Adjustable Throw Patents (Class 74/123)
  • Patent number: 7416506
    Abstract: A rotor controlled CVT including: input and output shafts (28,44), an elongated cam-shaped rotor (12) which is uniformly and linearly tapered over its length and is engaged for rotation with the input shaft, a plurality of cam follower units (54) which are located in structure about and are reciprocated by the rotor and include rollers (56) having treads which bear and rotate in circumferential paths on the rotor surface, angular velocity extraction devices (38) which are each engageable and partially rotated by a cam follower, means (14) for causing the extraction devices to collectively produce an output velocity at the output shaft, elements for causing relative movement between the rotor and cam followers to vary the ratio of rotation between the input and output shafts, and elements for keeping the roller treads in contact with the roller surface. The roller treads are in line contact with the rotor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Varibox (PTY) Limited
    Inventor: Johannes Jacobus Naude
  • Patent number: 7121160
    Abstract: A constant power mechanical transmission with seamless, ripple free, infinitely variable torque multiplying outputs comprises an input shaft and an output shaft. The input shaft is coupled to a pair of oscillating levers whereby rotation of the input shaft causes oscillation of the oscillating levers in opposite directions. The oscillating levers are linked to the output shaft with one-way clutches in order to cause rotation of the shaft upon movement of the oscillating levers. The rotational speed of the output shaft can be infinitely varied by changing the throw of the oscillating levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Laird B. Gogins
  • Patent number: 6324632
    Abstract: A method and computer for processing an incoming data stream, for example of video or audio data is described. A system memory is divided into first and second memory spaces, the first memory space for holding a data stream and the second memory space for holding a set of program data. A cache has first and second partitions allocated exclusively respectively to the first and second memory spaces. In this manner, when the data stream is transferred between an execution unit and the main memory, program data is not evicted from the cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Limited
    Inventor: Simon McIntosh-Smith
  • Patent number: 6119539
    Abstract: An infinitely and continuously variable transmission system capable of gradually multiplying TORQUE while decreasing RPM and vice-versa. For a given input shaft TORQUE and RPM, the system delivers to the output shaft such increases or reductions in TORQUE with inversely corresponding increases or reductions in RPM as may be desired across a predetermined and very wide range of transmission ratios. The range can include zero RPM for the output shaft while the input shaft continues to rotate at any RPM, thus eliminating the need for an input shaft disengaging clutch. The invention includes a main assembly consisting of one or more pairs of co-axial diametrically opposed one-way clutches and corresponding pairs of diametrically opposed carrying shafts which are interconnected through a central hub assembly. The axes of the carrying shafts share the same plane with each other and with the central hub's multi-directional center around which they are radially and symmetrically mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Galaxy Shipping Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: John Paul Papanicolaou
  • Patent number: 5899113
    Abstract: Variable speed drive to be connected to a rotating driving shaft (5) and to a rotating driven shaft (6) includes at least two angled bearings (7, 7'), controller for controlling the orientation of the axis (13, 13') of each angled bearing (7, 7') adapted so that the axes are offset from one another, and transmission (9,9', 11, 11') adapted so that in each phase of the movement at least one of the angled bearings (7, 7') engages and at least one of the bearings (7, 7') does not engage. The controller is adapted to alter the slant of all the angled bearings (7, 7') on the basis of a signal for controlling the variation in the variable speed drive ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Inventor: Jean Badersbach
  • Patent number: 5771743
    Abstract: A mechanical continuously variable torque transmission, in particular for flywheel driven, fuel efficient, low emission cars, trucks and locomotives includes structure as follows: three eccentrics 20, 21, 22, mounted on input shaft 18 and carrying needle bearings 23, 24, 25, rotate freely inside three loops of flexible bands 57, 58, 59. One end of each flexible bands is mounted on an oscillating member 36, 37 or 38, which contain overrunning clutches, able to drive output shaft 30. The oscillating members 36, 37, 38 are each held in a home position by a spring 63 and stop 60, 42. The other ends of the flexible bands are each mounted on a pulley 49, 50, or 51, which are themselves mounted on torsion bars 71, 72, 73. The torsion bars are adjustable in angular position as well as in their elastic length.Rotation of pulleys 49, 50, 51 tightens the flexible bands so that rotation of the eccentrics causes torque to the oscillating members and pulleys in the first half of a cycle of rotation of each eccentric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Ulrich Menzi
