Continuously variable drive mechanism
OwnerRobert Hornblower Meyerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive mechanism includes an input member rotatable about an input axis of rotation. The input member includes a partial spheroid-shaped input traction surface. The drive mechanism further includes an output member rotatable about an output axis of rotation. The output member includes a partial spheroid-shaped output traction surface. A ring member overlays the input and output members. The ring member is rotatable in a rotational plane and includes a ring traction surface that engages the input traction surface of the input member and the output traction surface of the output member to rotatably couple the input member to the output member.
Claims30
A drive mechanism comprising:
- an input member rotatable about an input axis of rotation and including a partial spheroid-shaped input traction surface;
- an output member rotatable about an output axis of rotation and including a partial spheroid-shaped output traction surface;
- and
- a ring member rotatable in a rotational plane, the ring member including a ring traction surface engaging the input traction surface of the input member and the output traction surface of the output member to rotatably couple the input member to the output member, wherein the ring member encircles the output member and the input member.
A drive mechanism comprising:
- an input member rotatable about an input axis of rotation and including a partial spheroid-shaped input traction surface;
- an output member rotatable about an output axis of rotation and including a partial spheroid-shaped output traction surface;
- and
- a ring member rotatable in a rotational plane, the ring member including a ring traction surface engaging the input traction surface of the input member and the output traction surface of the output member to rotatably couple the input member to the output member, wherein the input axis of rotation intersects the input traction surface of the input member at a first intersect and the output axis of rotation intersects the output traction surface of the output member at a second intersect, the first and second intersects arranged on a common side of the rotational plane of the ring member.
A method for selectively adjusting a traction force of drive mechanism, the method comprising:
- selectively rotating an input member about an input axis of rotation, the input member including a partial spheroidal-shaped input traction surface and operably connected to an output member rotatable about an output axis of rotation, the output member including a partial spheroidal-shaped output traction surface;
- rotating a ring member in a rotational plane in response to rotation of the input member about the input axis of rotation, the ring member including a ring traction surface engaging the input traction surface of the input member and the output traction surface of the output member to rotate the output member relative to the input member, wherein the ring member encircles the output member and the input member;
- and
- selectively adjusting a traction force between the ring traction surface and the input and output traction surfaces by applying a pivot bearing actuating force to a pivot bearing disposed between the input member and the output member and a ring member actuating force to the ring member, the pivot bearing rotatably supporting the input member relative to the output member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.