Patent GB-1195205-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Toroidal Race Transmission Units.
Inventor: FELLOWS THOMAS GEORGE
IPC: F16H61/664
Filed: 1966-09-12
Abstract: 1,195,205. Variable-ratio friction gears. NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORP. 4 Sept., 1967 [12 Sept., 1966], No. 40702/66. Heading F2D. In a variable-speed friction gear of the toric disc and roller type, the rollers of each set 4, 5, are simultaneously displaced to initiate precessional tilting to change the ratio by rotation of two thrust receiving members 37, 53, respectively, which are mounted so as to float radially independently to differentially move the rollers of each set so that they are equally loaded, the thrust receiving members 37, 53 being also independently rotatable to equalize the load between each set of rollers, and the thrust receiving members 37, 53 being fast respectively with two equal levers 39, 57 acted on by equal and opposite forces to rotate the members to effect ratio change whilst allowing at all time free radial floating of the thrust receiving members. As shown each roller, e.g. rollers 4, is mounted rotatably in a carrier 33 supported at its ends by rockers 25, 27 pivoted about spider pins 22, 24 and each having a leg engaging in a slot in the thrust receiving member 37. The pins 22, 24 are carried by arms 19, 21 of a fixed spider integral with a sleeve 8 on which is splined a spider for the other rollers 5. The rollers 5 are controlled by the thrust receiving member 53 integral with a sleeve 54 on the opposite end of which is rotatably mounted the thrust receiving member 37. The radial floating of these members is damped by dashpots 41, 51 in the rockers. Lever 39 is splined to an extension of member 37, and lever 57 to the end of sleeve 54. The ends 60, 61 of levers 39, 57 are connected by drop links 62, 63 to fluid actuators 64, 65. Control pressure 66 (e.g. dependent on input or output speed or the ratio of these two, and/or on input or output torque), is delivered to the top of piston 67 and the bottom of piston 68, the other sides of the pistons being interconnected by conduit 69. On increasing the control pressure, piston 67 moves down, and piston 68 up, turning the thrust receiving members 37, 53 to change the transmission ratio, the levers 39, 57 being held in equilibrium by the opposing thrust from the rollers, transmitted by the members 37, 53 and the control pressure. Should one set of rollers transmit less torque than the other, the lever associated with the thrust receiving member of that set will be unbalanced, and will rotate to change the transmission ratio of that set until balance is restored. If the rollers 5 are not transmitting equal torque, member 53 moves radial to differentially change the ratios of these rollers. Similarly for rollers 4, the radial movement of member 37 not being inhibited by the ratio controls. The pivoted connection of drop links 62, 63 with actuators 64, 65 allows free horizontal movement of levers 39, 57 and hence of member 37 and the adjacent end of sleeve 54. Similarly, vertical movement of these members together is allowed by the crossconnection via conduits 66, 69 between the actuators which allow vertical oscillations of the pistons by transference of control fluid from one actuator to the other. These oscillations are damped by a valve 70, as described in Specification 1,073,484. Arm 72 on the actuator 65 is positioned between arms 77, 78 on an arm 75 on actuator 64 to prevent ratio changes being attempted which would drive the rollers off the toric faces. Since ratio changes are made by relative movement between actuators 64, 65, abutment of arm 72 with either of arms 77, 78 prevents such relative movement whilst allowing vertical oscillations of the actuators together for equalization of load for rollers 4.