    Inventor: Ulrich Menzi
  • Patent number: 4873893
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are two embodiments of transmissions. In a first embodiment, a transmission is provided in which the input shaft and output shafts are mounted for rotation with respect to each other on a common shaft, and power is transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft utilizing the gear on the output shaft meshed with an idler gear, the idler gear being coupled to the input shaft through a wobble plate mounted on the input shaft and the connecting rod coupled between the wobble plate and the idler gear. In one aspect of this embodiment, a plurality of idler gears are meshed with the gear on the output shaft and each of the idler gears is coupled to the wobble plate through a connecting rod and a one-way gear or brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Inventor: John H. Blakemore
  • Patent number: 4739667
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus transmits power from a rotatable cam to an output mechanism. A variable length lever, comprised of first and second lever sections, is pivoted to a lever support by a fulcrum. The lever sections telescopingly or otherwise interconnected to allow the over-all length of the lever to vary. In addition, the first lever section includes a cam following end portion which is drivenly coupled to the cam. Also, the second lever section has an output end portion which is pivoted to the output mechanism. The lever oscillates when the cam following end portion is driven by the cam and drives the output mechanism. A drive adjustment device moves the fulcrum relative to the cam following and output end portions of the first and second lever sections. This varies the throw of the output end portion with the zero drive being possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Inventor: Walter O. Peterson
  • Patent number: 4711139
    Abstract: The present invention provides for improvements made to the infinitely variable rotary drive transmission U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,161 dated Dec. 10, 1985, having an input member and an output member rotatably mounted to a housing. Two articulated shafts are rotatably mounted on two slides such that the degree of articulation can be varied in infinite increments by operating a lever mounted on the housing. The two articulated shafts are connected rotatably and synchronously. The input member through a substantial speed reduction drives the articulated shafts. The articulated shafts are connected by rods to a pair of cooperating overrunning clutch assemblies mounted on an intermediate shaft which in turn is rotatably mounted on the housing. Another clutch assembly is mounted on the intermediate shaft to restrict its movement to one direction only. The intermediate shaft through a substantial speed increase drives the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Inventor: Egas J. Desousa
  • Patent number: 4557161
    Abstract: The present invention provides an infinitely variable rotary drive transmission having an input member and an output member rotatably mounted to a housing. A slide is linearly reciprocally mounted to the housing in a direction substantially radial with respect to the axis of the input member. The input member rotatably drives an articulated shaft which is connected to the slide by rods so that the input member reciprocally linearly drives the slide. The slide in turn is connected to and rotatably drives the output member through a pair of cooperating clutch assemblies. A bottle screw varies the degree of articulation of the articulated shaft which, in turn, varies the stroke of the slide per revolution of the input shaft to thereby vary the rotational speed of the output member. A shift assembly is operable to reverse the direction of rotation of the output member as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Inventor: Egas J. DeSousa
  • Patent number: 4378707
    Abstract: An indexing apparatus operated by a unidirectionally rotating drive shaft. The drive shaft and a driven member are rotatingly supported by a base in a spaced apart manner. An interconnecting link extends between the drive shaft and the driven member and is pivotally pinned in an offset manner at a first end to the drive shaft. A second end of the interconnecting link is pivotally pinned in an offset manner to the driven member. When the drive shaft rotates it oscillates the driven member in opposite first and second directions through an arc. A releasable engaging device carried by the driven member releasably engages an index member rotatably carried by the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Assignee: Jackson Machine Products
    Inventor: Richard W. Jeffries