Patent US3778195A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4458559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Infinitely variable belt-drive transmission
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1982-09-30
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Granted: 1984-07-10
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Expires: 2002-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A continuously variable belt driven pulley system drives a torque converter followed by a planetary reversing speed reduction gearset another speed reduction unit and the differential, which distributes power to the drive wheels of the vehicle. The drive system of a motor vehicle according to a second aspect of the invention includes a continuously variable flexible belt-pulley system driving a reversing bevel or planetary gear set and a tandem fluid coupling, which functions as a limited slip differential and distributes power to the drivewheels of the vehicle through two speed reduction gearsets driven from two output shafts of the fluid coupling.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard L. Croswhite
- 👤 Po-lung Liang
- 👤 Alan R. Fisher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:39
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H47/00; F16H47/06; F16H47/065; F16H37/00; F16H37/02; F16H37/06; F16H37/08; F16H48/00; F16H48/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19005; Y10T74/19023; Y10T74/19074; Y10T74/19079; Y10T74/19102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A motor vehicle transmission for producing a range of infinitely variable torque ratios between an input member and an output member comprising: means driven by said input member for producing a stepless range of variable torque ratios between the input member and the output of said variable torque ratio means; a gearset driven by said variable torque ratio means adapted to produce selectively forward drive or reverse drive in the output member; a fluid coupling driven by said gear set adapted to driveably connect the output of the gear set to the output member of said fluid coupling; and a double reduction gear arrangement driven by said fluid coupling adapted to transmit power to the drive wheels of the vehicle at a reduced speed as compared to the speed of the output member of said fluid coupling.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A motor vehicle transmission for producing a range of infinitely variable torque ratios between an input member and an output member comprising: means driven by said input member for producing a stepless range of variable torque ratios between the input member and the output of said variable torque ratio means; a gearset driven by said variable torque ratio means adapted to produce selectively forward drive or reverse drive in the output member; a fluid coupling driven by said gear set adapted to driveably connect the output of the gear set to the output member of said fluid coupling; and a double reduction gear arrangement driven by said fluid coupling adapted to transmit power to the drive wheels of the vehicle at a reduced speed as compared to the speed of the output member of said fluid coupling.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
The transmission according to claim 1 wherein said variable torque ratio producing means comprises a first sheave mounted for rotation about a first axis having spaced rotary members providing a first pair of oppositely facing conical surfaces at least one rotary member being adapted for axial movement on the first axis; a second sheave mounted for rotation about a second axis having spaced rotary members providing a second pair of oppositely facing conical surfaces at least one rotary member being adapted for axial movement on the second axis; and an endless flexible belt mounted driveably on the first and second pair of conical surfaces adapted to be driven by said first sheave and to drive said second sheave.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The transmission according to claim 1 wherein said gearset produces the same speed at its output as the speed at which it is driven by said variable torque ratio means during forward drive and reverse drive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The transmission according to claim 1 wherein said gearset produces forward drive by locking any two members of the gearset together and reverse drive by fixing one member to the transmission casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The transmission according to claim 4 wherein said double reduction gear arrangement includes: a first speed reduction gearset driven from an output member of said fluid coupling having an output shaft driveably connected to the drive wheel on one side of the vehicle; and a second speed reduction gear set driven from an output member of said fluid coupling having an output shaft driveably connected to the drive wheel on the other side of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The transmission according to claim 1 wherein the output of said fluid coupling has ouput members adapted to drive first and second speed reduction gearsets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
A motor vehicle transmission for producing a range of infinitely variable torque ratios between an input member and an output member comprising: means driven by said input member for producing a stepless range of variable torque ratios between the input member and the output of said variable torque ratio means; a gearset driven by said variable torque ratio means adapted to produce selectively forward drive or reverse drive in the output member; a fluid coupling driven by said gear set adapted to produce no multiplication of torque between its input and output and adapted to hydraulically driveably connect the output of the gear set to the output member of said fluid coupling; and a double reduction gear arrangement driven by said fluid coupling adapted to transmit power to the drive wheels of the vehicle at a reduced speed as compared to the speed of the output member of said fluid coupling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
A motor vehicle transmission for producing a range of infinitely variable torque ratios between an input member and an output member comprising: means driven by said input member for producing a stepless range of variable torque ratios between the input member and the output of said variable torque ratio means; a gearset driven by said variable torque ratio means adapted to produce selectively forward drive or reverse drive in the output member; a fluid coupling driven by said gear set adapted to produce no multiplication of torque between its input and output and adapted to hydraulically driveably connect the output of the gear set to the output member of said fluid coupling; and a double reduction gear arrangement driven by said fluid coupling adapted to transmit power to the drive wheels of the vehicle at a reduced speed as compared to the speed of the output member of said fluid coupling.
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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) | 1987-07-10 | 1988-01-09 | 1988-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-10 | 1992-01-09 | 1992-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-10 | 1996-01-09 | 1996-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |