Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
474047000 | PULLEY WITH EXPANSIBLE RIM MEANS OR PULLEYS WITH ALTERNATELY USEABLE NESTABLE RIMS | 14 |
20110045928 | SYNCHRONIZED SEGMENTALLY INTERCHANGING PULLEY TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - A segmented pulley transmission is provided. A pulley assembly is rotationally mounted on an axle. The pulley assembly includes a core pulley having a first set of mating features on a peripheral surface thereof. A pulley segment set comprises a number of pulley segments slidably mounted in the pulley assembly and arranged in a ring concentric with the core pulley. The pulley segments are individually actuatable out of the pulley assembly into an engaging position and into the pulley assembly into a non-engaging position. The pulley segments have a second set of mating features on an peripheral surface matching the first set of mating features. An endless drive member has corresponding mating features on an inside surface for engaging the first and second sets of mating features of the core pulley and the pulley segments in an engaging position. Contact between the endless drive member and a core pulley defines a contact zone. An actuator actuates the pulley segments between the engaging and non-engaging positions when the pulley segments are outside of the contact zone. One of the key pulley segments in the pulley segment set is a key pulley segment that is positioned relative to the core pulley such that when the key pulley segment is actuated to the engaging position and rotated into the contact zone, the corresponding mating features of the endless drive member engage the first set of mating features of the core pulley and the second set of mating features of the key pulley segment without the introduction of significant slack or tension. | 02-24-2011 |
20140287855 | SYNCHRONIZED SEGMENTALLY INTERCHANGING PULLEY TRANSMISSION SYSEM - A segmented pulley transmission is provided. A pulley assembly is rotationally mounted on an axle. The pulley assembly includes a core pulley having a first set of mating features on a peripheral surface thereof. A pulley segment set comprises a number of pulley segments slidably mounted in the pulley assembly and arranged in a ring concentric with the core pulley. The pulley segments are individually actuatable out of the pulley assembly into an engaging position and into the pulley assembly into a non-engaging position. The pulley segments have a second set of mating features on an peripheral surface matching the first set of mating features. An endless drive member has corresponding mating features on an inside surface for engaging the first and second sets of mating features of the core pulley and the pulley segments in an engaging position. Contact between the endless drive member and a core pulley defines a contact zone. An actuator actuates the pulley segments between the engaging and nun-engaging positions when the pulley segments are outside of the contact zone. One of the key pulley segments in the pulley segment set is a key pulley segment that is positioned relative to the core pulley such that when the key pulley segment is actuated to the engaging position and rotated into the contact zone, the corresponding mating features of the endless drive member engage the first set of mating features of the core pulley and the second set of mating features of the key pulley segment without the introduction of significant slack or tension. | 09-25-2014 |
474049000 | Structure for variably adjusting radius of rim section | 12 |
20090137353 | Expandable pulley - An expandable pulley comprising a plurality of adjacent segments, each segment being radially moveable, each segment slidingly engaged with a pin member, each pin member having an engagement with each segment such that each segment is moveable in a direction substantially at an angle (α) to a radial along each pin member, a moveable guide member engaged with each segment for spatially locating each segment with respect to another segment, a counterweight cooperatively connected to each segment and cooperatively engageable with each pin member, each counterweight exerting a force opposing a segment centripetal force, and each pin member connected to a hub. | 05-28-2009 |
20100062885 | INFINITELY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION - An IVT machine includes an input shaft, a drive wheel on the input shaft, an output shaft, a ratio changing device which is mounted on the output shaft, an endless belt which passes over the drive wheel and in an open loop on the ratio changing device, control elements for enlarging and reducing the belt loop dimension about the output shaft axis, belt guide elements providing a throat through which the belt enters and leaves its loop on the ratio changing device, and a drive arrangement on the ratio changing device for the transmission of drive power to the output shaft and is engaged with the belt in a portion of its loop on the device and engageable with the belt on both sides of the throat in its transition across the throat during rotation of the ratio changing device. | 03-11-2010 |
20110230286 | Variable Drive Transmission - A variable drive transmission system is provided that includes at least one variable diameter gear coupled to a drive shaft at a hub of the variable diameter gear, the drive shaft provides a driving force that causes rotational movement in the first variable diameter gear. The variable diameter gear includes a spiral spring component that extends out of the hub of the first gear, coils spirally in a direction around the hub, and terminates openly on an outer surface of the variable diameter gear. The application of the driving force at the hub causes the spiral spring component to one of wind and unwind and as a result increase or decrease the diameter of the first variable diameter. | 09-22-2011 |
20140162816 | MECHANISM FOR TRANSMITTING POWER OF ROTATION - A mechanism for transmitting rotational power comprising: a link extending along a closed loop and continued by a succession of portions each having a longitudinal direction tangent to the closed loop; and temporary unification means comprising a plurality of self-locking means distributed at least along an active portion of a first drive circle, and comprising at least one rigid locking element simultaneously pressing against a first support surface of the first rotating element and a second support surface of a link portion facing the locking element. The first and second support surfaces are arranged so that one locking element of the first drive circle active portion is jammed between the support surfaces and is capable of self-unlocking when the corresponding self-locking means leaves the active portion. One of the support surfaces is a tangential gripping surface that is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the link portion against which the locking element presses. | 06-12-2014 |
