Abstract: A controlled force actuating system to apply and release an actuating force between a load member and a reaction member and includes an energy storing positive spring and an energy storing negative Belleville spring arranged in series between the load member and the reaction member to exert a range of actuating force on the load member varying between minimum and maximum values. The positive spring has a length and a positive force/deflection ratio. The negative Belleville spring has a length and a negative force/deflection ratio related to the positive force/deflection ratio so that the positive spring and the negative Belleville spring may reach a state of equilibrium substantially throughout the range of actuating force. The positive spring and the negative Belleville spring present a total length including both the axial lengths of the respective springs.

Abstract: An actuator for a power transmitting friction clutch having a rotatable power input, a backplate rotatable with the power input, a pressure plate between the power input and the backplate, and an output connected friction cushion between the pressure plate and the power input. The actuator includes a diaphragm having an outer annulus defining a negative Belleville spring, and a plurality of radial control fingers extending inwardly from the outer annulus, the outer annulus having an outer periphery engageable with the pressure plate and an inner fulcrum edge. A positive spring unit is arranged in series with the negative Belleville spring between the inner fulcrum edge and the backplate. The diaphragm and the positive spring unit are supported in radial alignment on the backplate in a manner to provide unobstructed movement of the inner fulcrum edge of the diaphragm to load and unload the positive spring unit during actuation of the clutch.

Abstract: An automotive starting clutch having an input, including a pressure plate and a back plate, and an output disk releasably clamped by the pressure plate for rotation with the input. A control diaphragm provides a control force to vary the clamping force of the pressure plate between zero and maximum values and includes radial fingers movable axially to vary the control force. The control force of the diaphragm is counterbalanced by a Belleville spring in proportion with actuating travel of the radial fingers. By adding a single Belleville spring to an otherwise conventional clutch, it is possible to reduce considerably the control force of a conventional starting friction clutch, allowing the use of inexpensive electronically controlled actuators.

Abstract: A contolled force actuating system having a positive Belleville spring and a negative Belleville spring arranged in series between a load member and a reaction member. The positive Belleville spring is initially in a relaxed condition and the negative Belleville spring being initially in a loaded energy storing condition. A movable control device engages at least the negative Belleville spring so that movement of the control device releases stored energy from the negative Belleville spring to the positive Belleville spring. The combined energy stored in both the positive and negative Belleville springs is applied between the reaction member and the load member.

Abstract: A controlled force actuating system having a positive Belleville spring and a negative Belleville spring arranged in series between a load member and a reaction member. The positive Belleville spring is initially in a relaxed condition and the negative Belleville spring being initially in a loaded energy storing condition. The negative Belleville spring is an outer annular portion of a diaphragm having a peripheral outer edge and at least on integral finger radiating inwardly from the outer annular portion. The positive Belleville spring is an annulus having inner and outer edges, the inner edge of the annulus lying outside the peripheral outer edge of the diaphragm. A hinge device is provided for pivotally connecting the outer edge of the diaphragm to the inner edge of the annulus. Thus, energy stored in the negative Belleville spring may be applied between the load member and the reaction member, through the positive Belleville spring by an axial control force applied to the at least one finger.

Abstract: A multi-range continuously variable power transmission system having a rotatable system input shaft (52) and a rotatable system output shaft (72), a continuously variable transmission unit (CVT) (14) having CVT input (52) and CVT output shaft (54), a four shaft compound planetary gear power splitter (73) having a first shaft (78) driven by the system input shaft, a second shaft (80) driven by the CVT output shaft a third shaft (84) and a fourth shaft (86) and a multi-range output gear box (75) for driving the system output shaft. The gear box is in the form of a planetary gear set having a carrier shaft (87) eccentric with respect to and connected to the system output shaft (72), sun gear (89) and a grounded ring gear (90).

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission having a pair of plate-like omega members rotatable about and spaced on a primary transmission axis to be positioned on opposite sides of a biconical beta body, the axis of which is inclined at a large acute angle with respect to the primary transmission axis so that the beta body and omega members engage in rolling friction contact at two points of contact on opposite sides of the primary transmission axis. The omega body members are connected by an external torque cage and driven by a tubular shaft. The beta body is linked by gearing to a theta shaft rotatably supported within the omega shaft. The omega shaft carries at least one planetary gear set in which the planet gears are rotatably supported in the omega shaft and wherein the sun gear is carried by the theta shaft.

Abstract: A system for adjusting the speed ratio of nutational traction drive transmissions in which speed ratio is dependent on the spacing of oppositely convergent cone members rotatably supported on a nutatable axis. The system includes a thread shaft having oppositely pitched threads engaged by carrier nuts in turn fixed to the cone members. Relative rotation of the cone members and the thread shaft is effected by alternately engagable clutch bodies at opposite ends of the thread shaft, the clutch bodies being controlled for relative and opposite rotational direction with respect to the cone members by gear sets linking the cone members and its support.

Abstract: A continuously variable traction drive transmission of the class including three working bodies, two of which are concentric with a first transmission axis, the other of which is concentric with a second axis intersecting and inclined with respect to the first axis, and wherein the points of rolling friction contact lie in diagonal quadrants defined by the first axis and a line perpendicular to the first axis at the intersection thereof with the second axis. The body concentric with the second axis includes two oppositely convergent cone-like rolling surfaces of revolution about the second axis which are held in rolling friction engagement with annular plate-like members forming one of the two bodies concentric with the first axis. The other of the two bodies concentric with the first axis carries the body on the second axis in nutation and continuously variable speed ratios are achieved by adjusting the angle of first and second axis through 90.degree.

Abstract: A continuously variable traction drive transmission of the class including three working bodies, two of which are concentric with a first transmission axis, the other of which is concentric with a second axis intersecting and inclined with respect to the first axis, and wherein the angle of intersection subtending the axes is large acute angle so that the points of rolling friction contact always lie between the intersecting transmission axes. The body concentric with the second axis includes two oppositely convergent cone-like rolling surfaces of revolution about the second axis which are held in rolling friction engagement with annular plate-like members forming one of the two bodies concentric with the first axis. The other of the two bodies concentric with the first axis carries the body on the second in nutation and continuously variable speed ratios are achieved by adjusting the cone members relative to the plate members.

Abstract: A compact nutating traction drive transmission is disclosed having particular utility in a vehicle as a steering differential. The transmission includes an input body rotatable about a central axis, first and second cone-like members rotatably mounted on the body on an inclined axis, and a pair of traction rings reacting against the respective cone-like members. A first embodiment includes a tubular shaft and a solid main shaft which are rotatably mounted and pilotably interconnected along the inclined axis, and a coupling apparatus is utilized for transmitting torque independently from the cone-like members to their respective shafts. Similar axially compact gear trains are driven by the respective shafts which have a construction and gear train ratio sufficient for maximizing the effectiveness of the transmission.

Abstract: A power input and output system for continuously variable transmission units of the type in which a nutatable traction body is supported both for rotation on the body axis and for nutational movement in which the body axis travels in a biconical path about a primary transmission axis. Power input and output members of the transmission unit are each linked to the nutatable body by gearing to be in direct torque transmitting relationship only with the nutatable body and so that the nutational component of movement is the result solely of traction surfaces on the body being in rolling frictional engagement against complementing and fixed traction surfaces.

Abstract: A power drive line in which a continuously variable, nutating traction drive transmission unit (16) is combined with a single planetary set (84, 86, 88) to provide two forward modes and a reverse mode of drive line operation. A pair of transmission unit input shafts (18, 20) are alternatively coupled to a power input to the overall drive line. In one forward mode, the planet gear (86) is driven by the sun gear (84) to rotate the ring gear (88) in a relatively wide low speed range of speed ratios. In another forward mode, the transmission body (52) carrying the planet gear (86) is connected to be driven directly by the drive line power input to effect a relatively high range of output speeds for a given input speed. In the reverse mode, the body (52) carrying the planet gear (86) is held against planetary movement so that the planet gear (86) operates as a reversing idler between the sun gear input (84) and the ring gear output (88).

