Variable-ratio belt-type transmission for engine-driven cycle, incorporating pedal-operated engine starting means

Claim 2

In a variable-ratio belt-type transmission for transmitting power from a driving shaft of an engine to a driven shaft when the engine is running and for transmitting power from said driven shaft to said driving shaft to start the engine when it is not running, the combination of: a. a variable-pitch-diameter driving pulley for mounting on such driving shaft and comprising two coaxial, relatively axially movable, generally frusto-conical driving pulley members; b. a variable-pitch-diameter driven pulley for mounting on such driven shaft and comprising two coaxial, relatively axially movable, generally frusto-conical driven pulley members; c. a V-belt trained around said driving and driven pulleys, the driving pulley members being normally positioned to a non-beltengaging position; d. overrunning clutch means positioned in between and coupled to said driving pulley members and engageable by the inner periphery of said belt; e. said clutch means being adapted to be engaged and thereby couple said driving pulley members to said belt when said driven pulley drives said belt, whereby the engine may be started by means of power applied to such driven shaft and delivered to such driving shaft through said driven pulley, said belt and said clutch means; f. said clutch means being adapted to be disengaged and thereby uncouple said driving pulley from said belt when the engine is running and said driving pulley drives said belt; g. first driving-pulley closing means operable when said clutch means is engaged and responsive to torque applied to said clutch means by said belt for relatively moving said driving pulley members axially toward each other into a belt engaging position; and h. second driving-pulley closing means operable when said clutch means is disengaged and responsive to centrifugal force due to rotation of said driving pulley for relatively moving said driving pulley members axially toward each other into a beltengaging position and to vary the pitch diameter belt-engaging position thereof.

Claim 3

A variable-ratio belt-type transmission as defined in claim 1 wherein said first driving-pulley closing means includes: a. circumferentially extending grooves of circumferentially decreasing depth in one of said driving pulley members; b. balls in each said grooves; and c. means for displacing said balls toward the shallower ends of said grooves.

Claim 4

A variable-ratio belt-type transmission according to claim 2 wherein said second driving-pulleY closing means includes: a. radially extending grooves of radially-outwardly-decreasing depth in one of said driving pulley members; b. the deeper ends of said radially extending grooves respectively communicating with the deeper ends of said circumferentially extending grooves; and c. means for displacing said balls into the deeper ends of said circumferentially extending grooves so that they may move radially outwardly in said radially extending grooves under the influence of centrifugal force.

Claim 5

A variable-ratio belt-type transmission as set forth in claim 1 including torque responsive means for axially separating said driven pulley members to decrease the pitch diameter of said driven pulley.

Claim 6

In a variable-ratio belt-type transmission according to claim 1 comprising spring means for normally urging said driving pulley members apart.

Claim 7

In a variable-ratio belt-type transmission for transmitting power from a driving shaft of an engine to a driven shaft when the engine is running and for transmitting power from said driven shaft to said driving shaft to start the engine when it is not running, the combination of: a. a variable-pitch-diameter driving pulley for mounting on such driving shaft and comprising two coaxial, relatively axially movable, generally frusto-conical driving pulley members; b. a variable-pitch-diameter driven pulley for mounting on such driven shaft and comprising two coaxial, relatively axially movable, generally frusto-conical driven pulley members; c. said driving and driven pulleys being adapted to receive a V-belt trained therebetween, the driving pulley members being normally positioned to a non-belt-engaging position; d. overrunning clutch means positioned in between and coupled to said driving pulley members and engageable by the inner periphery of such belt; e. said clutch means being adapted to be engaged and thereby couple said driving pulley members to such belt when said driven pulley drives such belt, whereby the engine may be started by means of power applied to such driven shaft and delivered to such driving shaft through said driven pulley, such belt and said clutch means; f. said clutch means being adapted to be disengaged and thereby uncouple said driving pulley from such belt when the engine is running and said driving pulley drives such belt; g. first driving-pulley closing means operable when said clutch means is engaged and responsive to torque applied to said clutch means by such belt for relatively moving said driving pulley members axially toward each other into a belt-engaging position; and h. second driving-pulley closing means operable when said clutch means is disengaged and responsive to centrifugal force caused by rotation of said driving pulley for relatively moving said driving pulley members axially toward each other into a belt-engaging position and to vary the pitch diameter belt-engaging position thereof.

