Variable speed transmission

Abstract

A variable speed transmission comprising outer and inner rotatable members mounted for rotation about first and second rotational axes, respectively, at least first and second one-way clutches mounted on the inner rotatable member, and first and second drive elements attached to the first and second clutches, respectively, and to the outer member so that rotation of one of the rotatable members about its rotational axis causes the drive elements to rotate the other of the rotatable members about its rotational axis. The radial spacing between the rotational axes can be adjusted to vary the drive ratio.

I claim: 
     
       1. A variable speed transmission comprising: first and second rotatable members;   .Iadd.first .Iaddend.mounting means for mounting said first .[.and second.]. rotatable .[.members.]. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.for rotation about .Iadd.a .Iaddend.first .[.and second.]. rotational .[.axes, respectively.]. .Iadd.axis.Iaddend.;   .Iadd.second mounting means for mounting said second rotatable member for rotation about a second rotational axis; .Iaddend.   at least one drive element;   first means for drivingly coupling the drive element to the first rotatable member;   second means for drivingly coupling the drive element to the second rotatable member at a predetermined location;   said first means including one-way clutch means mounted on and substantially circumscribing the first rotatable member for providing a driving connection between said drive element and the first rotatable member in one direction about said first rotational axis and to allow the first rotatable member to rotate about said first rotational axis in the opposite direction whereby one of said rotatable members can drive the other of said rotatable members;   the rotation of said second rotatable member causing said predetermined location to circumscribe a region, said first rotational axis extending through said region; .[.and.].   .Iadd.at least one of .Iaddend.said mounting means including means for allowing adjustment in the relative radial position of said rotational axes whereby the drive ratio between said members can be varied.Iadd.; and   said first mounting means supporting said first rotatable member on one side of said one-way clutch means and said first rotatable member being unsupported on the other side of said one-way clutch means and radially inwardly of said one-way clutch.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive element includes a flexible drive element drivingly coupled to said rotatable members and resilient means for tensioning said flexible element. 
     
     
       3. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive element includes a rigid link and said second means pivotally connects said link and said second rotatable member. 
     
     
       4. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 3 wherein said first means includes an eccentric coupled to said one-way clutch means, said link at least substantially circumscribing said eccentric and bearing means between said eccentric and said link for providing a connection therewith which allows relative movement between said link and said eccentric. 
     
     
       5. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 1 wherein the first rotatable member drives the second rotatable member through said drive element and said drive ratio can have a value such that the angular velocity of the second rotatable member exceeds the angular velocity of the first rotatable member, the number of pulses of the motion of the second rotatable member being a function of the angular velocity of the second rotatable member. 
     
     
       6. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustment means moves the first rotatable member and said one-way clutch means to adjust the relative radial position of said rotational axes. 
     
     
       7. A variable speed transmission comprising: outer and inner rotatable members;   .Iadd.first .Iaddend.mounting means for mounting said outer .[.and inner.]. rotatable .[.members.]. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.for rotation about .[.said.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.first .[.and second.]. rotational .[.axes, respectively.]. .Iadd.axis.Iaddend.;   at least first and second one-way clutches mounted on and substantially circumscribing said inner rotatable member, said first and second one-way clutches being arranged on said inner rotatable member in an axially extending row;   .Iadd.second mounting means for supporting the inner rotatable member on one side of said row of one-way clutches for rotational movement about a second rotational axis whereby the inner rotatable member is unsupported on the other side of said row of one-way clutches and radially inwardly of said row of one-way clutches; .Iaddend.   first and second drive elements attached to said first and second clutches, respectively, at circumferentially spaced locations and attached to said outer rotatable member at circumferentially spaced locations whereby rotation of one of said members about its rotational axis causes said drive elements to rotate the other of said rotatable members about its rotational axis; and   .Iadd.at least one of .Iaddend.said mounting means including means for permitting adjustment of the radial spacing between said rotational axes.   
     
     
       8. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 7 said outer member includes a peripheral wall substantially circumscribing said first and second one-way clutches. 
     
