Infinitely variable speed transmissions

Claim 2

An infinitely variable speed transmission comprising: a casing, an input shaft rotatably supported on the casing, a first sun wheel nonrotatably mounted on the input shaft, an output shaft coaxial with the input shaft and rotatably supported on said casing, a second sun wheel nonrotatably mounted on the output shaft; a pair of countershafts disposed in the casing parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the input and output shafts and spaced in diametrically opposed planes in relation to the said common longitudinal axis, said countershafts being rotatably supported on a carrier which itself is supported for rotation relative to said casing and relative to said input and output shafts; each of the said countershafts nonrotatably mounting thereon first and second planet pinions, said first planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in co-operative engagement with peripheral gear teeth on said first sun wheel, and said second planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in co-operative engagement with peripheral gear teeth of the second sun wheel, and a centrifugal fly-weight fixed to each said countershaft, the said first and second planet pinion and the fly-weight mounted on each of said countershafts comprising a planetary assembly, the said two centrifugal fly-weights being mounted within said casing so that their effective masses are opposed, whereby on rotation of the input shaft the respective sun wheels and planet pinions in co-operative engagement rotate and said centrifugal fly-weights also rotate, the effect thereof being to ensure that only positive impulses of load are imposed on the said output shaft, which thereby rotates.

Claim 3

An infinitely variable speed transmission as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are two pairs of said planetary assemblies within the said casing whereby there are four of said assemblies disposed symmetrically at 90* radius apart with respect to the said common longitudinal axis.

Claim 4

An infinitely variable speed transmission comprising: a casing, an input shaft in the casing, a first sun wheel mounted on the input shaft, an output shaft coaxial with the input shaft and in said casing, and a second sun wheel mounted on the output shaft; a pair of further shafts in the casing parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the input and output shaft and spaced in diametrically opposed planes in relation to the said common longitudinal axis; each of the said further shafts mounting longitudinally along its length a first planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in co-operative engagement with peripheral gear teeth on said first sun wheel, a second planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in co-operative engagement with peripheral gear teeth of the second sun wheel, and a centrifugal fly-weight solid fixed to its said further shaft, the said first and second planet pinion and the fly-weight mounted on each of said further shafts comprising a planetary assembly, the said two centrifugal fly-weights being mounted within said casing so that their effective masses are opposed; one of said first and second planet pinions being nonrotatably connected to but axially slideably supported on said further shaft, and spring means coacting between said casing and said one planet pinion for urging said one planet pinion axially of said further shaft; whereby on rotation of the input shaft the respective sun wheels and planet pinions in co-operative engagement rotate and said centrifugal fly-weights also rotate, the effect thereof being to ensure that only positive impulses of load are imposed on the said output shaft, which thereby rotates.

Claim 5

An infinitely variable speed transmission comprising: a casing, an input shaft in the casing, a first sun wheel mounted on the input shaft, an output shaft coaxial with the input shaft and in said casing, and a second sun wheel mounted on the output shaft; a pair of further shafts in the casing parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the input and output shaft and spaced in diametrically opposed planes in relation to the said common longitudinal axis; each of the said further shafts mounting longitudinally along its length a first planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in co-operative engagement with peripheral gear teeth on said first sun wheel, a second planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in co-operative engagement with peripheral gear teeth of the second sun wheel, and a centrifugal fly-weight solid fixed to its said further shaft, the said first and second planet pinion and the fly-weight mounted on each of said further shafts comprising a planetary assembly, the said two centrifugal fly-weights being mounted within said casing so that their effective masses are opposed; one of said first and second planet pinions being nonrotatably connected to but axially slideably supported on said further shaft, and spring means coacting between said casing and said one planet pinion for urging said one planet pinion axially of said further shaft; whereby on rotation of the input shaft the respective sun wheels and planet pinions in co-operative engagement rotate and said centrifugal fly-weights also rotate, the effect thereof being to ensure that only positive impulses of load are imposed on the said output shaft, which thereby rotates.

Claim 6

An infinitely variable speed transmission according to claim 3, wherein said spring means inclUdes a compression spring mounted on said further shaft and having one end thereof engaging an inner side of a ball race in which one end of said further shaft is rotatably mounted in said casing, the other end of said spring engaging one axial end face of said second planet pinion, said second planet pinion being mounted for axially sliding on said further shaft.

Claim 7

An infinitely variable speed transmission as claimed in claim 4, wherein said peripheral teeth of said engaging sun wheels and planet pinions are helical, the said teeth of one pinion being of opposite hand to said teeth of said co-operating sun wheel.