Claim 8

In a variable-ratio belt-type transmission for transmitting power from a driving shaft of an engine to a driven shaft when the engine is running and for transmitting power from said driven shaft to said driving shaft to start the engine when it is not running, the combination of: a. a variable-pitch-diameter driving pulley for mounting on such driving shaft and comprising two coaxial, relatively axially movable, generally frusto-conical driving pulley members; b. a variable-pitch-diameter driven pulley for mounting on such driven shaft and comprising two coaxial, relatively axially movable, generally frusto-conical driven pulley members; c. said driving and driven pulleys being adapted to receive a V-belt trained therebetween, the driving pulley members being normally positioned to a non-belt-engaging position; d. overrunning clutch means positioned in between and coupled to said driving pulley members and engageable by the inner periphery of such belt; e. said clutch means being adapted to be engaged and thereby couple said driving pulley members to such belt when said driven pulley drives such belt, whereby the engine may be started by means of power applied to such driven shaft and delivered to such driving shaft through said driven pulley, such belt and said clutch means; f. said clutch means being adapted to be disengaged and thereby uncouple said driving pulley from such belt when the engine is running and said driving pulley drives such belt; g. first driving-pulley closing means operable when said clutch means is engaged and responsive to torque applied to said clutch means by such belt for relatively moving said driving pulley members axially toward each other into a belt-engaging position; and h. second driving-pulley closing means operable when said clutch means is disengaged and responsive to centrifugal force caused by rotation of said driving pulley for relatively moving said driving pulley members axially toward each other into a belt-engaging position and to vary the pitch diameter belt-engaging position thereof.

Claim 9

A variable-ratio belt-type transmission as defined in claim 6 wherein said first driving-pulley closing means includes: a. circumferentially extending grooves of circumferentially decreasing depth in one of said driving pulley members; b. balls in each said grooves; and c. means for displacing said balls toward the shallower ends of said grooves.

Claim 10

A variable-ratio belt-type transmission according to claim 7 wherein said second driving-pulley closing means includes: a. radially extending grooves or radially-outwardly-decreasing depth in one of said driving pulley members; b. the deeper ends of said radially extending grooves respectively communicating with the deeper ends of said circumferentially extending grooves; and c. means for displacing said balls into the deeper ends of said circumferentially extending grooves so that they may move radially outwardly in said radially extending grooves under the influence of centrifugal force.

Claim 11

In a variable-ratio belt-type transmission accOrding to claim 6 comprising spring means for normally urging said driving pulley members apart.

Claim 12

A variable-pitch-diameter driving pulley for mounting on a driving shaft and comprising: a. two coaxial, relatively axially movable, generally frusto-conical driving pulley members; b. the driving pulley members being normally positioned to a non-belt-engaging position and adapted to receive a V-belt therebetweeen; c. overrunning clutch means positioned in between and coupled to said driving pulley members and engageable by the inner periphery of such belt; d. said clutch means being adapted to be engaged and thereby couple such belt to said driving pulley members when driven by such belt, whereby the engine may be started by means of power applied to such belt and said clutch means; e. said clutch means being adapted to be disengaged and thereby uncouple such belt from said driving pulley when said driving pulley drives such belt; f. first driving-pulley closing means operable when said clutch means is engaged and responsive to torque applied to said clutch means by such belt for relatively moving said driving pulley members axially toward each other into a belt-engaging position; and g. second driving-pulley closing means operable when said clutch means is disengaged and responsive to centrifugal force caused by rotation of said driving pulley for relatively moving said driving pulley members axially toward each other into a belt-engaging position and to vary the pitch diameter belt-engaging position thereof.

Claim 13

A variable-pitch-diameter driving pulley for mounting on a driving shaft and comprising: a. two coaxial, relatively axially movable, generally frusto-conical driving pulley members; b. the driving pulley members being normally positioned to a non-belt-engaging position and adapted to receive a V-belt therebetweeen; c. overrunning clutch means positioned in between and coupled to said driving pulley members and engageable by the inner periphery of such belt; d. said clutch means being adapted to be engaged and thereby couple such belt to said driving pulley members when driven by such belt, whereby the engine may be started by means of power applied to such belt and said clutch means; e. said clutch means being adapted to be disengaged and thereby uncouple such belt from said driving pulley when said driving pulley drives such belt; f. first driving-pulley closing means operable when said clutch means is engaged and responsive to torque applied to said clutch means by such belt for relatively moving said driving pulley members axially toward each other into a belt-engaging position; and g. second driving-pulley closing means operable when said clutch means is disengaged and responsive to centrifugal force caused by rotation of said driving pulley for relatively moving said driving pulley members axially toward each other into a belt-engaging position and to vary the pitch diameter belt-engaging position thereof.

Claim 14

A variable-ratio belt-type transmission as defined in claim 10 wherein said first driving-pulley closing means includes: a. circumferentially extending grooves of circumferentially decreasing depth in one of said driving pulley members; b. balls in each said grooves; and c. means for displacing said balls toward the shallower ends of said grooves.

Claim 15

A variable-ratio belt-type transmission according to claim 11 wherein said second driving-pulley closing means includes: a. radially extending grooves of radially-outwardly-decreasing depth in one of said driving pulley members; b. the deeper ends of said radially extending grooves respectively communicating with the deeper ends of said circumferentially extending grooves; and c. means for displacing said balls into the deeper ends of said circumferentially extending grooves so that they may move radially outwardly in said radially extending grooves under the influence of centrifugal force.

Claim 16

In a variable-ratio belt-type transmission according to claim 10 comprising spring means for normally urging said driving pulley members apart.