     
       9. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 7 wherein said adjustment means includes means for mounting said inner rotatable member for pivotal movement about a third pivotal axis radially spaced from said first rotational axis whereby pivotal movement of said inner rotatable member about said third axis adjusts the radial spacing between said first and second rotational axes. 
     
     
       10. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 7 wherein said adjustment means includes means for mounting said inner rotatable member for movement along a path in a direction to adjust the radial spacing between said first and second rotational axes and releasable detent means for releasably fixing said inner member in any one of a plurality of positions along said path. 
     
     
       11. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 10 wherein the releasable detent means includes a detent movable with said inner member, a stop element having a plurality of notches therein, means for mounting said stop element in a fixed position, resilient means for urging said detent into any one of said notches to thereby releasably fix the relative positions of said first and second rotational axes, and means for selectively removing the detent from an associated one of the notches whereby the inner rotatable member can be moved along said path. 
     
     
       12. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 7 wherein said outer and inner rotatable members are first outer and inner rotatable members, respectively, and including a second outer rotatable member and a second inner rotatable member, .[.second.]. .Iadd.third .Iaddend.mounting means for mounting said second outer and second inner rotatable members for rotation about third and fourth rotational axes, respectively, at least third and fourth one-way clutches mounted on said second inner rotatable member; third and fourth drive elements attached to said third and fourth clutches, respectively, at circumferentially spaced locations whereby the rotation of one of said second rotatable members about its rotational axis causes said third and fourth drive elements to rotate the other of said second rotatable members about its rotational axis, said .[.second.]. .Iadd.third .Iaddend.mounting means including means for permitting adjustment of the radial spacing between said third and fourth rotational axes, and means for coupling one of said first rotatable members to one of said second rotatable members.   
     
     
       13. A variable speed transmission comprising: a housing;   first and second variable speed transmission units in said housing;   each of said transmission units including outer and inner rotatable members, mounting means for mounting said outer and inner rotatable members for rotation about first and second rotational axes, respectively, at least one one-way clutch mounted on said inner rotatable member, a first drive element attached to said one-way clutch and to said outer rotatable member whereby the rotation of either of said rotatable members about its rotational axis causes the drive element to rotate the other of said rotatable members about its rotational axis, said mounting means including means for mounting one of said rotatable members for movement along a path to permit adjustment of the radial spacing between said rotational axes to thereby change the drive ratio; and   means for drivingly coupling said one rotatable member of the first transmission unit to said one rotatable member of the second transmission unit whereby one of said transmission units can drive the other of said transmission units and the drive ratios of both of the transmission units can be simultaneously changed.   
     
     
       14. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 13 wherein the members coupled by said coupling means are said inner rotatable members. 
     
     
       15. A variable speed transmission comprising first and second rotatable members; mounting means for mounting said first and second rotatable members for rotation about first and second rotational axes, respectively;   at least one flexible drive element;   first means for drivingly coupling the flexible drive element to the first rotatable member;   second means for drivingly coupling the flexible drive element to the second rotatable member at a predetermined location;   at least one of said first and second means including a one-way clutch whereby one of said rotatable members can drive the other of said rotatable members through said flexible drive element;   the rotation of said second rotatable member causing said predetermined location to circumscribe a region, said first rotational axis extending through said region;   said mounting means including means for allowing adjustment in the radial spacing between said rotational axes whereby the drive ratio between said members can be varied; and   resilient means for tensioning the flexible drive element.   
     
     
       16. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 15 wherein said flexible drive element includes a chain drivingly coupled by said second means to said second rotatable member and said first means includes sprocket teeth cooperable with said chain to form a driving connection therewith. 
     
