Infinitely variable positive mechanical transmission

Claim 2

An infinitely variable speed, mechanical transmission comprising a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member, endless cam means connected with said driving member for rotation by the latter, a cam follower support adjustable rotatably in generally concentric relation to the axis of rotation of said endless cam means, a plurality of cam follower levers, pivots swingably supporting said respective follower levers on said cam follower support, a plurality of cam followers coacting with said follower levers in spaced relation to said support pivots therefor and coacting with said cam means to effect oscillation of said follower levers as an incident to rotation of said cam means, a plurality of translatable racks interconnected with said respective levers at positions thereon with respect to said pivots therefor determined by the instantaneous rotary adjustment of saId cam follower support so that said racks are reciprocated as an incident to oscillation of said follower levers to a degree proportional to the spacing from said lever support pivots of the positions of interaction between said racks and said follower levers, a plurality of pinions meshing with said respective racks for oscillation by the latter through angles of oscillation determined by the rotary adjustment of said cam follower support, a plurality of one-way clutches having inputs connected with said respective pinions, transmission means continuously connecting the outputs of all said clutches with said driven member so that the driven member is rotated at a speed in relation to said driving member determined by the instantaneous position of rotary adjustment of said cam follower support, and transmission speed control means connected with said cam follower support to effect an infinitely variable rotary adjustment of the latter and a consequent infinitely variable adjustment of the speed of rotation of said driven member in relation to the rotary speed of the driving member.

Claim 3

An infinitely variable speed, mechanical transmission comprising a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member, cam means connected with said driving member for movement by the latter, a plurality of cam follower levers, pivots swingably supporting said respective follower levers, a plurality of cam followers coacting with said follower levers in spaced relation to said support pivots therefor and coacting with said cam means to effect oscillation of said follower levers as an incident to movement of said cam means, a plurality of racks interconnected with said respective levers at positions thereon adjustable along the levers with respect to said pivots therefor, means for adjusting infinitely relative to each other said racks and said lever support pivots to effect a corresponding adjustment along said levers of the positions of interaction between said racks and said follower levers so that the racks are moved as an incident to oscillation of said follower levers to a degree proportional to the spacing from said lever support pivots of the positions of interaction between said racks and said follower levers, a plurality of gears meshing with said respective racks for oscillation by the latter, and a plurality of one-way clutches connecting said respective gears with said driven member so that the driven member is rotated at a speed in relation to said driving member determined by the instantaneous positions of relative adjustment of said racks and said lever support pivots.

Claim 4

An infinitely variable speed, mechanical transmission comprising a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member, cam means connected with said driving member for movement by the latter, a plurality of cam follower levers, pivots swingably supporting said respective follower levers, a plurality of cam followers coacting with said follower levers in spaced relation to said support pivots therefor and coacting with said cam means to effect oscillation of said follower levers as an incident to movement of said cam means, a plurality of racks interconnected with said respective levers at positions thereon adjustable along the levers with respect to said pivots therefor, means for adjusting infinitely relative to each other said racks and said lever support pivots to effect a corresponding adjustment along said levers of the positions of interaction between said racks and said follower levers so that the racks are moved as an incident to oscillation of said follower levers to a degree proportional to the spacing from said lever support pivots of the positions of interaction between said racks and said follower levers, a plurality of gears meshing with said respective racks for oscillation by the latter, and a plurality of one-way clutches connecting said respective gears with said driven member so that the driven member is rotated at a speed in relation to said driving member determined by the instantaneous positions of relative adjustment of said racks and said lever support pivots.

Claim 5

An infinitely variable speed, mechanical transmission comprising a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member substantially coaxial with said driving member, endless cam means connected with said driving member for rotation by the latter, a lever support adjustable rotatably in generally concentric relation to the axis of rotation of said endless cam means, a plurality of pairs of cam follower levers, pivots swingably supporting said respective follower levers on said lever support with the two levers of each pair disposed generally on opposite sides of the substantially common axis of said driving and driven members, a plurality of cam followers coacting with said follower levers in spaced relation to said support pivots therefor and coacting with said cam means to effect oscillation of said follower levers as an incident to rotation of said cam means, a plurality of translatable racks corresponding to the respective pairs of said follower levers, each rack extending transversely with respect to said common axis and having rollers at opposite ends engaging the two follower levers of the corresponding pair, means for adjusting infinitely in relation to each other said lever support and said racks to infinitely adjust along said levers the positions of engagement therewith of said rack rollers and consequently adjust infinitely the degree to which the racks are reciprocated as an incident to oscillation of tHe follower levers, a plurality of gears meshing with said respective racks for oscillation by the latter through angles of oscillation determined by the rotary adjustment of said lever support, a plurality of one-way clutches having inputs connected with said respective gears, and transmission means continuously connecting the outputs of all said clutches with said driven member so that the driven member is rotated at a speed in relation to said driving member determined by the instantaneous position of rotary adjustment of said lever support, and said cam followers being oriented to said cam means and to said driving member to maintain a predetermined displacement in phase in the input driving motions to said several clutches.

Claim 6

An infinitely variable speed, mechanical transmission comprising a rotary driving member, a rotary driven member substantially coaxial with said driving member, endless cam means connected with said driving member for rotation by the latter, a lever support adjustable rotatably in generally concentric relation to the axis of rotation of said endless cam means, a plurality of pairs of cam follower levers, pivots swingably supporting said respective follower levers on said lever support with the two levers of each pair disposed generally on opposite sides of the substantially common axis of said driving and driven members, a plurality of cam followers coacting with said follower levers in spaced relation to said support pivots therefor and coacting with said cam means to effect oscillation of said follower levers as an incident to rotation of said cam means, a plurality of translatable racks corresponding to the respective pairs of said follower levers, each rack extending transversely with respect to said common axis and having rollers at opposite ends engaging the two follower levers of the corresponding pair, means for adjusting infinitely in relation to each other said lever support and said racks to infinitely adjust along said levers the positions of engagement therewith of said rack rollers and consequently adjust infinitely the degree to which the racks are reciprocated as an incident to oscillation of tHe follower levers, a plurality of gears meshing with said respective racks for oscillation by the latter through angles of oscillation determined by the rotary adjustment of said lever support, a plurality of one-way clutches having inputs connected with said respective gears, and transmission means continuously connecting the outputs of all said clutches with said driven member so that the driven member is rotated at a speed in relation to said driving member determined by the instantaneous position of rotary adjustment of said lever support, and said cam followers being oriented to said cam means and to said driving member to maintain a predetermined displacement in phase in the input driving motions to said several clutches.

Claim 7

An infinitely variable speed, mechanical transmission according to claim 3 in which the output of each one-way clutch is geared to a first clutch member journalled in concentric relation to said driven member, said one-way clutches are connected through back gear means to a second clutch member journalled in concentric relation to said driven member for continuous rotation in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said first clutch member, and a third clutch member is connected in driving relation to said driven member for selective movement into driven relation to either said first clutch member or said second clutch member for driving said driven member through the transmission selectively in opposite directions at speeds infinitely variable relative to the speed of said driving member.

Claim 8

An infinitely variable speed, mechanical transmission according to claim 4 in which each rack is formed in two sections biased longitudinally relative to each other and having in each rack section teeth meshing with the coacting gear to eliminate lost motion between the rack and the gear.

Claim 9

For transmitting driving torque to a driven rotary output from a driving rotary input at a speed which is, in relation to the speed of the rotary driving input, infinitely variable by adjustment and constant for all conditions of adjustment, a positive drive mechanical transmission which maintains continuously a positive mechanical driving connection between the driving rotary input and the driven rotary output and which comprises, a rotary driving member forming the rotary input to the transmission, endless driving cam means connected to said driving member for rotation thereby, said cam means comprising a cam follower advancing segment thereof and a cam follower return segment thereof disposed in mutually intervening relation around the cam means, a plurality of cam follower elements coacting with said cam means for cyclic advancement and return by the rotating cam means in synchronism with movement of said advancing and return segments of the cam means past the respective follower elements, a plurality of oscillator support pivots, a plurality of oscillators swingably supported on said respective pivots and extending therefrom, said cam follower elements being connected to said respective oscillators to oscillate the latter about said pivots through constant angular excursions upon rotation of said driving member, a plurality of one-way rotary clutches, a rotary driven member forming the rotary output of the transmission, mechanical transmission means continuously connecting the output sides of all said one-way clutches in positive driving relation to said driven member; clutch driving elements connecting the inputs of said respective one-way clutches to said respective oscillators at actuating positions with reference to the oscillators that are adjustable along the latter toward and away from said pivots therefor to effect, upon power driven oscillation of the oscillators by said driving member, power driven oscillation of the inputs of the respective one-way clutches through angular excursions that are proportional to the spacings from said pivots of the actuating positions at which said clutch driving elements are connected to thE respective oscillators; said cam follower elements being oriented in relation to said cam means so that a follower element engaged with a follower advancing segment of the rotating cam means moves in a direction to transmit driving motion through the corresponding one-way clutch to the driven member from the driving member; each follower advancing segment of the cam means being shaped in relation to the motion relationships of the power train from the advancing segment to the driven member through the coacting cam follower element, oscillator, clutch driving element and one-way clutch so that for any actuating position at which the corresponding clutch driving element is located in relation to the coacting oscillator the rotary displacement of the driven member remains constant in relation to the rotary displacement of the driving member as long as the follower advancing segment is acting through a coacting follower element to turn the driven member; and transmission speed ratio adjusting means interconnected between said pivots and said clutch driving elements to adjust the actuating positions of the interconnections between said clutch driving elements and said oscillators progressively toward or away from said pivots to effect infinite adjustment of the angular excursions of the inputs of said respective clutches and hence infinite adjustment of the output speed of said driven member relative to the input speed of said driving member.

Claim 10

For transmitting driving torque to a driven rotary output from a driving rotary input at a speed which is, in relation to the speed of the rotary driving input, infinitely variable by adjustment and constant for all conditions of adjustment, a positive drive mechanical transmission which maintains continuously a positive mechanical driving connection between the driving rotary input and the driven rotary output and which comprises, a rotary driving member forming the rotary input to the transmission, endless driving cam means connected to said driving member for rotation thereby, said cam means comprising a cam follower advancing segment thereof and a cam follower return segment thereof disposed in mutually intervening relation around the cam means, a plurality of cam follower elements coacting with said cam means for cyclic advancement and return by the rotating cam means in synchronism with movement of said advancing and return segments of the cam means past the respective follower elements, a plurality of oscillator support pivots, a plurality of oscillators swingably supported on said respective pivots and extending therefrom, said cam follower elements being connected to said respective oscillators to oscillate the latter about said pivots through constant angular excursions upon rotation of said driving member, a plurality of one-way rotary clutches, a rotary driven member forming the rotary output of the transmission, mechanical transmission means continuously connecting the output sides of all said one-way clutches in positive driving relation to said driven member; clutch driving elements connecting the inputs of said respective one-way clutches to said respective oscillators at actuating positions with reference to the oscillators that are adjustable along the latter toward and away from said pivots therefor to effect, upon power driven oscillation of the oscillators by said driving member, power driven oscillation of the inputs of the respective one-way clutches through angular excursions that are proportional to the spacings from said pivots of the actuating positions at which said clutch driving elements are connected to thE respective oscillators; said cam follower elements being oriented in relation to said cam means so that a follower element engaged with a follower advancing segment of the rotating cam means moves in a direction to transmit driving motion through the corresponding one-way clutch to the driven member from the driving member; each follower advancing segment of the cam means being shaped in relation to the motion relationships of the power train from the advancing segment to the driven member through the coacting cam follower element, oscillator, clutch driving element and one-way clutch so that for any actuating position at which the corresponding clutch driving element is located in relation to the coacting oscillator the rotary displacement of the driven member remains constant in relation to the rotary displacement of the driving member as long as the follower advancing segment is acting through a coacting follower element to turn the driven member; and transmission speed ratio adjusting means interconnected between said pivots and said clutch driving elements to adjust the actuating positions of the interconnections between said clutch driving elements and said oscillators progressively toward or away from said pivots to effect infinite adjustment of the angular excursions of the inputs of said respective clutches and hence infinite adjustment of the output speed of said driven member relative to the input speed of said driving member.

Claim 11

A positive drive mechanical transmission according to claim 6, in which said cam follower elements are so oriented and positioned in relation to the cam means that at least one of the cam follower elements is in active engagement with an advancing segment of the cam means for all rotary positions of the cam means to actively transmit driving motion from the driving member through the transmission to the driven member.

Claim 12

A positive drive mechanical transmission according to claim 7, in which a cam follower advancing segment of the cam means extends around the axis of the cam means through a radial angle substantially in excess of 180* and in which the cam follower elements of two oscillators are oriented for engagement in succession by said last-mentioned advancing segment and said last-mentioned advancing segment continuously engages at least one of the two follower elements last mentioned to continuously transmit driving movement through one or the other or both from said driving member to said driven member.

Claim 13

For transmitting driving torque to a driven rotary output from a driving rotary input at a speed which is, in relation to the speed of the rotary driving input, infinitely variable by adjustment, a positive drive mechanical transmission which maintains continuously a positive mechanical driving connection between the driving rotary input and the driven rotary output and which comprises, a rotary driving member forming the rotary input to the transmission, endless driving cam means connected to said driving member for rotation thereby, said cam means comprising a cam follower advancing segment thereof and a cam follower return segment thereof disposed in mutually intervening relation around the cam means, a plurality of cam follower elements coacting with said cam means for cyclic advancement and return by the rotating cam means in synchronism with movement of said advancing and retracting segments of the cam means past the respective follower elements, a plurality of oscillator support pivots, a plurality of oscillators swingably supported on said respective pivots and extending therefrom, said cam follower elements being connected to said respective oscillators to oscillate the latter about said pivots through constant angular excursions upon rotation of said driving member, a plurality of one-way rotary clutches, a rotary driven member forming the rotary output of the transmission, mechanical transmission means continuously connecting the output sides of all said one-way clutches in positive driving relation to Said driven member; clutch driving elements connecting the inputs of said respective one-way clutches to said respective oscillators at actuating positions with reference to the oscillators that are adjustable along the latter toward and away from said pivots therefor to effect, upon power driven oscillation of the oscillators by said driving member, power driven oscillation of the inputs of the respective one-way clutches through angular excursions that are proportional to the spacings from said pivots to the actuating positions at which said clutch driving elements are connected to the respective oscillators; and transmission speed ratio adjusting means interconnected between said pivots and said clutch driving elements to adjust the actuating positions of the interconnections between said clutch driving elements and said oscillators progressively toward or away from said pivots to effect infinite adjustment of the angular excursions of the inputs of said respective clutches and hence infinite adjustment of the output speed of said driven member relative to the input speed of said driving member.

Claim 14

For transmitting driving torque to a driven rotary output from a driving rotary input at a speed which is, in relation to the speed of the rotary driving input, infinitely variable by adjustment, a positive drive mechanical transmission which maintains continuously a positive mechanical driving connection between the driving rotary input and the driven rotary output and which comprises, a rotary driving member forming the rotary input to the transmission, endless driving cam means connected to said driving member for rotation thereby, said cam means comprising a cam follower advancing segment thereof and a cam follower return segment thereof disposed in mutually intervening relation around the cam means, a plurality of cam follower elements coacting with said cam means for cyclic advancement and return by the rotating cam means in synchronism with movement of said advancing and retracting segments of the cam means past the respective follower elements, a plurality of oscillator support pivots, a plurality of oscillators swingably supported on said respective pivots and extending therefrom, said cam follower elements being connected to said respective oscillators to oscillate the latter about said pivots through constant angular excursions upon rotation of said driving member, a plurality of one-way rotary clutches, a rotary driven member forming the rotary output of the transmission, mechanical transmission means continuously connecting the output sides of all said one-way clutches in positive driving relation to Said driven member; clutch driving elements connecting the inputs of said respective one-way clutches to said respective oscillators at actuating positions with reference to the oscillators that are adjustable along the latter toward and away from said pivots therefor to effect, upon power driven oscillation of the oscillators by said driving member, power driven oscillation of the inputs of the respective one-way clutches through angular excursions that are proportional to the spacings from said pivots to the actuating positions at which said clutch driving elements are connected to the respective oscillators; and transmission speed ratio adjusting means interconnected between said pivots and said clutch driving elements to adjust the actuating positions of the interconnections between said clutch driving elements and said oscillators progressively toward or away from said pivots to effect infinite adjustment of the angular excursions of the inputs of said respective clutches and hence infinite adjustment of the output speed of said driven member relative to the input speed of said driving member.

Claim 15

A positive drive mechanical transmission according to claim 9, in which said cam follower elements are so oriented and positioned in relation to the cam means that at least one of the cam follower elements is in active engagement with an advancing segment of the cam means for all rotary positions of the cam means to actively transmit driving motion from the driving member through the transmission to the driven member.

Claim 16

A positive drive mechanical transmission according to claim 9, in which a cam follower advancing segment of the cam means extends around the axis of the cam means through a radial angle substantially in excess of 180* and in which the cam follower elements of two oscillators are oriented for engagement in succession by said last-mentioned advancing segment and said last-mentioned advancing segment continuously engages at least one of the two follower elements last mentioned to continuously transmit driving movement through one or the other or both from said driving member to said driven member.