Patent ID: 6044722
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A variable torque transmission, comprising:at least one disc-shaped gear (30) having a circular toothed surface (36); said disc-shaped gear (30) having a predetermined radius extending from a central axis toward an outer circumference of said disc-shaped gear (30), said disc-shaped gear (30) having a first drive shaft (34) secured thereto along said central axis of said disc-shaped gear (30);said circular toothed surface (36) comprising a contiguous plurality of radially extending continuous flat-contoured teeth (32) thereon; said continuous flat-contoured teeth (32) including beveled flat surfaces extending radially outward from said central axis;said continuous flat-contoured teeth (32) having respective continuously extending individual radial lengths (38);said radially extending continuous flat-contoured teeth (32) having a v-shaped cross-section, with a narrow proximal end at said central axis of said disc-shaped gear (30) and a wider distal end at said outer circumference of said disc-shaped gear (30);each radially extending continuous flat-contoured tooth (32) of said contiguous plurality of radially extending continuous flat-contoured teeth (32) being contiguous with and adjacent to another radially extending continuous flat-contoured tooth (32) of said contiguous plurality of radially extending continuous flat-contoured teeth (32);a circular-shaped pinion (10) having a central axis and having a pinion spindle (22) therethrough along said central axis of said circular-shaped pinion (10; said pinion (10) having cone-shaped teeth (12) radially projecting from said central axis; said cone-shaped teeth (12) of said pinion (10) contacting and engaging said beveled flat surfaces of said radially extending continuous flat-contoured teeth (32) of said disc-shaped gear (30) at respective variable radial points of contact along said individual radial lengths (38) of said flat-contoured teeth (32) so as to produce a meshed-gear relationship between said cone-shaped teeth (12) of said circular-shaped pinion (10) and said radially extending continuous flat-contoured teeth (32) of said disc-shaped gear (30); andmeans for varying said variable radial points of contact between said flat-contoured teeth (32) of said disc-shaped gear (30) and said cone-shaped teeth (12) of said circular-shaped pinion (10) for varying output torque developed in said first drive shaft (34) of said at least one disc-shaped gear (30),said means for varying said variable radial points of contact comprising said pinion mounted within a movable housing (20) and an adjustable hinged lever means (50) attached to said movable housing (20) for varying the radial points of contact of said cone-shaped teeth of said circular-shaped pinion (10) along said individual radial lengths (38) of said continuous flat-contoured teeth of said disc-shaped gear for producing infinitely variable and infinitely adjustable variation in said output torque of said first drive shaft (34) of said at least one disc-shaped gear (30),the variable torque transmission providing means for developing output torque at constant speed within said first drive shaft (34) of said disc-shaped gear (30); said output torque being the result of input torque applied to said disc-shaped gear (30) by said circular-shaped pinion (10).