The Invention is in the field of Transmissions and Differential, especially Continuously Variable types, to Transmit and or Distribute typically Rotary Input Power to one or more Rotary Output(s).
There are numerous types of CVT, most used in special machinery. One with commercial use in automobiles is based on an input pulley, which rotary motion is transmitted to an output pulley via a belt. One of the pulleys is formed by two cones whose apex are facing each other and can part towards and away from each other by some control mechanism and said belt is running between and supported by both. When said cones are distant, the radius of the pulley that supports the belt is enlarged, increasing rotary speed transmitted to the other pulley, and vice versa. Power is transmitted between pulleys by friction, and mechanisms to increase friction by roughing the pulleys contact with belts are available.
Another type is based on and input surface in friction with and output surface, which friction trajectory varies depending on the angle the surfaces form with each other at their friction point. Varying said angle by a control mechanism changes the spin of one surface compared to the other.
The Invention is a Disk based, semi or full Continuously Variable Transmission (DCVT) using a Roller (some forms also referred to as Pinion) engaging with to rotate the surface of a typically power Input Disk. The Roller is geared to and rotates a power Output Arm. Sliding said Roller between Disk's Center and Circumference by a Control mechanism changes the relative rotation speeds of the Disk and Roller & Arm. Said engagement is by Friction or Teeth on Roller's body Geared to Dents across the Disk. Many techniques for making said Geared Slide smooth and Continuous are introduced. DCVT can be also constructed as a Differential dividing power between say left and right and or front and rear wheels of a car.
Figures Introduced after the Provisional in this Non-Provisional Application are listed below:
Friction Types: A simple version of Disk Differential & Continuous Variable Transmission, called DCVT here is described.
Also possible is a Moving Arm 14 having a cylindrical shape that can spin and slide inside the Loop of Armrest 16, but Roller 15 need not slide along the Arm to which it is connected. Roller's rotation is transmitted via Gears 18 to Output 19. The Moving Arm is connected to Lever 20 via a sliding non rotating Ring 21, similar to the one connected to the Roller in the Fixed Arm described before, allowing the Lever's not to rotate, but push and pull said Moving Arm. When the Roller is near the Disk center it rotates slower, getting faster as it slides close to the Disk circumference, hence continuously varying the Output rotation.
Friction force can be enhanced by: (a) means to push the Armrest(s), hence the Arm, hence to increase Roller's pressure onto the Disk, (b) making the Disk's and or Roller's friction surface(s) rough, preferably with contours that minimize resistance to Roller's slide, for example valleys, peaks and or ridges whose lengths are largely parallel to or along the Disks radials (c) implanting dimples and or pimples over the friction surfaces of the Disk and or Roller, (d) use of proper material for friction surfaces, such as polyurethane, rubber, . . . , (e) any of prior art mechanisms to enhance friction, such as those used by belt & pulley or other CVTs, modified to DCVT, (f) having two Disks facing each other, both pressing the Roller(s) between them, in which case, since Disks will be turning in opposite directions, each Output should be either be fed by one of the Disks or if fed by both Disks, one feeding should be via reversing gear to ensure that such Output is fed by same spin direction, (g) other techniques, (h) combos & permutations of above.
Disengaging Each Roller: can be done via controls utilizing techniques such as but not limited to:
Geared (Non-Friction) Types: Friction may not suit high power applications and can cause wear on Roller and Disk friction surfaces. Geared Versions are disclosed, in which the Roller(s) are gear like with Teeth on the outer side of their cylindrical surfaces, analogous to friction surfaces, and Disk(s) have Dents disposed over one or both their surface(s), engaging with said Teeth to transmit rotary motion of Roller to Disk or vice versa. Each of the Teeth has a Base, on the cylindrical outer surface of the Roller, a Top typically parallel to the Base, and two Edges, each close to one end of Roller, which should preferably be smooth, rounded, yet wedge like to ease sliding between Dents from near center to near circumference of the Disk.
Fixed Dents:
It may not be able to squeeze between some of the Dents, but as the Disk and Roller are turning, a Tooth will find the right size gap between Dents to squeeze to the next Row. Therefore the Lever and or Control should have some “slack” or “tolerance”, not to damage the Dents and or Teeth. For example, the Lever can have a Spring that allows it to pull for a tiny length of time while a Tooth is stuck and Roller cannot jump Rows, until said Tooth is lifted off the Dent's by Rollers rotation, and another Tooth can jump Rows.
