Hydraulic power transmission system
First Claim
1. A fluid continuously variable transmission system, comprising, a combination:
- a body forming a chamber,rotor means positioned in said chamber and rotatably movable relative to said body,a power input shaft connected to said rotor means,valve means connected to said body and movable between fully open and fully closed positions and a plurality of intermediate positions therebetween, said valve means comprising a rotary plug valve including a valve seat, said plug valve being rotatably connected to said body, and said valve seat being connected to said body,said body forming high pressure channel means between said chamber and said valve means and low pressure channel means between said valve means and said chamber,said chamber, said high pressure channel, and said low pressure channel being filled with a fluid capable of exerting fluid pressure against said valve means, said valve means being capable of passing said fluid to create a closed fluid circuit with said chamber and said high and low pressure channel means,said rotor means pressuring said fluid from said chamber to said valve means wherein when said valve means is in said fully closed position, said fluid pressure causes said valve means and said body to rotate with the rotational speed of said input shaft;
wherein when said valve means is in said fully open position, said fluid passes through said valve means to said chamber and said body is immobile relative to said input shaft and said rotor means; and
wherein when said valve means is in any of said intermediate positions, a first portion of said fluid applies pressure against said valve means and a second portion of said fluid passes through said valve means to said chamber, the relation between said first and second fluid portions being proportional to the degree of closing of said valve means,a power output shaft,means for connecting said body with said output shaft;
support means at said input shaft and said output shaft for rotatably supporting said body, andcontrol means connected to said body for adjusting said valve means between said open and closed positions in accordance with torque requirements of said output shaft, wherein the speed of said output shaft can be varied relative to the speed of said input shaft in a plurality of speed ratios between a ratio of one-to-one and a ratio of one and a preselected multiple of one, respectively.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid continuously variable transmission system that includes a body forming a cylindrical chamber. A rotor with blades positioned in the chamber is connected to a power input shaft. The rotor is rotatably movable relative to the body, which in turn is connected to a power output shaft. A valve, preferably a rotary plug valve, is connected to the rim portion of the body. The valve is movable between fully open and fully closed positions, and a plurality of intermediate positions therebetween. The body forms a fluid circuit between a high pressure channel from the chamber to the valve and a low pressure channel from the valve to the chamber. The rotor pressurizes fluid in the fluid circuit against the valve in proportion to the degree of closing of the valve which action rotates the body in all valve positions except the fully closed position. The speed of rotation of the output shaft relative to the input shaft is directly related to the degree of closing or opening of the valve and thus the speed of the output shaft is controllably variable over a plurality of valve positions.
-
Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A fluid continuously variable transmission system, comprising, a combination:
-
a body forming a chamber, rotor means positioned in said chamber and rotatably movable relative to said body, a power input shaft connected to said rotor means, valve means connected to said body and movable between fully open and fully closed positions and a plurality of intermediate positions therebetween, said valve means comprising a rotary plug valve including a valve seat, said plug valve being rotatably connected to said body, and said valve seat being connected to said body, said body forming high pressure channel means between said chamber and said valve means and low pressure channel means between said valve means and said chamber, said chamber, said high pressure channel, and said low pressure channel being filled with a fluid capable of exerting fluid pressure against said valve means, said valve means being capable of passing said fluid to create a closed fluid circuit with said chamber and said high and low pressure channel means, said rotor means pressuring said fluid from said chamber to said valve means wherein when said valve means is in said fully closed position, said fluid pressure causes said valve means and said body to rotate with the rotational speed of said input shaft;
wherein when said valve means is in said fully open position, said fluid passes through said valve means to said chamber and said body is immobile relative to said input shaft and said rotor means; and
wherein when said valve means is in any of said intermediate positions, a first portion of said fluid applies pressure against said valve means and a second portion of said fluid passes through said valve means to said chamber, the relation between said first and second fluid portions being proportional to the degree of closing of said valve means,a power output shaft, means for connecting said body with said output shaft; support means at said input shaft and said output shaft for rotatably supporting said body, and control means connected to said body for adjusting said valve means between said open and closed positions in accordance with torque requirements of said output shaft, wherein the speed of said output shaft can be varied relative to the speed of said input shaft in a plurality of speed ratios between a ratio of one-to-one and a ratio of one and a preselected multiple of one, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification