Continuously variable transmission system
First Claim
1. A continuously variable transmission system comprising:
- at least two rotary members,a common member mounted on the rotary members,a surface with which the rotary members cooperate, the rotary members being free to rotate about their own axes of rotation and having perimeter regions cooperating with the surface at respective regions of cooperation in such a manner that substantial slippage of each rotary member relative to the surface in a direction parallel to the axis o rotation of the rotary member is prevented,and steering means operative to steer each rotary member about a respective axis,the common member and the surface being mounted for first and second kinds of motion relative to one another, the first kind of motion being relative rotation of the common member and the surface about an axis which is fixed relative to the common member and around which the rotary members are spaced, and the second kind of motion being a different relative motion of the common member and the surface,the steering means being arranged to steer the rotary members to vary continuously the ratio of the amount of the first kind of relative motion of the common member and the surface to the amount of the second kind of relative movement of the common member and the surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission used for translating between rotary motions or between rotary and linear motions, for use in automotive, industrial and robotics applications, operating with the following principles: an upper section (1) is allowed to freely move in all directions parallel to the surface below, but is not allowed to rotate. A disc (2) in a lower section is constrained such that its centre is always directly below the centre of the upper section (1). The disc (2) in a lower section is constrained such that its centre is always directly below the centre of the upper section (1). The disc (2) is rotated in the direction (12) shown relative to the upper section (1), and the freely rotating wheels (6) are steered by rods (7) that slide through wheel supports (5). The rods (7) meet at a coincidence point controlled by rod (8) which is set at a particular point relative to the upper section (1). For the position of rod (8) shown and rotation (12) shown, the upper (1) and lower (2) sections will move along the surface, without slippage of the wheels (6), in the direction of arrow (13). For a given speed of rotation of disc (2), the speed of movement along the surface will increase as the distance of the coincidence point from the center of the disc increases.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A continuously variable transmission system comprising:
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at least two rotary members, a common member mounted on the rotary members, a surface with which the rotary members cooperate, the rotary members being free to rotate about their own axes of rotation and having perimeter regions cooperating with the surface at respective regions of cooperation in such a manner that substantial slippage of each rotary member relative to the surface in a direction parallel to the axis o rotation of the rotary member is prevented, and steering means operative to steer each rotary member about a respective axis, the common member and the surface being mounted for first and second kinds of motion relative to one another, the first kind of motion being relative rotation of the common member and the surface about an axis which is fixed relative to the common member and around which the rotary members are spaced, and the second kind of motion being a different relative motion of the common member and the surface, the steering means being arranged to steer the rotary members to vary continuously the ratio of the amount of the first kind of relative motion of the common member and the surface to the amount of the second kind of relative movement of the common member and the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification