Patent GB-392570-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to variable-speed and other friction gearing
Inventor: HAYES FRANK A
IPC: F16H15/38
Filed: 1931-08-19
Abstract: 392,570. Variable-speed and other friction gearing. HAYES, F. A., Middletown Township, New Jersey, U.S.A. Aug. 19, 1931, No. 23394. [Classes 80 (i) and 80 (ii).] Friction gearing comprises friction planetary or other rollers each rolling on each of two discs, the rollers being arranged in two sets inclined oppositely with respect to a median transverse plane containing the centres of all the rollers. Thus a pair of rollers 19, 20, Fig. 12, engages discs 15, 18, and roller 21 with its companion 22, (not shown), engages discs 16, 17. In a preferred arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, twin sets of rollers operating by precession, as described in Specification 254,341, [Class 80 (ii), Gearing, Variable-speed &c.], are located in a single plane. The discs 15, 17 are splined on an extension 23a of a driving-shaft 23. The discs 16, 18 are formed in one piece connected by a web 25 to a driven shaft 26. The two pairs of rollers 19, 20 and 21, 22 are non- planetary being supported in a cage 45, Fig. 9, having projecting fingers 46 engaging notches in a fixed casing web 47, Fig. 1. Each roller such as 19 turns on ball bearings on a pin 36 supported in a carrier 38, Fig. 10, supported at its ends on ball joints on a rocker 44, Fig. 7, to initate precession as described in Specification 344,062, and the carriers 38 are supported at a permanent slight inclination to terminate the precessional action as described in Specification 344,061. The rockers 44, Fig. 7, are supported in trunnions in the cage 45 and each has an arm 53 terminating at an inclined pin 57 engaging an inclined slot in a central disc 58. The load is equalised between the rollers of each pair and between the two pairs by free automatic floating movements of the disc 58 transversely and axially respectively, according to the subject-matter of Specification 392,589. This two-fold floating movement is effected by rocking about a ball bearing 60a, Fig. 1, and sliding on that bearing respectively. The turning of the disc 58 rocks the rockers to initiate precessional change of speed. The speed control is effected by turning a control ring 60 which is connected to the disc 58 by arms 59, Fig. 2. Means for operating the control ring 60 automatically upon a vehicle are described in Specification 392,586. The shafts 23, 23a are connected by means for automatically proportioning the frictional engaging pressure to the load without effecting any relative turning of the toric discs which would unbalance the precessional action. A plate 86, Fig. 1, loose about the shaft 23a has a dog connection with a cup 85 on the driving- shaft 23. The plate 86 is supported at its back by a ball bearing 87 threaded fast on the shaft 23a. The faces of the plate 86 and of the disc 15 have recesses 89, 90, Fig. 11, engaged by presser-balls 88 which ride on the recess inclines to proportion the axial frictiongenerating thrust, while the disc 15 is not relatively turned. Reversal of drive is effected by sliding a splined clutch gear 95, Fig. 1, from the position shown into engagement with a clutch-faced gear 100 fast on a propeller shaft 101. An alternative construction in which the rockers and carriers are dispensed with and the pairs of rollers are supported on two spiders having crossed arms with ball ends is described in connection with the subjectmatter of Specification 392,589.