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Torque responsive automatic bicycle transmission with hold system

  • US 4,781,663 A
  • Filed: 04/27/1987
  • Issued: 11/01/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A variable speed ratio transmission system comprising:

  • a drive pulley having means to mount said drive pulley for rotation on a shaft and a driven pulley having means to mount said driven pulley for rotation on a second shaft;

    said pulleys each having annular drive surface means for receiving an endless flexible transmission belt passed over said pulleys and for transmitting torque between said drive pulley and said driven pulley through said belt;

    means for varying the diameter of said driven pulley annular drive surface means between an expanded position and a plurality of contracted positions including means for constantly biasing said drive pulley toward said expanded position and means for contracting said drive pulley to said plurality of contracted positions from said expanded positions against said biasing means in response to a torque exceeding a predetermined torque applied to said driven pulley and transmitted to said drive pulley through the belt;

    means for varying the diameter of said driven pulley annular drive surface means between a contracted position and a plurality of expanded positions and means for expanding said driven pulley to said plurality of expanded positions in response to a decrease in diameter of said drive pulley;

    said drive and said driven pulley annular drive surface means including a plurality of belt engaging segments having axially opposed surfaces;

    said drive pulley having plate means mounted on said shaft for free relative rotation with respect to said shaft adjacent each of said opposite surfaces of said belt engaging segments; and

    said drive pulley having means for holding said drive pulley annular drive surface in one of said contracted positions including means for applying an axial force to each of said belt engaging segments through said plate means.

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