Patents by Inventor Charles E. Kraus

Charles E. Kraus has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5697863
    Abstract: In an infinitely variable traction roller transmission, wherein two toric traction disks are rotatably supported opposite one another and define a toric cavity in which at least two motion transmitting traction rollers are disposed in engagement with the two toric disks and supported by trunnions, the trunnions being pivotally supported to permit changing the ratio of motion transmission between the toric disks, the toric disks each have a different cavity radius, thus causing the circles of contact of the traction rollers with the toric disk to change as the trunnions pivot to various transmission ratio positions, thereby distributing the loads on the traction rollers over a relatively large surface area thus extending the fatigue life of the traction rollers, and consequently, of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Dawe, Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 5433675
    Abstract: The invention resides in an infinitely variable traction roller transmission with coaxial input and output shafts, a main transmission shaft rotatably supported in spaced parallel relationship with the input and output shafts and with an input traction roller drive interconnecting the input shaft and the main shaft and further an infinitely variable traction roller transmission structure disposed on the main shaft for transmitting motion from the main shaft at variable relative speed to the output shaft via an output traction roller drive wherein the input and output traction roller drives include traction gears mounted in radial alignment respectively on the input shaft and the main shaft and an output shaft of he infinitely variable traction roller transmission and hollow shaft surrounding the input shaft and connected to one of the ring and the planet carrier of a planetary-type transmission whose other of the ring and planet carrier is connected to the output shaft and whose sun is disposed on the input s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 5138894
    Abstract: In an axial loading cam arrangement wherein two axial thrust members are supported opposite one another so as to be rotatable relative to one another at least one of the thrust members has a plurality of concentric annular races with annular cam structures formed thereon opposite the other thrust member and in radial symmetry and a plurality of rollers are disposed between the thrust members on said races for generating axial forces on said thrust members upon relative rotational movement thereof. The arrangement is particularly intended for use in a toroidal traction roller transmission wherein the traction rollers are forced into firm engagement with the traction discs between which they are disposed when a torque is transmitted through the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 5085089
    Abstract: In an infinitely variable transmission wherein two toric traction discs are rotatably supported opposite one another so as to define therebetween a toric cavity in which at least two motion transmitting traction rollers are disposed in engagement with the toric discs and supported by pivot trunnions, means are provided for controllably pivoting the trunnions about a control axis which is essentially tangential to the center circle of the toric cavity and wherein the pivot trunnions have support rollers supported on partial circular track structures with end sections extending inwardly from the circular track structure so as to apply increased engagement forces to the traction rollers in the pivotal end positions of the trunnions while at the same time limiting their pivotal movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 5025671
    Abstract: In a traction roller transmission which has disposed in a housing two planetary type transmission structures each having traction rollers disposed between spaced concentric sun rollers and traction rings and supported by support members of which one which is associated with one of the transmission structures carries the sun of the other transmission structure and the other is connected to the transmission output shaft while the input shaft carries the sun of the one transmission structure (the planetary rollers are supported in an inclined position), and the traction rings are axially curved and forced toward one another so as to engage therebetween the planetary rollers which are supported at predetermined angles selected such that their engagement forces with the sun rollers and traction rings correspond to the torque to which they are subjected during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 5020384
    Abstract: In an infinitely variable transmission wherein two toric traction discs are rotatably supported in a housing opposite one another so as to define therebetween a toric cavity in which at least two motion transmitting traction rollers are disposed in engagement with the toric discs and supported by pivot trunnions, each pivot trunnion is provided with a single support roller disposed on a track section and has an axial control end which is supported so as to be slightly movable in a plane normal to the axis of the toric discs and means are provided for controllably moving the trunnion control ends in unison for initiation of a transmission ratio change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4996891
    Abstract: In an infinitely variable transmission wherein two toric traction discs are rotatably supported opposite one another so as to define therebetween a toric cavity in which at least two motion transmitting traction rollers are disposed in engagement with the toric discs and supported by pivot trunnions, and in which each pivot trunnion is provided with a single support roller disposed on a track section and has an axial control end which is supported so as to be movable in a plane normal to the axis of the toric discs, the support rollers are engaged by track members which are tiltably supported and associated with the control ends of the trunnions so as to transmit transmission torque reaction forces to the track members for forcing the traction rollers into engagement with the toric discs and means are provided for controllably moving the trunnion control ends for initiation of a transmission ratio change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Kraus, Charles B. Lohr
  • Patent number: 4974466
    Abstract: In an infinitely variable transmission wherein two toric traction discs are rotatably supported opposite one another so as to define therebetween a toric cavity in which at least two motion transmitting traction rollers are disposed in engagement with the toric discs and supported by pivot trunnions, means are provided for controllably pivoting the trunnions for a transmission ratio change, and cross-links are mounted to the end faces of the trunnions so as to permit pivotal motion of the trunnions only in unison and in an opposite sense, the cross-links have overlapping center sections with stop surfaces arranged to engage one another in the pivotal end positions of the trunnions for limiting their pivotal movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Kraus, Charles B. Lohr
  • Patent number: 4964312
    Abstract: In a infinitely variable transmission wherein two toric traction discs are rotatably supported in a housing opposite one another so as to define therebetween a toric cavity in which at least two motion transmitting traction rollers are disposed in engagement with the toric discs and supported by pivot trunnions, each pivot trunnion is provided with a single support roller disposed on a track section and has an axial control end which is supported so as to be slightly movable in a plane normal to the axis of the toric discs and means are provided for controllably moving the trunnion control ends in unison for initiation of a transmission ratio change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4911030
