Continuously variable transmission machine

摘要

A ratcheting-type, rotor controlled, continuously variable transmission machine wherein the circumferential length of a cross-sectional profile of a body of the rotor is substantially constant, and the maximum positive swivel angle of the body is substantially equal in magnitude to the maximum negative swivel angle of the body.

主权项

1. A continuously variable transmission machine, comprising:
a rotor, with straight line profiles, which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis which extends in a first direction and which has a variable stroke body with a low lift section, a high lift section, and a surface which extends continuously in a circumferential sense about the longitudinal axis between the low lift section and the high lift section; an output shaft; a plurality of rotor followers, engaged in line-contact with the rotor, which are linearly movable in the first direction relative to the rotor, each rotor follower including a respective rotor follower axis and a thrust point which is linearly movable relative to the longitudinal axis of the rotor upon rotation of the rotor; and an output drive mechanism, responsive to movement of the rotor followers, for causing rotation of the output shaft at a speed which is dependent, at least, on the rotational speed of the rotor and on the linear position of the rotor followers relative to the rotor, wherein each rotor follower, for a given linear position relative to the rotor, is movable between a first limiting angular position at which the rotor follower axis subtends a first maximum angle to the longitudinal axis of the rotor and a second limiting angular position at which the rotor follower axis subtends a second maximum angle to the longitudinal axis of the rotor, wherein the first maximum angle is approximately equal in magnitude to the second maximum angle, and wherein an entire length of a circumferential profile of the rotor surface, on a plane between the low lift section and the high lift section and at a right angle to the longitudinal axis, remains substantially constant from any first plane between the low lift section and the high lift section and at a right angle to the longitudinal axis to any second plane between the low lift section and the high lift section and at a right angle to the longitudinal axis, where said second plane is distanced from said first plane along said longitudinal axis.