Abstract: A high power-to-weight ratio vehicle whose drive train includes an engine with an infinitely variable transmission coupled thereto and the transmission output shaft connected to the vehicle drive wheels has a transmission with a planetary gear structure whose ring gear is mounted for rotation with the transmission input shaft, whose planetary gears are mounted on a carrier associated with the transmission output shaft and whose sun gear is mounted on a hollow shaft which has one toroidal disc of a toric traction roller transmission mounted thereon while the other toroidal disc of the toric traction roller transmission which is disposed adjacent the one disc and in engagement therewith through pivotally supported traction rollers is mounted on the transmission input shaft such that the traction roller transmission is at the highest speed-up ratio for lowest vehicle speed.

Abstract: In a hydrostatic axial thrust bearing structure in which two bearing members are disposed for movement relative to one another, a central bearing cavity adapted to receive pressurized bearing fluid is surrounded by a limited leakage seal structure which includes a ring of an elastomeric material disposed in a recess in one of the bearing members and a seal face formed on the other member which has a cylindrical outer surface received in a cylindrical projection of the one bearing member with a small axial leakage gap provided between the cylindrical sufaces of the two bearing members thereby providing a leakage path from the bearing cavity which is independent of the movement of the two bearing members relative to one another.

Abstract: A traction roller transmission having a number of traction rollers disposed in an annular space formed between a sun roller structure rotatable with one shaft and a traction ring structure surrounding the sun roller. The traction rollers are rotatably supported and the traction rollers or the traction ring structures are mounted for movement with another shaft. At least one of the traction surfaces of the sun roller and the traction ring structures is formed by a sleeve and radially slotted spring washers are disposed behind the sleeve. Cam structures are arranged axially adjacent the spring washers such that a torque transmitted through the transmission forces the spring rings onto said sleeve and said sleeve toward said traction rollers for firm engagement of the traction rollers with the traction ring and the sun roller structures.

Abstract: A traction roller transmission having a number of planetary type rollers disposed in an annular spaced formed between a sun roller rotatable with one shaft and a traction ring surrounding the sun roller. The traction ring, the planetary rollers and the sun roller all have annular projections and recesses with inclined hard metallic lubricated side surfaces by which the planetary rollers are in engagement with the sun roller and the traction ring for the transmission of motion therebetween. Preferably, means are provided for forcing planetary rollers into engagement with the traction ring and the sun roller with forces which depend on the torque transmitted through the transmission.

Abstract: In a hydrostatic bearing structure in which two bearing members are disposed for movement relative to one another with adjacent bearing surfaces adapted to accommodate therebetween a bearing fluid under pressure for supporting one of the members on the other, a bearing surface area of at least one of the members is formed by a thin layer of an elastomeric material on a substrate of a highly heat conductive material in order to avoid damage to the bearing surfaces by particular matter and friction heat.

Abstract: In a method of treating the traction surfaces of traction roller transmissions having traction elements the traction elements are supported with their traction surfaces in engagement with one another and relative motion is provided between the traction elements at surface speeds of 200-750 inch/minute while a load of 3 to 5 times the basic dynamic surface contact pressure to the traction elements is applied whereby surface asperities are forced into the surface and eliminated while any minute surface depressions remain, thereby providing traction surfaces with excellent traction properties and good wear resistance.

Abstract: An infinitely variable traction roller transmission with traction rollers arranged between, and in engagement with, opposite toric discs for the transmission of motion therebetween includes traction roller support trunnions pivotally mounted in a transmission housing which has partially cylindrical housing cavities formed behind the trunnions, the trunnions having a hydraulic support structure including a seal plate having a curved face in engagement with the partially cylindrical housing and an opposite flat face adjacent a hydrostatic support cavity in said trunnions which permits friction-free sliding movement and pivoting of the trunnions for adjustment of the transmission ratio.

Abstract: A traction roller transmission having a number of traction rollers arranged in an annular space between, and in engagement with, a sun roller structure and a traction ring structure for the transmission of motion therebetween includes sun roller and traction ring structures at least one of which has two concentric sleeves provided with complementary conical surfaces arranged opposite, and spaced from, one another and a plurality of bearing balls disposed in the space between the sleeves with an axial cam structure arranged axially adjacent one of the sleeves and adapted to force this sleeve into tighter engagement with the outer sleeve when a torque is transmitted through the transmission, thereby radially expanding the sleeves causing firm engagement of the traction rollers with the sun roller and traction ring structures.

Abstract: In a speed control arrangement for an infinitely variable traction roller transmission in which motion transmitting traction rollers supported by pivot trunnions are disposed between, and in engagement with, toric discs for the transmission of motion therebetween, the trunnions have hydraulic piston and cylinder structures at opposite axial ends whose operating pressures are controlled by the control arrangement for proper torque and speed change characteristics. A torque control valve adapted to control fluid flow from a pressurized fluid source to the cylinders at opposite ends of said trunnions provides for a fluid pressure differential thereby generating an axial trunnion force corresponding to a desired torque through the transmission. Any force imbalance axially moving the trunnions is adapted to change the transmission ratio so as to obtain the desired torque level.

