Transmission and constant speed accessory drive
First Claim
1. A method of operating a belt drive accessory system comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a torque with a first endless member from a driver member to a planetary ball transmission input;
coaxially aligning the planetary ball transmission input with a planetary ball transmission output;
transmitting a torque by a second endless member from the planetary ball transmission output to a driven accessory;
selecting a speed ratio of the planetary ball transmission according to a driver member rotational speed, thereby operating the driven accessory at a substantially constant speed at a point of substantially maximum efficiency over a drive member rotational speed range; and
frictionally locking the speed ratio of the planetary ball transmission when a drive member speed is constant.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating a belt drive accessory system comprising the steps of transmitting a torque with a first endless member from a driver member to a planetary ball transmission input, coaxially aligning the planetary ball transmission input with a planetary ball transmission output, transmitting a torque by a second endless member from the planetary ball transmission output to a driven accessory, selecting a speed ratio of the planetary ball transmission according to a driver member rotational speed, thereby operating the driven accessory at a substantially constant speed at a point of substantially maximum efficiency over a drive member rotational speed range, and frictionally locking the speed ratio of the planetary ball transmission when a drive member speed is constant.
86 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a belt drive accessory system comprising the steps of:
-
transmitting a torque with a first endless member from a driver member to a planetary ball transmission input;
coaxially aligning the planetary ball transmission input with a planetary ball transmission output;
transmitting a torque by a second endless member from the planetary ball transmission output to a driven accessory;
selecting a speed ratio of the planetary ball transmission according to a driver member rotational speed, thereby operating the driven accessory at a substantially constant speed at a point of substantially maximum efficiency over a drive member rotational speed range; and
frictionally locking the speed ratio of the planetary ball transmission when a drive member speed is constant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A transmission comprising:
-
input and output drive members;
radially inner and outer races;
planetary members in rolling contact with said radially inner and outer races;
said inner race and said outer race each comprising two axially spaced parts connected for rotation together and relatively axially moveable;
means for selectively varying the axial separation of said two axially spaced parts of one of said races and thus the radial position of the planetary members in rolling contact therewith comprising an adjustment member and a helical interengagement member interconnecting said adjustment member such that relative turning motion of said adjustment member results in relative axial displacement of the adjustment member;
a self locking drive comprising a drive motor and a worm gear engaged with the adjustment member and a thrust washer having a frictional coefficient engaged with the worm gear, the self locking drive preventing relative turning motion of the adjustment member when the drive motor is not energized; and
torque sensitive means sensitive to the torque applied between two drive-transmitting members of the transmission comprising a biasing member and a second helical interengagement member acting to react the forces exerted by the transmission of drive forces between the radially inner race and the planetary members, said torque sensitive means acting both to determine the compensating variation in the separation of the parts of the other race and thus the transmission ratio of the device and to vary the forces exchanged between the planetary members and the races normal to the interface between them. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
Specification