Transmission having an infinitely variable drive ratio

Claim 2

A variable gear ratio transmissioN for transmitting torque and having an input shaft and an output shaft; said transmission comprising in combination: a. a first tapered gear connected to the input shaft, said first gear having a plurality of constant width longitudinally oriented splines; b. a second tapered gear connected to the output shaft, said second gear having a plurality of constant width longitudinally oriented splines, said second gear being mounted with its axis parallel to and in alignment with the axis of said first gear, said first and second gears having the adjacent portions of their surfaces parallel to one another in the plane containing the axis of said first and second gears; c. a drive chain interconnecting said first and second gears, said drive chain including a plurality of pivotal chain links to accommodate the varying circumference of said first and second gears; d. gripping means disposed within said drive chain for gripping said splines of said first and second gears, said gripping means alternately engaging and disengaging said splines of said first and second gears as said drive chain travels about said first and second gears; and e. guide means for positioning said drive chain along the axis of said first and second gears; whereby, said gripping means positively engages said splines of said first and second gears to establish a gear ratio commensurate with the position of said guide means.

Claim 3

A variable gear ratio transmission for transmitting torque and having an input shaft and an output shaft; said transmission comprising in combination: a. a first tapered gear connected to the input shaft, said first gear having a plurality of constant width longitudinally oriented splines; b. a second tapered gear connected to the output shaft, said second gear having a plurality of constant width longitudinally oriented splines, said second gear being mounted with its axis parallel to the axis of said first gear, said first and second gears having the adjacent portions of their surfaces parallel to one another in the plane containing the axis of said first and second gears; c. a drive chain interconnecting said first and second gears, said drive chain including a plurality of pivotable chain links to accommodate the varying circumference of said first and second gears; d. gripping means disposed within said drive chain for gripping said splines of said first and second gears; and e. guide means for positioning said drive chain along the axis of said first and second gears, said guide means comprising: i. a rotatable worm gear; ii. a follower assembly engaging said worm gear, said follower assembly being translatable along the axis of said worm gear in response to rotation of said worm gear; and iii. arms extending from said follower for guiding said drive chain commensurate with movement of said follower assembly; whereby, said gripping means positively engages said splines of said first and second gears to establish a gear ratio commensurate with the position of said guide means.

Claim 4

A variable gear ratio transmission for transmitting torque and having an input shaft and an output shaft; said transmission comprising in combination: a. a first tapered gear connected to the input shaft, said first gear having a plurality of constant width longitudinally oriented splines; b. a second tapered gear connected to the output shaft, said second gear having a plurality of constant width longitudinally oriented splines, said second gear being mounted with its axis parallel to the axis of said first gear, said first and second gears having the adjacent portions of their surfaces parallel to one another in the plane containing the axis of said first and second gears; c. a drive chain interconnecting said first and second gears, said drive chain including a plurality of pivotable chain links to accommodate the varying circumference of said first and second gears; d. gripping means disposed within said drive chain for gripping said splines of said first and second gears; and e. guide means for positioning said drive chain along the axis of said first and second gears, said guide means comprising: i. a rotatable worm gear; ii. a follower assembly engaging said worm gear, said follower assembly being translatable along the axis of said worm gear in response to rotation of said worm gear; and iii. arms extending from said follower for guiding said drive chain commensurate with movement of said follower assembly; whereby, said gripping means positively engages said splines of said first and second gears to establish a gear ratio commensurate with the position of said guide means.

Claim 5

The transmission as set forth in claim 2 including motor means for rotating said worm gear.

Claim 6

The transmission as set forth in claim 3 further including control means for selectively actuating said motor means.

Claim 7

The transmission as set forth in claim 1 wherein said splines of said first and second gears are of constant width and height.

Claim 8

A variable gear ratio transmission for transmitting torque and having an input shaft and an output shaft; said transmission comprising in combination: a. a first tapered gear connected to the input shaft, said first gear having a plurality of longitudinally oriented splines of constant width and height; b. a second tapered gear connected to the output shaft, said second gear having a plurality of longitudinally oriented splines of constant width and height, said second gear being mounted with its axis parallel to the axis of said first gear, said first and seconD gears having the adjacent portions of their surfaces parallel to one another in the plane containing the axis of said first and second gears; c. a drive chain interconnecting said first and second gears, said drive chain including a plurality of pivotable chain links to accommodate the varying circumference of said first and second gears; d. gripping means disposed within said drive chain for gripping said splines of said first and second gears, said gripping means comprising a chain link having a recess disposed therein, said recess being equivalent in width and depth to the width and height of said splines, respectively; and e. guide means for positioning said drive chain along the axis of said first and second gears; whereby, said gripping means positively engages said splines of said first and second gears to establish a gear ratio commensurate with the position of said guide means.

Claim 9

A variable gear ratio transmission for transmitting torque and having an input shaft and an output shaft; said transmission comprising in combination: a. a first tapered gear connected to the input shaft, said first gear having a plurality of longitudinally oriented splines of constant width and height; b. a second tapered gear connected to the output shaft, said second gear having a plurality of longitudinally oriented splines of constant width and height, said second gear being mounted with its axis parallel to the axis of said first gear, said first and seconD gears having the adjacent portions of their surfaces parallel to one another in the plane containing the axis of said first and second gears; c. a drive chain interconnecting said first and second gears, said drive chain including a plurality of pivotable chain links to accommodate the varying circumference of said first and second gears; d. gripping means disposed within said drive chain for gripping said splines of said first and second gears, said gripping means comprising a chain link having a recess disposed therein, said recess being equivalent in width and depth to the width and height of said splines, respectively; and e. guide means for positioning said drive chain along the axis of said first and second gears; whereby, said gripping means positively engages said splines of said first and second gears to establish a gear ratio commensurate with the position of said guide means.

Claim 10

The transmission as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drive chain includes a plurality of tiers of aligned ones of said chain links, each said tier being pivotally connected to an adjacent tier to form an endless chain.