US3653283A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Accessory drive mechanism
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1970-06-08
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1990-06-08
Abstract
Abstract An engine accessory drive mechanism wherein a first pulley portion is driven by the crankshaft and a second pulley portion is mounted on the water pump shaft and driven by a belt interconnecting the two pulleys. The second pulley portion includes provisions formed thereon for mounting additional belts to drive the other engine accessories. Each pulley portion includes one wall which is movable in response to changes in engine vacuum, with the influence of the engine vacuum on the movable walls being modified by the action of centrifugal force, the flyweight mechanism therefor being mounted on the first pulley portion, and the overall result being that the interconnecting belt is moved alternately in and out of the variable pulley grooves, changing the respective pitch diameters as required to drive all the accessories at a substantially constant speed throughout the full range of engine speeds.
Inventors
- 👤 David W Betz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:01
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/66; F16H61/662; F16H61/66254; F16H61/66263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
A drive mechanism for use with a vehicle engine for driving a plurality of engine accessories at a substantially constant speed, said drive mechanism comprising first, second, third and fourth pulley walls, a source of engine vacuum, means operatively connected between said source and said first and third pulley walls for axially moving said first and third walls in opposite directions with respect to one another in response to changes in engine vacuum, centrifugal weight means for modifying said changing engine vacuum influencing the movement of said first and third pulley walls with atmospheric air at ambient pressure in response to the action of centrifugal force reflective of engine speed, said second and fourth pulley walls being axially fixed, said first and second pulley walls forming a first variable-width pulley groove and said third and fourth pulley walls forming a second variable-width pulley groove, said first and second pulley walls being rotatable by said engine, the pitch diameter of said first variable-width pulley groove progressively decreasing with increasing engine speed by virtue of said axial movement of said first wall, and the pitch diameter of said second variable-width pulley groove progressively increasing with increasing engine speed by virtue of said axial movement of said third wall to thereby maintain the speed of said third and fourth pulley walls substantially constant with varying engine speed, a cooling fan and water pump impeller speed, mounted for rotation with said third and fourth pulley walls, and a plurality of grooves formed adjacent said fourth pulley wall for rotation therewith, said grooves being suitable for having a plurality of belts mounted therein for driving other engine accessories.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
273 words
A drive mechanism for use with a vehicle engine for driving a plurality of engine accessories at a substantially constant speed, said drive mechanism comprising first, second, third and fourth pulley walls, a source of engine vacuum, means operatively connected between said source and said first and third pulley walls for axially moving said first and third walls in opposite directions with respect to one another in response to changes in engine vacuum, centrifugal weight means for modifying said changing engine vacuum influencing the movement of said first and third pulley walls with atmospheric air at ambient pressure in response to the action of centrifugal force reflective of engine speed, said second and fourth pulley walls being axially fixed, said first and second pulley walls forming a first variable-width pulley groove and said third and fourth pulley walls forming a second variable-width pulley groove, said first and second pulley walls being rotatable by said engine, the pitch diameter of said first variable-width pulley groove progressively decreasing with increasing engine speed by virtue of said axial movement of said first wall, and the pitch diameter of said second variable-width pulley groove progressively increasing with increasing engine speed by virtue of said axial movement of said third wall to thereby maintain the speed of said third and fourth pulley walls substantially constant with varying engine speed, a cooling fan and water pump impeller speed, mounted for rotation with said third and fourth pulley walls, and a plurality of grooves formed adjacent said fourth pulley wall for rotation therewith, said grooves being suitable for having a plurality of belts mounted therein for driving other engine accessories.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
A drive mechanism for driving a plurality of engine accessories at a substantially constant speed, said drive mechanism comprising a first pulley having one aXially movable wall, a second pulley having one axially movable wall, a source of engine vacuum, a first chamber adjacent said movable wall of said first pulley, first passage means for communicating the engine vacuum from said source to said first chamber, a second chamber operatively connected to said movable wall of said second pulley, second passage means for communicating said engine vacuum from said source to said second chamber, an endless belt connected between said first and second pulleys, valve means responsive to centrifugal force for permitting air at ambient pressure to enter said first and second chambers to mix with said engine vacuum therein, a cooling fan mounted for rotation with said first pulley, and a plurality of annular grooves formed on said fixed wall of said first pulley, each of said plurality of grooves being suitable for driving a belt operatively connected to any of said engine accessories.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
A drive mechanism for driving a plurality of engine accessories at a substantially constant speed, said drive mechanism comprising a first pulley having one aXially movable wall, a second pulley having one axially movable wall, a source of engine vacuum, a first chamber adjacent said movable wall of said first pulley, first passage means for communicating the engine vacuum from said source to said first chamber, a second chamber operatively connected to said movable wall of said second pulley, second passage means for communicating said engine vacuum from said source to said second chamber, an endless belt connected between said first and second pulleys, valve means responsive to centrifugal force for permitting air at ambient pressure to enter said first and second chambers to mix with said engine vacuum therein, a cooling fan mounted for rotation with said first pulley, and a plurality of annular grooves formed on said fixed wall of said first pulley, each of said plurality of grooves being suitable for driving a belt operatively connected to any of said engine accessories.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
