Transmission and variable radially expanding spring clutch assembly
First Claim
1. A transmission comprising:
- a shaft member having a continuous cylindrical surface portion longitudinally disposed next to a cylindrical outer surface portion interrupted by longitudinal grooves;
a first gear assembly having a first clutch spring that holds a first set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a first output gear; and
a second gear assembly having a second clutch spring that holds a second set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a second output gear,wherein said first gear assembly and said second gear assembly are configured to move longitudinally along said shaft member to a position where at least one of said first gear assembly and said second gear assembly is engaged for rotation with said shaft member when a value of torque at said shaft member is below a torque threshold value.
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Abstract
A transmission generally includes a shaft member having a continuous cylindrical surface portion longitudinally disposed next to a cylindrical outer surface portion interrupted by longitudinal grooves. A first gear assembly has a first clutch spring that holds a first set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a first output gear. A second gear assembly has a second clutch spring that holds a second set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a second output gear. The first gear assembly and the second gear assembly are configured to move longitudinally along the shaft member to a position where at least one of the first gear assembly and the second gear assembly is engaged for rotation with the shaft member when a value of torque at the shaft member is below a torque threshold value.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A transmission comprising:
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a shaft member having a continuous cylindrical surface portion longitudinally disposed next to a cylindrical outer surface portion interrupted by longitudinal grooves; a first gear assembly having a first clutch spring that holds a first set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a first output gear; and a second gear assembly having a second clutch spring that holds a second set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a second output gear, wherein said first gear assembly and said second gear assembly are configured to move longitudinally along said shaft member to a position where at least one of said first gear assembly and said second gear assembly is engaged for rotation with said shaft member when a value of torque at said shaft member is below a torque threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A transmission comprising:
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a shaft member having a continuous cylindrical surface portion longitudinally disposed next to a cylindrical outer surface portion interrupted by longitudinal grooves; and a first gear assembly having a first clutch spring that holds a first set of rolling members between lobes that extend from a first output gear, wherein said first gear assembly is configured to move longitudinally along said shaft member to a position where said first gear assembly is engaged for rotation with said shaft member when a value of torque at said shaft member is below a torque threshold value that is based on an angle between a surface of one of said longitudinal grooves and a surface of one of said lobes between which said first set of rolling members is disposed such that when a value of said angle decreases, said torque threshold value increases. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification