Patent ID: 6348021
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
A continuously variable speed power transmission comprising:an input member rotatable about an input axis including a longitudinally extending drive shaft and a canted cam member fixed on the drive shaft having a first bearing track and a cam axis coplanar with the input axis but angularly disposed relative to the input axis; an output member rotatable about an output axis including a plurality of rearwardly directed output face cams thereon, the output member also including a longitudinally extending driven shaft, a hub fixed on the driven shaft, an outer peripheral rim lying in a plane perpendicular to the output axis and extending between an outer peripheral flange on the outer peripheral rim containing the plurality of rearwardly directed output face cams, and a plurality of radially extending spokes at circumferentially spaced locations extending between and integral with the hub and with the outer peripheral rim; a reaction control rotor mounted for selective rotation about the input axis including a plurality of forwardly directed reaction face cams thereon in opposition to the output face cams on the output member, the reaction control rotor also including a hub rotatably mounted on the drive shaft, an outer peripheral rim lying in a plane perpendicular to the input axis and containing the plurality of forwardly directed reaction face cams, and a plurality of radially extending spokes at circumferentially spaced locations extending between and integral with the hub and with the outer peripheral rim; a pericyclic motion converter rotatably mounted for nutational motion about the input axis including a plurality of load transmitting follower members thereon simultaneously engageable with the output face cams and with the reaction face cams, the pericyclic motion converter also including a peripheral ring coplanar and coaxial with the canted cam member, an intermediate ring coplanar and coaxial with the canted cam member and having a second bearing track spaced from and opposed to the first bearing track, bearing elements between and engaged with the first and second bearing tracks enabling rotation of the intermediate ring about the canted cam member, and a plurality of radially extending follower pins at circumferentially spaced locations extending between and integral with the peripheral ring and with the intermediate ring, a load transmitting follower member being rotatably mounted on each of the follower pins; and control means for selectively adjusting the rate of rotation of the reaction control rotor relative to the input member; whereby relative rotation between the reaction control rotor and the input member results in both rotation and nutation of the pericyclic motion converter about the input axis and thereby results in a continuously variable change of ratio of the rotational speed of the output member relative to the input member.