Patent ID: 6338692
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: F16H

Abstract:
An infinitely variable power transmission mechanism for transmitting torque from a rotary torque input shaft to a rotary torque output shaft comprising a rotary driving member connected to the torque input shaft and a rotary driven member connected to the torque output shaft, the rotary driving and driven members having adjacent curved surfaces;the curved surface of at least one of the driving and driven members being generally conical, said generally conical surface having a continuously curved profile that extends from one axial end thereof to the opposite axial end; the driving member and the driven member being mounted for rotation respectively on a torque input shaft axis and a torque output shaft axis, each member including a cluster of torque transmitting needles on its surface, the needles extending in a radially outward direction relative to the shaft axes; the needles of the driving member being in meshing contact with the needles of the driven member in an area of mesh whereby torque is transferred from one rotary member to the other; a separate carrier for each member, the torque input shaft and the torque output shaft for each member being journalled in a separate one of the carriers; a transmission case enclosing the carriers; bearing means for supporting the carriers for floating movement in the case relative to the shaft axes; and means for adjusting the positions of the carriers, one with respect to the other, whereby the angularity of the shaft axes is controlled.