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US 9,732,829 B1Granted
Variable ratio transmission with spherical teeth
OwnerNeil D. Koelkerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable gear system for various embodiments of continuously variable transmissions comprises a gear including a radius, an axis, and spherical teeth spaced from each other by a constant pitch. The spherical teeth of the gear engage a splined shaft comprising a radius that varies nonlinearly along a length of the splined shaft, an axis running the length of the splined shaft, and splines along the length of the splined shaft. Further, a portion of the length of the shaft across a seam of the splined shaft includes a non-constant pitch between the splines.
Claims17
A variable ratio transmission comprising:
- a variable gear system comprising:
- a gear including:
- a radius;
- an axis;
- and
- spherical teeth spaced from each other by a constant pitch;
- and
- a splined shaft including a radius that varies nonlinearly along a length of the splined shaft, wherein the splined shaft includes:
- an axis running the length of the splined shaft;
- and
- splines along the length of the splined shaft;
- wherein a portion of the length of the shaft includes a non-constant pitch between the splines;
- a mechanism that:
- supports the gear and the splined shaft;
- and
- ensures that the gear remains engaged with the splined shaft as the gear engages the splined shaft along the length of the splined shaft;
- and
- an input shaft coupled to the variable gear system;
- an output shaft coupled to the variable gear system, wherein the output shaft rotates at a speed based on a speed of the input shaft and a ratio of the radius of the gear to the radius of the splined shaft where the gear engages the splined shaft along the length of the shaft.
16 more elements
A variable gear system comprising:
- a gear including:
- a radius;
- an axis;
- and
- spherical teeth spaced from each other by a constant pitch;
- and
- a splined shaft including a radius that varies nonlinearly along a length of the splined shaft, wherein the splined shaft includes:
- an axis running the length of the splined shaft;
- and
- splines along the length of the splined shaft;
- wherein a portion of the length of the shaft includes a non-constant pitch between the splines;
- wherein the spherical teeth of the gear engage the splines of the splined shaft.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.