Patent ID: 6241635
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A transmission comprising:a shaft rotatable about a predetermined axis;a pulley having a first flange affixed to said shaft and a second flange rotatable with and movable axially of said shaft toward and away from said first flange, said flanges having confronting conical surfaces bounding an annular space having a width, as seen in the direction of said axis, which varies in response to movement of said second flange relative to said first flange, at least one of said flanges comprising a plurality of interconnected components comprised at least in part of a metallic sheet material, at least one of the interconnected components being a frustoconical component and at least another of the interconnected components being a support for the frustoconical component;an endless flexible element trained over said pulley and including a looped portion received in said annular space; andmeans for moving said second flange, including the support that is a component of said second flange, disposed axially to a side of the second flange facing away from said first flange, said side of said second flange defining a plurality of annular plenum chambers and said moving means further comprising means for sealing said chambers, said sealing means extending in at least one of a plurality of directions including radially and axially of said shaft, wherein said second flange comprises a frustoconical component adjacent said space, said support being non-rotatably mounted on said shaft and including a frustoconical first portion extending from a median portion of said frustoconical component toward said shaft, a second portion substantially parallel to said axis and extending from said frustoconical portion away from said space, and a third portion extending from said second portion radially outwardly and away from said shaft, one of said chambers surrounding said second portion of said support and another of said chambers being located radially inwardly of said one chamber.