US4914914A — Hydrostatically operated continuously variable tr…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 258 words

A hydrostatically operated continuously variable transmission comprising: a fixed casing; an input shaft rotatably supported in said casing; a hydraulic pump coupled to said input shaft; an output shaft rotatably supported in said casing; a hydraulic motor coupled to said output shaft; a cylinder block rotatable with one of said input and output shafts; a closed hydraulic circuit disposed in said cylinder block and interconnecting said hydraulic motor and said hydraulic pump; one of said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor comprising a plurality of first plungers reciprocably disposed radially in said cylinder block, and a first eccentric ring engaging outer ends of said first plungers and supported in said casing eccentrically with respect to the center of rotation of said cylinder block for imparting reciprocating movement to said first plungers in response to rotation of said cylinder block; the other of said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor comprising a plurality of second plungers reciprocably disposed radially in said cylinder block, and a second eccentric ring engaging outer ends of said second plungers and supported relatively rotatably on the other of said input and output shafts eccentrically with respect to the center of rotation of said cylinder block for imparting reciprocating movement to said second plungers in response to relative rotation between said cylinder block and said other of the input and output shafts; and means for causing at least one of said first and second eccentric rings to be eccentrically displaced from said center of rotation of said cylinder block by a variable amount of eccentricity.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 258 words

A hydrostatically operated continuously variable transmission comprising: a fixed casing; an input shaft rotatably supported in said casing; a hydraulic pump coupled to said input shaft; an output shaft rotatably supported in said casing; a hydraulic motor coupled to said output shaft; a cylinder block rotatable with one of said input and output shafts; a closed hydraulic circuit disposed in said cylinder block and interconnecting said hydraulic motor and said hydraulic pump; one of said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor comprising a plurality of first plungers reciprocably disposed radially in said cylinder block, and a first eccentric ring engaging outer ends of said first plungers and supported in said casing eccentrically with respect to the center of rotation of said cylinder block for imparting reciprocating movement to said first plungers in response to rotation of said cylinder block; the other of said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor comprising a plurality of second plungers reciprocably disposed radially in said cylinder block, and a second eccentric ring engaging outer ends of said second plungers and supported relatively rotatably on the other of said input and output shafts eccentrically with respect to the center of rotation of said cylinder block for imparting reciprocating movement to said second plungers in response to relative rotation between said cylinder block and said other of the input and output shafts; and means for causing at least one of said first and second eccentric rings to be eccentrically displaced from said center of rotation of said cylinder block by a variable amount of eccentricity.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

A hydrostatically operated continuously variable transmission according to claim 1, wherein said one of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor is the hydraulic pump, and said first plungers comprise pump plungers.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 68 words

A hydrostatically operated continuously variable transmission according to claim 1, wherein said cylinder block has a plurality of first cylinder holes defined radially therein, said first plungers being radially slidably fitted in said first cylinder holes, respectively, and a plurality of second cylinder holes defined radially therein and axially spaced from said first cylinder holes, said second plungers being radially slidably fitted in said second cylinder holes, respectively.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 55 words

A hydrostatically operated continuously variable transmission according to claim 3, further comprising first springs disposed respectively in said first cylinder holes for normally urging said first plungers radially toward said first eccentric rings, and second springs disposed respectively in said second cylinder holes for normally urging said second plungers radially toward said second eccentric rings.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

A hydrostatically operated continuously variable transmission according to claim 1, wherein said first and second eccentric rings are disposed in radially surrounding relation to said cylinder block.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 254 words

A hydrostatically operated continuously variable transmission with an input shaft rotatably supported in a fixed casing, an output shaft rotatably supported in said casing, a hydraulic pump coupled to said input shaft, and a hydraulic motor coupled to said output shaft, comprising, a cylinder block rotatable with one of said input and output shafts, a closed hydraulic circuit disposed in said cylinder block and interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor, one of said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor comprising a plurality of first plungers reciprocably disposed radially in said cylinder block, and a first eccentric ring engaging outer ends of said first plungers and supported in said casing eccentrically with respect to the center of rotation of said cylinder block for imparting reciprocating movement to said first plungers in response to rotation of said cylinder block, the other of said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor comprising a plurality of second plungers reciprocally disposed radially in said cylinder block, and a second eccentric ring engaging outer ends of said second plungers and supported relatively rotatably on the other of said input and output shafts eccentrically with respect to the center of rotation of said cylinder block for imparting reciprocating movement to said second plungers in response to relative rotation between said cylinder block and said other of the input and output shafts, and at least one of said first and second eccentric rings being eccentrically displaced from said center of rotation of said cylinder block by a variable amount of eccentricity.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 254 words

A hydrostatically operated continuously variable transmission with an input shaft rotatably supported in a fixed casing, an output shaft rotatably supported in said casing, a hydraulic pump coupled to said input shaft, and a hydraulic motor coupled to said output shaft, comprising, a cylinder block rotatable with one of said input and output shafts, a closed hydraulic circuit disposed in said cylinder block and interconnecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor, one of said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor comprising a plurality of first plungers reciprocably disposed radially in said cylinder block, and a first eccentric ring engaging outer ends of said first plungers and supported in said casing eccentrically with respect to the center of rotation of said cylinder block for imparting reciprocating movement to said first plungers in response to rotation of said cylinder block, the other of said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor comprising a plurality of second plungers reciprocally disposed radially in said cylinder block, and a second eccentric ring engaging outer ends of said second plungers and supported relatively rotatably on the other of said input and output shafts eccentrically with respect to the center of rotation of said cylinder block for imparting reciprocating movement to said second plungers in response to relative rotation between said cylinder block and said other of the input and output shafts, and at least one of said first and second eccentric rings being eccentrically displaced from said center of rotation of said cylinder block by a variable amount of eccentricity.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 38 words

A transmission according to claim 6, further comprising pivot shaft means for rockably supporting said first eccentric ring in said casing and positioning means for variably positioning said first eccentric ring in cooperation with said pivot shaft means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

A transmission according to claim 7, wherein said positioning means varies the variable amount of eccentricity.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

A transmission according to claim 7, wherein said positioning means comprises a sector gear coupled to said first eccentric ring, and worn gear means supported on said casing for engaging said sector gear.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

A hydrostatically operated continuously variable transmission according to claim 3, further comprising pivot shaft means for rockably supporting said first eccentric ring in said casing and positioning means for variably positioning said first eccentric ring in cooperation with said pivot shaft means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 42 words

A hydrostatically operated continuously variable transmission according to claim 5, further comprising pivot shaft means for rockably supporting said first eccentric ring in said casing and positioning means for variably positioning said first eccentric ring in cooperation with said pivot shaft means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-04-09	1993-10-09	1994-04-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-04-09	1997-10-09	1998-04-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-04-09	2001-10-09	2002-04-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hydrostatically operated continuously variable transmission

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