Abstract: A nutating traction drive in which external rolling surfaces on a one-piece biconical body (10) are retained against axially spaced internal ring surfaces (51,52) at diametrically opposite points of contact by a mechanism acting between a body (18) which is rotatable on the axis of the ring surfaces or a first axis (24) and which carries the biconical body (10) on a second axis (30) inclined with respect to and intersecting the first axis at a point (S) of axes intersection located midway between the ring surfaces (51,52) and points of contact. The mechanism includes a pivotal member (66) having a fulcrum point (78) eccentric from the first axis (24) or displaced from a plane containing both the first (24) and second (30) axes so that a torque reaction to rotation of the carrying body (18) by the biconical body (10) results in a force attempting to increase the angle between the first (24) and second (30) axes.

Abstract: A hybrid power system and method in which a piston engine prime mover having a direct crank shaft power output is combined with a kinetic energy storing flywheel and a variable speed transmission in a manner such that the flywheel serves both as a crank shaft flywheel and as a supply of kinetic energy used to augment the power developed by the prime mover, as a substitute for prime mover developed power or as an auxiliary source of power for continued operation of prime mover driven accessories while the prime mover is shut off. The system enables the storage of kinetic energy resulting from the momentum of an inertial load such as an automotive vehicle and in doing so, conserves the kinetic energy of vehicular deceleration and enables engine shut-down during intermittent operation such as operation of an automotive vehicle under city driving conditions. The variable speed transmission is preferably an infinitely variable or I.V.

Abstract: A traction surface cooling method and apparatus for traction drive transmissions capable of continuous speed ratio variation in which a traction lubricant is circulated over a defined sector of a traction surface spaced from the point of rolling frictional contact of that surface with a cooperating traction surface. Provision is made for wiping the traction surface at the leading end of the sector to cleanse the surface of lubricant for more effective heat transfer from the surface to freshly circulated lubricant, and at the trailing end of the sector for preventing an excessively thick film of lubricant on the surface proceeding to the contact point.

Abstract: A power splitting differential transmission unit by which input power is transmitted in a controlled manner to one or both of two differential output shafts at continuously variable output/input speed ratios. The unit includes an integrated pair of continuously variable transmission units by which the output/input speed ratio for each output shaft may be adjusted synchronously for driving both output shafts at equal speeds within the speed ratio range of the unit, for varying the output/input speed ratio for each output shaft independently or for simultaneously increasing the output/input speed ratio with respect to one output shaft while decreasing the same ratio with respect to the other of the two shafts.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicular power system and method in which an automotive vehicle having a conventional engine, an energy storing flywheel and an I.V. transmission, is propelled by coupling the flywheel for rotation with the input of the I.V. transmission in which, for a given input speed, the output of which may be varied from 0 or near 0 continuously to the input speed. The flywheel and the input of the I.V. transmission are coupled to the engine by an overrunning clutch so that the flywheel and the input will be driven at the same or higher speeds than the engine shaft. During initial operation of the vehicle, the engine is coupled to the input of the I.V. transmission and the output of the transmission coupled to the drive wheels of the vehicle. Engine speed and I.V. transmission speed ratio are varied to accelerate the vehicle from a stop. When the I.V.

Abstract: A torque transmitting body for continuously variable power transmissions of the type in which oppositely convergent, cone-like rolling surfaces of revolution about one axis are retained in torque transmitting rolling frictional engagement at two points of contact with complementing rolling surfaces of revolution about another axis inclined with respect to and intersecting the axis of the cone-like surfaces. The body includes a pair of oppositely convergent cone members telescopically interconnected at their base or large ends for relative rotary and axial movement. A cam assembly is included and acts between the cone members to develop an axial separating force in response to a torque differential between the cone members. Although both cone members are driven at equal speeds, only one is connected to an output torque load so that the torque differential caused by the load may be converted to an axial separating force on the cone members by the camming assembly.

Abstract: A counterbalancing system for continuously variable torque transmissions of the type in which one of two working bodies, between which torque is transmitted by rolling friction, undergoes a nutational movement to generate an inertial couple which is variable with an output speed varying component of the transmission. The system includes a pair of variably positioned counterweights connected for movement directly with the speed varying mechanism of the transmission in a manner such that at least the variable component of the inertial couple is substantially counterbalanced for all speed ratios of the transmission.