Teeth bodies, especially Edges should preferably be not too long to engage with two Dents on different Rows simultaneously, yet not too short to enable them running between Rows without engagement.
Shifting Dents:
A spring can be placed between Barrier 8 and adjacent Rail ending to prevent looseness of the Rail.
An alternative is that said Rail is broken to segments each with one or more Dents, so that only the necessary segments, often only one needs to shift.
Ducking Dents: Dents can submerge or duck down when a Tooth is pushing down on them.
Spring action can be provided by pressured air oil in a layer between two surfaces inside the Disk, which pressure can be maintained by known methods of pumping air or oil into the rotating Disk, in particular from a pipe feeding to an oil receiving slit or hole inside the Disk's core. Said oil or air can have a secondary role of lubricating and cooling the system. Rubber Foam filling can be used for the Spring action.
Parallel Dents:
This enables longer Teeth Edges, even if engaging with two Dents simultaneously, but better not longer.
Teeth & Dent Shapes: Dents & Teeth shapes are determined by use and design, to (a) ease Row jumping, (b) maximize Gearing between Teeth and Dents once Teeth are on desired Row of Dents, (c) provide needed strength, (d) meet other criteria. They can have various cross sections, s.a. Rectangular, Circular, Oval, Triangle, Semis of above, s.a. Semi Circular, combinations of above, s.a. Rectangular rear and semi-Oval front. They can have different shaped sections along their height, say cylindrical bottom and cone top.
Gearing Teeth & Dents need not be rectangular.
Valley or Ridge Dents: Straight, parallel, continuous Valleys across the Disk surface, preferably with equal depth, and width of opening, preferably with equal distances or gaps between each two adjacent Valleys, provides a form of Dent very suitable for Continuous and smooth sliding of Teeth inside them, to move a Roller towards and away from Disk centre. Since the Disk is rotating, Valleys are too, hence Teeth should have a circular cross section, as in a cylinder or cone, not to resist rotation of the Valley inside which a Tooth's tip and body enters due to Roller's rotation.
Ridges over the Disk surface are an alternative to said Valleys.
Swivelling Rollers: To ease sliding of Roller(s) to and from Disk center, in Non-Friction types, especially Parallel Dents, Roller's “axis” can be enabled to Swivel and change direction against a Disk diameter, to navigate between Teeth, yet remain parallel with the Disk's surface to keep the Teeth engaged with Dents.
Optional Ball bearings such as 6 aid spinning of said Tube around the non-spinning Rod. The Roller can slide along the Arm's length and also smoothly change the direction of its axis, initially arrow 9 to say arrow 10, meaning the Roller's axis swivels on the Arms, appearing in
The non-spinning Ring such as that in
Swivelling Rollers for Moving Arms: For versions that Roller is fixed to the Arm like a hand, without sliding along the length of the Arm, as the Arm is pulling in and out to move the Roller across the Disk surface, another technique is disclosed, as in
Swivelling Rollers enable construction of a Moving Arm that pivots on a hinge close the circumference of the Disk, its length remaining parallel to the Disk, sliding its Roller across the Disk surface, close and away from Disk centre, as Roller's axis can change compared to the Arm, as needed for such arc slide.
Spherical Rollers: Rollers are typically Cylindrical, Teeth over their body and rotating around their axis. They are near 2-D as a spinning 2-D wheel, albeit thicker. Spherical and other 3-D versions s.a. Oval, Cone, Parabolic, etc. are possible, especially for use with Moving Arms, which can be geared to preferably such Roller's Pole, with means, known to the skilled, to tilt the Roller such that certain desired Teeth engage with Dents. For example, when Teeth nearer to the Pole of a Spherical Roller are engaged, the Roller spins faster for same Disk speed, compared to if Equator Teeth are touching the Disk.