    Abstract: In an infinitely variable transmission wherein two toric traction discs are rotatably supported in a housing opposite one another so as to define therebetween a toric cavity in which at least two motion transmitting traction rollers are disposed in engagement with the toric discs and supported by pivot trunnions, each pivot trunnion is provided with a single support roller disposed on a track section and has an axial control end which is supported so as to be slightly movable in a plane normal to the axis of the toric discs and hydraulic control means are provided for controllably moving the trunnion control ends for initiation of a transmission ratio change and a feedback structure is further associated with the trunnion ends and with the hydraulic control means for terminating ratio changing tilting of the trunnions when the necessary transmission ratio change has been executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4885955
    Abstract: A multimode infinitely variable traction roller transmission including a toroidal traction roller transmission for infinitely varying the transmission ratio in each of the modes. Power is transmitted from an input shaft to the planet carrier of a planetary transmission whose ring is associated with the output shaft of the transmission and through the toroidal traction roller transmission to the sun of the planetary transmission selectively by way of a chain gear or spur gear transmission provided with clutches for selective engagement thereof, that is, for rotation of the sun in one or the opposite direction. A brake structure is provided for locking the planet carrier in one of the transmission modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4858484
    Abstract: An infinitely variable traction roller transmission with at least two traction rollers arranged between, and in engagement with, opposite toric traction discs for the transmission of motion therebetween includes, for each traction roller, a pivotal support trunnion provided with support rollers at opposite ends thereof and the housing of the transmission has partial circular tracks for supporting the support rollers and the trunnions to provide the engagement forces for the traction rollers with the toric discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4846008
    Abstract: In a planetary type traction roller transmission which comprises a sun, a traction ring and planetary traction rollers disposed in the space between, and in engagement with, the traction ring and the central sun, the traction surfaces of the sun, the traction rollers and the ring members are all somewhat conical and the members are so arranged that their axes and all tangential axial lines of the traction surfaces intersect in a single point on the axis of the transmission and a device is provided for urging the sun member toward that point of intersection and between the planetary rollers for forcing the planetary rollers into engagement with the sun and the traction ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4830578
    Abstract: A hydraulic speed control arrangement for an infinitely variable transmission which is coupled to an engine and adapted to drive auxiliary equipment including a hydraulic fluid displacement pump includes a spool valve provided with an inlet cavity at one end of the valve spool in the valve body and connected to the hydraulic fluid displacement pump and has a spring disposed at the opposite end and biasing the valve spool against the pressure of the fluid in the inlet cavity, whereby the valve spool is adapted to control the flow of pressurized fluid from the inlet cavity to the transmission ratio control mechanism of the infinitely variable transmission in such a manner that the output shaft speed of the transmission is maintained essentially at a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4800853
    Abstract: In an adiabatic internal combustion engine with a piston movably disposed in a cylinder to which air and fuel are admitted for combustion therein and from which the gases generated during combustion are discharged after extraction of energy therefrom, the cylinder includes a piston guide and seal structure having piston seal rings associated therewith and has a wall structure of heat resistant material and the piston has a guided section adapted to move back and forth through the guide and seal structure and a cap of heat resistant material disposed on top of the guided piston section and having a cylindrical side wall slightly spaced from the heat resistant cylinder wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Kraus, Charles B. Lohr
  • Patent number: 4782723
    Abstract: In a planetary type traction roller transmission which comprises a sun, a traction ring and planetary traction rollers disposed in the space between, and in engagement with, the traction ring and the central sun all with somewhat conical traction surfaces so arranged that the tangential axial lines of the traction surfaces intersect in a point on the transmission axis there are provided engaging means for forcing the appropriate traction surfaces into firm engagement with one another but also means for limiting the engagement forces applied to the traction surfaces to a predetermined safe limit which is not exceeded no matter how strong the applied forces are.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4730504
    Abstract: An axial cam structure is formed with outer and inner concentric shaft portions which are rotationally and axially movable relative to one another and which have formed at their interface sets of radially adjacent V-shaped camming cavities pointed in opposite axial directions with a camming ball disposed in each of the sets of cavities. The camming ball bears on the side walls of the cavity in the outer and, at its opposite side, the side walls of the respective cavity of the inner shaft portion so that any torque transmitted between the inner and outer shaft portions through the camming ball provides for corresponding oppositely directed axial forces on the inner and outer shaft portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4709589
    Abstract: In a fixed ratio planetary-type traction roller transmission wherein planetary traction rollers are disposed in the annular space between, and in engagement with, a traction ring and a central sun roller for the transmission of motion therebetween, the planetary traction rollers have smooth side faces and are supported between, and guided by, a mounting plate structure at one side and a guide plate at the opposite side both having planar areas adjacent the traction roller side faces and being urged toward one another for retaining the traction rollers therebetween in parallel alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Excclermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4702118
    Abstract: An infinitely variable traction roller transmission with preferably four traction rollers arranged between, and in engagement with, opposite toric discs for the transmission of motion therebetween includes, for each roller, a pivotal support member having a roller supported thereon by a hydrostatic or an antifriction bearing including hydraulic fluid adapted to force the roller into motion transmitting engagement with the toric discs. The pivotal support member is supported by antifriction bearing segments or hydrostatic means and has gear segments disposed at opposite ends thereof, with the gear segments of adjacent roller support members being in meshing engagement for transmission ratio changing pivot movement of all the traction rollers in unison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4694704
    Abstract: In a rotary traction roller transmission having oppositely disposed toric discs mounted on its input and output shafts, and motion transmitting rollers frictionally engaged between the toric discs for transmitting motion from one toric element to the other, the rollers are supported on pivot shafts which are interconnected by at least one cable looped around flanges of the pivot shafts and having tubular sections mounted thereon and fittingly received in corresponding cavities formed in the pivot shaft flanges for operative engagement therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus