Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
A transmission mechanism having a transmission ratio which is variable in a continuous manner, comprising at least one driving shaft and at least one driven shaft, a first pulley mounted on the driving shaft to rotate with the driving shaft and having a cheek which is fixed in translation and a cheek which is movable in translation relative to the fixed cheek, a second pulley mounted on the driven shaft to rotate with the driven shaft and having a cheek fixed in translation and a cheek which is movable in translation relative to the fixed cheek of the second pulley, means associated with the displacement of the movable cheek of the first pulley, means for biasing the movable cheek toward the fixed cheek of the second pulley, and transmission means extending around the first pulley and second pulley, radially extending elements mounted on the driving shaft and the driven shaft for rotation with the driving shaft and the driven shaft and located between the fixed cheek and the movable cheek of the first pulley and the fixed cheek and the movable cheek of the second pulley said radially extending elements being axially movable on said driving and driven shaft as the distance between the cheeks varies, said transmission means having portions which define recesses in the transmission means, the radially extending elements being capable of engaging in corresponding recesses of said recesses in operation of the mechanism, said portions of the transmission means having an elasticity transversely of the transmission means whereby to ensure the gripping of said radially extending elements upon the application of a force for moving the cheeks of said first and second pulleys toward each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
A transmission mechanism having a transmission ratio which is variable in a continuous manner, comprising at least one driving shaft and at least one driven shaft, a first pulley mounted on the driving shaft to rotate with the driving shaft and having a cheek which is fixed in translation and a cheek which is movable in translation relative to the fixed cheek, a second pulley mounted on the driven shaft to rotate with the driven shaft and having a cheek fixed in translation and a cheek which is movable in translation relative to the fixed cheek of the second pulley, means associated with the displacement of the movable cheek of the first pulley, means for biasing the movable cheek toward the fixed cheek of the second pulley, and transmission means extending around the first pulley and second pulley, radially extending elements mounted on the driving shaft and the driven shaft for rotation with the driving shaft and the driven shaft and located between the fixed cheek and the movable cheek of the first pulley and the fixed cheek and the movable cheek of the second pulley said radially extending elements being axially movable on said driving and driven shaft as the distance between the cheeks varies, said transmission means having portions which define recesses in the transmission means, the radially extending elements being capable of engaging in corresponding recesses of said recesses in operation of the mechanism, said portions of the transmission means having an elasticity transversely of the transmission means whereby to ensure the gripping of said radially extending elements upon the application of a force for moving the cheeks of said first and second pulleys toward each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission means comprise a chain having links and each link of the chain comprises elastically yieldable plates which constitute said portions of the transmission means which have a transverse elasticity and define said recesses parallel to the direction of displacement of the chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein each chain link is in one piece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein each chain link comprises a stack of plates and pins extending transversely of the link and chain and holding said stack of plates assembled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said stacks comprises end plates, elastically yieldable plates inserted between the end plates, shims interposed between the elastically yieldable plates and defining said recesses, plates provided with tab portions defining apertures, articulation pins extending through the apertures and connecting the link to the adjacent link, and plates forming shims interposed between said plates provided with tab portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission means comprise a belt, belt elements carried by the belt and comprising portions having an elasticity transversely of the belt element and belt and defining said recesses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said belt elements is fixed to said belt by an upper part of the belt element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said belt elements is fixed to said belt by a lower part of the belt element, a slot being defined by each of said belt elements, through which slot said belt extends.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
A mechanism as claimed in any one of the claims 2 to 5, comprising a frustoconical surface on each cheek, contact means at the ends of each chain link for cooperation and contact with the frustoconical surfaces of the cheeks of the pulleys, each contact means comprising a projecting portion rigid with each of the outer plates of the considered link, a curved elastically yieldable means carried by the projecting portion for achieving the gripping of the radially extending elements by said elastically yieldable plates of the links when the links reach a radial position relative to the frustoconical surfaces of the cheeks of the pulleys.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein said elastically yieldable means is outwardly convex and includes hook portions engaged in recesses formed in the projecting portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein said elastically yieldable means has an outwardly facing concavity and a rivet fixes the elastically yieldable means to said projecting portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein each link comprises at least one heel portion disposed above a contact means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
A mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1, 6, 7 or 8, comprising a frustoconical surface on each cheek, contact means at the ends of each belt element for cooperation and contact with the frustoconical surfaces of the cheeks of the pulleys, each contact means comprising a projecting portion rigid with each outer end of the considered belt element, a curved elastically yieldable means carried by the projecting portion for achieving the gripping of the radially extending elements by said elastically yieldable plates of the belt element when the belt elements reach a radial position relative to the frustoconical surfaces of the cheeks of the pulleys.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 13, wherein said elastically yieldable means is outwardly convex and includes hook portions engaged in recesses formed in the projecting portions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 13, wherein said elastically yieldable means has an outwardly facing concavity and a rivet fixes the elastically yieldable means to said projecting portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mechanism as claimed in any one of the claims 1 and 6, 7 or 8, wherein each belt element comprises at least one heel portion disposed above a contact means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein said radially extending elements comprise planar discs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein said radially extending elements comprise biconvex discs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 17, comprising a hub which carries the discs and is keyed to rotate with the corresponding shaft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 18, comprising a hub which carries the discs and is keyed to rotate with the corresponding shaft.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein said radially extending elements are in the shape of a comb having curved comb teeth, the mechanism further comprising pins which are parallel to the shaft of the considered pulley and are evenly spaced apart around said shaft, the comb-shaped elements being rotatably mounted on the pins and means for deploying said comb-shaped elements.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 21, wherein said deploying means comprise a sleeve having outer teeth and mounted to rotate on the shaft of the considered pulley, toothed sectors associated with each comb-shaped element, and a return spring cooperative with the sleeve for biasing the sleeve in a direction for deploying said comb-shaped elements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission means comprise a rigid ring and said recesses are annular and said radially extending elements extend into said annular recesses.