Infinitely variable traction drive employing alternate steerable rollers

An infinitely variable transmission or variable angular or linear actuator or both having an input member and an output member surfaces of bodies of rotation frictionally engaged with each other and capable of moving relative to each other at speeds determined by the desired transmitting ratio where either member can be represented by at least one steerable roller in junction with the opposite surface defined by at least one frictional point between said surfaces wherein:

• while rolling, said frictional point's trajectory resembles an open loop or closed loop helical path and wherein the rolling direction of the roller may either remain constant or alternate during one movement cycle over said path compared to the alignment of the said rolling direction of the roller with the direction of movement of said surface when these two directions are aligned.

A traction drive with input and output members wherein either one of them is represented by a body with surface and another one is represented by at least two steerable rollers being in contacting relation by their outer surfaces with said surface of the opposite member by at least two junctions capable of transferring power primarily through traction, where said rollers are supported by a carrier wherein the normals to said surface at said two junctions are intersect at one point, said carrier is rotatable and said rollers are steerable alternating their rolling direction depending on the desired ratio of transmission of movement from said input to said output members, their relative angles of movement against each other at said contact junctions and the deformations of said contact junctions under the traction load.

A variable transmission having input and output members comprised of rotating bodies in frictional and rolling contact one to another where at least one body is represented by a steerable roller and each contact junction is loaded by a clamping force controlled individually and which depends on the amount of traction force vector perpendicular to the rotational direction of each of said rollers and where said clamping force is controlled independently from said steering angle.

A variable transmission having input and output members comprised of rotating bodies in frictional and rolling contact one to another where at least one body is represented by a steerable roller and each contact junction is loaded by a clamping force which depends on the amount of traction force vector perpendicular to the rotational direction of each of said rollers and said frictional contact contains traction fluid.

A variable transmission having input and output members comprised of rotating bodies in frictional and rolling contact one to another where at least one body is represented by a steerable roller and each contact junction is loaded by a clamping force which depends on the amount of traction force vector perpendicular to the rotational direction of each of said rollers where at least one of the said members' surfaces is comprised of Chromium.

A variable transmission having input and output members comprised of rotating bodies in frictional and rolling contact one to another where at least one body is represented by a steerable roller and each contact junction is loaded by a clamping force which depends on the amount of traction force vector perpendicular to the rotational direction of each of said rollers said transmission further comprising sensory means, a processor and actuating means for computing and execution of one or both of the clamping force and said roller's steering.

A variable ratio mechanical transmitting means having first member with rotating body orbiting a path and second body with surface in frictional and clamping rotatable contact with said first member, steering system controlling rolling direction of said first rotating body during its movement around said path wherein said first rotating body is carrying a lateral load substantially perpendicular to its rotational plane and where the clamping force between said first and second members is substantially proportional to said lateral force.