Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Automotive infinite transmission

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5742973

An automotive infinite transmission is described having an input pulley, an output pulley, and belt means entrained around the input and output pulleys for transmitting a rotational torque from the input pulley to the output pulley. An effective diameter of each of the input and output pulleys is variable for changing continuously a transmission ratio. Each of the input and output pulleys comprises: a fixed pulley member fixedly mounted on a rotary shaft and having a tapered pulley surface; a movable pulley member mounted on the rotary shaft for movement axially of the rotary shaft and having a tapered pulley surface; actuator means for axially moving the movable member toward and away from the fixed pulley member; generally radially extending slits formed in each of the pulley surface of the fixed pulley member and the pulley surface of the movable pulley member; drive blocks disposed circumferentially along the annular groove between the pulley surface of the fixed pulley member and the pulley surface of the movable pulley member; means for reducing a frictional force between the drive blocks and the pulley surface of the fixed pulley member and a frictional force between the drive blocks and the pulley surface of the movable pulley member; means for biasing the drive blocks radially inwardly against a centrifugal force applied to the drive blocks when the fixed and movable pulley members are rotated; and the drive blocks each having a radially outward surface with which the belt means is in frictional contact.

Assignee:
Nippondenso Co., Ltd., Kariya
Patent Number(s):
US 4705492
OSTI ID:
5742973
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English