Centrifugal Actuator Patents (Class 476/5)
  • Patent number: 11137058
    Abstract: A transmission includes a first housing part and a second housing part connected at least by a friction-locked connection with the aid of a clamp ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan Hannet, Markus Wöppermann
  • Patent number: 9057439
    Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission includes an input assembly, an output assembly, an input/output planetary ratio assembly and a torque feedback control is provided. The input assembly is coupled to receive input rotational motion. The output assembly provides a rotational output. The output assembly is configured to be rotationally coupled to a load. The input/output planetary ratio assembly sets an input to output speed ratio. The input/output ratio assembly includes a first and a second stator. The torque feedback control assembly provides torque feedback to the input/output planetary ratio assembly to at least in part control the input to output speed ratio of the input/output planetary ratio assembly. The torque feedback control assembly includes a phase relation system operationally coupled to the first and second stator and a torque system operationally coupled to the output assembly. The phase relation system further is in operational communication with the torque system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, John E. Hamrin, Joel Dunlap
  • Patent number: 8827856
    Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission is provided. The transmission includes an input assembly that is coupled to receive input rotational motion and an output assembly that is rotationally coupled to a load. An input/output planetary ratio assembly sets an input to output speed ratio. The input/output planetary ratio assembly has a first stator and a second stator. An input speed feedback control assembly is operationally attached to the input assembly. The input speed feedback control assembly includes a spider that is coupled to one of the first stator and the second stator. A movable member is operationally engaged with the spider with at least one shift weight. The moveable member is further operationally coupled to the other of the first stator and second stator. Moreover a torque feedback control assembly applies an axial load force in response to a torque of a load to the input speed control assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Younggren, John E. Hamrin, Joel Dunlap
  • Patent number: 7727106
    Abstract: A variable ratio transmission for mechanically coupling an input member to an output member, the variable ratio transmission allowing the conversion of an input rotational motion of the input member into an output rotational motion of the output member, the input rotational motion having an input speed and an input torque and the output rotational motion having an output speed and an output torque. The variable ratio transmission includes a variable ratio transmission assembly mechanically coupled to the input member and to the output member for rotating the output member at the output speed in response to the input member being rotated at the input speed, the variable ratio transmission assembly defining a transmission ratio between the output speed and the input speed, the transmission ratio being variable; and a ratio controller mechanically coupled to the variable ratio transmission assembly and to the input member for automatically adjusting the transmission ratio as a function of the input torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Pierre Maheu, Jean-François Dahmé
  • Patent number: 7727107
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The single axle transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. An additional embodiment is disclosed which shifts automatically dependent upon the rotational speed of the wheel. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The disclosed transmission may be used in vehicles such as automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles. The transmission may, for example, be driven by a power transfer mechanism such as a sprocket, gear, pulley or lever, optionally driving a one way clutch attached at one end of the main shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Donald C Miller
  • Patent number: 7584040
    Abstract: The following steps are performed in the control method: determining a mode of operation from amongst a permanent mode and a transient mode, as a function of a set of variables comprising said estimated values; correcting the value of the speed of rotation of the outlet shaft in such a manner that: if the mode has been determined as being the permanent mode, then the moving average (L?) of the gear ratio (L) over a period (T) of a plurality of unit time intervals lies between a first threshold value (S1) that is negative and a second threshold value (S2) that is positive; and if the mode has been determined as being the transient mode, then said moving average (L?) of the gear ratio (L) lies outside the range of values defined by the first and second threshold value (S1, S2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Stéphane Rimaux
  • Patent number: 7422541
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The single axle transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. An additional embodiment is disclosed which shifts automatically dependent upon the rotational speed of the wheel. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The disclosed transmission may be used in vehicles such as automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles. The transmission may, for example, be driven by a power transfer mechanism such as a sprocket, gear, pulley or lever, optionally driving a one way clutch attached at one end of the main shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Donald C Miller
  • Patent number: 6322475
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission. The transmission includes a plurality of power adjusters, such as spherical balls, frictionally interposed between a driving and a driven member. The driving and the driven member are each rotatably disposed over a main shaft. The spherical balls are configured to rotate about a modifiable axis and thereby provide a continuously variable shifting capability by adjusting the ratio between the angular velocity of the driving member in relation to the driven member. The system includes automatic and manual shifting gearing for adjusting the speed of the transmission. The system also includes a support a support member which is rotatably disposed over the main shaft and frictionally engaged to each of the spherical balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventor: Donald C. Miller
  • Patent number: 5989149
    Abstract: An automatic friction wheel transmission that includes an enclosed case, an input shaft assembly rotatively mounted through the enclosed case, and an output shaft assembly rotatively mounted through the enclosed case and operatively connected to the input shaft assembly for selective rotation therewith. An input low speed friction wheel engages an output low speed friction wheel and an input high speed friction wheel is disengaged from an output high speed friction wheel when a speed sensor initially senses a low speed of an input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: Mauricio C. Apostolo
  • Patent number: 5267919
    Abstract: An infinitely variable-speed mechanic drive apparatus is capable of providing a positive non-slip drive and includes a support; a driving shaft mounted rotatably on the support; a driven gear mounted axially and rotatably on the driving shaft; an intermediate transmission member disposed in a transverse direction to and mounted rotatably on the driving shaft. The intermediate transmission member includes an intermediate shaft, a driving wheel mounted rotatably on and shiftable in an axial direction of the intermediate shaft, the driving wheel being in frictional contact with the support, a biasing member biasing the driving wheel towards the axis of the driving shaft, and a driven transmission shaft rotatable around an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the intermediate shaft. The driven transmission shaft has a worm member which meshes with the driven gear, and a first drive member transmitting the rotating force of the driving wheel to the driven transmission shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Inventor: Hung-Chung Lin