TORIC TRANSMISSION WITH HYDRAULIC CONTROLS AND ROLLER DAMPING MEANS

• US 3,810,398 A
• Filed: 11/16/1972
• Issued: 05/14/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tracor Aerospace, Inc. (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Kraus
• Inventors: Kraus, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burke, Allan Russell
• Application Number:
  US05/306,909
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 74/200
• US Class Current: 476/10
• 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 61/664 Friction gearings

Abstract

A rotary motion transmitting device having oppositely disposed toric discs mounted on its input and output shafts. Motion transmitting rollers are frictionally engaged between the toric discs for transmitting motion from one toric element to the other and supported by tension sheets extending between opposite rollers to balance forces exerted on the rollers. Independent hydraulic precess cams control the position of each roller.

Claims

1. In a rotary motion transmitting device comprising:

a housing;

coaxial input and output shafts rotatably supported in said housing;

oppositely disposed toric elements, one being supported by each of said shafts for rotation therewith;

at least two motion transmitting rollers disposed between said toric elements in radial symmetry with respect to the axis of the input and output shafts;

a support structure for each of said rollers; and

means for forcing said toric elements toward each other to cause frictional engagement of the motion transmitting rollers with the opposed surfaces of said toric elements;

the combination therewith of tension means disposed between the toric elements and anchored to the housing, said tension means having radially outer ends spaced from said housing and connected to the roller support structures to balance the forces exerted on the rollers and to prevent transmission of vibrations from the rollers to the housing.

2. A rotary motion transmitting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said tension means are tension sheets, each comprising at least two leaves disposed side by side.

3. A rotary motion transmitting device as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said tension sheets consists of alternate layers of steel leaves and plastic sheets thereby forming a vibration dampening laminate sheet.

4. A rotary motion transmitting device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said roller support structures comprises a pivot shaft having an axis normal to a plane through the axis of the input and output shafts, and pivoting means are provided for causing pivoting of said pivot shaft for changing the ratio of motion transmission between said toric elements.

5. A rotary motion transmitting device as recited in claim 4, wherein said pivoting means includes means for moving said pivot shaft axially out of its normal position.

6. A rotary motion transmitting device as recited in claim 5, wherein a rotary piston is mounted on the pivot shaft for rotation therewith and disposed in a rotary piston housing supported by a tension sheet.

7. A rotary motion transmitting device as recited in claim 4, wherein said pivoting means includes a hydraulically operable axial piston mounted on the pivot shaft and disposed in a cylinder supported by said housing with cylinder chambers disposed at opposite sides of said piston, and a hydraulically operable rotary piston is mounted on the pivot shaft and disposed in a housing supported by a tension sheet, each of said cylinder chambers being in communication with a predetermined one of the chambers at opposite sides of said rotary piston, and means are provided for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to said cylinder chambers.

8. A rotary motion transmitting device as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for supplying pressurized fluid to the cylinder chambers includes a servo valve, means for actuating said servo valve to cause pivotal movement of said pivot shaft and means associated with said pivot shaft for cancelling actuation of said servo valve upon completion of pivotal movement of the pivot shaft.

9. A rotary motion transmitting device as recited in claim 8, wherein a pivot arm is mounted on said pivot shaft and a valve lever is linked to said pivot arm and to said servo valve for operation thereof, said means for actuating said servo valve being a spring biased piston connected to said valve lever and adapted to be moved against the spring force by a fluid pressure signal.

10. In a rotary motion transmitting device comprising:

coaxial input and output shafts;

oppositely disposed toric elements, one being supported by each of said shafts for rotation therewith;

at least two motion transmitting rollers disPosed between said toric elements in radial symmetry with respect to the axis of the input and output shafts;

a support structure for each of said rollers including an axially movable pivot shaft;

means for forcing said toric elements toward each other to cause frictional engagement of the motion transmitting rollers with the opposed surfaces of the toric discs;

the combination therewith of;

a hydraulically operable axial piston connected to the pivot shaft and disposed in a cylinder with cylinder chambers at opposite sides of said piston;

a hydraulically operable rotary piston mounted for rotation with the pivot shaft and disposed in a rotary piston housing;

each of said cylinder chambers being in communication with a predetermined one of the chambers at opposite sides of said rotary piston; and

means for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to said cylinder chambers.

11. A rotary motion transmitting device as recited in claim 10, wherein said means for supplying pressurized fluid to the cylinder chambers includes a servo valve, means for actuating said servo valve to cause pivotal movement of said pivot shaft and means associated with said pivot shaft for cancelling actuation of said servo valve upon completion of pivotal movement of the pivot shaft.

12. A rotary motion transmitting device as recited in claim 11, wherein a pivot arm is mounted on said pivot shaft and a valve lever is linked to said pivot arm and to said servo valve for operation thereof, said means for actuating said servo valve being a spring biased piston connected to said valve lever and adapted to be moved against the spring force by a fluid pressure signal.

13. A rotary motion transmitting device comprising:

coaxial input and output shafts;

oppositely disposed toric elements, one being supported by each of said shafts for rotation therewith;

at least two motion transmitting rollers disposed between said toric elements in radial symmetry with respect to the axis of the input and output shafts;

means for forcing said toric elements toward each other to cause frictional engagement of the motion transmitting rollers with the opposed surfaces of said toric elements; and

a support structure for each of said rollers, each of said roller support structures including a pivot shaft having an axis normal to a plane through the axis of the input and output shafts, a bearing structure for pivotally supporting the pivot shaft and arranged to be movable in axial direction of, and together with, the pivot shaft;

tension means extending between the toric elements and interconnecting the bearing structures to balance the forces exerted on the rollers, said tension means being movable with the bearing structures, and means for moving said pivot shafts and bearing structures axially out of their normal positions to cause pivoting of said pivot shaft for a change of the transmission ratio of the rotary motion transmitting device.