Patent ID: 7261655

Claim:
A variable diameter pulley comprising, in combination, a pair of guide plates supported in fixed axially aligned parallel spaced relation to each other and defining an axis of rotation disposed substantially normal to and intersecting said guide plates at substantially geometric centers thereof, said guide plates defining laterally opposed pairs of slots extending radially relative to said axis of rotation; a first pair of guide discs each of which is disposed coaxially adjacent an outer surface of a selected one of said guide plates, a second pair of guide discs each of which is disposed coaxially adjacent a selected one of said first discs so as to establish pairs of first and second discs, each pair of said first and second guide discs being rotatable relative to said adjacent guide plate and rotatable relative to each other about said axis of rotation and defining oppositely directed intersecting arcuate guideways, a plurality of lift rods disposed parallel to said axis of rotation and each of which extends between said guide plates and has opposite ends extending through said guide plate slots and said arcuate guideways in said first and second guide discs at points of intersecting thereof, means supported on said lift rods for defining a circumferential belt support surface generally coaxial with said axis of rotation, and means for selectively moving said lift rods radially relative to said axis of rotation so as to vary the diameter of said belt support surface.