Patent ID: 6159125
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A transmission comprising:a frame forming first and second largely parallel tracks extending in closed paths, with said tracks being spaced apart to form a closed loop between them;a plurality of rolling elements lying along said closed loop, including first rolling elements that roll against and along said first track and second rolling elements that roll against and along said second track, with said first and second rolling elements alternating along said gap and rolling against each other, so said rolling elements can push one another along said closed loop;a power input that includes an input shaft, an input wheel mounted on said input shaft, and a plurality of input wheel elements rotatably mounted on said input wheel and positioned to engage selected ones of said rolling elements to push them along said closed loop;said first rolling elements include main roller elements and minor roller elements that each roll along said first track, with said main roller elements having second end portions projecting by a sufficient distance to engage and be pushed by said input wheel elements, and with said minor roller elements having second end portions projecting by less than the second end portions of said main roller elements;said main and minor roller elements being interspersed along said gap, with at least one minor roller element lying between two sequential main roller elements.