Variable speed power transmission

Claim 2

In a transmission, a forward shaft, a reverse shaft and an output shaft provided with variable speed forward, reverse and output sheaves respectively, each sheave having a pair of sections shiftable relatively to open and closed positions for varying the effective diameter thereof; a belt interconnecting the sheaves; structure operably coupled with the forward and reverse shafts for driving the same continuously in opposite directions; and a control operably coupled with the forward and reverse sheaves for alternately opening and closing the same to drive the output shaft in either of two directions.

Claim 3

In a transmission, a forward shaft, a reverse shaft and an output shaft provided with variable speed forward, reverse and output sheaves respectively, each sheave having a pair of sections shiftable relatively to open and closed positions for varying the effective diameter thereof; a belt interconnecting the sheaves; structure operably coupled with the forward and reverse shafts for driving the same continuously in opposite directions; and a control operably coupled with the forward and reverse sheaves for alternately opening and closing the same to drive the output shaft in either of two directions.

Claim 4

In a transmission, a forward shaft, a reverse shaft and an output shaft provided with variable speed forward, reverse and output sheaves respectively, each sheave having a pair of sections shiftable relatively to open and closed positions for varying the effective diameter thereof; a belt interconnecting the sheaves; structure operably coupled with the forward and reverse shafts for driving the same continuously in opposite directions; and a control operably coupled with the forward and reverse sheaves for alternately opening and closing the same to drive the output shaft in either of two directions.

Claim 5

In a transmission as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the sections of the output sheave is rigid to the output shaft, said control being adapted to open the forward and reverse sheaves sufficiently to permit movement of the belt axially of the shafts as the direction of rotation of the output shaft is changed.

Claim 6

In a transmission as claimed in claim 1 wherein said forward and reverse sheaves are provided with idlers disposed to receive the belt when either or both of said forward and reverse sheaves are open.

Claim 7

In a transmission as claimed in claim 3 wherein the idlers are bearings surrounding the forward and reverse shafts and disposed between the sections of the forward and reverse sheaves when the latter are open for engagement by the belt.

Claim 8

In a transmission as claimed in claim 1 wherein both secTions of the forward and reverse sheaves are shiftable and operably coupled with said control.

Claim 9

In a transmission as claimed in claim 5 wherein is provided resilient means for one section of the forward sheave and resilient means for one section of the reverse sheave for yieldably biasing the same toward a position placing the transmission in neutral.

Claim 10

In a transmission as claimed in claim 5 wherein both sections of the forward and reverse sheaves are provided with elongated sleeves rigidly secured thereto and attached to the corresponding forward and reverse shafts for rotation therewith, said sleeves being shiftable axially of the corresponding forward and reverse shafts in response to actuation of said control.

Claim 11

In a transmission as claimed in claim 7 wherein is provided a stop common to all of said sleeves for limiting the extent of axial movement thereof in one direction.

Claim 12

In a transmission as claimed in claim 7 wherein said forward and reverse sheaves are provided with idler bearings disposed to receive the belt when either or both of said forward and reverse sheaves are open, one sleeve of the forward sheave and one sleeve of the reverse sheave being journaled in the corresponding bearing.

Claim 13

In a transmission as claimed in claim 9 wherein said one sleeve of the forward sheave is slidable axially on the forward shaft and said one sleeve of the reverse sheave is slidable axially on the reverse shaft.

Claim 14

In a transmission as claimed in claim 7 wherein one sleeve of the forward sheave is slidable on the forward shaft axially of the latter and one sleeve of the reverse sheave is slidable on the reverse shaft axially of the latter.

Claim 15

In a transmission as claimed in claim 11 wherein the other sleeve of the forward sheave is slidable on and axially of said one sleeve of the forward sheave and the other sleeve of the reverse sheave is slidable on and axially of said one sleeve of the reverse sheave.

Claim 16

In a transmission as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control includes a collar operably coupled with each sleeve respectively and shiftable axially of the corresponding forward and reverse shafts.

Claim 17

In a transmission as claimed in claim 13 wherein the collars surround the corresponding sleeves and shafts and are provided with bearings therewithin for rotation of the sleeves relative to the collars.

Claim 18

In a transmission as claimed in claim 14 wherein the collars surrounding the forward shaft are provided with an interlock holding the same against relative rotation and wherein the collars surrounding the reverse shaft are provided with an interlock holding the same against relative rotation.

Claim 19

In a transmission, a forward shaft provided with a first and a second variable speed, forward sheave; a reverse shaft provided with a first and a second, variable speed, reverse sheave; a first output shaft provided with a variable speed, output sheave; a second output shaft provided with a variable speed, output sheave, each sheave having a pair of sections shiftable relatively to open and closed positions for varying the effective diameters thereof; a first belt interconnecting the first forward sheave, the first reverse sheave and the output sheave of the first output shaft; a second belt interconnecting the second forward sheave, the second reverse sheave and the output sheave of the second output shaft; structure operably coupled with the forward and reverse shafts for driving the same continuously in opposite directions; a first control operably coupled with the first forward sheave and the first reverse sheave for alternately opening and closing the same to drive the first output shaft in either of two directions; and a second control operably coupled with the second forward sheave and the second reverse sheave for alternately opening and closing the same to drive the second output shaft in either of two directions.

Claim 20

In a transmission, a forward shaft provided with a first and a second variable speed, forward sheave; a reverse shaft provided with a first and a second, variable speed, reverse sheave; a first output shaft provided with a variable speed, output sheave; a second output shaft provided with a variable speed, output sheave, each sheave having a pair of sections shiftable relatively to open and closed positions for varying the effective diameters thereof; a first belt interconnecting the first forward sheave, the first reverse sheave and the output sheave of the first output shaft; a second belt interconnecting the second forward sheave, the second reverse sheave and the output sheave of the second output shaft; structure operably coupled with the forward and reverse shafts for driving the same continuously in opposite directions; a first control operably coupled with the first forward sheave and the first reverse sheave for alternately opening and closing the same to drive the first output shaft in either of two directions; and a second control operably coupled with the second forward sheave and the second reverse sheave for alternately opening and closing the same to drive the second output shaft in either of two directions.

Claim 21

In a transmission as claimed in claim 16 wherein is provided a power shaft, wherein said structure includes a first belt and pulley assembly coupled with the power shaft and with the reverse shaft for rotating the latter continuously in one direction, and wherein said structure includes a second belt and pulley assembly coupled with the reverse shaft and with the forward shaft for driving the latter continuously from the reverse shaft in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the reverse shaft.

Claim 22

In a transmission as claimed in claim 16 wherein said output shafts are in end-to-end relationship and in spaced parallelism with said forward shaft and with said reverse shaft.

Claim 23

In a transmission as claimed in claim 16 wherein the forward and reverse sheaves are each provided with an idler for receiving the corresponding belt when the same are open.

Claim 24

In a transmission as claimed in claim 16 wherein both sections of the first forward sheave and of the first reverse sheave are shiftable and operably coupled with the first control, and wherein both sections of the second forward sheave and of the second reverse sheave are shiftable and operably coupled with the second control.