Vehicle with auxiliary speed control

Claim 2

The combination with a power shaft and a drive shaft, of a plurality of parallel sets of pulleys for connecting said shafts, V-belts traineD over the respective pulleys and ineffective to transmit motion therebetween except when tensioned, an idler for selectively tensioning a particular V-belt, means mounting the idler for adjustment between positions of registry and engagement with respective belts for the tensioning thereof, and means for shifting the idler from registry with one belt to registry with another, said last mentioned means comprising a bellcrank, an idler support mounted on the bellcrank and upon which said idler is carried, means for adjusting the idler with reference to the bellcrank to the aforesaid positions of registry with respective belts, and means for biasing the bellcrank in a direction to engage the idler with the V-belt with which it is in registry.

Claim 3

A combination according to claim 1 in further combination with a foot pedal having a link connection with the bellcrank for the oscillation thereof against the bias of said biasing means, and a mechanical connection for the shifting of said idler between said positions.

Claim 4

A combination according to claim 2 in which the means for shifting the idler to and from V-belt engagement comprises a spring secured to said bellcrank for biasing the latter to engage the idler with the V-belt with which it is in registry.

Claim 5

A combination according to claim 3 in which said bellcrank has a bearing sleeve and the means for mounting the idler includes a shaft reciprocable through said sleeve in a direction to move said idler from registry with one belt into registry with another when said idler is disengaged from belt contact.

Claim 6

A vehicle comprising a plurality of wheels including drive wheels, an engine, a power shaft having means for actuating it from the engine, a drive shaft having means for communicating motion to the driven vehicle wheels, a first set of pulleys mounted on the power shaft, a second set of pulleys mounted on the drive shaft, said pulleys being V-pulleys arranged in pairs wherein one pulley of each pair is mounted on one of each of said shafts, V-belts trained over the pulleys of respective pairs and sufficiently loose thereon to transmit no substantial motion from the power shaft to the drive shaft except when subjected to idler pressure, an idler for exerting pressure upon a V-belt with which it is in registry, oscillatory means supporting said idler for movement to and from V-belt pressure engagement, a spring biasing said oscillatory means in a direction to press said idler into engagement with a V-belt with which it is in registry, a shaft mounting said idler for axial movement with respect to said oscillatory means, a clutch pedal having link-connection with said oscillatory means and constituting means for disengaging the idler from belt engagement in opposition to the bias of said spring, and means for axially moving the idler from registry with one V-belt into registry with another when disengaged by said clutch pedal.

Claim 7

A vehicle comprising a plurality of wheels including drive wheels, an engine, a power shaft having means for actuating it from the engine, a drive shaft having means for communicating motion to the driven vehicle wheels, a first set of pulleys mounted on the power shaft, a second set of pulleys mounted on the drive shaft, said pulleys being V-pulleys arranged in pairs wherein one pulley of each pair is mounted on one of each of said shafts, V-belts trained over the pulleys of respective pairs and sufficiently loose thereon to transmit no substantial motion from the power shaft to the drive shaft except when subjected to idler pressure, an idler for exerting pressure upon a V-belt with which it is in registry, oscillatory means supporting said idler for movement to and from V-belt pressure engagement, a spring biasing said oscillatory means in a direction to press said idler into engagement with a V-belt with which it is in registry, a shaft mounting said idler for axial movement with respect to said oscillatory means, a clutch pedal having link-connection with said oscillatory means and constituting means for disengaging the idler from belt engagement in opposition to the bias of said spring, and means for axially moving the idler from registry with one V-belt into registry with another when disengaged by said clutch pedal.

Claim 8

A vehicle according to claim 5 in which said oscillatory means has a sleeve of noncircular cross section, said idler having a supporting antifriction bearing and a shaft of noncircular cross section nonrotatably mounted in and axially slidable through said sleeve and provided with means for manually shifting it axially of the idler.