20150065280 | Expandable Gear System and Methods for Use - Example gear systems and methods for use are provided herein. An example gear system may include (a) an expandable gear that defines a plurality of circular sectors, (b) a hub disposed in the gear, where the hub includes an expandable portion, and (c) an expander, where the expandable gear has an expanded position when the expander is disposed within the hub and the expandable gear has an unexpanded position when the expander is disposed outside of the hub. | 03-05-2015 |
20160114858 | VARIABLY EXPANDING CHAIN TRANSMISSION - A bicycle transmission allows a bicycle operator to change the radius of a pedal crank's transmission gear as sliding gear segments, radially arranged on a base ring assembly, vary their relative radial position from the center of the base plate. These gear segments slide in and out to change the effective radius of the gear. Spring biased locking pins engage adjustable control plates as the crank rotates. The locking pins release to make further adjustments to increase or decrease the effective radius. The transmission may also be used as a variable-ratio prime mover for other motive power applications, to transfer power from the wheel to another rotating component. The transfer of power may be via a chain or a belt. | 04-28-2016 |
474050000 | By actuator responsive to speed or load | 3 |
20100190592 | Vibration Compensating Pulley - A pulley has a hub and a rim. The hub is configured to be mountable on a driving shaft. A driving connection between the hub and rim is provided. In a first embodiment, a drive mechanism is operable to configure the rim between a circular profile and a non-circular profile. The non-circular profile produces a counteracting torque to offset load torques produced by the engine. The drive mechanism can be electrical, inertial, hydraulic or any combination thereof. In a second embodiment, the rim is fixed with a non-circular profile. | 07-29-2010 |
20100222166 | CVT USING A BELT AND DRIVING METHOD - The present invention relates to a continuously variable transmission using a belt which comprises: a driving portion including a main cylinder having a space in which oil can be filled and operating as a pulley, a plurality of subsidiary cylinders disposed at a circumferential surface of the main cylinder and expanding in the radial direction due to the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the driving shaft, the subsidiary cylinders each being formed with belt grooves at the distal end for seating belts thereon; a driven portion having a structure identical to that of the driving portion, and disposed at a position spaced apart from the driving portion by a predetermined distance; belts seated on the belt grooves formed at the subsidiary cylinders of the driving portion and the belt grooves formed at the subsidiary cylinders of the driven portion, for transmitting the power of the driving portion to the driven portion. | 09-02-2010 |
20130065717 | VARIABLE SPEED ALTERNATOR - A variable speed alternator can include a shaft and adjustable pulley assembly coupled to the shaft. The adjustable pulley assembly can include a support member fixed to the shaft and an adjustable pulley moveably coupled to the support member. The adjustable pulley can have a plurality of individually moveable members each with an outer surface forming a portion of a belt engaging surface for receiving a flat belt to drive the adjustable pulley. Each moveable member can be selectively linearly moveable in a radial direction to vary an outer diameter of the adjustable pulley between a first position having a first outer diameter and a second position having a second outer diameter to selectively vary a driven speed of the alternator shaft. | 03-14-2013 |
474052000 | Including means interconnecting plural pulleys for simultaneous adjustment | 1 |
474053000 | Pulleys on spaced axes | 1 |
20160138687 | CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM - The present invention has a mechanical rotation drive mechanism ( | 05-19-2016 |
474054000 | By actuator having collar concentric with, and movable axially on, pulley axis | 1 |
474055000 | Collar interconnected with rim sections via pivoted link | 1 |
20160040772 | PULLEY ASSEMBLY FOR BELT DRIVE - A variable-speed belt drive pulley assembly includes a plurality of pulley segments, a plurality of sliders, and a rotatable hub. Each segment is adapted to engage a drive belt and is mounted to an outer end of a corresponding slider which is slidably received by the hub. Each slider may be a pair of rods extending from the body in parallel relationship to each other. The hub has a plurality of bores. Each bore slidably receives a corresponding one of the rods. An actuator device moves the segments radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the hub. A coil spring is mounted on each the rods, and is biased to urge one of the segments radially outwardly. | 02-11-2016 |
474056000 | By actuator having collar concentric with, and rotatable in plane perpendicular to pulley axis | 1 |
20090118043 | VARIABLE DIAMETER GEAR DEVICE AND VARIABLE TRANSMISSIONS USING SUCH DEVICES - A variable diameter gear device for use in a variable ratio transmission system includes a gear tooth set deployed around an axle which defines an axis of rotation. The gear tooth set includes at least two displaceable gear tooth sequences, each including a multiple gear teeth spaced at a uniform pitch, and a diameter changer mechanically linked to the axle and to the gear tooth set. The diameter changer is deployed to transfer a turning moment between the axle and the gear tooth set, and to displace the gear tooth set so as to vary a degree of peripheral coextension between the gear tooth sequences. Specifically, the diameter changer transforms the gear device between at least two states in which the gear tooth set is deployed to provide an effective cylindrical gear with differing effective numbers of teeth. The gear device may be used either in direct engagement with another gear wheel or as part of a chain-based transmission system. | 05-07-2009 |