Patent GB-833383-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in variable-pitch sheaves with lubricating means
IPC: F16H55/56
Filed: 1957-10-31
Abstract: 833,383. Expanding pulley gearing; shaft couplings. WOOD'S SONS CO., T. B. Oct. 31, 1957 [Nov. 7, 1956], No. 34060/57. Class 80 (2). An expanding pulley comprises a pair of conically faced flanges carried by a sleeve, one flange being slidable on the sleeve and in torque transmitting relation therewith, the hub of the one flange having radial freedom on the sleeve and having lubricant seals towards its ends, and the sleeve having a fluid lubricant reservoir communicating with the outside of the sleeve between the seals. Two conical flanges 21, 22 are rotatably and slidably mounted on a sleeve 5 keyed to a driving-shaft 1 which extends partly into the bore of the sleeve. The remainder 13 of the sleeve bore forms a lubricant reservoir communicating by ducts 36, 37, 39 with the slight clearance between the exterior of the sleeve and the bore of the hubs 26, 27 of the flanges 21, 22. Lubricant is fed to the bearing surfaces by centrifugal force and distributed by the relative rolling movement of the sleeve and the hubs, and is retained by oil seals 30 at the ends of the hubs. The flanges are connected torsionally with the sleeve and urged axially together by springs 40, 41 located in recesses in the flanges and in flanges 44, 45 secured to the ends of the sleeve, and connected torsionally by inturned ends 50, 60, 64, 70 engaging radial grooves in the respective flanges. In a second embodiment, Fig. 3, the flanges 87, 89 are connected for common rotation with slight play by rods 119, 120 secured to the flange 89 and having nylon bearing-pads 126, 127 sliding in drillings 129, 130 in flange 87. The springs 132, 134 are not torsionally connected to the flanges. Torque connection between the sleeve 77 and the flanges is provided by camming surfaces 144, 151 (Fig. 4) on flanges 141 and 149 rigid respectively with the sleeve and the flange. A cushion 156 of rubber with nylon bearing surfaces is interposed between the camming surfaces to allow slight relative movement and ensure equal load distribution between the cam surfaces. In a third embodiment, Fig. 6, the boss 183 of the flange 180 is rotatably and slidably free on the boss 182 of the flange 181 which is similarly mounted on the sleeve 165. Torsional drive with slight play is provided by crossed spindles 209, 210 mounted in rubber bushes 219 in the sleeve and having triangular blocks 222, 223 and 231, 232 engaging triangular openings 224, 225 and 234, 235, respectively, formed in the outer and inner flange bosses 183 and 182. In a modification the spindles are connected to the sleeve by blade-springs in place of the rubber bushes. In a fourth embodiment, Fig. 12, the flanges 340, 341 have interpenetrating cones and are torsionally connected with the sleeve 327 by splines 372, 377 formed on axially-extending flanges 361, 375 rigid with the sleeve and the conical flanges. Slight torsional movement is permitted by rubber blocks 380 between the driving faces of the splines, friction in the splines being reduced by a nylon insertion. In a modification, one flange is integral with the sleeve which acts as a bearing for the hub of the other flange.