Variable speed-ratio toroidal transmission

• US 3,087,348 A
• Filed: 03/08/1961
• Issued: 04/30/1963
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1961
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Kraus
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Kraus
• Inventors: Kraus, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US04/094,188
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• US Class Current: 476/10
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 13/10 Means for influencing the pressure between the members
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 13/14 for automatically varying the pressure mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/38 with two members B having hollow toroid surfaces opposite to each other, the member or members A being adjustably mounted between the surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/6647 controlling shifting exclusively as a function of torque

Claims

1. A VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION COMPRISING CO-AXIAL INPUT AND OUTPUT MEMBERS HAVING FACING TORIC SURFACES;

A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY-SPACED ROLLERS DISPOSED BETWEEN AND IN DRIVING CONTACT WITH SAID SURFACES FOR TRANSMITTING TORQUE FROM THE INPUT MEMBER TO THE OUTPUT MEMBER;

SUPPORT MEANS FOR EACH ROLLER INCLUDING PIVOT MEANS PROVIDING FOR SPEED-RATIO-CHANGING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ROLLER ACROSS SAID TORIC SURFACES;

EACH ROLLER SUPPORT MEANS ALSO INCLUDING MEANS PROVIDING FOR MOVEMENT OF ITS ROLLER IN A SECOND MODE IN RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN THE TRACTION FORCES BETWEEN SAID ROLLER AND SAID TORIC SURFACES SUCH THAT IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT IN SAID SECOND MODE SAID SPEED-RATIO-CHANGING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE ROLLER IS INITIATED;

MEANS INCLUDING A SOURCE OF CONTROLLABLE FLUID PRESSURE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO EACH ROLLER TO SUBJECT EACH ROLLER TO A CONTROL FORCE OPPOSING SAID TRACTION FORCES SUCH THAT EACH ROLLER AUTOMATICALLY MOVES TO A SPEED-RATIO POSITION IN WHICH THE FORCES THEREON ARE IN BALANCE;

AT LEAST ONE OF SAID INPUT AND OUTPUT MEMBERS INCLUDING ROTATABLE CAM MEANS CONNECTED IN SERIES THEREWITH SO THAT THE TORQUE TRANSMITTED BY SAID ONE MEMBER IS EFFECTIVE THROUGH SAID CAM MEANS TO URGE THE TORIC SURFACES OF SAID MEMBERS AXIALLY AGAINST SAID ROLLERS;

AND MEANS PROVIDING A FORCE DERIVED FROM SAID CONTROLLABLE FLUID PRESSURE AND EFFECTIVE TO LOAD SAID TORIC SURFACES AND ROLLERS INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER INDEPENDENTLY OF THE TOROQUE TRANSMITTED BY SAID ONE MEMBER.