Controllable clutch

Claim 2

A clutch for selectively clutching and declutching a first member and a second member, comprising: a rail on said first member; a plurality of clutch rollers each in the form of a circular surface of revolution mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes transverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for applying a rotative torque to said clutch rollers about their respective said axes, upon relative movement between said first member and said clutch rollers whenever said members are in a declutched condition; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: control means distinct from said first member for selectively causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller; and load means including a load clutch roller disposed at the other end of said clutch roller line, and coupled to said second member for transmitting a load between said members, thereby clutching together said members.

Claim 3

Clutch in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said members are substantially circular and are mounted, one within the other, for rotation about a central axis, said clutch roller line being generally circular and concentric with said central axis.

Claim 4

Clutch in accordance with claim 2 wherein: said clutch roller axes lie substantially in a circular surface of revolution centered on said central axis; and are disposed radially with respect to said central axis; said clutch rollers are conical in configuration and have gear teeth meshing with one of said members.

Claim 5

Clutch in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said control means comprises means for restraining rotation of said control clutch roller.

Claim 6

Clutch in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said load means comprises an axle constituting the axis of said load clutch roller, and journaled in said second member.

Claim 7

Clutch in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said load means comprises a load clutch gear coupled to said load clutch roller, and complementary gear teeth on said second member meshing with said load clutch gear.

Claim 8

Clutch in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said control means comprises means for imparting rotation to said control clutch roller; whereby if the rate of said rotation is less than that imparted to said control clutch roller by said first member, said control clutch roller is moved toward, and into binding contact with, the adjacent clutch roller and the clutch is in engaged mode; and if the rate of said rotation is greater than that imparted to said control clutch roller by said first member, said control clutch roller is moved away from the adjacent clutch roller and the clutch is in disengaged mode.

Claim 9

Clutch in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said coupling means comprises a plurality of traction rollers mounted for rotation about traction axes transverse of said rail; said traction axes being disposed on a traction roller line located between said clutch roller line and said rail; said traction rollers having a contact surface in rolling engagement with said rail and said clutch rollers; said first member having a contact surface paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers include a surface in rolling engagement with said contact surface; the distance between said contact surface and said rail being less than the sum of the diameters of said clutch roller surfaces and the respective traction roller contact surface; whereby a wedging action may be effected between each said traction roller surface and said rail, and between each said clutch roller surface and said contact surface, thereby to couple together said members.

Claim 10

A clutch comprising: a first member having a rail a plurality of clutch rollers mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes transverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for imparting rotation to said clutch rollers upon relative movement between said first member and said clutch rollers and including meshing gear teeth on said rail and certain of said clutch rollers; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: control means for causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller; a second member at the other end of said clutch roller line and load means including a load clutch roller adjacent said second member for transmitting a load between said members.

Claim 11

A clutch comprising: a first member having a rail a plurality of clutch rollers mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes transverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for imparting rotation to said clutch rollers upon relative movement between said first member and said clutch rollers and including meshing gear teeth on said rail and certain of said clutch rollers; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: control means for causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller; a second member at the other end of said clutch roller line and load means including a load clutch roller adjacent said second member for transmitting a load between said members.

Claim 12

A clutch comprising: a rotatably mounted shaft member having a pair of axially spaced flanges; a cylindrical member mounted for rotation co-axially circumjacent said shaft member, leaving an annular space between said shaft member and said cylindrical member; a plurality of clutch rollers extending between said flanges in said annular space and having axes paralleling the axis of said shaft member and said cylindrical member, the axes of said clutch rollers being disposed on a generally circular clutch roller line; said clutch rollers being rotatable and being translatable toward and away from each along said clutch roller line; coupling means for coupling said cylindrical member and said clutch rollers for imparting rotation to said clutch rollers upon relative rotation between said cylindrical member and said shaft member; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together along said clutch roller line and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said cylindrical member and said shaft member together; said bunching means including control means for causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller; and a load clutch roller at the other end of said clutch roller line for transmitting load between said cylindrical member and said shaft member.

