Transmission device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transmitting power from an input shaft to an output shaft, wherein the input shaft defines a first axis and the output shaft defines a second axis, the apparatus comprising:
- a first member including a contacting surface which extends along at least a portion of a circle defining a central axis substantially parallel to the first axis, the first member being coupled to the input shaft such that, upon rotation of the input shaft about the first axis, the first member moves so that the central axis orbits the first axis, and wherein a distance between the central axis and the first axis is variable; and
a plurality of second members coupled to the output shaft and extending away from the second axis, each of the second members extending within the circle such that, when the first member moves so that the central axis orbits the first axis, contact between the contacting surface and the second members causes rotation of the output shaft about the second axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Benesch transmission transmits power from an input shaft to an output shaft, wherein the input shaft defines a first axis and the output shaft defines a second axis, includes a first member including a contacting surface which extends along at least a portion of a circle. The first member is coupled to the input shaft such that, upon rotation of the input shaft about the first axis, the first member moves so that a central axis of the circle orbits the first axis, and wherein a distance between the central axis and the first axis is variable. A plurality of second members are coupled to the output shaft and extend away from the second axis. Each of the second members extends within the circle such that, upon motion of the first member relative to the first axis, contact between the contacting surface and the second members causes rotation of the output shaft about the second axis.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting power from an input shaft to an output shaft, wherein the input shaft defines a first axis and the output shaft defines a second axis, the apparatus comprising:
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a first member including a contacting surface which extends along at least a portion of a circle defining a central axis substantially parallel to the first axis, the first member being coupled to the input shaft such that, upon rotation of the input shaft about the first axis, the first member moves so that the central axis orbits the first axis, and wherein a distance between the central axis and the first axis is variable; and a plurality of second members coupled to the output shaft and extending away from the second axis, each of the second members extending within the circle such that, when the first member moves so that the central axis orbits the first axis, contact between the contacting surface and the second members causes rotation of the output shaft about the second axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for transmitting power from an input shaft to an output shaft, wherein the input shaft defines an input axis and the output shaft defines an output axis, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing; a first cylindrical member defining a first central axis and being coupled to the input shaft such that the distance between the first central axis and the input axis is variable; a second cylindrical member defining a second central axis and being slidably received within the first cylindrical member, the second cylindrical member being slidably coupled to the housing so that it may move such that the second central axis orbits the input axis, and wherein the second cylindrical member is coupled to the housing so that it is non-rotatable about the second central axis; a plurality of contacting members coupled to the output shaft and extending away from the output axis, wherein the distance between each contacting member and the adjacent contacting members is variable between a predetermined minimum distance and a predetermined maximum distance, the contacting members being disposed within the second cylindrical member such that, upon rotation of the input shaft about the input axis, the first and second cylindrical members move such that the first and second central axes orbit the input axis wherein contact between the orbiting second cylindrical member and the contacting members rotates the output shaft about the output axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for transmitting power from a first shaft to a second shaft, wherein the first shaft defines a first axis and the second shaft defines a second axis, the apparatus comprising:
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means for gradually varying the rotational speed of the second shaft about the second axis relative to the rotational speed of the first shaft about the first axis; and means for preventing the rotation of the second shaft about the second axis in a first direction when the transmission is in a neutral position. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. An apparatus for transmitting power from an input shaft to an output shaft, wherein the input shaft defines a first axis and the output shaft defines a second axis, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of first members each projecting outward from a central substantially circular unit defining a central axis substantially parallel to the first axis, the substantially circular unit being coupled to the input shaft such that, upon rotation of the input shaft about the first axis, the substantially circular unit moves so that the central axis orbits the first axis, and wherein a distance between the central axis and the first axis is variable, the substantially circular unit being coupled to the output shaft such that, upon rotation of the substantially circular unit about the central axis, the output shaft rotates about the second axis; and a second member including a contacting surface which extends along at least a portion of a circle, wherein, in an operative position, the first members extend away from the central axis toward the contacting surface of the second member such that, upon motion of the substantially circular unit relative to the first axis, contact between the contacting surface and the first members causes rotation of the substantially circular unit about the central axis and, consequently, causes rotation of the output shaft about the second axis.
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Specification