Infinitely variable speed amplifier
OwnerWilliam Robert Browninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An infinitely variable speed amplifier comprising a continuously variable unit (“variator”), two differential gear trains, and four shafts. Two of the shafts connect to opposite ends of the variator and to two connections of each differential gear train, respectively. The third connections of the first and second differential gear trains are connected to the input and output shafts respectively. Ratios and other parameters are chosen so that an acceptable range of transmission speeds can be achieved without the use of clutches while also minimizing the power crossing the variator. Furthermore, this invention includes a variant that is a compound infinitely variable speed amplifier that provides a wider performance range.
Claims9
A device comprising
- a first shaft (A), second shaft (B), and third shaft (C) each connected to a first differential gear train wherein each shaft rotates with speed ωA, ωB, and ωC, respectively, and wherein said first differential gear train is characterized by ratios p1 and q1 such that the relative rotational speeds of said three shafts are such that ωA=p1*ωB+q1*ωC;
- a means to control the rotational speed of said second shaft (ωB) relative to the rotational speed of said third shaft (ωC) to be a controlled ratio:
- ωB/ωC=n;
- said second shaft, said third shaft, and a fourth shaft (D) each connected to a second differential gear train, wherein said fourth shaft rotates with speed ωD and wherein said second differential gear train is characterized by ratios p2 and q2 such that the relative rotational speeds of shafts B, C, and D are such that p2*ωB+q2*ωC=ωD;
- wherein p1, q1, p2, and q2 can have each any non-zero, finite value;
- and wherein the ratio p1/q1 does not equal p2/q2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.