Abstract: The drive hub for a vehicle, particularly for a bicycle, includes a hub axle 1, a hub shell 9 rotatable relative thereto, and a driver or actuator 13 mounted on the hub axle 1. The driver 13 drives the hub shell 9 over a ball friction gear 17, the ball carrier plates 25 and 27 of which form with the hub axle 1 a rigid gear housing the balls 35 of which, with a guide ring 33, a drive ring 51 and a driven ring 55, enter into a frictional connection which, by the swivelling of the axle pins 37 between drive ring 51 and driven ring 55, permits different rotational speeds. The pressure forces are produced by a thread 47 between driver 13 and drive sleeve 49 proportionally to the driving torque, the pressure spring 57 ensuring a dead-travel-free response of the ball friction gear 17.

Abstract: A device for stepping down and/or stepping up the speed of rotation of a motor element, such as a dental micromotor, includes two toothed pinions with common axes of rotation and which are mounted in a support piece. The support piece can turn through an angle (.alpha.) with respect to the body o the motor element about an axis (A) parallel with an axis (o) of the input pinion of the device and offset with respect to the axis (o) by a distance (OA). The axis (A) is further offset with respect to the axis (O') of rotation of the output pinion by a distance (AO') equal to the distance (OA). As a result, in a first position, the axis (O') is merged with the axis (O), and a first one of the pinions (or a crown wheel) is meshed with elements upstream of the kinematic chain. In a second position, following rotation of the support piece through a defined angle (.alpha.

Abstract: In a load change-over gear with infinitely variable transmission, which includes a linkage gear (1) driven by a main drive shaft (5), a control gear (2) associated with the linkage gear (1), as well as a switching or change-over gear (4) series-connected after the linkage gear (1), linkage shafts (10 and 11) can be alternately coupled to the switching gear (4). To create a variable switching logic and to save structural components of the switching gear (4), a superposition gear (3) is series-connected after the linkage gear (1) whose input shaft (14) can be coupled alternately to linkage shafts (10 and 11). Superposition gear (3), in which the main drive shaft rpm can be superposed on the rpm of the input shaft (14), in turn includes a linkage shaft (21) that can be coupled directly to a main output shaft (24) or to the switching gear (4).

Abstract: A self-contained change speed apparatus for use on a bicycle having a drive member and a hub body rotatably supported on a fixed shaft, and two planetary gear mechanisms arranged on a drive transmission path extending from the drive member to the hub body. The planetary gear mechanisms include planet gears meshed with sun gears switchable through externally controllable one-way clutches between a state of free rotation relative to the fixed shaft and a state of being locked to the fixed shaft. The controls of the one-way clutches acting on the sun gears are effected by relative positional relations between projections formed on the fixed shaft and control sections formed on a control member shiftable on peripheral surfaces of the fixed shaft. Such controls of the sun gears determine an output line extending through one of the two one-way clutches.

Abstract: A variable speed transmission transmits power between an input and output in which a pinion gear, a rotor and a cam are mounted for relative rotation therebetween. First and second gear rack pairs have opposite facing toothed gear racks which are spaced apart sufficiently to receive the pinion gear and cam therebetween when the pinion gear engages at least one of the gear racks, and an outer surface of the cam is adjacent at least one of the gear racks. Structure is provided to prevent contact between the rack teeth and the outer surface of the cam. First and second rack supports support the rack pairs against lateral movement to ensure full engagement between the pinion and sequentially engaged racks. The rack supports slidingly engage the rotor to transmit power therebetween in such a manner that a resultant force vector from contact between the pinion gear and gear rack passes closely adjacent a point of contact between a rack support and the rotor.

Abstract: A speed changing gear device for an automatic transmission, comprising a main gear assembly for providing a plurality of operating positions, and an axiliary gear assembly for providing a direct drive position and a speed changing drive position. The main gear assembly includes a single-pinion type first planetary gear unit having a first sun gear, a first planetary gear, a first ring gear and a first carrier, and a single-pinion type second planetary gear unit having a second sun gear, a second planetary gear, a second ring gear and a second carrier. The auxiliary gear assembly includes a third planetary gear unit having a third sun gear, at least one third planetary gear, a third ring gear and a third carrier. The first carrier and second ring gear are fixed to each other, or selectively connected to each other by a first clutch. The first and second sun gears, and the first sun gear and second carrier are selectively connected to each other by a second and a third clutch, respectively.

Abstract: A variable speed transmission transmits power between an input and output in which a pinion gear, a rotor and a cam are mounted for relative rotation therebetween. First and second gear rack pairs have opposite facing toothed gear racks which are spaced apart sufficiently to receive the pinion gear and cam therebetween when the pinion gear engages at least one of the gear racks, and the outer surface of the cam is adjacent at least one of the gear racks. First and second rack supports support the rack pairs against lateral movement to ensure full engagement between the pinion and sequentially engaged racks. The rack support slidingly engage the rotor to transmit power therebetween in such a manner that a resultant force vector from contact between the pinion and gear rack passes closely adjacent a point of contact between a rack support and a rotor. Teeth of the gears have inclined tips to facilitate meshing.

Abstract: A change-speed hub having a fixed shaft, a hub body rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft, a drive member rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft for transmitting a drive force to the hub body selectively through a plurality of transmission channels, a clutch for selecting one from the transmission channels, a plurality of sun gears rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft and having diameters differing from each other and a lock control mechanism for controlling locking and releasing of the sun gears relative to the fixed shaft. The sun gears have axial movements thereof substantially limited. On the fixed shaft, there is rotatably mounted a control member. The control member includes a first control portion for controlling the clutch and second and third control portions for activating the lock control mechanism for selectively locking the sun gears to the fixed shaft.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a new concept in torque-type propulsion through a totally mechanical, self governing, low to high gear, trans-planetary torque impeller capable of infinitely and automatically matching the input shaft or motor power output capability to the output shaft load.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical rotary drive providing by electrical switching an output shaft speed change by substantially equal small steps. The drive includes an epicyclic differential transmission, with two or more members coupled individually to constant speed a.c. motor(s) all driving through a simple externally power transmitting member which has a base speed or speeds attributable to each coupled member, and an actual speed having combinations of its base speeds for forward, reverse, and zero speed operation of the coupled members.

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.

Abstract: A flywheel energy storage system with a continuously-variable output speed employing a pair of variable inertia flywheels for energy storage and transfer and a second pair of variable inertia flywheels for control of the inertia of the first flywheels. A gear type transmission is provided for coupling each of the flywheels to an input shaft and each of the flywheels with an output shaft with multiple output shaft speed ranges. A system for automatic control of shifting is provided.