Abstract: A speed variator comprises a bell-shaped body (5) forming a frustoconical rolling surface (6) able to rotate about its own axis of symmetry (Y), a wheel (7) able to rotate about a second axis (W) and engaged by rolling with the rolling surface (6) to allow the transmission of a driving torque between the wheel (7) and the bell-shaped body (5), and movement means (9) acting between the wheel (7) and the bell-shaped body (5) for moving the wheel (5) and the bell-shaped body (7) towards and/or away from each other in such a way as to make the wheel (7) engage with different portions of the rolling surface (6). The rolling surface (6) and the second axis (W) converge in a point (P).

Abstract: Continuously variable transmissions are provided. Various systems provide for co-rotating power transmission or drive members for conveying angular velocity and torque from an input, such as an engine or motor, to an output, such as a drive shaft. Angular velocity and torque input-output ratios are varied by user manipulation of at least one of the power transmission members and resulting change in orientation of curvilinear power transmission members.

Abstract: Disclosed are steerable units that enable the variability of the friction force's magnitude and direction by using rolling contacts, in which the angle of the rolling contacts with respect to the surface containing the steerable unit can be controlled, as an object's frictional surface. This allows an object to adjust the direction and magnitude of the force it transfers through friction and also allows the received frictional force's direction and magnitude to be varied by the receiving object's rolling contacts. Also disclosed are applications of the steerable units in various machines.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission adapted to set a speed change ratio in accordance with a tilt angle of a rolling member mediating a torque being transmitted, and to transmit a torque among three elements. The transmission mechanism is provided with a rolling member having a smooth outer face and capable of tilting a rotational center axis thereof, and a rotary member arranged to be contacted with a predetermined portion of the outer face of the rolling member in a torque transmittable manner. Specifically, the continuously variable transmission mechanism is configured to vary a rotational speed of the rotary member by changing a rotation radius of a contact point between the rolling member and the rotary member by tilting the rotational center axis of the rolling member.

Abstract: A curvilinear gear system and method for transferring force and speed through a wide range of angles is disclosed. The system can optionally incorporate curvilinear U joints to increase effective range of angles to tailor the system to specific applications. The system includes complimentary gear heads, one of which is a curvilinear gear such as a hemispherical gear. A method of using the gear systems in a transmission apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: The following steps are performed in the control method: determining a mode of operation from amongst a permanent mode and a transient mode, as a function of a set of variables comprising said estimated values; correcting the value of the speed of rotation of the outlet shaft in such a manner that: if the mode has been determined as being the permanent mode, then the moving average (L?) of the gear ratio (L) over a period (T) of a plurality of unit time intervals lies between a first threshold value (S1) that is negative and a second threshold value (S2) that is positive; and if the mode has been determined as being the transient mode, then said moving average (L?) of the gear ratio (L) lies outside the range of values defined by the first and second threshold value (S1, S2).

Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission comprising a pair of rotary, generally conical, torque-transmitting members, each being mounted for rotation on its geometric axis, the angularity of the axes, one with respect to the other, being variable, the outer surfaces of each member having torque-transmitting needles extending outwardly from the generally conical surface, the needles of one member meshing with the needles of its companion member, the needles being capable of flexing whereby torque may be transmitted through the rotary members without frictional sliding motion at the area of meshing engagement of the needles, the angularity of one member with respect to the other permitting a wide torque-transmitting ratio range.

Abstract: A mechanical continuously variable transmission in which the power roller is in “line contact” with the counter roller instead of conventional “pinpoint contact”. By utilizing line contact of the power roller and the counter roller, the pressure force between the metal components of a mechanical continuously variable transmission can be reduced. In addition, the line contact also reduces extra energy for maintaining the operation thereof. The configuration of the roll surface of the power roller, which is rotated by a rotation axle connected to an input axle, is formed into a partial configuration of a sphere. A plurality of counter rollers, which are in line contact with the power roller having said roll surface, are arranged in a circle by a disk. Each counter roller is formed with a concave roll surface corresponding to the partial configuration of the sphere on the surface thereof. The counter rollers are driven to rotate by the rotation of the power roller in contact therewith.

Abstract: A continuously variable mechanical transmission comprised of two wheels, either friction or toothed, of which one or both are in the shape of hemispheres. A hemisphere wheel is mounted through a bearing on a mounting with two pivots attached to the outer race of the bearing, allowing the wheel to rotate around two perpendicular accesses. The center of the wheel is attached to the shaft through a single or double universal joint or a flexible shaft. The other wheel can be a regular narrow wheel fixed to the second shaft. By rotating the hemisphere wheel around the mounting pivots the diameter of the wheel engaged with the second wheel is increased or decreased allowing the transmission rate to vary.

