Variable radius continuously variable transmission
First Claim
1. - A continuously variable transmission for a drive train, the continuously variable transmission comprising in combination:
- an elongate flexible element in the form of a circuit;
at least two rotating supports having separate rotational axes spaced from each other and each located inside said circuit with said rotating supports contacting said circuit;
at least one of said rotating supports having at least two circuit contacting structures adapted to contact said circuit and transmit force between said circuit and said rigid support to which said contacting structures are connected;
said circuit contacting structures adapted to move radially relative to said axis of said rotating support, such that a functional diameter of said rotating support is modified; and
said circuit contacting structures adapted to move laterally in a non-radial and non-parallel-to-axis direction relative to other portions of said rotating support.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved variable radius chain or belt transmission is provided for bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, industrial, household and consumer product uses. It delivers power and shifts under power through a continuously variable range of ratios. Alternative means are disclosed: for properly engaging the chain or belt regardless of drive radius; for handing off the workload of the chain or belt even while the drive'"'"'s effective radius is changing; for minimizing the force required to expand a drive under chain or belt; for supporting the chain or belt attachment points in radially variable manner; for circumferentially bridging the spans between radial attachment points; for coordinating the radial movement of the attachment points within one drive; for actuating up-shifting or down-shifting processes in forward or reverse; and for simultaneously varying the effective radii of input and output drives in coordinated fashion.
62 Citations
34 Claims
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1. - A continuously variable transmission for a drive train, the continuously variable transmission comprising in combination:
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an elongate flexible element in the form of a circuit;
at least two rotating supports having separate rotational axes spaced from each other and each located inside said circuit with said rotating supports contacting said circuit;
at least one of said rotating supports having at least two circuit contacting structures adapted to contact said circuit and transmit force between said circuit and said rigid support to which said contacting structures are connected;
said circuit contacting structures adapted to move radially relative to said axis of said rotating support, such that a functional diameter of said rotating support is modified; and
said circuit contacting structures adapted to move laterally in a non-radial and non-parallel-to-axis direction relative to other portions of said rotating support. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34)
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27. - A power transmission for a drive train, comprising in combination:
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an elongate flexible element in the form of a circuit;
at least two rotating supports including a driver coupled to a power input and a follower coupled to a power output, each said rotating support having a separate rotational axis located inside said circuit, each said rotating support contacting said circuit;
each said rotating support adapted to contact said circuit while exhibiting a plurality of different functional diameters, such that an effective gear ratio between the power input at the driver and the power output at the follower can be modified;
means for controlling a functional diameter of said driver;
means for controlling a functional diameter of said follower;
at least one of said functional diameter controlling means adapted to automatically adjust the functional diameter of a first one of said rotating supports when a second one of said rotating supports has its functional diameter modified, said automatic adjustment occurring in a manner needed to maintain substantially constant a length of a path for said circuit around said driver and said follower, such that tension on a substantially inelastic circuit remains constant as the functional diameters of the rotating supports undergoes change. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. - A continuously variable transmission for a drive train, the continuously variable transmission comprising in combination:
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an elongate flexible element in the form of a circuit;
at least two rotating supports having separate rotational axes spaced from each other and each located inside said circuit with said rotating supports contacting said circuit;
at least one of said rotating supports having at least two circuit contacting structures adapted to contact said circuit and transmit force between said circuit and said rigid support to which said contacting structures are connected;
said circuit contacting structures adapted to move radially relative to said axis of said rotating support by means of a worm gear provided between said rotational axis of at least one of said rotating supports and said circuit contacting structure of at least one of said rotating supports, said worm gear adapted to rotate about an axis extending radially away from said rotational axis of said rotating support, said circuit contacting structure coupled to threads configured to coact with threads on said worm gear such that said circuit contacting structure moves radially relative to said rotational axis of said rotating support when said worm gear rotates, such that a functional diameter of said rotating support is modified; and
wherein a spring is provided between said rotating support and said worm gear such that said radial movement of said circuit contacting structure relative to said rotational axis may be deferred to a time when said circuit contacting structure is at least relatively free of said circuit.
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Specification