GB190806588A - Improvements in Variable Speed Mechanism for Mechanically Propelled Vehicles, Cycles, and other Machinery. - Google Patents

Abstract

6588. Beresford, R. March 24. Motor road vehicles.-Relates to variable - speed gearing of the class comprising three epicyclic parts, a driving-element, a variably driven element, and a controlling-part operated automatically through auxiliary friction or other gearing. Improved means comprising a yielding coupling is employed to effect the automatic control. In Figs. 1 and 2 is shown a form suitable for motor-vehicles, but application to cycles &c. is also mentioned. The epicyclic train comprises a casing 1 carrying pairs of intermeshing planet-pinions 4, 4<1>, which mesh respectively with a sun-pinion 2 upon the engine shaft 5, and with a sun-pinion 3 loose upon the shaft 5 and connected by a sleeve 9 and jaw coupling with a hollow driven shaft 10. A sleeve 13 slidable on a feather &c. on the shaft 10 transmits power to a hollow propeller shaft 16. A countershaft 20 driven from the shaft 16 by chain gearing 19 carries a feather-mounted pinion 21, which can be traversed across the face of a disk 22, driving that disk variably. The variable speed of the disk 22 is imparted through worm gearing 12, 11 to the casing 1, which is the controlling-part of the epicyclic train. The pinion 21 is operated automatically by means of inclined surfaces 14, 15 transmitting the drive from the sleeve 13 to the shaft 16. Axial thrust on the sleeve 13 is resisted by a spring 17, which yields to an extent varying with the load. The consequent axial displacement of the sleeve 13 is communicated through a pivoted lever 25, collar 30, and rods 31, to the pinion 21. Modifications are described employing three-element spur-and-bevel epicyclic trains.