Claim 13

A clutch comprising: a rotatably mounted shaft member having a pair of axially spaced flanges; a cylindrical member mounted for rotation co-axially circumjacent said shaft member, leaving an annular space between said shaft member and said cylindrical member; a plurality of clutch rollers extending between said flanges in said annular space and having axes paralleling the axis of said shaft member and said cylindrical member, the axes of said clutch rollers being disposed on a generally circular clutch roller line; said clutch rollers being rotatable and being translatable toward and away from each along said clutch roller line; coupling means for coupling said cylindrical member and said clutch rollers for imparting rotation to said clutch rollers upon relative rotation between said cylindrical member and said shaft member; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together along said clutch roller line and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said cylindrical member and said shaft member together; said bunching means including control means for causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller; and a load clutch roller at the other end of said clutch roller line for transmitting load between said cylindrical member and said shaft member.

Claim 14

A clutch comprising: a rotatably mounted shaft member having a pair of axially spaced flanges; a cylindrical member mounted for rotation co-axially circumjacent said shaft member, leaving an annular space between said shaft member and said cylindrical member; a plurality of clutch rollers extending between said flanges in said annular space and having axes paralleling the axis of said shaft member and said cylindrical member, the axes of said clutch rollers being disposed on a generally circular clutch roller line; said clutch rollers being rotatable and being translatable toward and away from each other along said clutch roller line; coupling means for coupling said cylindrical member and said clutch rollers for imparting rotation to said clutch rollers upon relative rotation between said cylindrical member and said shaft member and including internal rack teeth on said cylindrical member and meshing gear teeth on certain of said clutch rollers; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together along said clutch roller line and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said cylindrical member and said shaft member together; said bunching means including control means for causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller; and a load clutch roller at the other end of said clutch roller line for transmitting load between said cylindrical member and said shaft member.

Claim 15

A clutch comprising: a rotatably mounted shaft member having a pair of axially spaced flanges; a cylindrical member mounted for rotation co-axially circumjacent said shaft member, leaving an annular space between said shaft member and said cylindrical member; a plurality of clutch rollers extending between said flanges in said annular space and having axes paralleling the axis of said shaft member and said cylindrical member, the axes of said clutch rollers being disposed on a generally circular clutch roller line; said clutch rollers being rotatable and being translatable toward and away from each other along said clutch roller line; coupling means for coupling said cylindrical member and said clutch rollers for imparting rotation to said clutch rollers upon relative rotation between said cylindrical member and said shaft member and including internal rack teeth on said cylindrical member and meshing gear teeth on certain of said clutch rollers; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together along said clutch roller line and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said cylindrical member and said shaft member together; said bunching means including control means for causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller; and a load clutch roller at the other end of said clutch roller line for transmitting load between said cylindrical member and said shaft member.

Claim 16

Continuously variable transmission, comprising: frame means; first and second shaft means journalled in said frame means; a clutch comprising a first member coupled to said first shaft means and having a rail; a second member coupled to said second shaft means; a plurality of clutch rollers mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes tranverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for applying a rotative torque to said clutch rollers about their respective said axes, upon relative between said first member and said clutch rollers whenever said members are in a declutched condition; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: clutch control means distinct from said first member for selectively causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller; load means including a load clutch roller disposed at the other end of said clutch roller line and coupled to said second member for transmitting a load between said members; and variable speed control means coupled to said clutch control means.

Claim 17

Continuously variable transmission, comprising: frame means; first and second shaft means journalled in said frame means; a clutch comprising a first member coupled to said first shaft means and having a rail; a second member coupled to said second shaft means; a plurality of clutch rollers mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes tranverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for applying a rotative torque to said clutch rollers about their respective said axes, upon relative between said first member and said clutch rollers whenever said members are in a declutched condition; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: clutch control means distinct from said first member for selectively causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller; load means including a load clutch roller disposed at the other end of said clutch roller line and coupled to said second member for transmitting a load between said members; and variable speed control means coupled to said clutch control means.

Claim 18

A clutch for selectively clutching and declutching a first member and a second member comprising: a rail on said first member; a plurality of clutch rollers each in the form of a circular surface of revolution mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes transverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for applying a rotative torque to said clutch rollers about their respective said axes, upon relative movement between said first member and said clutch rollers whenever said members are in a declutched condition; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: control means distinct from said member for selectively causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller or move away from and out of contact with said adjacent clutch roller; and load means including a load clutch roller disposed at the other end of said clutch roller line and coupled to said second member for transmitting a load between said members, thereby clutching together said members.

