Transmission device

Abstract

A transmission device comprising a first rotary element having two rolling friction surfaces which are of revolution about the axis of rotation of the element, or first axis, and having a center of symmetry located on the first axis, the two surfaces of the first element each being in frictional contact at a single point with one or the other of two rolling friction surfaces which are of revolution about a common axis of rotation, or second axis, and have a center of symmetry located on said second axis, the first axis and the second axis being inclined with respect to each other at an angle a and contained in the same plane, wherein the center of symmetry of the surfaces of revolution of the first element and the center of symmetry of the surfaces of revolution which are in contact with the first element are coincident at the same point S, the two surfaces of revolution about the second axis are formed on two parts connected to rotate with each other of a second element connected to a first shaft coaxial with the second axis, the assembly formed by the two surfaces of the second element is different from a sphere, and the first element is connected to rotate with a second shaft so that the two points of contact between the first element and second element are symmetrical with respect to the common center of symmetry and therefore located on each side of the second axis and first axis.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A power transmission comprising, a first element comprising two axially spaced closed surfaces of revolution about a first axis defining two rolling surfaces on opposite sides of a plane normal to said first axis and passing through a point on said first axis, a second element driven conically about said point on the first axis and circumferentially of said first axis, said second element having two second rolling closed surfaces of revolution about a second axis and axially spaced on opposite sides of a plane passing through said point and normal to said second axis, said second axis intersecting said first axis at said point and being inclined to the first axis by an angle a, input torque means comprising a first shaft to impart conical movement to said second element conically about said point on the first axis and circumferentially of said first axis, said second element having means effective to develop gyroscopically when driven a gyroscopic torque effective for applying said rolling surfaces on each other for relative rolling thereon and contacting at two areas disposed on opposite sides of both axes and effective to couple said first and second element, to prevent a sliding movement therebetween, .Iadd.the forces applying said rolling surfaces on each other consisting essentially of forces mechanically applied to said first and second elements, said mechanically applied forces including said gyroscopic torque, .Iaddend.and means comprising a second shaft connected for taking out an output torque transmitted through said element from said input torque means. 
     
     
       2. A power transmission recording to claim 1, in which said input torque means to impart conical movement to said second element includes means mounting said second element for rotation around the second axis. 
     
     
       3. A power transmission according to claim 2, in which the center of gravity of said second element is disposed at a point of intersection of said first axis and said second axis. 
     
     
       4. A power transmission according to claim 2 including a stationary frame mounting said first and second element, and said point of intersection being disposed stationary axially relative to said frame. 
     
     
       5. A power transmission according to claim 3, in which said first element comprises two parts each defining thereon a corresponding rolling surface of the first element and effective to vary the relative speed between the first shaft and said second shaft in dependence upon the position of said two areas relative to the axis, means joining the two parts for joint rotation and for allowing relative axial movement to vary the position of the rolling surfaces thereof to the first axis, and means to vary the axial position of said two parts relative to said first axis. 
     
     
       6. A power transmission according to claim 5, in which said means to vary the axial position of said two parts relative to said first axis comprises means defining a fluid chamber in conjunction with said two parts for receiving fluid under pressure therein for moving said two parts axially relatively. 
     
     
       7. A power transmission according to claim 2, in which said surfaces of revolution about said first axis are disposed symmetrically relative to said plane normal to said first axis, and said surfaces of revolution about said second axis are disposed symmetrically relative to said plane normal to said second axis. 
     
     
       8. A power transmission according to claim 7, including means comprising said first element and said second element to vary the relative speed between the first shaft and the second shaft as a function of the position of said areas relative to the axis. 
     
     
       9. A power transmission according to claim 1, in which said input torque means to impart conical movement to said second element comprises a support element mounting said second element for rotation around the second axis, means mounting the support element for rotation with said first shaft, and means on the first-mentioned means for mounting said support element for tilting about a pivot axis disposed at said point perpendicular to the first and second axis. 
     
     
       10. A power transmission according to claim 9, in which said means mounting the support element for rotation with said first shaft comprises an axial extension on said first shaft, and said pivot axis being disposed on said extension. 
     
     
       11. A power transmission according to claim 10, in which said extension is offset from said first axis. 
     
     
       12. A power transmission according to claim 10, in which said support element comprises a longitudinal prismatic bore having a longitudinal axis corresponding to said second axis and having opposite sides each diverging from said point and lateral opposed flat sides parallel to first and second axis, said extension having opposite flat sides substantially abutting corresponding flat sides of said prismatic bore for relative sliding movement therebetween. 
     
     
       13. A power transmission according to claim 1, in which said input torque means to impart conical movement to said second element includes means mounting said second element for rotation around the second axis, and including means mounting said first element for rotation around the first axis. 
     
     
       14. A power transmission comprising, a first element comprising two axially spaced closed surfaces of revolution about a first axis defining two rolling surfaces on opposite sides of a plane normal to said first axis and passing through a point on said first axis, a second element driven conically about said point on the first axis and circumferentially of said first axis, said second element having two second rolling closed surfaces of revolution about a second axis and axially spaced on opposite sides of a plane passing through said point and normal to said second axis, said second axis intersecting said first axis at said point and being inclined to the first axis by an angle a, means comprising a first shaft to impart conical movement to said second element conically about said point on the first axis and circumferentially of said first axis, said second element having means effective to develop gyroscopically when driven a gyroscopic torque effective for applying said rolling surfaces on each other for relative rolling thereon and contacting at two areas disposed on opposite sides of both axis and effective to couple said first and second element to prevent a sliding movement therebetween, said means to impart conical movement to said second element including means mounting said second element for rotation around the second axis, means mounting said first element for rotation around the first axis, a second shaft connected to said second element for rotation therewith upon rotation thereof about said second axis, a third shaft connected to said first element for rotation therewith, one of said first, second and third shafts constituting an input shaft and another of said second and third shafts constituting an output shaft, means connecting at least two of the first, second and third shafts for correlating the relative speeds of the three shafts. 
     
     
       15. A power transmission comprising a first element comprising two axially spaced closed surfaces of revolution about a first axis defining two rolling surfaces on opposite sides of a plane normal to said first axis and passing through a point on said first axis, a second element driven conically about said point on the first axis and circumferentially of said first axis, said second element having two second rolling closed surfaces of revolution about a second axis and axially spaced on opposite sides of a plane passing through said point and normal to said second axis, said second axis intersecting said first axis at said point and being inclined to the first axis by an angle a, input torque means comprising a first shaft to impart conical movement to said second element conically about said point on the first axis and circumferentially of said first axis, said second element having means effective to develop gyroscopically when driven a gyroscopic torque effective for applying said rolling surfaces on each other for relative rolling thereon and contacting at two areas disposed on opposite sides of both axis and effective to couple said first and second element to prevent a sliding movement therebetween, means comprising a second shaft connected for taking out an output torque transmitted through said second element from said input torque means, and compensating means to compensate for the gyroscopic torque developed by said second element. 
     
     
       16. A power transmission according to claim 15, in which said compensating means comprises means developing a second gyroscopic torque of opposite direction to the first-mentioned gyroscopic torque. .Iadd. 17. A power transmission comprising a first element comprising two axially spaced closed surfaces of revolution about a first axis defining two rolling surfaces on opposite sides of a plane normal to said first axis and passing through a point on said first axis, a second element conically revolvable about said point on said first axis and circumferentially of said first axis, said second element having two rolling closed surfaces of revolution about a second axis and axially spaced on opposite sides of a plane passing through said point and normal to said second axis, said second axis intersecting said first axis at said point and being inclined at an angle with respect to said first axis, said second element having means effective to develop gyroscopically when revolved, a gyroscopic torque effective for applying said rolling surfaces on each other for relative rolling thereon and contacting at two areas disposed on opposite sides of both of said axes and effective to couple said first and second element, the forces applying said rolling surfaces on each other consisting essentially of forces mechanically applied to said first and second element, said mechanically applied forces including said gyroscopic torque. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. A power transmission as recited in claim 17 including mechanical means to develop a driving torque at the rolling surfaces of one of said elements to be transmitted as a driven torque from the rolling surfaces of the other of said elements. .Iaddend.