Abstract: A drive device includes a first member including a first shoulder, and a second member positioned in close proximity to the first member and including a second shoulder. The device also includes a coupling arrangement including a strut having a first edge for direct engagement with the first shoulder, a second edge for engagement with the second shoulder and supported for pivotal movement between engaged and overrun positions, based on relative rotation of the first and second members such that the first member drives the second member in a drive mode with the strut in the engaged position and the first and second members can overrun with respect to one another with the strut in the overrun position. The coupling arrangement also includes a cushioning member disposed between the second edge and the second shoulder for cushioning each initial engagement of the strut in the drive mode.

Abstract: A one-way drive device includes a first, drive member rotatable about an axis in both a drive direction and an opposite, overrun direction. The one-way drive device also includes a second, driven member rotatable about the axis in at least a driven direction. The one-way drive device further includes a coupling arrangement including at least one strut cooperating with the first and second members such that the first member is able to drive the second member in the driven direction by causing the strut to initially engage and remain engaged between the first and second members during the time the first member drives the second member. In addition, the coupling arrangement includes a cushioning arrangement for cushioning the initial engagement of the strut between the first and second members.

Abstract: A one-way drive device includes a first, drive member rotatable about an axis in both a drive direction and an opposite, overrun direction. The one-way drive device also includes a second, driven member rotatable about the axis in at least a driven direction. The one-way drive device further includes a coupling arrangement including at least one strut cooperating with the first and second members such that the first member is able to drive the second member in the driven direction by causing the strut to initially engage and remain engaged between the first and second members during the time the first member drives the second member. In addition, the coupling arrangement includes a cushioning arrangement for cushioning the initial engagement of the strut between the first and second members.

Abstract: A planar type of over-running clutch including first and second confronting plates is disclosed herein. The second plate itself includes movable struts and associated biasing mechanisms for cooperative engagement with cooperating shoulder members of the first plate under certain circumstances. An arrangement forming part of the second plate and part of each strut cooperates with the biasing mechanism of the second plate for preventing any contact between the struts and the first plate when the second plate rotates in a particular way.

Abstract: A planar type of over-running clutch including first and second confronting plates is disclosed herein. The second plate itself includes movable struts and associated biasing mechanisms for cooperative engagement with cooperating shoulder members of the first plate under certain circumstances. An arrangement forming part of said second plate and cooperating with each strut and biasing mechanism of said second plate is provided for preventing the struts from moving to certain biased first positions when said second plate rotates in a particular way.

Abstract: A specifically configured linear one-way movement device includes first and second members defining respective first and second linearly extending planar surfaces and a coupling arrangement comprised of a series of linearly spaced first pockets in the first planar surface of the first member, a series of linearly spaced second pockets in the second planar surface of the second member and a plurality of struts, all of which cooperate with one another for allowing the first and second members to telescopically move to an extended position with respect to one another from a contracted position while at the same time preventing the members from telescopically moving back to the contracted position once it has moved to the extended position.

Abstract: An oscillating ratchet style continuously or infinitely variable transmission is disclosed herein, that is, one which, in its operation, relies on a plurality of different successive intermediate rotations that vary in speed and direction in accordance with their own respective oscillatory waveform, each waveform being out of phase with one another in a predetermined way. These intermediate rotations are used to convert the rotational input to a plurality of uni-directional output rotations, without the said of any over-running clutches. These later outputs vary in speed in accordance with their own respective waveforms and are used to produce a modified rotational output.

Abstract: An epicyclic motion generating arrangement especially suitable for use as part of a continuously variable transmission is disclosed herein. This arrangement, in its preferred embodiment, includes a planetary assembly supporting four equally circumferentially spaced shafts for rotation about a given planetary axis, and an index plate mounted for rotation about its own axis parallel with but sometimes eccentric to the axis of the planetary assembly. Means are provided for rotating the planetary assembly and its shafts at a given speed and in a given direction whereby to impart an orbiting component of epicyclic motion to each shaft without regard to any back and forth rotation of the shafts about their own respective axis.

Abstract: A one way drive device, for example an overrunning clutch, is disclosed herein and includes a drive member and a driven member which are mounted for clockwise and counterclockwise rotation about a common axis. The drive member includes a planar drive face normal to the common axis and is adapted for connection with a source of power for rotating the planar drive face either clockwise or counterclockwise. The driven member includes a planar driven face which is positioned in close proximity to and in confronting relationship with the drive face. The drive and driven members are coupled to one another through a series of pockets in one of the drive or driven faces and a plurality of cooperating pawls carried by the other face such that when the drive member is driven counterclockwise, it drives the driven member with it an when the drive member is driven clockwise it does so freely, that is, without driving the driven member.

Abstract: A technique for modifying an input rotation in continuously variable increments to produce a controlled rotational output is disclosed herein. This technique combines epicyclic motion of a series of planetary shafts in a parallel fashion in order to produce continuous, controlled, intermediate output in the same direction and at the same speed or a greater speed than the input rotation. This intermediate output is then modified to produce a continuous, controlled, final rotational output only when the intermediate output is greater in speed than the input. The final output can be in the same direction as the rotational input and at a speed which is proportionate to the excess speed of intermediate output.