US4515028A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-speed drive
Assignee: Frederick Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1983-03-29
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Granted: 1985-05-07
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Expires: 2003-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A multi-speed drive has input and output shafts aligned on a first axis and connected to one another by a cone drive which has a plurality of conical surfaces sloped at various angles to form a "composite" cone. The composite cone is connected to the input shaft by a crank and rotates about a second axis which is oblique to, but intersects, the first axis at a point of intersection which is also a point of coincidence of the apexes of the conical surfaces. The composite cone rolls on one of a plurality of annular, conical surfaces, each of which is aligned with one of the conical surfaces on the cone. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, all of the annular surfaces are free to rotate with respect to the composite cone, with the exception of the single annular surface that the composite cone rolls upon. This surface may be selected by stopping its rotation with a braking device, such as a pin or a prony brake. In the alternative, the conical annular surfaces may be slid axially in and out of engagement with their respective annular surfaces on the composite cone to select the desired output speed. A constant velocity joint connects the composite cone to the output shaft so as to transmit the rotation of the composite cone to the output shaft. By selecting a single angle (γ) between the first and second axis, and by selecting appropriate angles (α) for the conical surfaces, various output speeds and torques may be applied to the output shaft for a single input speed according to the ratio (R) wherein: ##EQU1## The aforedescribed multi-speed drive provides positive speed reductions and negative speed reductions. In addition, it provides "overdrive", direct drive, "park " and neutral modes of operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy E. VanDerLinden
- 👤 John H. Francis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:01
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H15/00; F16H15/48; F16H15/56; F16H13/00; F16H13/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S475/00; Y10S475/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
344 words
A multi-speed drive comprising: a supporting frame; an input shaft; means for mounting the input shaft for rotation with respect to the supporting frame about a first axis; a plurality of first members disposed about the first axis, the first members having conical surfaces thereon of different slopes with respect to the first axis, wherein the conical surfaces have apexes which are coincident at a single point, which point is coincident with the first axis; means for mounting the first members for rotation with respect to the frame; means for selectively stopping the first members individually; a second member having a plurality of second conical surfaces in individual engagement with the plurality of first conical surfaces along lines of contact, said second conical surfaces having apexes which are coincident with the apexes of the first conical surface; means for mounting the second member for rotation about a second axis which is oblique with respect to the first axis, said second axis being coincident with the apexes of the first and second conical surfaces and with the first axis; means for connecting the mounting means to the input shaft to rotate the mounting means about the first axis in a first direction, wherein the second conical surfaces revolve around the first axis as the second member rotates about the second axis, wherein one of the second conical surfaces rolls on whichever of the first members is stopped with respect to the frame with progressive line contact with respect thereto and without sliding motion with respect thereto; an output shaft mounted for rotation in the frame, the output shaft being in alignment with the first axis; a coupling having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the output shaft, and the second end being connected to the second member at a location in juxtaposition with the apexes of the conical surfaces thereon; whereby, the second shaft has an output torque, speed and direction which is determined by whichever of the first members is stopped with respect to the frame by the stopping means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
344 words
A multi-speed drive comprising: a supporting frame; an input shaft; means for mounting the input shaft for rotation with respect to the supporting frame about a first axis; a plurality of first members disposed about the first axis, the first members having conical surfaces thereon of different slopes with respect to the first axis, wherein the conical surfaces have apexes which are coincident at a single point, which point is coincident with the first axis; means for mounting the first members for rotation with respect to the frame; means for selectively stopping the first members individually; a second member having a plurality of second conical surfaces in individual engagement with the plurality of first conical surfaces along lines of contact, said second conical surfaces having apexes which are coincident with the apexes of the first conical surface; means for mounting the second member for rotation about a second axis which is oblique with respect to the first axis, said second axis being coincident with the apexes of the first and second conical surfaces and with the first axis; means for connecting the mounting means to the input shaft to rotate the mounting means about the first axis in a first direction, wherein the second conical surfaces revolve around the first axis as the second member rotates about the second axis, wherein one of the second conical surfaces rolls on whichever of the first members is stopped with respect to the frame with progressive line contact with respect thereto and without sliding motion with respect thereto; an output shaft mounted for rotation in the frame, the output shaft being in alignment with the first axis; a coupling having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the output shaft, and the second end being connected to the second member at a location in juxtaposition with the apexes of the conical surfaces thereon; whereby, the second shaft has an output torque, speed and direction which is determined by whichever of the first members is stopped with respect to the frame by the stopping means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