Claim 19

A clutch for selectively clutching and declutching a first member and a second member comprising: a rail on said first member; a plurality of clutch rollers each in the form of a circular surface of revolution mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes transverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for applying a rotative torque to said clutch rollers about their respective said axes, upon relative movement between said first member and said clutch rollers whenever said members are in a declutched condition; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: control means distinct from said member for selectively causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller or move away from and out of contact with said adjacent clutch roller; and load means including a load clutch roller disposed at the other end of said clutch roller line and coupled to said second member for transmitting a load between said members, thereby clutching together said members.

Claim 20

A clutch comprising: a first member having a rail; a plurality of clutch rollers mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes transverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for imparting rotation to said clutch rollers upon relative movement between said first member and said clutch roller and including meshing gear teeth on said rail and certain of said clutch rollers; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lcok said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: control means for causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to selectively move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller or move away from and out of contact with said adjacent clutch roller; a second member at the other end of said clutch roller line; and load means including a load clutch roller adjacent said second member for transmitting a load between said members.

Claim 21

A clutch comprising: a first member having a rail; a plurality of clutch rollers mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes transverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for imparting rotation to said clutch rollers upon relative movement between said first member and said clutch roller and including meshing gear teeth on said rail and certain of said clutch rollers; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lcok said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: control means for causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to selectively move toward and contact the adjacent clutch roller or move away from and out of contact with said adjacent clutch roller; a second member at the other end of said clutch roller line; and load means including a load clutch roller adjacent said second member for transmitting a load between said members.

Claim 22

A clutch for selectively clutching and declutching a first member and a second member comprising: a rail on said first member; a plurality of clutch rollers each in the form of a circular surface of revolution mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes transverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for applying a rotative torque to said clutch rollers about their respective said axes, upon relative movement between said first member and said clutch rollers whenever said members are in a declutched condition; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: control means distinct from said first member for selectively causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to selectively move away from and out of contact with said adjacent clutch roller thereby declutching said members; and load means including a load clutch roller disposed at the other end of said clutch roller line and coupled to said second member for transmitting a load between said members, thereby clutching together said members.

Claim 23

A clutch for selectively clutching and declutching a first member and a second member comprising: a rail on said first member; a plurality of clutch rollers each in the form of a circular surface of revolution mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes transverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for applying a rotative torque to said clutch rollers about their respective said axes, upon relative movement between said first member and said clutch rollers whenever said members are in a declutched condition; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lock said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: control means distinct from said first member for selectively causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to selectively move away from and out of contact with said adjacent clutch roller thereby declutching said members; and load means including a load clutch roller disposed at the other end of said clutch roller line and coupled to said second member for transmitting a load between said members, thereby clutching together said members.

Claim 24

A clutch comprising: a first member having a rail; a plurality of clutch rollers mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes transverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for imparting rotation to said clutch rollers upon relative movement between said first member and said clutch rollers and including meshing gear teeth on said rail and certain of said clutch rollers; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lcok said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: control means for causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to selectively move away from and out of contact with said adjacent clutch roller; a second member at the other end of said clutch roller line; and load means including a load clutch roller adjacent said second member for transmitting a load between said members.

Claim 25

A clutch comprising: a first member having a rail; a plurality of clutch rollers mounted for rotation about clutch roller axes transverse of said rail; said clutch roller axes being disposed on a clutch roller line substantially paralleling said rail; said clutch rollers being movable toward and away from each other; coupling means for coupling said rail and said clutch rollers for imparting rotation to said clutch rollers upon relative movement between said first member and said clutch rollers and including meshing gear teeth on said rail and certain of said clutch rollers; bunching means for causing said clutch rollers to bunch frictionally together and bind against rotation, thereby to lcok said first member and said clutch rollers together, and including: control means for causing a control clutch roller at one end of said clutch roller line to selectively move away from and out of contact with said adjacent clutch roller; a second member at the other end of said clutch roller line; and load means including a load clutch roller adjacent said second member for transmitting a load between said members.