VARIABLE SPEED PULSE DRIVE

摘要

A drive or transmission mechanism including a rotary cam means having a plurality of lobes and adapted to be rotated about a first axis. Engaged by the cam means are a plurality of cam followers biased toward the first axis and constrained against all movement except reciprocal movement generally radially of the axis. Each of the cam followers engages a separate lever means drivingly connected to separate overrunning clutches such that during rotation of the cam, oscillation of the lever means will cause the overrunning clutches to be given intermittant unidirectional movement. The clutches are drivingly connected to a rotary output member which, for example, can be a ring gear or the like. Means are also shown for allowing the lever to shift relative to the cam followers upon variation in the load on the output member. In the embodiment shown they include a mounting for the overrunning clutches which permits them to shift circumferentially relative to the cam followers to vary the effective length of the lever means. Springs acting against the support for the overrunning clutches permit the necessary shifting as the load on the rotary output member varies.