Patent ID: 6629410
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A constant velocity transmission for use in combination with a rotational power source comprising:an output shaft having a center axis therethrough; a drum attached at rear end to said output shaft, said drum having a front end, a rear end, and having a cylindrical wall communicating between said rear end and said front end; said cylindrical wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface; a sealed housing defined by the area in between said cylindrical wall and said front end and said rear end of said drum; an input shaft having a center axis therethrough in line with said center axis of said output shaft; said input shaft having a front end and having an internal end communicating in sealed rotational engagement through said front end of said drum and into said sealed housing; a drive cone mounted about said input shaft, said drive cone having a first end and a second end, said first end having a diameter larger than said second end, thereby forming an inclined exterior surface area; a plurality of drive vanes each having an attachment edge and a distal edge, said drive vanes slidably attached at said attachment edge to said exterior surface of said drive cone, said drive vanes laterally translateable on said exterior surface between a rearward position and a forward position in line with said center axis; means to laterally translate said plurality of drive vanes to a determined position at an infinite number of points between said rearward position and said forward position; a plurality of stater vanes located about said interior surface of said cylindrical wall; said distal ends of said drive vanes varying in distance from said stater vanes depending upon said determined position; fluid located in said sealed housing; and said input shaft when rotated by said rotational power source thereby imparting rotational force to said fluid in said sealed housing, said fluid rotating said drum by imparting said rotational force to said stater vanes, said rotational force imparted to said drum being infinitely variable depending upon said determined position, whereby and the speed and torque communicated to said output shaft attached to said drum, from said input shaft, may be infinitely varied by laterally translating said plurality of drive vanes to said determined point between and thereby adjusting the distance between said distal ends of said drive vanes and said stater vanes.