TRANSMISSION AND VARIABLE RADIALLY EXPANDING SPRING CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
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Abstract
A transmission generally includes a shaft member having a continuous cylindrical surface portion longitudinally disposed next to a cylindrical outer surface portion interrupted by longitudinal grooves. A first gear assembly has a first clutch spring that holds a first set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a first output gear. A second gear assembly has a second clutch spring that holds a second set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a second output gear. The first gear assembly and the second gear assembly are configured to move longitudinally along the shaft member to a position where at least one of the first gear assembly and the second gear assembly is engaged for rotation with the shaft member when a value of torque at the shaft member is below a torque threshold value.
76 Citations
43 Claims
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1. -24. (canceled)
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25. A transmission comprising:
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a shaft member having a continuous cylindrical surface portion longitudinally disposed next to a cylindrical outer surface portion interrupted by longitudinal grooves; a first gear assembly having a first clutch spring that holds a first set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a first output gear; and a second gear assembly having a second clutch spring that holds a second set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a second output gear, wherein said first gear assembly and said second gear assembly are configured to move longitudinally along said shaft member to a position where at least one of said first gear assembly and said second gear assembly is engaged for rotation with said shaft member when a value of torque at said shaft member is below a torque threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A transmission comprising:
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a shaft member having a continuous cylindrical surface portion longitudinally disposed next to a cylindrical outer surface portion interrupted by longitudinal grooves; and a first gear assembly having a first clutch spring that holds a first set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a first output gear, wherein said first gear assembly is configured to move longitudinally along said shaft member to a position where said first gear assembly is engaged for rotation with said shaft member when a value of torque at said shaft member is below a torque threshold value that is based on an angle between a surface of one of said longitudinal grooves and a surface of one of said lobes between which said first set of rolling members is disposed such that when a value of said angle decreases, said torque threshold value increases. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification