Continuously adjustable transmission with two speed ranges

摘要

A drive shaft and a driven shaft are linked through a differential gearing which distributes the applied torque over two coaxial satellite shafts. One of the satellite shafts is directly connected with the driven shaft through a first steplessly variable split-sheave coupling of the Reeves type while the other satellite shaft, which is immobilizable by a brake, is connected through a second such coupling with an intermediate shaft which in turn can be coupled with the driven shaft via a clutch. With both the brake and the clutch released, the system idles; with the clutch operated, the torque transmitted from the drive shaft to the driven shaft varies inversely with the speed ratio of the two synchronized split-sheave couplings whereas actuation of the brake in lieu of the clutch doubles the output speed and halves the transmitted torque. If only unidirectional rotation is to be transmitted, the clutch can be replaced by a one-way coupling which lets the driven shaft rotate freely when the brake is engaged.