Abstract: A square baler (30) includes a chassis (32), a plunger (36), and a variable speed transmission (42). The plunger assembly (36) includes a reciprocating plunger head (76) slidably mounted relative to the chassis (32) and operable to reciprocate within a chamber (54) to apply a compressive force against the material. The transmission (42) includes drive (86) and driven components (90) and an endless drive element (98) that drivingly interconnects the components. The driven component is drivingly connected to the plunger head. The drive component is operable to be driven by a prime mover at a drive input speed. At least one of the components has an adjustable operating diameter so that the driven component has a variable output speed.

Abstract: A switch has a rotary shaft that rotates in response to an external force, a cam provided on the rotary shaft and including a cam action section, wherein the cam rotates in response to the rotation of the rotary shaft, a displacement member including a cam support section that contacts the cam action section, wherein the displacement member is displaced in response to the cam support section being pressed by the cam action section rotating, and a switch module that performs an on-off action in response to the displacement of the displacement member. The cam action section is made of a metal. The cam support section is made of a resin softer than the cam action section.

Abstract: An automated manual transmission apparatus for a vehicle, may include a shifting unit equipped with a plurality of shifting mechanisms that implement different gear ratios between an input shaft and an output shaft, and a continuous transmission mechanism that may be disposed between the output shaft and a power supply, wherein the continuous transmission mechanism selectively supplies power to the input shaft of the shifting unit and selectively transmits power from the power supply to the output shaft with a continuous transmission gear ratio.

Abstract: To obtain a compact structure and to increase at the same time the structural stiffness of an apparatus for plastically deforming and strengthening the links, which are intercoupled by rocker pins, of a complete endless transmission chain, said apparatus comprises a first and a second pair respectively of conical supporting surfaces for the ends which protrude outside said links of the rocker pins of a transmission chain, mounted thereon, said surfaces having a controllable mutual distance, the invention propose to add a third similar pair of supporting surfaces, provided for cooperation with the first and second shaft. This measure also speeds up the treatment of the transmission chain.

Abstract: A pulley for a continuously variable transmission is provided with a fixed half-pulley fitted on a supporting shaft and a mobile half-pulley, which is able to slide towards the fixed half-pulley under the thrust of a spring, so as to define a V-shaped race of variable amplitude. The pulley is further provided with a device for compensating the axial thrust, said device being constituted by a cam and a cam follower, which are coupled in contact with one another to impart an additional axial thrust on the mobile half-pulley in response to a torque acting on the pulley. The cam is defined by a tubular body made of plastic material co-moulded on the supporting shaft, whilst the cam follower is made of a single piece with the mobile half-pulley.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for controlling a variable speed transmission including an actuator, a cam follower, and a speed adjustment cam. The actuator is rotatable through a first phase and a subsequent second phase, and includes an actuator cam surface and a variator. The cam follower is movable in response to contact with the actuator cam surface during rotation through the first phase, for actuating a coupler of the transmission between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The variator is movable along the speed adjustment cam during rotation through the second phase for enabling adjustment of a torque transfer mechanism associated with the transmission. By this configuration, control over the coupling of the transmission to a torque input such as a motor and control over the speed of the transmission are both enabled through rotation of a single actuator, and thus can be implemented in a self-propelled machine such as a lawnmower using a single operator-manipulated control.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission driven-pulley cam having a third cam surface which decreases the travel distance of the roller preventing the drive belt from dropping to a lower radius, thus preventing the transmission from going into a higher gear ratio upon inversion of torque transmitted to the driven pulley. The cam further includes a locking surface which prevents the roller from travelling axially to the cam, thus prevents the inner sheave from moving away from the outer sheave when the driven pulley is operating in the reverse direction. A continuously variable transmission driven-pulley cam roller assembly includes an inner roller and an outer roller wherein the diameters of the inner and outer rollers are different.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention facilitate shifting by reducing forces on certain shifting components and includes a snowmobile comprising a chassis, an engine supported by the chassis, a drive train operatively connected to the engine, the drive train comprising a reverse sprocket assembly functionally coupled to an upper sprocket assembly, a jackshaft rotatable within the upper sprocket assembly, and a pinion operatively connected to the jackshaft and selectively positionable axially along the jackshaft to a first position that engages the upper sprocket assembly to translate the snowmobile in a forward direction or to a second position that engages the reverse sprocket assembly to translate the snowmobile in a reverse direction.

Abstract: The driving pulley comprises two centrifugal mechanisms, namely a positive assembly and a negative assembly. Both assemblies comprise a respective set of flyweights subjected to the centrifugal force when the driving pulley rotates. The positive assembly is used as a conventional speed governor that moves one of the two flanges of the driving pulley towards the other in order to increase its winding diameter when the rotation speed increases. The negative assembly is used to apply an opposite force on the positive assembly when the rotation speed is above a threshold value so as to defer the upshift of the CVT to a higher ratio under the action of the positive assembly. This allows to maintain, for instance, a high rotation speed during an intense acceleration and a lower rotation speed when cruising at low vehicle speeds.

Abstract: A vehicle with a continuously variable transmission (continuously variable transmission) includes a torque responsive clutch having a cam and at least one coupling. The cam has a plurality of projecting surfaces, and a plurality of slots being defined between the projecting surfaces. The slots of the cam are used to direct cam followers that move across the slot surfaces as the vehicle is driven forward or in reverse. As the vehicle adjusts from forward to reverse or vice versa, the cam followers may jump from one side of the slot to the other.

Abstract: A torque sensitive clutch has an outer and inner sheave and a means for attaching the outer and inner sheave to each other such that the spacing, between the outer and inner sheave expands and contracts without relative rotation. The clutch system is assembled in a manner wherein all rotating force from the outer and inner sheave is transmitted to the power shalt, because the V-belt residing between the outer and inner sheaves does not slip making the clutch much more efficient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contact pressure system, that can be utilized particularly for continuously variable transmissions, with a torque sensor system as well as a continuously variable transmission.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission including two pairs of conical disks of which one disk of each pair is axially movable toward and away from the other disk and having an endless loop member in the form of a belt that passes around each pair of disks and transfers torque between the pairs of disks. The axially movable conical disk includes a contact pressure chamber to move the disk axially by the application of hydraulic pressure. The movable disk also includes an integrated torque sensor that is operative for controlling the contact pressure between the disks of a pair of disks and the endless loop member as a function of the torque.

Abstract: A one-way bearing or clutch is provided to decouple a continuously variable transmission from the final drive member during reverse torque conditions.

Abstract: In a continuously variable speed transmission T in which one of two power transmission paths connecting to a planetary gear mechanism 12 is formed of a belt variable speed mechanism 9, the other power transmission path is formed of a belt power transmission mechanism 6 so as to decrease the number of casings, increase the maintainabilities of the belt speed change mechanism 9 and the power transmission mechanism constituting the other power transmission path and further accelerate the application of the continuously variable speed transmission T to vehicles. Further, both variable speed pulleys 10, 10 and a variable speed belt 11 in the belt variable speed mechanism 9 are positioned above a casing 2 for the planetary gear mechanism 12, and both pulleys 7, 7 and a power transmission belt 8 in the belt power transmission mechanism 6 are positioned below the casing 2.

Abstract: In an infinitely variable speed transmission T of this invention, a belt variable speed mechanism 4 is arranged between a first rotatable shaft 1 and a second rotatable shaft 2. A planetary gear mechanism 81 is provided which comprises a first, a second, and a third element. The first element is drivingly coupled to the second rotatable shaft 2. The second and third elements are drivingly coupled by way of different power transmission lines to the first rotatable shaft 1. An enclosed gear housing space 78 is defined at the back of a fixed sheave 14 of a second variable speed pulley 13 of the belt variable speed mechanism 4, to house therein the planetary gear mechanism 81. A belt transmission mechanism 55 is arranged between the first and second rotatable shafts 1 and 2. Supported on a flange 82 integral with the second rotatable shaft 2 is a planetary gear 84 having a first gear part 85 that engages with a first sun gear 88 and a second gear part 86 that engages with a second sun gear 90.

Abstract: The invention is in a torque responsive actuation device, preferably for a belt drive system as is commonly utilized with snowmobile and like type vehicles. A bearing carrier of the invention is connected to a lower half of a split pulley, with the upper pulley half mounting a helix or cam cone that extends towards the carrier undersurface and includes a plurality of cam tracks formed therein that are each to receive a cam follower for travel therealong. Movement of the bearing carrier towards the top face of the pulley upper half is thereby translated to lower the pulley half to spread the pulley upper and lower halves apart, opening a V slot therebetween wherein a drive belt is maintained. A cylindrical shaft is journaled through the bearing carrier and fitted through the pulley that includes a coil spring disposed therearound for providing spring biasing to urge the bearing carrier away from the pulley upper half, biasing the pulley halves together.

Abstract: A cone disk transmission, particularly for motor vehicles, has an infinitely settable and variable ratio. The transmission uses two pairs of cone disks (2, 3), connected by a coupling belt or chain (24). On cone disk of each pair is axially displaceable, and selectively positionable against the traction element running between the cone pairs by a hydraulic positioning system, for generating engagement or gripping or clamping forces. The positioning pressure is controlled by pressure fluid derived from a spool valve (10). Torque sensors (16, 17) located on the transmission shafts throttle return flow of hydraulic pressure fluid from the control valve, as a function of load. In accordance with the invention, the torque sensors are immediately activated as a function of the intended operating state of the transmission, that is, the direction of transfer of power between the pairs of cone disks, by coupling both of the torque sensors to a transfer valve (FIG.

Abstract: In a pulley type speed-shifting device with a belt trained between a pair of variable speed pulleys, a movable sheave of each pulley is driven by a cam mechanism. Each cam mechanism has a cylindrical cam arranged concentrically with a rotary shaft and a cam follower which is arranged concentrically with a rotary shaft and carries a rolling body which makes contact with the cam as it is rolling on a cam face. The movable sheave is driven in axial direction by either the cylindrical cam or the cam follower rotating around the rotary shaft and rotating relatively to the other. As the cam follower makes contact with the cam face through the medium of the rolling body, resistance is small and the transmission ratio can be shifted with light handling force.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission having pulleys mounted on parallel input and output shafts and an endless belt engaging both pulleys for power transmission from the input shaft to the output shaft. The pulley on the output shaft is split into axially spaced halves having facing conical surfaces for variation of the radius at which the belt engages such pulley. One or both halves of the pulley on the output shaft have threaded bores mating with threaded portions of the output shaft.

Abstract: A variable ratio belt drive in which a pair of pulleys each having axially movable flanges are driven by a belt and in which the ratio of the pulleys can be changed and for all ratio changes, the load between the pulley and the belt is proportional to the useful tangential force at the belt and its friction coefficient with the pulley to produce only the necessary pressure between the pulley flanges and the belt to transmit the power applied to one pulley to the other pulley. The force on the flanges of the pulleys results from control plates having opposed control surfaces of a particular configuration which are forced apart in response to the application of torque to move the pulley flanges axially toward each other with the required force. One embodiment uses a plurality of control surfaces to increase the movement of pulley flanges and thereby the maximum ratio that can be obtained.

Abstract: The invention is in a torque responsive actuation device, preferably for a belt drive system as is commonly utilized with snowmobile and like type vehicles. A bearing carrier of the invention is connected to a lower half of a split pulley, with the upper pulley half mounting a helix or cam cone that extends towards the carrier undersurface and includes a plurality of cam tracks formed therein that are each to receive a cam follower for travel therealong. Movement of the bearing carrier towards the top face of the pulley upper half is thereby translated to lower the pulley half to spread the pulley upper and lower halves apart, opening a V slot therebetween wherein a drive belt is maintained. A cylindrical shaft is journaled through the bearing carrier and fitted through the pulley that includes a coil spring disposed therearound for providing spring biasing to urge the bearing carrier away from the pulley upper half, biasing the pulley halves together.