Abstract: An infinitely variable traction roller transmission which has traction rollers pivotally supported between toric discs mounted opposite each other on coaxial input and output shafts. The traction rollers are rotatably supported on a support block which is laterally movably supported on a pivotal traction roller support structure. The traction roller support block and pivotal support structure have cooperating bearing surfaces with rollers arranged therebetween to permit lateral movement of the support block. The bearing surfaces or bearing rollers are so formed that the support block is lifted off the pivotal support structure upon torque-induced lateral movement of the traction rollers in order to engage the traction rollers with the toric discs.

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.

Abstract: A planetary type traction roller transmission includes first and second sun roller structures and traction rings with first and second motion transmitting traction rollers disposed in the annular spaces between, respectively, the first and second sun roller structures and traction rings. The axis of the sun roller structures is spaced from the axis of the traction ring so that an annular space of varying width is formed between the sun roller structures and the respective traction rings and the first and second traction rollers are supported in the respective annular spaces by support means permitting movement of one, either the first or second traction rollers, into a narrowing area of respective annular space while the others are moved into a widening area of their respective annular space for engagement of the one set of traction rollers with, and disengagement of the other set of traction rollers from, the respective traction rings and sun roller structures.

Abstract: A traction roller transmission which has a sun roller disposed within a traction ring and traction rollers disposed in the space between, and in engagement with, the sun roller and the traction ring for the transmission of motion therebetween. The traction roller has side faces disposed adjacent an annular guide structure which is arranged in parallel radial alignment with the traction ring for guiding the traction rollers into parallel alignment with the traction ring. Means are provided for resiliently ringing the guide structure toward the traction rollers so as to permit lubricant to be drawn between the traction roller side faces and guide structure and to form therebetween a lubricant pad adapted to lift the guide structure of the traction roller side faces and to steer the traction rollers into parallel alignment with the traction ring.

Abstract: An infinitely variable traction roller transmission has traction rollers arranged pivotally between two toric traction discs with which they are engaged at variable pivot positions for transmitting motion at a variable transmission ratio. The toric discs are provided with flanges along which the traction rollers are guided in their pivotal end positions.

Abstract: An axial thrust bearing includes two race rings with opposed race surfaces defining a ball cavity and balls disposed in the ball cavity for rotatably supporting the race rings relative to each other. At least one of the race surfaces has annular raised areas which provide for rolling contact areas for the balls, the annular contact areas of the races being arranged in low speed bearings such that the apexes of the cones defined by the annular contact areas coincide on the axis of the bearing.In high speed bearings the races are arranged so that secants through the ball and race contact points form an angle with a plane normal to the bearing axis, which angle is between 40 and 20% of an ideal angle at which the secants intersect on the bearing axis.With this arrangement two rolling contact areas are provided by the respective race which increases load capacity and life of the respective race and reduces friction.

Abstract: A traction roller transmission with traction rollers arranged between and in engagement with toric discs for the transmission of motion therebetween includes traction roller support trunnions which are pivotally supported by saddles nested in curved sections of a force balancing band structure which extends around all the traction rollers. The saddles and trunnions have support surfaces with a curvature whose centerline is a tangent to the center circle to the toroidal cavity formed between the discs to permit pivoting of the trunnions for a change of the transmission ratio. The trunnions extend axially through openings in the balancing bands and have pistons at their ends disposed in cylinders to which pressurized fluid can be supplied to cause axial precess movement of the trunnions for initiation of a change of the transmission ratio.

Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission drive arrangement for driving different loads from a common power source through two infinitely variable transmissions whose input shafts are connected to the common power source and whose output shafts are connected each to one of said loads. Means are provided for independently varying the transmission ratio of both infinitely variable transmissions and means for interconnecting the two infinitely variable transmissions for limiting the difference of their transmission ratio adjustment.

Abstract: An axial thrust bearing having opposite support and load members and formed between the support and load members of a bearing cavity to which pressurized fluid is supplied. The cavity is surrounded by an axially movable floating seal ring disposed in a groove in one of the members. In the center of the cavity there is arranged a valve disc covering a vent passage in the support member, being axially movably supported by the load member. Resilient means are associated with the valve disc forcing it toward the support disc into its normal axial end position given by the load member such that during load peaks the load member is permitted to approach the support member beyond the normal position of the valve disc, while the valve disc is forced by the resilient means onto the vent opening to dampen the movement of the load member toward the support member.

Abstract: An axial thrust bearing assembly for supporting an axial load on a load support member includes a main antifriction bearing arranged between the load and the load support member and at least one auxiliary antifriction bearing also arranged between the load and the load support member together with spring means which are so selected that a predetermined amount of load is carried by the auxiliary bearing, the remainder of the load being taken up by the main bearing so as to reduce the main bearing load by the amount carried by the auxiliary bearing.

Abstract: A rotary motion transmitting device having oppositely disposed toric discs mounted on its input and output shafts. Motion transmitting traction rollers are frictionally engaged between the toric discs for transmitting motion from one toric disc to the other and tension sheets extend between opposite rollers to balance forces exerted on the rollers. Pivotal roller supports are provided for controlling the transmission ratio and means are associated with said pivotal roller supports for forcing the traction rollers toward each other and into firm frictional engagement with the toric discs.

Abstract: A traction roller transmission comprising coaxial input and output shafts with a sun roller associated with one and a traction ring surrounding the sun roller associated with the other shaft and traction transmitting roller casters disposed in the annular space between, and in engagement with, the sun roller and the traction ring for the transmission of motion therebetween. Each roller caster includes two transmission rollers whose combined diameters are slightly larger than the gap between the sun roller and the traction ring, one of the transmission rollers being in engagement with the sun roller and the other with the traction ring such that a torque transmitted through the transmission tends to pivot the casters, which are slightly tilted, into a more upright position with respect to the sun roller and traction ring surfaces thereby forcing the transmission rollers into firm engagement with each other and with the traction ring and the sun roller.

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 discs 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.

Abstract: A rotary motion transmitting device having oppositely disposed toric discs mounted on its input and output shafts. Motion transmitting rollers are frictionally engaged between the toric discs for transmitting motion from one toric element to the other and tension sheets extend between opposite rollers to balance forces exerted on the rollers. Pivotal roller supports are interconnected by correlating means which point limited independent pivotal movement of the roller supports while resiliently forcing the supports into the same angular positions. Also means are provided for controlling the transmission ratio such that the output torque assumes a desired value.

Abstract: A traction roller transmission having a number of traction rollers disposed in an annular space formed between a sun roller rotatable with one shaft and traction rings surrounding the sun roller. The traction rollers are rotatably supported and mounted for movement with another shaft and the traction rings are slightly conical and held in position by cam structures such that a torque transmitted through the transmission forces the conical traction rings toward each other so as to cause firm engagement of the traction rollers with the traction rings and the sun roller. Springs are disposed between the traction rings to provide for return of the traction rings when the torque transmitted through the transmission is reduced.

Abstract: A hydrostatic axial thrust bearing has a load member supported on a support member by pressurized fluid supplied to a cavity providing a hydrostatic bearing area between the two members in a plane normal to the axis of the thrust bearing and including means for varying the effective bearing area to permit the bearing to adjust to large variations in load.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to a hydrostatic axial thrust bearing which includes means for varying the hydrostatic bearing area for adjustment to the bearing load.2. Description of the Prior ArtA hydrostatic axial thrust bearing consists of a support member and a load member disposed adjacent to the support member with a cavity between the two members to which cavity pressurized fluid is supplied for supporting the load member on the support member. The pressurized fluid supplied to the cavity leaves the cavity through a land area formed around the cavity between the load and support members.