Automatic transmission with stepless, continuously variable speed and torque ratio
OwnerWilliam T. Bealeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automatically and smoothly continuously variable transmission, particularly for a bicycle, for transmitting input mechanical energy from a crank to the drive wheel. A ratchet, having an oscillatory, alternating motion member and a continuous rotary motion member, connected to the driven wheel, has a drive spring drivingly linked between the ratchet alternating member and the crank for driving the ratchet alternating member in one direction of motion. A return spring is linked to the ratchet alternating member for applying a return force upon the ratchet alternating member to return the alternating member in the opposite direction.
Claims17
A mechanical transmission for transmitting input mechanical energy from a source of input mechanical energy to an output driven member, the transmission having an automatic, continuously variable drive ratio and converting alternating motion to rotary motion, the transmission comprising:
- (a) an input driving member which is drivable in alternating motion by the source of input mechanical energy;
- (b) a ratchet including an alternating motion member and a continuous motion, rotary, output member forming said output driven member;
- (c) a drive spring drivingly linked between the ratchet alternating member and the input driving member for transmitting a force applied to the input driving member to the ratchet alternating member in one direction, wherein the input driving member is drivingly linked to the ratchet alternating member by the drive spring linked to a flexible drive linkage;
- and
- (d) a return spring drivingly linked to the ratchet alternating member for applying a return force upon the ratchet alternating member opposite to the force applied by the drive spring.
A mechanical transmission for transmitting input mechanical energy from a source of input mechanical energy to an output driven member, the transmission having an automatic, continuously variable drive ratio and converting alternating motion to rotary motion, the transmission comprising:
- (a) an input driving member which is drivable in alternating motion by the source of input mechanical energy;
- (b) a ratchet including an alternating motion member and a continuous motion, rotary, output member forming said output driven member;
- (c) a drive spring drivingly linked between the ratchet alternating member and the input driving member for transmitting a force applied to the input driving member to the ratchet alternating member in one direction, wherein the drive spring has a nonlinear force coefficient which is an increasing function of drive spring displacement so that force and stored energy per unit of displacement increase with displacement;
- and
- (d) a return spring drivingly linked to the ratchet alternating member for applying a return force upon the ratchet alternating member opposite to the force applied by the drive spring.
A mechanical transmission for transmitting input mechanical energy from a source of input mechanical energy to an output driven member, the transmission having am automatic, continuously variable drive ratio and converting alternating motion to rotary motion, the transmission comprising:
- (a) an input driving member which is drivable in alternating motion by the source of input mechanical energy;
- (b) a ratchet including an alternating motion member and a continuous motion, rotary, output member forming said output driven member;
- (c) a drive spring drivingly linked between the ratchet alternating member and the input driving member for transmitting a force applied to the input driving member to the ratchet alternating member in one direction wherein the drive spring is a cantilever spring which, in the most relaxed position of the return spring, extends circumferentially at least partially around and into connection to the ratchet alternating member;
- and
- (d) a return spring drivingly linked to the ratchet alternating member for applying a return force upon the ratchet alternating member opposite to the force applied by the drive spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.