192 words
A drive mechanism for driving a plurality of internal combustion engine accessories at a substantially constant speed, said drive mechanism comprising a first pulley assembly having one axially movable wall portion, a second pulley assembly having one axially movable wall portion, a source of engine vacuum, a first chamber adjacent said movable wall of said first pulley, first passage means for communicating the engine vacuum from said source to said first chamber, a second chamber operatively connected to said movable wall of said second pulley, second passage means for communicating said engine vacuum from said source to said second chamber, an endless belt mounted on said first and second pulleys, said first pulley varying in width in one direction and said second pulley varying in width in the opposite direction in response to changes in said engine vacuum for causing said endless belt to move radially in said pulleys to attain respective pitch diameters as required to drive said first pulley at a substantially constant speed, and means operatively connected to said first and second chambers for modifying said engine vacuum therein with ambient pressure in response to changes in engine speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
192 words
A drive mechanism for driving a plurality of internal combustion engine accessories at a substantially constant speed, said drive mechanism comprising a first pulley assembly having one axially movable wall portion, a second pulley assembly having one axially movable wall portion, a source of engine vacuum, a first chamber adjacent said movable wall of said first pulley, first passage means for communicating the engine vacuum from said source to said first chamber, a second chamber operatively connected to said movable wall of said second pulley, second passage means for communicating said engine vacuum from said source to said second chamber, an endless belt mounted on said first and second pulleys, said first pulley varying in width in one direction and said second pulley varying in width in the opposite direction in response to changes in said engine vacuum for causing said endless belt to move radially in said pulleys to attain respective pitch diameters as required to drive said first pulley at a substantially constant speed, and means operatively connected to said first and second chambers for modifying said engine vacuum therein with ambient pressure in response to changes in engine speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The drive mechanism described in claim 3, wherein said last-mentioned means includes third passage means for communicating air surrounding said first and second pulley assemblies to said first and second chambers, valve means operatively connected in said third passage means, and flyweights responsive to engine speed for varying the opening past said valve means, thereby controlling the flow of ambient air therepast.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
256 words
A drive mechanism for use with a vehicle engine for driving a plurality of engine accessories at a substantially constant speed, said drive mechanism comprising a first pulley assembly including first and second housings, said housings having adjacent walls forming a first V-groove; a second pulley assembly rotatable by said engine and including third and fourth housings, said housings having adjacent walls forming a second V-groove, portions of said first and third housings being axially movable so as to vary the widths of said first and second V-grooves; a source of engine vacuum; a first chamber adjacent said movable wall of said first housing; first passage means for communicating the engine vacuum from said source to said first chamber; spring means in said first chamber for at times urging the movable wall of said first housing toward said adjacent wall of said second chamber forming said first V-groove; a second chamber formed in said third housing; second passage means for communicating said engine vacuum from said source to said second chamber; an endless belt mounted in said first and second V-gooves; a centrifugally actuated valve operatively connected to said third and fourth housings for subjecting said first and second chambers to ambient pressure in response to engine speed; a cooling fan and a water pump mounted for rotation with said first and second housings; and a plurality of annular grooves formed on said second housing, each of said plurality of grooves being suitable for driving a belt operatively connected to some one of said engine accessories.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
256 words
A drive mechanism for use with a vehicle engine for driving a plurality of engine accessories at a substantially constant speed, said drive mechanism comprising a first pulley assembly including first and second housings, said housings having adjacent walls forming a first V-groove; a second pulley assembly rotatable by said engine and including third and fourth housings, said housings having adjacent walls forming a second V-groove, portions of said first and third housings being axially movable so as to vary the widths of said first and second V-grooves; a source of engine vacuum; a first chamber adjacent said movable wall of said first housing; first passage means for communicating the engine vacuum from said source to said first chamber; spring means in said first chamber for at times urging the movable wall of said first housing toward said adjacent wall of said second chamber forming said first V-groove; a second chamber formed in said third housing; second passage means for communicating said engine vacuum from said source to said second chamber; an endless belt mounted in said first and second V-gooves; a centrifugally actuated valve operatively connected to said third and fourth housings for subjecting said first and second chambers to ambient pressure in response to engine speed; a cooling fan and a water pump mounted for rotation with said first and second housings; and a plurality of annular grooves formed on said second housing, each of said plurality of grooves being suitable for driving a belt operatively connected to some one of said engine accessories.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |