Continuously variable transmission
First Claim
1. A continuously variable transmission comprising:
- an input drive means including an input shaft having a sun gear rotatable therewith,an output speed control assembly operatively connected to said input drive means,a power output means including a plurality of planet gears spaced about and meshing with said sun gear, said power output means being operatively connected to said speed control assembly,said output speed control assembly including an eccentric means movable in continuous increments from a first position of concentricity between said power input and power output means wherein the ratio of output to input speed is one to one to a plurality of selectable positions of eccentricity wherein the ratio of output to input speed is progressively greater than one to one as said selected positions of eccentricity are progressively increased,each said planet gear being mounted on a planet gear shaft through an overrolling clutch assembly which permits each said planet gear to freely rotate about its respective shaft in one direction and precludes rotation about shaft in the opposite direction, andmeans for maintaining the angular velocity of each planet gear relatively constant throughout its arc of rotation about said eccentric means when said planet gear is in a drive mode to preclude imparting a pulsed drive.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission includes a power input driving a sun gear which in turn drives a plurality of planetary gears. Within each planetary gear is mounted an over-rolling clutch. The planet gear is free to rotate about its raceway in one direction and is locked from rotation in the opposite direction. The shaft mountings for each planetary gear are suitably journalled in a carrier ring rotatably mounted within the housing. An internal gear, integrally mounted within the output housing, meshes with the planetary gears and is driven by them. An eccentric system, comprised of two nested eccentrics within the housing and anchored to an axle, controls the degree of oscillation imparted to the planetary gear raceway shafts. The eccentric system is continuously positionable so as to increase the rotation of the input sun gear from a one-to-one ratio up to the maximum designed output. As the eccentricity is increased, the planetary gear system superimposes a pulse drive on the sun gear that exponentially multiplies the drive rotation rate. Thus, the output housing is driven at a greater rate of rotation than the planetary carrier. When the eccentrics are at the zero eccentricity position, the transmission operates as a direct drive with no internal gear motion.
354 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A continuously variable transmission comprising:
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an input drive means including an input shaft having a sun gear rotatable therewith, an output speed control assembly operatively connected to said input drive means, a power output means including a plurality of planet gears spaced about and meshing with said sun gear, said power output means being operatively connected to said speed control assembly, said output speed control assembly including an eccentric means movable in continuous increments from a first position of concentricity between said power input and power output means wherein the ratio of output to input speed is one to one to a plurality of selectable positions of eccentricity wherein the ratio of output to input speed is progressively greater than one to one as said selected positions of eccentricity are progressively increased, each said planet gear being mounted on a planet gear shaft through an overrolling clutch assembly which permits each said planet gear to freely rotate about its respective shaft in one direction and precludes rotation about shaft in the opposite direction, and means for maintaining the angular velocity of each planet gear relatively constant throughout its arc of rotation about said eccentric means when said planet gear is in a drive mode to preclude imparting a pulsed drive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification