# US 9,518,640 B2 · Dry variable speed drive mechanism

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- Number: US 9,518,640 B2
- Document ID: US9518640B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/174,907
- Filed: 2014-02-07
- Published: 2015-08-13
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-07
- Assignees: Deere & Company
- Applicants: Deere & Company
- Inventors: Lourens M. Jacobs; Thomas M. McConohy; Allan N. Schott; Nicole M. Gassman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518640B2

## CPC

- F16H 9/08: engaging a conical drum (F16H9/12 takes precedence)
- F16H 55/56: of which the bearing parts are relatively axially adjustable
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A variable drive includes a rotatable drive shaft, a fixed sheave fixed axially relative to the drive shaft and mounted for rotation with the drive shaft, and a movable sheave mounted for axial movement relative to the drive shaft. A plurality of drive fingers project from one of the sheaves. A plurality of recesses are formed in the other sheave. Each drive finger is movably received by a corresponding one of the recesses. A bearing member is interposed between the drive fingers and the other sheave. The bearing member includes a plurality of bearing fingers. Each bearing finger is positioned between one of the drive fingers and a wall of a corresponding one of the recesses.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A variable speed drive comprising:
a rotatable drive shaft;
a fixed sheave fixed relative to the drive shaft and mounted for rotation with the drive shaft;
a movable sheave mounted for axial movement relative to the drive shaft;
a plurality of drive fingers projecting axially from one of either the fixed sheave or the movable sheave;
a bearing member comprising a plurality of axially extending bearing fingers, each bearing finger being adjacent a corresponding one of the drive fingers; and
a plurality of recesses in the other of either the fixed sheave or the movable sheave, each drive finger and corresponding bearing finger being movably received by a corresponding one of the recesses, and each bearing finger forming a bearing surface which slidably engages a surface of a corresponding one of the recesses.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The variable drive assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the bearing member comprises an annular web which surrounds the drive fingers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The variable drive assembly of claim 2, wherein:
the bearing fingers project from the web.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The variable drive assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the bearing fingers comprise a low friction material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The variable drive assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the bearing fingers are formed out of a Delrin plastic.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The variable drive assembly of claim 1, wherein:
each bearing finger includes a flat surface which engages a corresponding flat surface of the corresponding drive finger.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The variable drive assembly of claim 6, wherein:
each bearing finger includes a curved surface which engages a corresponding surface of the corresponding recess.

### Claim 8

A variable drive comprising:
a rotatable drive shaft;
a fixed sheave fixed axially relative to the drive shaft and mounted for rotation with the drive shaft;
a movable sheave mounted for axial movement relative to the drive shaft;
a plurality of drive fingers projecting from one of either the fixed sheave or the movable sheave;
a plurality of recesses in the other sheave, each drive finger being movably received by a corresponding one of the recesses; and
a bearing member which is interposed between the drive fingers and the other of either the fixed sheave or the movable sheave.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The variable drive assembly of claim 8, wherein:
the bearing member comprises a plurality of bearing fingers, each bearing finger being positioned between one of the drive fingers and a wall of a corresponding one of the recesses.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The variable drive assembly of claim 9, wherein:
the bearing fingers and the drive fingers project axially away from the fixed sheave.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The variable drive assembly of claim 9, wherein:
the bearing fingers slidably engage the movable sheave.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The variable drive assembly of claim 8, wherein:
each bearing finger includes a flat surface which engages a corresponding flat surface of the corresponding drive finger.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The variable drive assembly of claim 12, wherein:
each bearing finger includes a curved surface which engages a corresponding surface of the corresponding recess.

### Claim 14

A variable speed drive comprising:
a rotatable drive shaft;
a fixed sheave fixed relative to the drive shaft and mounted for rotation with the drive shaft, the fixed sheave having a plurality of spaced apart axially extending drive fingers;
a movable sheave mounted for axial movement relative to the drive shaft, the movable sheave having a plurality of spaced apart axially extending recesses formed therein; and
a bearing member comprising an annular web which surrounds the drive fingers and a plurality of spaced apart bearing fingers extending axially from the web, each bearing finger being formed out of a low friction material, each bearing finger being adjacent to a corresponding one of the drive fingers, and each drive finger and corresponding bearing finger being movably received by a corresponding one of the recesses, and each bearing finger forming a curved bearing surface which slidably engages a surface of a corresponding one of the recesses, and each bearing finger including a flat surface which engages a corresponding flat surface of the corresponding drive finger.