Improvements in Variable Speed Gear.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1899--Accepted, 13th May, 1899
Improvements in Variable Speed Gear.
I, ERNST LANG, of 145, Chaussee d'Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium, 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 new apparatus for providing an easily variable
ratio of gear in driving mechanism of all kinds, but more particularly for motor
cars and for all motive apparatus in which it is desired to obtain the greatest
possible variation in the speed during motion.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings:-
Figure 1 is an axial section through the apparatus, and Figure 2 is an elevation
in part section perpendicularly to the axis. The construction and the mode of
operation will be made clear from the following:-
C
Fixed to the shaft are two discs which carry in a rotary manner toggle
levers c in eyes b¹. These levers are made double-sided in the arrangement shown,
and have a connecting portion on their arms which are nearest to the shaft, and
on their other arms they are provided with slide blocks. The slide blocks (
are guided in radial grooves in à disc e which can rotate on the shaft, and it is
clear that when the disc e is rotated the connecting portions & will be compelled
to make a uniform stroke outwards or inwards. Now these connecting portions are
arranged sufficiently close together and are so formed that they can conform as
closely as possible to a circumscribed circle. They are therefore designed to receive
the motion-transmitting medium, that is to say, the belt, chain or the like instead
of a pulley. With a stroke of the toggle levers through an angle which can be
produced without constructional difficulty double the diameter of the pulley
could be obtained.
The arrangement shown in the drawing shows a mechanism for effecting the
variation in the transmission, as a further improvement in this apparatus. The
said mechanism consists of a body f which is fixed on the shaft and which carries
a special toggle lever g that is guided at its outermost arm gl by means of a slide
block, also in radial grooves in the disc e. The body also carries a cylinder h
which is supplied with a suitable pressure medium by means of a pipe. The
piston is pivotally jointed to the toggle lever g, so that on the admission of the
pressure medium, the said piston is compelled to produce a corresponding rotation
of the disc e and consequently also a variation in the ratio of gear. It will be
readily understood that the pipe ¹ may be connected by means of any known
reversing device to the pipe of the counter-disc, so that as the one disc is made
larger, it is possible to make the other disc correspondingly smaller.
Of course, several cylinders with pistons and toggle levers may be arranged on
the body and may act upon the disc e. indicates the protecting rings which
surround the levers c and which may serve to guide the belt.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1) Apparatus for providing an easily variable ratio of gear, characterized by
the fact that the disc which receives the motion transmitting device, such as a
belt, chain or the like, is composed of connecting portions which are positively
guided by reason of their connection with the arms that are in their turn rotatably
mounted in eyes 6 of the disc fixed upon the shaft a, in such a manner that a
rotation of the arms c has the result of altering the distance of the connecting
portions from the axle a.
(2) A form of construction of the apparatus specified in Claim 1, in which the
rotation of the arms e is effected by means of arms which are fixed to the arms e,
and which by engaging in the loose disc e, during the rotation of the latter about
its shaft a, rock in the eyes whilst the disc e is itself caused by means of the
pressure-actuated piston and of the toggle lever gg', whose cylinder / or centre
of rotation is fixed relatively to the shaft, to make a rotation which acts in
opposition to that of the pressure of the belt and therefore tightens the belt
automatically.
1
1600
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M.Inst. C.E., M.I.Mech.E.
Chartered Patent Agent, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Associate Agent.