Abstract: A variable ratio transmission has a rotating drive cone with a gear at its narrowest diameter end to provide a non-slip high torque drive in low gear. A worm gear and drive shaft smoothly move an output drive disk back and forth along the drive cone to provide a smooth infinitely adjustable gear ratio to the output drive shaft. A slip clutch and forward, neutral, reverse transmission make the system suitable for motor vehicles especially trucks.

Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission comprising a pair of rotary, generally conical, torque-transmitting members (20, 22), each being mounted for rotation on its geometric axis (82, 84), the angularity of the axes, one with respect to the other, being variable, the outer surfaces of each member having torque-transmitting needles (86, 88) extending outwardly from the generally conical surface, the needles of member meshing with the needles of its companion member, the needles being capable of flexing whereby torque may be transmitted through the rotary member without frictional sliding motion at the area of meshing engagement of the needles, the angularity of one member with respect to the other permitting a wide torque-transmitting ration range.

Abstract: A continuously variable mechanical transmission comprised of two wheels, either friction or toothed, of which one or both are in the shape of hemispheres. A hemisphere wheel is mounted through a bearing on a mounting with two pivots attached to the outer race of the bearing, allowing the wheel to rotate around two perpendicular accesses. The center of the wheel is attached to the shaft through a single or double universal joint or a flexible shaft. The other wheel can be a regular narrow wheel fixed to the second shaft. By rotating the hemisphere wheel around the mounting pivots the diameter of the wheel engaged with the second wheel is increased or decreased allowing the transmission rate to vary.

Abstract: A variable ratio transmission that varies output drive shaft speed by varying the position of the output shaft drive disk along a conical shaped input drive surface.

Abstract: A continuously variable mechanical transmission comprised of two wheels, either friction or toothed, of which one or both are in the shape of hemispheres. A hemisphere wheel is mounted through a bearing on a fork with two pivots attached to the inner race of the bearing, allowing the wheel to rotate around two perpendicular accesses. The center of the wheel is attached to the shaft through a double universal joint or a flexible shaft. The other wheel can be a regular narrow wheel fixed to the second shaft. By rotating the hemisphere wheel around the fork pivots the diameter of the wheel engaged with the second wheel is increased or decreased allowing the transmission rate to vary.

Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission comprising a pair of rotary, generally conical, torque-transmitting members, each being mounted for rotation on its geometric axis, the angularity of the axes, one with respect to the other, being variable, the outer surfaces of each member having torque-transmitting needles extending outwardly from the generally conical surface, the needles of one member meshing with the needles of its companion member, the needles being capable of flexing whereby torque may be transmitted through the rotary members without frictional sliding motion at the area of meshing engagement of the needles, the angularity of one member with respect to the other permitting a wide torque-transmitting ratio range.

Abstract: In a conical friction ring gear having at least two conical friction wheels mounted on parallel axles and opposite one another, and a friction device effectively connecting both conical friction wheels, the risk of juddering is reduced when a torque acts on the friction device with a component which lies vertically on a plane set by both conical friction axles.

Abstract: Transmission with a ring or belt nipped between two rotating elements of which at least one is cone-shaped. The rotating elements have two parallel lines at their closest point. The ring encompasses one of the rotating elements and directly transfers the power from the drive to the driven element by means of friction. The ring remains in a plane orthogonal to the parallel lines on the rotating elements and that plane can shift to a new point along the parallel lines by a controlling mechanism which travels in back and forth on a line parallel to those parallel lines. Thus the ratio of the cross section of the two rotating elements changes and the device constitutes an infinite speed transmission. If one of the rotating elements is cylindrical instead of cone-shaped, there is the possibility of achieving better traction on the side of the ring which touches the cylinder through a wider contact surface or else through a geared tooth contact instead of a friction contact.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a continuously variable transmission for varying the speed ratio of an output shaft relative to an input shaft driven by a vehicle engine or other input power source. In an embodiment of the invention, the power transmission system includes a driven input member coupled in driving engagement with at least one rotor to transfer torque to the rotor. A disk member is positioned in cooperative relationship with a rotatable shaft and in a driving engagement with the rotor, such that the disk member is driven to transfer torque to the rotatable shaft. An output member is driven by the rotatable shaft, and torque is transferred from the shaft to the output member, with the disk member being selectively axially moveable relative to the rotor and to the rotatable shaft in response to output load torque on the output member so as to vary the torque transferred from the rotor.