Harnessing Rollers from Dislodging: Rollers should be kept in place over the Disk, not to fly over or off the Dents. Some techniques are (a) Fixed Arms automatically achieve this, (b) Harnessing the Moving Arms, so that its Roller is also harnessed, but the details depend on the overall structure, position and housing of DCVT, (c) having two Disks facing each other, both pressing the Roller(s) between them, in which case, since Disks will be turning in opposite directions, each Output should be either fed by one of the Disks or if fed by both Disks, one feeding should be via reversing gear to ensure that such Output is fed by same spin direction, (d) providing a Roller Roof supported on Rollers core such that it does not rotate, but Rooftop slides across DCVT Housing with Roller's slide on the Disk, maintaining Roof's distance from the Disk surface, keeping Roller in contact with Disk. The contact surfaces between Housing's inner surface and Rooftop can have lubrication, or better Ball bearings placed on the Rooftop or attached to the Housing.
Small Dents: The smaller the Dents, hence Teeth, the smoother and more Continuous the Transmission. For high power carried by DCVT, small Teeth and Dents may not bear. Some solutions are:
Rotating Dents: Dents can be made to rotate in place, around their axis perpendicular to Disk surface. Rotation degree can be limited to prevent slippage of and reduced engagement with Teeth. One way is that each Tooth has a Base inside a Grave under the Disk surface. Tooth and Base are connect via a preferably cylindrical Trunk running through a Well on the Disk surface, which Well leads to said Grave and embraces the Trunk that is attached to said Base. The shapes and size of said Base, Trunk, Well and Grave can be easily made to (a) allow some rotation of Tooth, (b) prevent over rotation of Tooth, (c) prevent uprooting the Tooth, (d) prevent Trunk bending and or Tooth bending to fall on Disk surface and (e) meet other criteria.
Said rotation is to ease squeezing of Teeth between Dents for Row Jumping. So circular cross sectioned Teeth such as Cylindrical and Cone shapes do not need such rotation.
Design symmetry of Roller and Disk: Disks and Roller's functions are essentially the same, one engaging with the other to transmit rotary powers to each other. Both can have Spherical, Cylindrical, Conical and other shapes. Also Teeth and Dent functions are essentially the same, one engaging with the other to transmit rotary power of their host, Roller or Disk to the other. Thus all techniques disclosed and available for Teeth are applicable to Dents and vice versa.
There can be more than one Output Arms, each feeding power to a different receiver.
For example one Output to rear wheels of a car and another to front.
Input Shaft function can be performed by an Arm.
Each Input Shaft and or Arm can switch role with an Output Shaft and or Arm.
Multiple Inputs are possible, as long as they are alternating, so that at any time only one is engaged with the Disk or all positioned to rotate the Disk at same speed.
The Disk can have Rollers and Arms on both its surfaces.
Flat Disk is a preferred version, but it can be a Cone, with Rollers on its inner and or outer surface.
Sliding of Rollers on Arm can be eased by ball bearings placed between the Arm and Roller Core.
Output and or Input Gearings such as 8, 11 & 18 in
Control Lever(s) need not be parallel to but can have an angle with the Disk surface.
Each Output and or Input need not be parallel to the Disk surface, can form any angle with it.
Arms can be along any clock position.
Moving Arm(s) need not be parallel to but can have an angle with the Disk surface, in which case their Roller should be suitably shaped, such as semi cone or sphere, and or geared an angled Arm.
More than one Input Arm can be all geared to a common Input source. This can reduce stress on each Arm and Roller, so that the DCVT can take more power. Controls should ensure that all Rollers of said different Arms are the same distance from the Disk center for same rotation speed.
More than one Output Arm can be all geared to a common Output source. This can reduce stress on each Arm and Roller, so that the DCVT can deliver more power. Controls should ensure that all Rollers of said different Arms are the same distance from the Disk center for same rotation speed.
Typically, once Tooth is disengaged from a Dent, the next Tooth engages with the next Dent. Rollers with wide apart Teeth can be made, so that when a Tooth is disengaged, the next Tooth engages not in next Dent but a Dent further apart.
Different diameter Rollers can be on the same Disk, even though their Teeth can be at least roughly same size and or same mesh size as those on other Rollers on same Disk, use same Dents.
Ball Bearings and or other Lubricating and or Cooling means can be used where needed, for example between the Fixed Arm and Roller sliding along it.
Compound DCVT: More than one Disk can be used serially and or parallel to achieve higher gear ratios and or reduce each Disk's size for a compact DCVT.
Input Shaft 1, feeding rotary power to Disk 2, transmitted to via Roller 3 to Arm 4, transmitted to Output 5, serving as Input Shaft to Disk 6, transmitted via Roller 7 to Arm 8, then to Output 9 and via Roller 10 to Arm 11, to a second Output 12. Thus rotation speed is once changed by Disk 1, then by Disk 6, with a multiplying effect, by factors that can be fractions and or multiples of one. Output 12 need not have same rotation as Output 9, and can feed same or a different receiver. Each Disk can Output directly to external receivers, as Disk 2 does via Roller 13 to arm 15 to Output 14. This compounding to be called Parallel.
Disks can be compounded in serial form.
More Disks can be incorporated. Combinations of serial and parallel compounding is possible.
Not all details are or need be shown for the skilled, so that more essential elements are clearer.
Disk Differentials: Various Differentials can be made using the techniques introduced here. Examples:
Two way Differential—
Four Way Differential—For engine power to be divided between front and rear wheels, also between left & right, a first Two Way Differential divides and transmits power in required ratio to front and rear Outputs, then one Two Way Differential divides it between front right & left, and another between rear right & left.
Importantly, techniques introduced here enable variable power distribution at both stages. So Control can smoothly change the ratio of power between front and rear, even on the go. Even all power can be given to rear or front when desired.
Omni Way Differential—As disclosed, there can be many Outputs, each can have the same or different rotary speed than one another, depending on where their associated Roller is positioned on the Disk.
In all Differentials, once power is divided between front and rear, another ratio gearing can change the rotation speed transmitted to front, ditto to rear, so that rotary speed or RPM are the same between front and rear wheels, when the vehicle is moving straight.
Controls & Levers: Moving Arms and or Rollers are moved to desired locations on the Disk by Levers, as instructed by a Control mechanism, which need not be detailed in this Disclosure. Some are briefed here.
In many uses, the speed of Output speed determines where a Roller should be on a Disk. For example when a car speed is high, Roller must move to where a faster Output rotation results. Some ways of converting rotary speed to Levers linear movement are:
Whatever means used to decide how much a Lever should move, activation and transmission of moving means can be by Mechanical, Hydraulic, Electro-mechanical, Manual and or other means.
Some Advantages of the Invention: Are obvious to the skilled from the disclosure.
General Notes:
Variations, derivatives, formations, mutations and morphing of all and also components of the Inventions can be designed, using disclosed underlying principals.
What is known to the skilled has often not been elaborated here.
Provisional Application Content as Priority has been kept intact in above pages to ease identifying filing date of material added in this Non-Provisional Application.
Multi Control Bars Single Disk Differential:
Note that regardless of the number of Control Bars, from 1 to any number, each Roller, even if attached to the same Bar can be a different Radius than others, so more degrees of selection can be attained. Larger Roller radius means less RPM, but more Power, and vice versa.
Also the range distance between two Rollers moved by the same Bar need not be the same for all Bars.
Rollers on both side of the Disk:
Disk Discrete Variable Transmission: Disk can be made to perform as a Stepwise (Non-Continuous) Transmission. One version is shown in
FIG. 14-a shows the cross section of the same Disk, with reference numbers corresponding to those in FIG. 14-b. So FIG. 14-a-1,2 & 3 show the cross sections of Dents 14-b1,2&3 respectively. FIG. 14-a-5&6 show the cross section of Hill Crowns in FIG. 14-b-5&6 respectively.
Roller 14-a-7 must be pushed or pulled by Control Lever 14-a-8 to slide over the Hill Crown between two Dental Crowns, and settle inside the Valley housing the Dents between adjacent Hill Crowns. Thus each Dent Crown provides for a Discrete Gear Ratio and moving between Dent Crowns (Gears) requires force.
Preventing Unwanted Roller Slippage: It is possible for a Roller to be between and disengaged from any Dent, called slippage. This may be desirable in some cases, provided there are means to overcome slippage when necessary. Some techniques are:
This Application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/819,421 Filed 2013 May 2003.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61819421 | May 2013 | US |