Infinitely variable traction roller transmission
First Claim
1. In combination with an infinitely variable traction roller transmission 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; and
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 elements;
a support structure for each of said rollers, each of said support structures including a pivot shaft having a pivot axis normal to a plane which includes the axis of the input and output shafts, restraining means interconnecting said pivot shafts and limiting independent pivoting of said pivot shafts, and resilient means associated with said restraining means for resiliently forcing said pivot shafts into the proper angular positions relative to each other.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 tension sheets extend between opposite rollers to balance forces exerted on the rollers. Pivotal roller supports are interconnected by correlating means which point limited independent pivotal movement of the roller supports while resiliently forcing the supports into the same angular positions. Also means are provided for controlling the transmission ratio such that the output torque assumes a desired value.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. In combination with an infinitely variable traction roller transmission 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; and
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 elements;
a support structure for each of said rollers, each of said support structures including a pivot shaft having a pivot axis normal to a plane which includes the axis of the input and output shafts, restraining means interconnecting said pivot shafts and limiting independent pivoting of said pivot shafts, and resilient means associated with said restraining means for resiliently forcing said pivot shafts into the proper angular positions relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- coaxial input and output shafts oppositely disposed toric elements, one being supported by each of said shafts for rotation therewith;
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5. In combination with an infinitely variable traction roller transmission 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 the toric elements;
a support structure for each of said rollers, each of said support structures including an axially movably supported pivot shaft having a pivot axis normal to a plane which includes the axis of the input and output shafts; and
a hydraulically operable piston disposed at least at one end of each pivot shaft and capable of axially moving the pivot shaft in opposition to an axial force provided at the opposite end of the pivot shaft so as to cause precessing of said traction rollers in order to change the transmission ratio, an axial cam structure provided at said one end of the pivot shaft on which cam structure said piston acts so as to provide a definite axial piston for any transmission ratio setting. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
- coaxial input and output shafts oppositely disposed toric elements, one being supported by each of said shafts for rotation therewith;
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9. In combination with an infinitely variable traction roller transmission 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 the toric elements;
a support structure for each of said rollers, each of said support structures including an axially movably supported pivot shaft having a pivot axis normal to a plane which includes the axis of the input and output shafts; and
a hydraulically operable piston disposed at least at one end of each pivot shaft and capable of axially moving the pivot shaft in opposition to an axial force provided at the opposite end of the pivot shaft;
pressure control means for applying pressurized fluid to said piston, the pressure of fluid acting on said piston being dependent on the torque transmitted through said traction rollers; and
pressure limiting means disposed in communication with said pressure control means for limiting the maximum pressure of the pressurized fluid acting on said piston. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
- coaxial input and output shafts;
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12. In combination with an infinitely variable traction roller transmission comprising in a support frame 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 the toric elements; and
a support structure for each of said rollers, each of said support structures including a pivot shaft having a pivot axis normal to a plane which includes the axis of the input and output shafts, a bearing structure for pivotally supporting the pivot shafts;
U-shaped tension sheets having a bight portion extending between the toric elements and interconnecting said bearing structures to balance the forces exerted on the opposed rollers and their end portions mounted to said frame, said tension sheets being flexible so as to permit axial movement of said pivot shafts, and means for axially moving said pivot shafts out of their normal positions so as to cause precessing of said traction rollers resulting in a change of the transmission ratio. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
- 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;
Specification