US4570501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transmission units of toroidal race rolling friction type
Assignee: NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT Corp 101 NEWINGTON CAUSEWAY LONDON SE1 6BU ENGLAND A CORP OF BRITISH
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Filing: 1983-06-23
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Granted: 1986-02-18
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Expires: 2003-06-23
Abstract
Abstract Mechanism to generate the end load for a toroidal race rolling friction transmission. A chamber connected to a source of high-pressure fluid is formed by two parts, one of which is connected to the input disc of the transmission and the other to the contra-rotating output disc. The gap between the two parts is sealed by a member, for instance a sleeve or ring, fixed to some part of the transmission or associated structure that is stationary or that rotates only slowly, so that the speed of rotation of the sealing member is intermediate to those of the two discs. The specification describes how the pressure within the chamber may be related to the torque transmitted between the discs, how means other than chamber pressure may be used to generate a pre-load force to hold the discs in engagement when the unit is at rest, and how the rise in pressure within the chamber upon the unit coming into operation may relieve the thrust race that withstands the reaction of one disc against the other due to the pre-load when at rest.
Inventors
- 👤 Forbes G. de Bris Perry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:19
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H15/00; F16H15/02; F16H15/04; F16H15/06; F16H15/32; F16H15/36; F16H15/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A toroidal race rolling traction transmission having structural parts including an input disc and an output disc mounted to rotate in opposite directions about a common axis and rollers providing a driving connection between said disc, and also including: hydraulic actuation means including a variable capacity chamber and operable in use to urge said input and output discs towards each other, said chamber comprising first and second defining parts; said first part of said chamber being connected to said input disc so as to rotate about said common axis in the same direction as said input disc; said second part of said chamber being connected to said output disc so as to rotate about said common axis in the same direction as said output disc and thus in contra-rotation to said first part; said first and second parts of said chamber being separated by a gap a dimension of which lies parallel to said common axis, and having elements capable of limited movement in a direction also parallel to said common axis; an annular rubbing sealing member coaxial with said common axis which seals said gap, said sealing member being fixed to a structural part of said transmission other than said input disc and said output disc, whereby, in use, said sealing member rotates about said common axis at a speed, including zero absolute speed, intermediate that of said first and second parts of said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A toroidal race rolling traction transmission having structural parts including an input disc and an output disc mounted to rotate in opposite directions about a common axis and rollers providing a driving connection between said disc, and also including: hydraulic actuation means including a variable capacity chamber and operable in use to urge said input and output discs towards each other, said chamber comprising first and second defining parts; said first part of said chamber being connected to said input disc so as to rotate about said common axis in the same direction as said input disc; said second part of said chamber being connected to said output disc so as to rotate about said common axis in the same direction as said output disc and thus in contra-rotation to said first part; said first and second parts of said chamber being separated by a gap a dimension of which lies parallel to said common axis, and having elements capable of limited movement in a direction also parallel to said common axis; an annular rubbing sealing member coaxial with said common axis which seals said gap, said sealing member being fixed to a structural part of said transmission other than said input disc and said output disc, whereby, in use, said sealing member rotates about said common axis at a speed, including zero absolute speed, intermediate that of said first and second parts of said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A transmission according to claim 1 in which each of said first and second parts of the chamber is directly connected with its associated disc so that each part rotates at full disc speed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A transmission according to claim 1 in which the sealing member is attached to a fixed structural part of the transmission so that it rotates in use at zero absolute speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A transmission according to claim 1 in which the sealing member is in the form of a cylindrical sleeve bridging the gap between the first and second parts of the chamber and in which a locating device carried by the sleeve and registering with the gap limits its freedom from axial travel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A transmission according to claim 1 in which the sealing member is a ring located within the gap between the first and second parts of the chamber, in which the first part of the chamber carries a first face seal and the second part carries a second face seal, and in which opposite faces of the ring make contact with the first and second face seals respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transmission according to claim 5 including a spider structure, and levers mounted upon that structure and operable to change the orientation of the rollers, and in which the ring is fixed to that structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A transmission according to claim 5 including a hollow sleeve fixed to the spider, in which the ring is mounted on the hollow sleeve and arranged so that the shaft of the input disc rotates within that sleeve and the output disc rotates in the opposite direction about the outer surface of the sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A transmission according to claim 1 including a source of fluid at high pressure and connected to the chamber, whereby the pressure of the fluid in the chamber creates at least a substantial part of the end load that urges the discs and rollers into contact during use.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A transmission according to claim 8 including mechanism including a torque reaction cylinder by which orientation of the rollers is altered, and in which means are provided to vary said pressure of said source so that the value of said pressure is a function of the torque transmitted from said input disc to said output disc, whereby the source shares a common pressure datum with the torque reaction cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
A transmission according to claim 9 including a proportioning valve and in which the chamber is supplied with fluid from the same source by way of that valve which is sensitive also to the pressure existing at the torque reaction cylinder, the proportioning valve serving to multiply that pressure by a factor compensating for the size of the chamber and the area upon which fluid within can exert axial thrust.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
A transmission according to claim 9 in which means other than the fluid pressure within the chamber are provided to generate a minor pre-load force to hold the discs and rollers in engagement when the transmission is at rest, and in which a thrust race associated with the chamber withstands the reaction of one disc against the other in response to this pre-load force.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A transmission according to claim 11 in which the source of fluid is operable to supply enough fluid to the chamber to increase its volume sufficiently to relieve the thrust race of load once substantial torque starts to be transmitted from said input disc to said output disc.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A transmission according to claim 12 in which the structure of the chamber includes a bleed passage which uncovers to vent the chamber once its capacity reaches a predetermined value, so limiting further volume increase and further relative axial movement of the two parts of the chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1989-02-17 | 1989-08-19 | 1990-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-17 | 1993-08-19 | 1994-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-17 | 1997-08-19 | 1998-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |