:
- a rotatable driving member;
- a plurality of spherical power adjusters, each spherical power adjuster having a central bore;
- a plurality of spindles, one of the spindles inserted through one of the bores of the spherical power adjusters;
- a substantially cylindrical rotatable support member that is in frictional contact with each of the spherical power adjusters;
- at least one outwardly extendable weight operably connected to at least one of the spindles;
- and
- at least one flexible tension member operably connecting the at least one weight to at least one of the spindles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.