Improvements in and relating to Mechanism for Transmitting Power at Variable Speeds.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 6th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
Improvements in and relating to Mechanism for Transmitting
Power at Variable Speeds.
I PAUL AURIOL of 23 Rue Godot-du-Mauroi, Paris, France Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The present invention relates to a mechanism for the transmission without loss
of mechanical power at variable speeds the prime mover itself moving at its normal
speed.
The essential feature of my invention is to have at command the power to
transmit the maximum amount of work which the prime mover is able to produce.
Thus, if the prime mover is working continually at a normal speed, and the
resistance increases, the capability is obtained of opposing the said resistance by a
stronger force but with diminished speed, and conversely, if the resistance decreases
the capability is obtained of diminishing the transmitting power, and at the same.
time increasing the speed, without shock and without the mechanism getting out
of gear.
This mechanism is particularly applicable to motor-cars which on inclines
necessitate a motor of greater power than on a level road in which case the speed
can be increased with less effort.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 represents the mechanism in elevation and half in longitudinal section;
Fig. 2 shows a plan view partly in section of Fig. 1.
B, is a disc mounted on a shaft A;
C, D, are two friction rollers rotated by contact with the disc B, in accordance
with their relative position on opposite sides of the centre of disc B. They are
mounted according to the diameter of the disc B and can be made to approach
nearer to or further away from the centre of shaft A, of disc B, together or
separately. These rollers are faced with leather, compressed paper or any other
suitable material of good adhesive qualities. E, E', are two hollow shafts with a
key a, each mounted upon a solid shaft H.
On these two shafts are mounted the two friction rollers C, D, which slide along
the shafts and can rotate therewith by the aid of the longitudinal key a.
F, F, are two toothed bevel pinions of equal pitch and diameter one mounted
respectively at the extremity of the shaft E, and the other at extremity of E'.
G, G', are two satellite pinions the shafts of which are fixed to a cross-bar in one
piece with the shaft H which turns in the hollow shaft E, E', with little friction.

page_text: The shaft H, is supported at its extremities by the brackets I, I', the brass
bushes of which are pressed by springs J, for the purpose of pressing the
rollers C, D, with sufficient force against the disc B, on the shaft A.
K, K, are two traversing frames to which are connected the centre parts or
bosses of the two friction rollers C, D. The traversing frames K, K', carrying the
friction rollers C, D are caused to recede from or approach each other through
the medium of the screws V, V. These screws are rotated by means of the spur
and pinion gear M, N, N¹. M is a spur wheel, mounted loosely upon the hollow
shaft E', and between two toothed pinions N, N', which in turn are fixed, one, on
each of the screwed shafts V, V. Thus when spur wheel M is rotated by any
convenient means, the traversing frame K, K', carrying the pinions C, D, are
moved backwards or forwards according to the motion given to wheel M. O, is a
pinion on the shaft H which serves to transmit the variable speed motion.
The machine acts as follows:-
If it is desired to have a high speed with a low power prime mover, the friction
roller C, being near the circumference of the disc B, and the friction roller D,
towards the centre of the same, as they turn in opposite directions and at different
velocities the satellite pinions G, G', will turn the shaft H, with a speed equal to
the difference of speed between the two friction rollers C, D. To obtain less speed
it will suffice to draw the friction roller C, towards the centre of the disc B, or to
move the friction roller D, from the centre, or again to draw in the one and
remove the other.
To stop the transmission completely without stopping the motor the two friction
rollers C, D, are brought to an equal distance from the centre. The two friction
rollers turning in opposite directions at an equal velocity the satellite pinions G, G',
would not be able to turn the shaft II.
In order to obtain reverse motion it suffices to place the friction roller C, towards
the centre and the friction roller D, towards the circumference of the disc B; a
change of this speed is obtained in the same manner as for the forward movement
by bringing the friction roller D, towards the centre, or by removing the friction
roller C, from the same or by removing C, from and bringing D towards the
centre, and finally the shaft is stopped by placing the two friction rollers C, D, at
equal distances from the centre.
.
The bushes fixed to the brackets I, I', may be dispensed with in which case the
dise B would press against the friction rollers C, D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
A mechanism which permits of transmission, in both directions and without
shock, of the total power of the prime mover at variable speeds, the prime mover
itself running always at a normal speed. This mechanism is composed of a disc B,
with which engage two friction rollers C, D, which move from or to the centre of
the disc but neither of which ever touches the centre, these two friction rollers
being brought in connection with each other by the satellite pinions G, G', which
transmit the movement to the shaft H, for the purpose specified and as herein
described and set forth.
Dated this 6th day of June 1896.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, E.C., Patent Agent...