Abstract: A variable-speed drive (1) wherein a connecting assembly (15) for continuously varying the velocity ratio of two shafts (6,7) presents a bell (37) with a respective axis (8); a ring of conical rollers (16) housed inside the bell (37) and each defined by a respective outer lateral surface (18) cooperating with the inner surface (38) of the bell (37) at one point of tangency (P); and a control member (44) housed inside the ring of rollers (16) and movable both ways along the axis (8) of the bell (37) so as to rock the rollers (16) in relation to the bell (37) and shift the points of tangency (P) along the generating lines of respective rollers (16).

Abstract: A continuously variable traction transmission uses a pair of rotatable, substantially cone shaped members, one cone being connected to a power input shaft and the other cone being connected to the load output shaft. The small diameter of one cone is oriented adjacent the large diameter end of the other cone. The cone surfaces are configured such that the cones may make contact at a point or small area, for example, as seen longitudinally, the surface of one cone may be slightly convex and the surface of the other cone may be straight. The shafts on which the cones rotate are angularly adjustable with respect to each other such that the point of contact, and therefore the ratio of diameters of the cones, may be varied from one end of the cones to the other to continuously vary the input/output ratio of speed and torque transmitted through the transmission.

Abstract: A continuously variable traction transmission uses a pair of rotatable, substantially cone shaped members, one cone being connected to a power input shaft and the other cone being connected to the load output shaft. The small diameter of one cone is oriented adjacent the large diameter end of the other cone. The cone surfaces are configured such that the cones may make contact at a point or small area, for example, as seen longitudinally, the surface of one cone may be slightly convex and the surface of the other cone may be straight. The shafts on which the cones rotate are angularly adjustable with respect to each other such that the point of contact, and therefore the ratio of diameters of the cones, may be varied from one end of the cones to the other to continuously vary the input/output ratio of speed and torque transmitted through the transmission.

Abstract: A variable-speed drive (1) having an input shaft (3), at least one output shaft (4), and a system (5) for connecting the input shaft (3) to the output shaft (4) and enabling the velocity ratio of the shafts (3, 4) to be varied continuously; which system is defined by a first truncated-cone-shaped rotary body (6) angularly secured to the output shaft (4) and defined laterally by a curved convex surface (7) having a given radius of curvature and by a number of second truncated-cone-shaped rotary bodies (8) angularly secured to the input shaft (3) and arranged in a ring about the first rotary body (6). Each second rotary body (8) is defined laterally by a curved concave surface (9) having a radius of curvature greater than that of the convex surface (7) defining the first rotary body (6).

Abstract: This invention relates to a friction drive that uses two straight sided cones, the apexes of which are located at a common point. A driving or driven roller is located between the two cones so that rotation of this roller causes (or is caused by) the rotation of the cones. The rotary axis of the roller passes through the point at the apexes of the cones. In this manner the roller element in contact with the surfaces of the cones becomes an element of a cone rolling correctly on the two cones without experiencing any spin. The use of two cones balances the forces on the roller and doubles the torque that can be transmitted between the roller and the cones. A different embodiment of the invention uses two or more rollers contacting the two cones. By changing the position of the rollers it is possible to obtain a very large speed ratio between the rollers.

Abstract: A continuous variable-ratio transmission includes a first rotatable member whose exterior surface of revolution about its axis of rotation is defined by a tractrix curve. A rotatable conical member is mounted upon a first shaft and frictionally engages with the tractrix surface. The second rotatable member is moveable along the tractrix surface and has a shape such that for any position along the tractrix surface, the ratio of any two contacting circumferences of the conical surface and the tractrix surface is substantially equivalent to the ratio of any other two contacting circumferences. A first gear of a gear assembly is operably connected to the first shaft. A rotatable splined shaft extends axially through a second gear of the gear assembly and engages with a splined interior surface thereof to thereby permit the gear assembly to move along the splined shaft with movement of the conical member along the tractrix surface.

Abstract: A variable ratio friction transmission is described in which one element is a straight sided cone and the other a roller or wheel. The two are in frictional engagement. The roller or wheel moves over an element of the cone to change the speed ratio, and at all times stays parallel to itself and moves along a straight line axis. This axis passes through the apex of the cone at all times, but the cone is tilted about its apex to contact the roller or wheel as the ratio is changed.