Claim 8

An infinitely variable speed transmission comprising: a casing, an input shaft in the casing, a first sun wheel mounted on the input shaft, an output shaft coaxial with the input shaft and in said casing, and a second sun wheel mounted on the output shaft; a pair of further shafts in the casing parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the input and output shaft and spaced in diametrically opposed planes in relation to the said common longitudinal axis; each of the said further shafts mounting longitudinally along its length a first planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in cooperative engagement with peripheral gear teeth on said first sun wheel, a second planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in cooperative engagement with peripheral gear teeth of the second sun wheel, a centrifugal fly-weight fixed to its said further shaft, the said first and second planet pinions and the fly-weight mounted on each of said further shafts comprising a planetary assembly, the said two centrifugal fly-weights being mounted within said casing so that their effective masses are opposed, and means for permitting the radius of the respective center of gravity of each centrifugal fly-weight to be adjusted; whereby on rotation of the input shaft the respective sun wheels and planet pinions in co-operative engagement rotate and said centrifugal fly-weights also rotate, the effect thereof being to ensure that only positive impulses of load are imposed on the said output shaft, which thereby rotates.

Claim 9

An infinitely variable speed transmission comprising: a casing, an input shaft in the casing, a first sun wheel mounted on the input shaft, an output shaft coaxial with the input shaft and in said casing, and a second sun wheel mounted on the output shaft; a pair of further shafts in the casing parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the input and output shaft and spaced in diametrically opposed planes in relation to the said common longitudinal axis; each of the said further shafts mounting longitudinally along its length a first planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in cooperative engagement with peripheral gear teeth on said first sun wheel, a second planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in cooperative engagement with peripheral gear teeth of the second sun wheel, a centrifugal fly-weight fixed to its said further shaft, the said first and second planet pinions and the fly-weight mounted on each of said further shafts comprising a planetary assembly, the said two centrifugal fly-weights being mounted within said casing so that their effective masses are opposed, and means for permitting the radius of the respective center of gravity of each centrifugal fly-weight to be adjusted; whereby on rotation of the input shaft the respective sun wheels and planet pinions in co-operative engagement rotate and said centrifugal fly-weights also rotate, the effect thereof being to ensure that only positive impulses of load are imposed on the said output shaft, which thereby rotates.

Claim 10

An infinitely variable speed transmission comprising: a casing, an input shaft in the casing, a first sun wheel mounted on the input shaft, an output shaft coaxial with the input shaft and in said casing, and a second sun wheel mounted on the second output shaft; a pair of further shafts in the casing parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the input and output shaft and spaced in diametrically opposed planes in relation to the said common longitudinal axis; each of the said further shafts mounting longitudinally along its length a first planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in co-operative engagement with peripheral gear teeth on said first sun wheel, a second planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in co-operative engagement with peripheral gear teeth of the second sun wheel, and a centrifugal fly-weight fixed to its said further shaft, the said first and second planet pinion and the fly-weight mounted on each of said further shafts comprising a planetary assembly, the said two centrifugal fly-weights being mounted within said casing so that their effective masses are opposed; means coacting between said input and output shafts for permitting the direction of rotation of said output shaft to be reversed relative to said input shaft, said coacting means including shiftable clutch means; and whereby on rotation of the input shaft the respective sun wheels and planet pinions in co-operative engagement rotate and said centrifugal fly-weights also rotate, the effect thereof being to ensure that only positive impulses of load are imposed on the said output shaft, which thereby rotates.

Claim 11

An infinitely variable speed transmission comprising: a casing, an input shaft in the casing, a first sun wheel mounted on the input shaft, an output shaft coaxial with the input shaft and in said casing, and a second sun wheel mounted on the second output shaft; a pair of further shafts in the casing parallel to the common longitudinal axis of the input and output shaft and spaced in diametrically opposed planes in relation to the said common longitudinal axis; each of the said further shafts mounting longitudinally along its length a first planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in co-operative engagement with peripheral gear teeth on said first sun wheel, a second planet pinion having peripheral gear teeth in co-operative engagement with peripheral gear teeth of the second sun wheel, and a centrifugal fly-weight fixed to its said further shaft, the said first and second planet pinion and the fly-weight mounted on each of said further shafts comprising a planetary assembly, the said two centrifugal fly-weights being mounted within said casing so that their effective masses are opposed; means coacting between said input and output shafts for permitting the direction of rotation of said output shaft to be reversed relative to said input shaft, said coacting means including shiftable clutch means; and whereby on rotation of the input shaft the respective sun wheels and planet pinions in co-operative engagement rotate and said centrifugal fly-weights also rotate, the effect thereof being to ensure that only positive impulses of load are imposed on the said output shaft, which thereby rotates.

Claim 12

An infinitely variable speed transmission according to claim 7, wherein said clutch means includes a clutch member mounted on the said input shaft within said casing and Capable of axial sliding motion along said common longitudinal axis relative thereto, and means for reciprocating the clutch member between a first and a second operative position whereby the said output shaft is respectively driven in a forward and a reverse direction relative to the direction of rotation of the input shaft.

Claim 13

An infinitely variable speed transmission according to claim 8, wherein the said means for reciprocating the said reciprocable clutch member comprises pairs of oppositely acting solenoid members in an electrical circuit.

Claim 14

An infinitely variable speed transmission according to claim 8, wherein the said means for reciprocating the said reciprocable clutch member comprise a hydraulic control valve connected via a hydraulic circuit with a double acting piston on the input shaft whereby when hydraulic fluid acts on one face of the piston the clutch member acts in one direction and when a slide valve in said circuit directs fluid to the other face of the piston, the said clutch member acts in the opposite direction.