A mechanical torque converting transmission for producing an output with variable, controllable speed and torque characteristics comprises a rotary input shaft adapted for attachment to a rotary power source and connected to a main drive gear. The drive gear is meshed with a plurality of pinion gears which are journaled for rotation on an arm assembly. An eccentric device is driven by each pinion gear for creating a centrifugal force that cyclically urges the arm assembly in alternating forward and backward directions with a pulsating motion during each rotation of each eccentric device. A clutch is provided for allowing forward movement of the arm assembly while preventing movement in the backward direction during each eccentric revolution. A resiliently displaceable device interconnecting the arm assembly and an output shaft transforms the pulsating motion of the arm assembly to a smooth rotational motion of the output shaft, thereby causing the output shaft to rotate at a different speed and torque from that of the input shaft. Controls can be utilized to activate or deactivate the clutch and also change the phase relationship of the driven eccentric devices in order to vary the transmission output under varying load conditions.

Mechanical torque converter

Disclosed is an automatically variable transmission of the planetary type in which the planet gears of the main or power gear train are carried on a rotatable power cage but are not bounded by an internally toothed ring gear. The transmitted torque and speed (relative to input speed) are functions of the rate of rotation of the power cage. Power cage rotation is controlled by driving it through a second or control planetary gear train having a similar rotatable control cage, the source of power being the input shaft of the transmission. The speed ratio of the main gear train decreases from input to output, while that of the control gear train increases. In operation, the rotational speeds of the power cage and the control cage adjust automatically upon variations in load to values appropriate for delivery of the amount of torque required at the required speed.

Speed responsive planetary transmission

The rotational speed and torque mechanical transducer comprises: (a) a epicyclic gearing presenting a sun gear secured on a main shaft, two planet gears and a planet carrier for carrying the said planet gears, rotatably mounted around the axis of the said main shaft; (b) an active mass connected with each planet gear, whose alternating torques produced by the inertia forces are transmitted to the main shaft, and whose barycenter lies on the axis of rotation of the respective planet gear; (c) coupling means to couple the driving shaft to the said planet carrier for driving the said carrier into swinging rotational movement around its rotational axis; (d) at least a pair of freewheel couplings which provide their locking action in opposite rotational directions, limiting the angular speed of the main shaft, and at least one output shaft coupled, through at least one freewheel coupling, with the main shaft.

Rotational speed and torque mechanical transducer

A transmission is provided which includes a fixed housing or support, an input part moveable relative to the support and a torque shaft, a first one-way clutch between the torque shaft and the driven shaft, linkage elements rotatable about the axis of rotation of the driven shaft under the influence of the input parts and an inertial body mounted on the linkage elements to be cyclically angularly deflected in response to the input part, the reaction forces generated by the inertial body as it cyclically deflected being applied to the torque shaft as a positive and negative torque and the torque shaft being connected over a second one-way clutch opposite to the first one-way clutch either to the support or to the driven shaft over a rotation reversal system whereby the driven shaft can be rotated by the torque shaft in one sense of rotation only

Continuously variable transmission

A continuously variable transmission or drive. The variable reaction torques for transmitting power are transmitted from at least one pair of gyros to a gearwheel interposed between the driving and driven shafts and fixed to a gyro cage containing the gyros. The gyro cage is mounted so as to be rotatable in a rotatable housing. The transmission or drive is characterised in that the said gyros are so arranged that with rotation of the gearwheel about its own axis, under adjusted operating conditions, the two gyros are each constrained to remain parallel to themselves.

Power-transmission mechanism.

This invention is concerned with variable speed gear or mechanism such as is adapted tc be used on motor vehicles to be interposed between the engine and the drive mechanism foi the wheels, but the variable speed mechanism can be used in other situations where an engine or source of power is...

Mechanical torque converter

Citations