Apparatuses and methods for controlling a variable speed transmission

An apparatus for controlling a variable-speed transmission, comprising:

• (a) an actuator cam rotatable through a first phase and a subsequent second phase in response to operator control;
• (b) a cam follower movable by the actuator cam during rotation through the first phase between a disengaged state at which the transmission is decoupled from a torque input and an engaged state at which the transmission is coupled to the torque input;
• and
• (c) a speed adjustment device comprising a movable portion rotatable together with the actuator cam and movable by the actuator cam between a relatively lower speed state and a relatively higher speed state during rotation of the actuator cam through the second phase and not during rotation of the actuator cam through the first phase;
• wherein the movable portion is rotatable about an axis, the speed adjustment device comprises an inclined speed adjustment cam surface, the movable portion comprises an inclined movable portion surface movable along the inclined speed adjustment cam surface during rotation of the actuator cam through the second phase, the inclined movable portion surface is angled relative to the axis, and the inclined speed adjustment cam surface is generally complementarily angled relative to the inclined movable portion surface;
• and
• wherein the speed adjustment device comprises a flat speed adjustment cam surface adjoining an end of the inclined speed adjustment cam surface and oriented generally normally to the axis, and the movable portion comprises a flat movable portion surface oriented generally parallel to the flat speed adjustment cam surface and movable along the flat speed adjustment cam surface during rotation of the actuator cam through the first phase.

An apparatus for controlling a variable-speed transmission, the transmission comprising a coupler for alternately engaging and disengaging power between the transmission and a motor, and an adjustable torque transfer mechanism interconnecting the transmission and the motor for varying a speed of the transmission, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an actuator rotatable through a first phase and a subsequent second phase, and comprising an actuator cam surface and a variator, the actuator cam surface and the variator being rotatable together;
• (b) a cam follower in communication with the coupler and the actuator cam surface, wherein rotation of the actuator through the first phase causes movement of the cam follower, which causes movement of the coupler between a disengaged position and an engaged position;
• and
• (c) a speed adjustment cam, wherein the variator is movable along the speed adjustment cam for enabling adjustment of the torque transfer mechanism during rotation of the actuator through the second phase and not during rotation of the actuator through the first phase;
• wherein the variator is rotatable about an axis, the speed adjustment cam comprises an inclined speed adjustment cam surface, the variator comprises an inclined variator surface movable along the inclined speed adjustment cam surface during rotation of the actuator through the second phase, the inclined variator surface is angled relative to the axis, and the inclined speed adjustment cam surface is generally complementarily angled relative to the inclined variator surface;
• and
• wherein the speed adjustment cam comprises a flat speed adjustment cam surface adjoining an end of the inclined speed adjustment cam surface and oriented generally normally to the axis, and the variator comprises a flat variator surface oriented generally parallel to the flat speed adjustment cam surface and movable along the flat speed adjustment cam surface during rotation of the actuator through the first phase.

An apparatus for controlling a variable-speed transmission, the transmission comprising a coupler for alternately engaging and disengaging power between the transmission and a motor, and an adjustable torque transfer mechanism interconnecting the transmission and the motor for varying a speed of the transmission, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an actuator rotatable through a first phase and a subsequent second phase, and comprising an actuator cam surface and a variator, the actuator cam surface and the variator being rotatable together;
• (b) a cam follower in communication with the coupler and the actuator cam surface, wherein rotation of the actuator through the first phase causes movement of the cam follower, which causes movement of the coupler between a disengaged position and an engaged position;
• and
• (c) a speed adjustment cam, wherein the variator is movable along the speed adjustment cam for enabling adjustment of the torque transfer mechanism during rotation of the actuator through the second phase and not during rotation of the actuator through the first phase, wherein:
• (i) the speed adjustment cam comprises a speed adjustment cam surface;
• (ii) the variator comprises a variator surface movable along the speed adjustment cam surface and rotatable about an axis;
• (iii) the variator surface comprises an inclined variator surface section angled relative to the axis, and a flat variator surface section generally normal to the axis;
• (iv) the speed adjustment cam surface comprises an inclined speed adjustment cam surface section generally complementarily angled relative to the inclined variator surface section, and a flat speed adjustment cam surface section generally parallel to the flat variator surface section;
• (v) the flat variator surface section is movable along the flat speed adjustment cam surface section in response to rotation of the actuator through the first phase for rotating the variator without changing an axial position of the variator;
• and
• (f) the inclined variator surface section is movable along the inclined speed adjustment cam surface section in response to rotation of the actuator through the second phase for rotating the variator while changing the axial position of the variator.