Patent GB-473040-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to change-speed gear devices
IPC: F16D41/08
Filed: 1936-11-21
Abstract: 473,040. Ratchet gearing; toothed gearing ; free-wheel clutches. ROBIN, L., and ROGGEN, M. VAN. Nov. 21, 1936, No. 31901. Convention date, Nov. 21, 1935. [Classes 80 (i), 80 (ii), and 80 (iii)] In a change-speed gear for motor vehicles comprising a variable - throw connecting - rod driving the driven shaft through a friction ratchet gear, the latter comprises one or more balls or rollers adapted to wedge between a pair of surfaces in one direction of relative rotation of the latter, while in the other direction one of the surfaces rolls upon the other. Thus, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, the variable-throw connecting-rod oscillates an arm 8 journalled on the driven shaft 7 and carrying, on a crankpin or eccentric, a roller 10 which is in rolling contact with the interior or exterior of a drum 2 secured to the shaft 7, a spring-urged roller 3 being arranged to wedge between the surfaces of the roller 10 and the drum 2. These surfaces may be conical and may contact frictionally or may have meshing gear teeth. In the form shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the arm 8 carries a number of rollers 10 each of which has a toothed part 12 meshing with internal teeth on an outer flange 20 of the driven member 2. Wedging rollers 3 coact between the rollers 10 and the flange 20 and also between the rollers 10 and an inner flange 20<1> of the member 2. The rollers 3 associated with each roller 10 are carried in a spring- urged cage 13 mounted on the spindle of the roller 10, the spring connection being capable of being reversed so that the direction of drive may be altered. Alternatively, the inner and outer sets of wedging rollers may be carried in separate spring-urged cages coaxial with the shaft 7. In another form, loose rollers 10 are in toothed engagement both with a flange of the driven member 2, and with a sleeve portion of the arm 8 which is loose on the shaft 7, inner and outer sets of wedging rollers 3 being provided. The single wedging rollers 3 may each be replaced by sets of graded rollers mounted in wedge-shaped cages. Alternatively, a tubular resilient roller 3 may be mounted in a wedge 18, Fig. 28, wedging being first produced by the roller, which is then deformed so that the surfaces of the wedge 18 come into action. Slipping of the wedge may be prevented by means of an auxiliary wedging ball coacting between the wedge and the roller 10. A number of driving arms 8, having oscillating movements of different phase, may coact with a single driven member. A reversible arrangement utilizes oppositely-acting sets of wedging rollers 3, Figs. 22 and 24, arranged between the driven flange 20 and a roller 10 carried on an eccentric 9 which is formed on the driving arm 8, and which is journalled on the driven shaft 7. The rollers 3 are carried in a single cage 18 which is acted on by oppositely-acting leaf springs 4 abutting against a member 19 secured to a collar 24 journalled on the eccentric 9. A member 25, having a pinion portion 29 coacting with toothed actuating sectors 28, is carried by an arm 26 integral with the arm 8 and co-operates with depressions 27, 27', 27" in the collar 24. When the member 25 engages the middle depression 27<1>, neither set of wedging rollers is effective, and no drive ensues. By bringing the member 25 into engagement with one or other of the depressions 27 and 27<11>, forward or reverse drive is obtained. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91, comprises also an arrangement in which wedges are used in place of balls or rollers. It also describes a free-wheel clutch between two shafts constructed in a similar manner. It further describes an arrangement in which a driving member having a linear reciprocating movement carries a roller which is in rolling contact with a driven member, a spring-urged wedging roller being arranged between the rolling surfaces to impart linear movement in one direction to the driven member. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.