Abstract: A constant output speed control arrangement for an infinitely variable transmission whose ratio of transmission is controllable by a hydraulic control fluid wherein the transmission output shaft has a fluid displacement pump associated therewith and connected to a control valve structure including a piston disposed in a cylinder and being movable by the control fluid from the pump against the force of a spring with a control passage extending through the piston and a control opening in the cylinder providing communication with a hydraulic ratio control structure in the transmission, the control opening being so arranged relative to the piston that the control opening is closed by the piston when the piston is moved against the spring force by an excess amount of control fluid supplied by the pump so as to cause a transmission ratio change for a decrease of the transmission output shaft, and the control opening is opened by the piston when the piston is returned by the spring for admitting an increased amount

Abstract: In a traction roller transmission having a traction ring, a sun roller arranged within the traction ring in spaced relationship therefrom and traction rollers arranged in the space between, and in engagement with, the sun roller and the traction ring. The sun rollers have shaft sections extending into a carrier where they are resiliently supported by spring means arranged in passages extending essentially normal to a plane receiving the sun roller and traction roller axes and intersecting the traction roller shaft sections.

Abstract: An infinitely variable traction roller transmission with traction rollers arranged between, and in engagement with, opposite toric discs for the transmission of motion therebetween includes traction roller support trunnions pivotally mounted in a transmission housing which has partially cylindrical housing cavities formed behind the trunnions, the trunnions having support cavities receiving pressurized fluid for floatingly supporting the trunnions on the cylindrical housing cavities to permit friction free pivoting and axial movement of the trunnions for adjustment of the transmission ratio.

Abstract: In a traction roller transmission wherein a traction ring surrounds a sun roller with planetary traction rollers arranged in the space between, and in engagement with, the sun roller and the traction ring, a tapered ball screw structure is so associated with at least one of the sun roller and traction ring that a torque transmitted through the transmission causes the tapered ball screw structure to expand radially for forcing the planetary traction rollers into engagement with the traction ring and the sun roller.

Abstract: In an infinitely variable traction roller transmission with traction rollers arranged between, and in engagement with, opposite toric discs for the transmission of motion therebetween, the traction rollers and the toric discs are axially supported by hydrostatic axial thrust bearings supplied with lubricant by a single high pressure lubricant pump through high pressure lubricant branch conduits each including a flow control orifice to limit the high pressure lubricant supply to each bearing and a low pressure lubricant supply including a pressure reducing valve and having branch conduits to the various bearings with a check valve in each branch conduit to prevent backflow of lubricant from the high pressure branch conduits such that the high load bearings are always supplied with high pressure lubricant and the low load, high speed bearings obtain additional low pressure lubricant which increases the lubricant film thickness in the bearings and thereby greatly reduces shear losses in the high speed bearings.

Abstract: In a traction roller transmission which has a sun roller centrally disposed within a traction ring with motion transmitting traction rollers arranged in an annular space between the sun roller and traction ring, one of the traction ring and sun roller structures includes wave spring rings so disposed between compressing means as to cause engagement of the spring rings with the traction rollers and engagement with the sun roller and traction ring structures for transmission of motion between the sun roller and traction ring structures.

Abstract: An infinitely variable traction roller transmission has traction rollers arranged between toric discs which are forced toward each other for engagement with the traction rollers for the transmission of power. The traction rollers are mounted on pivotal support structures which are supported on tension sheets extending, and balancing the forces effective, therebetween. The tension sheets are held in position by guide blocks extending from the housing into openings in the tension sheets and permitting tilting of the tension sheet to permit axial movement of the roller support structures in opposite directions for initiation of a change of the transmission ratio.

Abstract: In a traction roller transmission in which motion is transmitted from an input shaft to an output shaft by traction rollers arranged between, and in engagement with, opposite toric discs, the traction rollers are supported by pivot trunnions which have ball screw structures associated therewith in order to provide a predetermined axial position for one part with respect to the other part of the ball screw structure which is connected to the trunnion for pivotal and axial movement therewith.

Abstract: In a traction roller transmission in which traction rollers are rotatably supported in the annular space between concentric sun roller and traction ring structures, at least one of said sun roller and traction ring structures has a tapered support surface with a tightly wound coil spring having a tapered surface supported on said tapered support surface and an opposite cylindrical surface in engagement with said traction rollers and means are associated with said transmission for forcing the coil spring onto said tapered surface so as to cause firm engagement of the traction rollers with the sun roller and traction ring structures.

Abstract: A transmission ratio control arrangement for a precess cam controlled infinitely variable traction roller transmission in which motion transmitting traction rollers are arranged between, and in frictional engagement with, toric discs mounted on input and output shafts, the traction rollers are supported on pivotal support structures which are axially movable for changing the transmission ratio by hydraulic operating structures disposed adjacent the traction roller support structures which have cam faces associated for movement therewith and cam followers disposed adjacent said cam faces and associated with servo valves for admitting pressurized fluid to and releasing it from, said hydraulic operating structures for adjustment of the transmission ratio.

Abstract: A traction roller transmission having a number of traction rollers disposed in an annular space formed between a sun roller structure rotatable with one shaft and a traction ring structure surrounding the sun roller. The traction rollers are rotatably supported and the traction rollers or the traction ring structures are mounted for movement with another shaft. The traction rings or sun roller structures have Belleville-type rings disposed between cam structures such that a torque transmitted through the transmission forces the traction rings toward each other for firm engagement of the traction rollers with the traction ring and the sun roller structures. At least the radial surfaces of the Belleville rings which are in contact with the traction rollers are rounded.