Infinitely variable speed change gear utilizing a ball

• US 3,154,957 A
• Filed: 10/03/1962
• Issued: 11/03/1964
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1961
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Manabu Kashihara
• Original Assignee: Manabu Kashihara
• Inventors: MANABU KASHIHARA
• Application Number:
  US04/228,181
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• US Class Current: 476/38
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/28 with external friction surface

Claims

1. INFINITELY VARIABLE SPEED CHANGE GEAR COMPRISING A DRIVING SHAFT AND A DRIVEN SHAFT ARRANGED COAXIALLY;

A DISHSHAPED DRIVING WHEEL PROVIDED ON AN END OF THE DRIVING SHAFT;

A DISH-SHAPED DRIVEN WHEEL PROVIDED ON THAT END OF THE DRIVEN SHAFT WHICH CONFRONTS THE DRIVING WHEEL;

A SINGLE BALL ARRANGED BETWEEN THE DRIVING WHEEL AND THE DRIVEN WHEEL, THE BALL BEING ARRANGED IN CONTACT WITH THE DRIVING WHEEL AT A SINGLE POINT AND WITH THE DRIVEN WHEEL AT A SINGLE POINT RESPECTIVELY AND WITH ITS CENTER AT A DEFINITE POINT NEAR THE COMMON AXIS OF THE DRIVING SHAFT AND THE DRIVEN SHAFT;

A BEARING MEMBER, HAVING INNER AND OUTER RACES FOR MAINTAINING CONTACT BETWEEN THE BALL AND THE DRIVING AND DRIVEN WHEELS AND ALSO FOR ADDING TWO OTHER CONTACT POINTS FOR THE BALL, THE INNER RACE OF SAID BEARING BEING ADAPTED TO PROVIDE THE LATTER TWO CONTACT POINTS SO AS TO PROVIDE A SPINNING AXIS FOR THE BALL;

A SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING THE BEARING SO AS TO BE SWIVELABLE ABOUT THE CENTER OF THE BALL;

AND AN OPERATING MEANS FOR SWIVELING THE SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR CHANGING THE INCLINATION OF SAID SPINNING AXIS.