AUTOMOTIVE TRANSMISSION

• US 3,727,474 A
• Filed: 10/04/1971
• Issued: 04/17/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Fullerton
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Fullerton
• Inventors: Fullerton, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gerin, Leonard H.
• Application Number:
  US05/186,273
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 74/200,740
• US Class Current: 476/5
• 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 61/6646 controlling shifting exclusively as a function of speed

Abstract

An automotive transmission has a drive tube rotatably mounted on a frame and carrying a drive disc having a first half-toroidal friction surface and a free-running neutral disc having a friction surface continuing the first friction surface. A driven tube is also rotatably mounted on the frame and carries a driven disc having a second half-toroidal friction surface facing the first friction surface. Tiltably and rotatably mounted between the discs are transmission discs frictionally engageable with the friction surfaces. The transmission discs are tiltable to afford various speed ratios and a neutral position. The tilting device is either manual or centrifugal. The output is either direct or through a planetary reversing gear.

Claims

1. An automotive transmission comprising a frame, a drive tube, means for mounting said drive tube on said frame for rotation about an axis, a drive disc fixed on said drive tube, means defining on said drive disc a first half-toroidal friction surface concentric with said axis and open in a direction parallel to said axis, a driven tube, means for mounting said driven tube on said frame for rotation about said axis, a driven disc fixed on said driven tube, means defining on said driven disc a second half-toroidal friction surface concentric with said axis and complementary to said first friction surface, a Support, means for mounting said support on said frame and in a position axially disposed between said driven disc and said driving disc, a transmission disc positioned to extend between and to contact said friction surfaces, means including a ball and socket connection at the center of said transmission disc for mounting said transmission disc for rotation and tilting about said center relative to said support, a control rod slidably disposed in said drive tube, and means confined to a plane containing said axis and interconnecting said control rod and said transmission disc for translating sliding motion of said control rod in said drive tube into tilting motion of said transmission disc on said support.

2. An automotive transmission as in claim 1 including a first centrifugal cone secured to said drive tube concentric with said axis, a second centrifugal cone secured to said control rod concentric with said axis, means defining conical surfaces on said cones facing each other and spaced farther apart adjacent said axis than at the periphery of said cones, fly balls disposed between said cones in contact with said conical surfaces, and means urging said cones toward each other.

3. An automotive transmission as in claim 2 in which said means defining conical surfaces include radial, matching grooves.

4. An automotive transmission as in claim 1 in which said interconnecting means includes a ring fixed on said control rod, a ball having its center in said ring, a hemispherical socket adapted to receive said ball, and a spring for urging said socket and said ball together.

5. An automotive transmission as in claim 1 in which said means interconnecting said control rod and said transmission disc includes a ring axially movable with said control rod, means defining a socket in said disc disposed with the axis of said socket on the rotational axis of said disc, and a plunger mounted in said socket and engaging said ring.

6. An automotive transmission as in claim 5 including a spring in said socket urging said plunger toward said ring.

7. An automotive transmission as in claim 1 in which a housing encloses said discs and carries said support.

8. An automotive transmission as in claim 1 including means engaging said drive tube for positioning said discs at predetermined axial distances from each other.

9. An automotive transmission as in claim 1 including a plate mounted for free rotation on said drive tube, and means on said plate defining a friction surface continuing said first friction surface on said drive disc.

10. An automotive transmission as in claim 1 in which said power transmitting disc on said drive tube is a gear in a planetary gear train.

11. An automotive transmission including a drive shaft, a drive disc fast on said drive shaft, a driven shaft, a driven disc fast on said driven shaft, a transmission disc, means for mounting said transmission disc for concurrent frictional driving relationship with both said driving disc and said driven disc, a freely rotatable neutral disc, and means for moving said transmission disc out of frictional driving relationship with one of said driving disc and said driven disc and into frictional driving relationship with said neutral disc.

12. An automotive transmission as in claim 11 including means for mounting said neutral disc coaxially with one of said driving disc and said driven disc.

13. An automotive transmission as in claim 11 including means for mounting said neutral disc for free rotation on one of said drive shaft and said driven shaft, and means for maintaining said neutral disc in superficial alignment with the adjacent one of said driving disc and said driven disc.

14. An automotive transmission as in claim 11 in which said drive disc has a toroidal surface, said transmission disc has a rim in frictional engagement with said surface, and said neutral disc is concentric with said drive disc and has a toroidal friction surface disposed as a substantial continuation of the radially inner poRtion of said drive disc toroidal surface.