     
       17. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 15 including means on said first rotatable member defining a noncylindrical peripheral surface, said flexible drive element extending along and engaging at least a portion of said noncylindrical surface. .Iadd.18. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 7 wherein said outer rotatable member has a peripheral wall substantially circumscribing said first and second one-way clutches and an end wall on said other side of said row of one-way clutches and said inner rotatable member terminates short of said end wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 7 wherein said adjustment means includes a mounting arm and means for mounting the mounting arm for pivotal movement about a third axis which is radially spaced from said second rotational axis and said second mounting means mounts said inner rotatable member on said mounting arm whereby pivotal movement of the mounting arm about said third axis adjusts the radial spacing between the first and second rotational axes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A variable speed transmission as defined in claim 19 wherein said outer rotatable member has a peripheral wall substantially circumscribing said first and second one-way clutches and an end wall on said other side of said row of one-way clutches and said inner rotatable 
     
     
        member terminates short of said end wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21.  A variable speed transmission comprising: outer and inner rotatable members;   first mounting means for mounting said outer rotatable member for rotation about a first rotational axis;   second mounting means for mounting said inner rotatable member for rotation about a second rotational axis;   at least first and second one-way clutches mounted on and substantially circumscribing said inner rotatable member, said first and second one-way clutches being arranged on said inner rotatable member in an axially extending row;   first and second drive elements attached to said first and second clutches, respectively, at circumferentially spaced locations and attached to said outer rotatable member at circumferentially spaced locations whereby rotation of one of said members about its rotational axis causes said drive elements to rotate the other of said rotatable members about its rotational axis;   at least one of said mounting means including means for permitting adjustment of the radial spacing between said rotational axes; and   said outer rotatable member having an end wall on one side of said row of one-way clutches, said inner rotatable member and said second mounting   
     
     
        means terminating short of said end wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22.  A variable speed transmission comprising: first and second rotatable members;   first mounting means for mounting said first rotatable member for rotation about a first rotational axis;   second mounting means for mounting said second rotatable member for rotation about a second rotational axis;   at least one drive element;   first means for drivingly coupling the drive element to the first rotatable member;   second means for drivingly coupling the drive element to the second rotatable member at a predetermined location;   said first means including one-way clutch means mounted on and substantially circumscribing the first rotatable member for providing a driving connection between said drive element and the first rotatable member in one direction about said first rotational axis and to allow the first rotatable member to rotate about said first rotational axis in the opposite direction whereby one of said rotatable members can drive the other of said rotatable members;   the rotation of said second rotatable member causing said predetermined location to circumscribe a region, said first rotational axis extending through said region;   at least one of said mounting means including means for allowing adjustment in the relative radial position of said rotational axes whereby the drive ratio between said members can be varied; and   said second rotatable member having an end wall and at least partially receiving said first rotatable member, said first rotatable member and said first mounting means terminating short of said end wall. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.23.  A variable speed transmission comprising: outer and inner rotatable members;   mounting means for mounting said outer and inner rotatable members for rotation about said first and second rotational axes, respectively;   at least first and second one-way clutches mounted on and substantially circumscribing said inner rotatable member, said first and second one-way clutches being arranged on said inner rotatable member in an axially extending row;   first and second drive elements attached to said first and second clutches, respectively, at circumferentially spaced locations and attached to said outer rotatable member at circumferentially spaced locations whereby rotation of one of said members about its rotational axis causes said drive elements to rotate the other of said rotatable members about its rotational axis;   said mounting means including means for permitting adjustment of the radial spacing between said rotational axes; and   said adjustment means including means for mounting said inner rotatable member for pivotal movement about a third pivotal axis radially spaced from said first rotational axis whereby pivotal movement of said inner rotatable member about said third axis adjusts the radial spacing between   
     
     
        said first and second rotational axes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24.  A variable speed transmission comprising: outer and inner rotatable members;   first mounting means for mounting said outer rotatable member for rotation about a first rotational axis;   second mounting means for mounting said inner rotatable member in cantilever fashion for rotation about a second rotational axis whereby a length of said inner rotatable member from said second mounting means through a first end of said inner rotatable member is unsupported;   at least first and second one-way clutches mounted on and substantially circumscribing said length of said inner rotatable member, said first and second one-way clutches being arranged on said length of said inner rotatable member in an axially extending row;   first and second drive elements attached to said first and second clutches, respectively, at circumferentially spaced locations and attached to said outer rotatable member at circumferentially spaced locations whereby rotation of one of said members about its rotational axis causes said drive elements to rotate the other of said rotatable members about its rotational axis; and   at least one of said mounting means including means for permitting adjustment of the radial spacing between said rotational axes..Iaddend.