Torque-dependent pressure mechanism for continuously adjustable ball-type planetary gear set

Claim 1

In a continuously adjustable ball-type planetary gear set having a housing, a driving shaft and a driven shaft supported respectively in said housing for rotation about a common axis, a plurality of planetary balls, a first race mounted on said driving shaft for joint rotation therewith, a second race slidably supported on said driving shaft for free rotation and for axial displacement relative to said first race, said first and second races being provided with inner raceways for engaging those surface portions of said planetary balls which face said driving shaft, a third race connected for joint rotation with said driven shaft, a fourth race arranged for free rotation about said common axis opposite said third race, said third and fourth races being provided with raceways for engaging those surface portions of said planetary balls which are remote from said driving shaft, a combination comprising a torque-dependent pressure mechanism having a pressure plate mounted on said driving shaft for joint rotation therewith; said pressure plate and said second race having inclined facing surfaces defining a converging annular gap therebetween; a plurality of rolling bodies arranged in said annular gap and engaging said facing surfaces; and cam means arranged for joint rotation with said driving shaft and engaging radially said rolling bodies to displace the same radially along said inclined facing surfaces thus imparting to said rolling bodies a rotation about a helical path when a torque develops between said inclined facing surfaces.