Accessory drive mechanism

Claim 2

An engine accessory drive mechanism comprising a housing, a source of fluid therein, said fluid being rotatable with said housing, an input means, an output means operatively connected to said housing, a pulley operatively connected to said input means, an input race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon and mounted for rotation with said input means in response to rotation of said pulley, an output race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon oppositely disposed from said firstmentioned toroidal surface and operatively connected to said output means, a plurality of rollers frictionally engaging said oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces, drive means formed on said output means for driving engine accessories, and fluid speedsensing ratio control actuating means mounted in said housing and operatively connected to said rollers for causing said rollers to tilt between sAid race members to change the output/input speed ratio therebetween a required to maintain a substantially constant output speed in response to the action of centrifugal force on said rotating fluid.

Claim 3

An engine accessory drive mechanism comprising a housing, a source of fluid therein, an input means, an output means, an input race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon and mounted for rotation with said input means, an output race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon oppositely disposed from said first-mentioned toroidal surface and operatively connected to said output means, a plurality of rollers frictionally engaging said oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces, drive means formed on said output means for driving engine accessories, ratio control actuating means mounted in said housing operatively connected to said rollers for causing said rollers to tilt between said race members to effectuate a substantially constant output speed, and fluid speed-sensing means for sensing changes in the centrifugal force of the rotating fluid and directing said fluid reflecting said changes to said ratio control actuating means.

Claim 4

An engine accessory drive mechanism comprising a housing, a source of fluid therein, an input means, an output means, an input race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon and mounted for rotation with said input means, an output race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon oppositely disposed from said first-mentioned toroidal surface and operatively connected to said output means, a plurality of rollers frictionally engaging said oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces, drive means formed on said output means for driving engine accessories, ratio control actuating means mounted in said housing operatively connected to said rollers for causing said rollers to tilt between said race members to effectuate a substantially constant output speed, and fluid speed-sensing means for sensing changes in the centrifugal force of the rotating fluid and directing said fluid reflecting said changes to said ratio control actuating means.

Claim 5

An engine accessory drive mechanism comprising a rotatable housing, a source of fluid therein, said fluid rotating with said housing, an input means, an output means adapted to rotate said housing, an input race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon and mounted for rotation with said input means, an output race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon oppositely disposed from said first-mentioned toroidal surface and operatively connected to said output means, a carrier mounted intermediate said input and output race members, a plurality of rollers operatively connected to said carrier and frictionally engaging said oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces, drive means formed on said output means suitable for driving engine accessories, and fluid speed-sensing ratio change actuating means operatively connected to said carrier for pivoting said carrier so as to cause said rollers to incline between said race members, such inclination producing opposing tractive forces at the contacting edges of said rollers with said races causing said rollers to tilt therebetween to change the output/input speed ratio therebetween in response to the action of centrifugal force on said rotating fluid reflecting changes in input speed while maintaining the output speed substantially constant.

Claim 6

An engine accessory drive mechanism comprising a rotatable housing, a source of fluid therein, said fluid rotating with said housing, an input means, an output means adapted to rotate said housing, an input race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon and mounted for rotation with said input means, an output race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon oppositely disposed from said first-mentioned toroidal surface and operatively connected to said output means, a carrier mounted intermediate said input and output race members, a plurality of rollers operatively connected to said carrier and frictionally engaging said oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces, drive means formed on said output means suitable for driving engine accessories, and fluid speed-sensing ratio change actuating means operatively connected to said carrier for pivoting said carrier so as to cause said rollers to incline between said race members, such inclination producing opposing tractive forces at the contacting edges of said rollers with said races causing said rollers to tilt therebetween to change the output/input speed ratio therebetween in response to the action of centrifugal force on said rotating fluid reflecting changes in input speed while maintaining the output speed substantially constant.

Claim 7

An engine accessory drive mechanism comprising a housing, a source of fluid therein, an input means, an output means, a pulley operatively connected to said input means, an input race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon and mounted for rotation with said input means in response to rotation of said pulley, an output race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon oppositely disposed from said first-mentioned toroidal surface and operatively connected to said output means, a carrier, a plurality of rollers operatively connected to said carrier and frictionally engaging said oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces, drive means formed on said output means for driving engine accessories, piston-actuated ratio control means mounted in said housing operatively connected to said carrier for moving said carrier to cause said rollers to tilt between said race members to effectuate a substantially constant output speed, pitot tube fluid speed-sensing means for sensing changes in the centrifugal force of the rotating fluid, and passage means for directing said sensed changes to said piston-actuated ratio control means.

Claim 8

An engine accessory drive mechanism comprising a housing, a source of fluid therein, an input means, an output means, a pulley operatively connected to said input means, an input race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon and mounted for rotation with said input means in response to rotation of said pulley, an output race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon oppositely disposed from said first-mentioned toroidal surface and operatively connected to said output means, a carrier, a plurality of rollers operatively connected to said carrier and frictionally engaging said oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces, drive means formed on said output means for driving engine accessories, piston-actuated ratio control means mounted in said housing operatively connected to said carrier for moving said carrier to cause said rollers to tilt between said race members to effectuate a substantially constant output speed, pitot tube fluid speed-sensing means for sensing changes in the centrifugal force of the rotating fluid, and passage means for directing said sensed changes to said piston-actuated ratio control means.

Claim 9

An engine accessory drive mechanism comprising a housing, a source of fluid therein, an input means, an output means, a pulley operatively connected to said input means, an input race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon and mounted for rotation with said input means in response to rotation of said pulley, an output race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon oppositely disposed from said firsT-mentioned toroidal surface and operatively connected to said output means, a carrier mounted intermediate said input and output race members, a plurality of rollers operatively connected to said carrier and frictionally engaging said oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces, drive means formed on said output means suitable for driving engine accessories, piston-actuated ratio control means operatively connected to said carrier for pivoting said carrier so as to cause said rollers to incline between said race members, such inclination producing opposing tractive forces at the contacting edges of said rollers with said races causing said rollers to tilt therebetween to change the output/input speed ratio therebetween in response to changes in input speed while maintaining the output speed substantially constant, and a pitot tube for sensing changes in centrifugal force of said fluid reflective of changes in input speed and directing a fluid signal to said piston-actuated ratio control means.

Claim 10

An engine accessory drive mechanism comprising a housing, a source of fluid therein, an input means, an output means, a pulley operatively connected to said input means, an input race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon and mounted for rotation with said input means in response to rotation of said pulley, an output race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon oppositely disposed from said firsT-mentioned toroidal surface and operatively connected to said output means, a carrier mounted intermediate said input and output race members, a plurality of rollers operatively connected to said carrier and frictionally engaging said oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces, drive means formed on said output means suitable for driving engine accessories, piston-actuated ratio control means operatively connected to said carrier for pivoting said carrier so as to cause said rollers to incline between said race members, such inclination producing opposing tractive forces at the contacting edges of said rollers with said races causing said rollers to tilt therebetween to change the output/input speed ratio therebetween in response to changes in input speed while maintaining the output speed substantially constant, and a pitot tube for sensing changes in centrifugal force of said fluid reflective of changes in input speed and directing a fluid signal to said piston-actuated ratio control means.

Claim 11

An engine accessory drive mechanism comprising a housing, a source of fluid therein, an input means, an output means, a pulley operatively connected to said input means, an input race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon and mounted for rotation with said input means in response to rotation of said pulley, an output race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon oppositely disposed from said first-mentioned toroidal surface and operatively connected to said output means, a carrier mounted intermediate said input and output race members, a plurality of rollers operatively connected to said carrier and frictionally engaging said oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces, drive means formed on said output means suitable for driving engine accessories, ratio change linkage means operatively connected to said carrier for pivoting said carrier so as to cause said rollers to incline between said race members, such inclination producing opposing tractive forces at the contacting edges of said rollers with said races causing said rollers to tilt therebetween to change the output/input speed ratio therebetween while maintaining the output speed substantially constant, spring-biased piston means for pivoting said ratio change linkage means in response to a fluid signal reflective of changes in input speed, and pitot tube means for sensing changes in rotating fluid speed resulting from said changes in input speed and providing said fluid signal to said spring-biased piston means.

Claim 12

An engine accessory drive mechanism comprising a housing, a source of fluid therein, an input means, an output means, a pulley operatively connected to said input means, an input race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon and mounted for rotation with said input means in response to rotation of said pulley, an output race member having a toroidal surface formed thereon oppositely disposed from said first-mentioned toroidal surface and operatively connected to said output means, a carrier mounted intermediate said input and output race members, a plurality of rollers operatively connected to said carrier and frictionally engaging said oppositely disposed toroidal surfaces, drive means formed on said output means suitable for driving engine accessories, ratio change linkage means operatively connected to said carrier for pivoting said carrier so as to cause said rollers to incline between said race members, such inclination producing opposing tractive forces at the contacting edges of said rollers with said races causing said rollers to tilt therebetween to change the output/input speed ratio therebetween while maintaining the output speed substantially constant, spring-biased piston means for pivoting said ratio change linkage means in response to a fluid signal reflective of changes in input speed, and pitot tube means for sensing changes in rotating fluid speed resulting from said changes in input speed and providing said fluid signal to said spring-biased piston means.

Claim 13

The engine accessory drive mechanism described in claim 6, and second pitot tube means for supplying lubricant to various contacting surfaces of said accessory drive mechanism.

Claim 14

The engine accessory drive mechanism described in claim 6, and a generator wherein a portion of said housing serves as the armature of said generator.

Claim 15

The engine accessory drive mechanism described in claim 6, and a power steering pump operatively connected to said output means whereby said pump uses fluid from said source of fluid within said housing.