The multi-speed drive of claim 1 wherein the angle (α) that each line of contact makes with a plane normal to the first axis and the angle (γ) that the second axis makes with the first axis determine the ratio (R) of the input speed to the output speed for a selected first member in accordance with the formula: ##EQU3## whereby, when R=∞ the transmission is in "park", when R>1 the transmission has a reduced output speed with respect to the input speed, when R=1 the transmission has an output speed equal to the input speed, when -1<R<1 the transmission has an output speed greater than the input speed, and when R<0 the transmission is operating in reverse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
267 words
A multi-speed drive comprising: an input shaft and an output shaft aligned with one another on a first axis; a plurality of first conical surfaces disposed around the first axis, said first conical surfaces having apecies coincident with the first axis; a plurality of second conical surfaces secured to the input shaft and oriented for rotation about a second axis, which second axis is at an angle (γ) with respect to the first axis and intersects the first axis at a point of intersection; each of the second conical surfaces corresponding to a first conical surface and the second conical surfaces having apecies which are coincident with the first axis; each of the first and the second conical surfaces having as a generatrix a radially extending straight line which intersects the first axis at a point and rotates about that point through 360° at a constant angle (α) with respect to a plane normal to the first axis; means for fixing a selected one of the first conical surfaces with respect to and in engagement with a corresponding second conical surface along a line of contact, which line of contact makes the angle (α) with respect to the plane normal to the first axis, the line of contact being coincident with the point of intersection of the second axis with the first axis; whereby a single output speed is selected, and coupling means for connecting the second conical surfaces to the output shaft, whereby torque generated due to rotation of the input shaft is transmitted to the output shaft at a speed selected by the fixing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
267 words
A multi-speed drive comprising: an input shaft and an output shaft aligned with one another on a first axis; a plurality of first conical surfaces disposed around the first axis, said first conical surfaces having apecies coincident with the first axis; a plurality of second conical surfaces secured to the input shaft and oriented for rotation about a second axis, which second axis is at an angle (γ) with respect to the first axis and intersects the first axis at a point of intersection; each of the second conical surfaces corresponding to a first conical surface and the second conical surfaces having apecies which are coincident with the first axis; each of the first and the second conical surfaces having as a generatrix a radially extending straight line which intersects the first axis at a point and rotates about that point through 360° at a constant angle (α) with respect to a plane normal to the first axis; means for fixing a selected one of the first conical surfaces with respect to and in engagement with a corresponding second conical surface along a line of contact, which line of contact makes the angle (α) with respect to the plane normal to the first axis, the line of contact being coincident with the point of intersection of the second axis with the first axis; whereby a single output speed is selected, and coupling means for connecting the second conical surfaces to the output shaft, whereby torque generated due to rotation of the input shaft is transmitted to the output shaft at a speed selected by the fixing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The multi-speed drive of claim 3 wherein the angle (α) that the line of contact makes with the plane normal to the first axis and the angle (γ) that the second axis makes with the first axis determines a ratio (R) of the output speed, torque and direction with respect to the input speed, torque and direction for a selected first conical surface and corresponding second conical surface according to the formula: ##EQU4##
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The multi-speed drive of claim 4 including first and second conical surfaces selectively associated with one another by the fixing means wherein the angles α and γ are such that R>absolute 1, whereby a speed reduction occurs between the input and output shafts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The multi-speed drive of claim 4 including at least one first conical surface and a corresponding second conical surface selectively associated with one another by the fixing means wherein the angles α and γ are such that R approaches "infinity" whereby a "park" condition occurs between the input and output shafts with the output shaft locked as the input shaft rotates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The multi-speed drive of claim 6 wherein R is "infinity" when α equals minus one-half γ.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The multi-speed drive of claim 4 including at least one first conical surface and a corresponding second conical surface selectively associated with one another by the fixing means wherein the angles α and γ are such that R<absolute 1 whereby a speed increase occurs between the input and output shafts resulting in an "overdrive" mode of operation for the drive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The multi-speed drive of claim 4 including at least one first conical surface and a corresponding second conical surface selectively associated with one another by the fixing means wherein the angles α and γ are such that R changes sign and the output shaft rotates in the opposite direction, thereby providing a "reverse" mode of operation for the mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The multi-speed drive of claim 1 wherein the angle (γ) that the second axis makes with the first axis is fixed for a respective design of the drive and wherein the angle (α) that each line of contact makes with a plane extending perpendicular to the first axis determines the speed reduction ratio in accordance with the formula: ##EQU5##
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-05-06 | 1988-11-05 | 1989-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-05-06 | 1992-11-05 | 1993-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-05-06 | 1996-11-05 | 1997-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |