Stepless variable speed drive for automobile - has split coned pulleys controlled by irreversible motor powered worm drive

摘要

The power from the engine of an automobile is transmitted through a shaft and gear wheels to the shaft (4a) which carries the split coned pulley (5). A compression spring pushes the sliding half pulley towards the fixed half pulley and balances the axial component of the force due to the belt (18). The belt is of trapezoidal cross-section and drives a split pulley. The separating force due to the belt is resisted by a spring which acts on the rod (38), provided with a toothed rack which meshes with pinion drive from the electric motor through the worm and worm wheel. The speed ratio between the pulleys is thus controlled by the worm drive which is irreversible so that the speed ratio cannot change if the electric motor fails.