US3850050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuously variable automatic transmission
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-02-06
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1993-02-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention comprises a continuously variable automatic transmission in which the input shaft drives the planet gear carrier of a planetary gear train, the internal gear being connected to the output shaft and the sun gear being driven by the input shaft through an expansible pulley V-belt drive, the ratio of which is controlled by a centrifugal device driven by the input shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 J Lemmens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:00
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H37/00; F16H37/02; F16H37/06; F16H37/08; F16H37/0833; F16H37/084; F16H37/0846; F16H2037/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission comprising an input shaft, a differential gear train having first gear means, second gear means, and third gear means, a proportional speed drive operatively connected between said input shaft and one of said first, second, and third gear means to rotate the same, a continuously variable V-belt drive operatively connected between said input shaft and another one of said first, second, and third gear means and including one expansible pulley operatively connected to said input shaft, another expansible pulley connected to said another one of said first, second, and third gear means, and a V-belt running on said pulleys, each of said expansible pulleys comprises a pair of flanges, one flange of each respective pulley on opposite sides of said V-belt being axially displaceable, the other flange of each respective pulley on opposite sides of said V-belt being axially fixed, an output shaft connected to the last one of said first, second and third gear means, centrifugal control means connected to said one axially displaceable flange of said one expansible pulley and to said input shaft and responsive to the rotational speed of the latter to continuously vary the speed ratio of said continuously variable V-belt drive as a function of said rotational speed, resilient means between said flanges of said one pulley urging the flanges thereof apart, and torque responsive cam means connected to the displaceable flange of said another pulley urging said flanges towards each other, said centrifugal control means comprising a plurality of weights in cam relation with the side of said displaceable flange of said one pulley opposite said V-belt, and a mount radially slidably mounting said weights.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
277 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission comprising an input shaft, a differential gear train having first gear means, second gear means, and third gear means, a proportional speed drive operatively connected between said input shaft and one of said first, second, and third gear means to rotate the same, a continuously variable V-belt drive operatively connected between said input shaft and another one of said first, second, and third gear means and including one expansible pulley operatively connected to said input shaft, another expansible pulley connected to said another one of said first, second, and third gear means, and a V-belt running on said pulleys, each of said expansible pulleys comprises a pair of flanges, one flange of each respective pulley on opposite sides of said V-belt being axially displaceable, the other flange of each respective pulley on opposite sides of said V-belt being axially fixed, an output shaft connected to the last one of said first, second and third gear means, centrifugal control means connected to said one axially displaceable flange of said one expansible pulley and to said input shaft and responsive to the rotational speed of the latter to continuously vary the speed ratio of said continuously variable V-belt drive as a function of said rotational speed, resilient means between said flanges of said one pulley urging the flanges thereof apart, and torque responsive cam means connected to the displaceable flange of said another pulley urging said flanges towards each other, said centrifugal control means comprising a plurality of weights in cam relation with the side of said displaceable flange of said one pulley opposite said V-belt, and a mount radially slidably mounting said weights.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 1, further including manual control means, connected to said mount, the latter being axially slidable with respect to said displaceable flange of said one pulley and axially shiftable by actuation of said manual control means, whereby to select ranges of speed ratios.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 2, wherein said differential gear train is a planetary gear train, said first gear means is a sun gear, constituting said another one of said gear means, said second gear means is a carrier constituting said one of said gear means and carrying a plurality of planet gears meshing with said sun gear, said third gear means is an internal gear constituting said last one of said gear means and meshing with said planet gears, said manual selector means is constructed and arranged to set said V-belt drive to drive said sun gear at a speed equal to the speed of said carrier multiplied by the sum of the gear tooth ratio of said internal gear to said sun gear plus one, where upon said internal gear is at a standstill and the transmission is in neutral setting, and to drive said sun gear at decreased speeds determining a forward drive setting and at increased speeds determining a reverse drive setting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
A continuously vsriable automatic transmission according to claim 1, wherein said differential gear train is a planetary gear train having a sun gear, a carrier with a plurality of planet gears meshing with said sun gear and an internal gear meshing with said planet gears, a first and a second sprocket wheels are connected to said planet carrier for rotation therewith, a unidirectional clutch and a centrifugal clutch are mounted on said input shaft, a third sprocket wheel is connected to said unidirectional clutch, a fourth sprocket wheel is connected to said centrifugal Clutch, a first chain connects said first sprocket wheel to said third sprocket wheel, a second chain connects said second sprocket wheel to said fourth sprocket wheel, and the transmission ratio of said third sprocket wheel to said first sprocket wheel is smaller than the transmission ratio of said fourth sprocket wheel to said second sprocket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 2, wherein said manual selector means comprises a sleeve rotatable together with said displaceable flange of said one pulley and axially slidable with respect to both flanges of the latter, means associated with said sleeve and engageable with said displaceable flange of said one pulley to displace the same axially, a ring rotatably mounted and axially fixed on said sleeve, and an arm connected to said ring to displace said sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 5, wherein said transmission comprises a fixed casing having one helical slide slot for said arm causing axial movement of said ring and said sleeve when said arm is moved along said one slide slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 6, wherein said arm is rigidly connected to said ring, the latter comprises a guide pin rigidly connected thereto opposite said arm, and said fixed casing has another helical slide slot for said pin opposite and of the same inclination as said one slide slot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 7, wherein said manual selector means further comprises a lock operatively connected between said arm and said casing to lock said arm in neutral setting position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 8, wherein said lock comprises a pin slidably mounted on said arm, a recess in said casing adjacent said another slide slot to receive said pin, a spring urging said pin in engagement with said recess and a handle connected to said pin to move said pin out of engagement with said recess.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 9, wherein said sleeve and said mount are constituted by a single element located on the same side of said displaceable flange of said one pull as said sleeve, and an additional flange is secured to said displaceable flange of said one pulley and forms therewith an enclosure for said centrifugal weights and the latter are constructed and arranged in camming relationship with said additional flange and constitutes means to axially displace said displaceable flange of said one pulley.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 10, wherein said weights are mounted on said mount for partly axially inclined radial sliding movement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 9, wherein said sleeve is located on the side of said fixed flange of said one pulley opposite said displaceable flange thereof and is operatively connected thereto by a plurality of fingers traversing said fixed flange of said one pulley.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 12, wherein said fingers are secured to said displaceable flange of said one pulley and butt against said sleeve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 13, wherein an additional flange is disposed on the side of said displaceable flange of said one pulley opposite said fixed flange, and is axially fixed with respect to the latter, and said displaceable flange of said one pulley and said additional flange enclose said weights therebetween, in cam relation with said additional flange.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 14, further comprising a flywheel operatively connected to said sun gear.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 4, wherein said two carrier sprocket wheels are of the same size and said unidirectional clutch sprocket wheel is smallEr than said centrifugal clutch sprocket wheel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
108 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 16, wherein said centrifugal clutch comprises a drum connected to said fourth sprocket wheel associated therewith, a hub connected to said input shaft, a pair of opposite weighted plates, parallel links pivoted to said plates and to said hub, resilient means interconnecting said plates and urging them for centering action thereon towards said hub, and cam and spring means connected to said links and arranged to resist the centering action of said resilient means on said plates until the input shaft speed falls to a value lower than that required to move said clutch plates into engagement with said drum.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 1, further including a centrifugal clutch connected to said input shaft and arranged to accelerate the latter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
A continuously variable automatic transmission according to claim 1, further including a centrifugal clutch and a unidirectional clutch mounted onto said input shaft to be driven by the latter, and each having an output means and connected to said planet carrier and constructed and arranged to independently drive the latter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1797826A
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US2276186A
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GB742914A
Cited
US2889716A
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US2974544A
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US3340749A
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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) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |