GB727066A - Reversible adjustable velocity ratio coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

727,066. Variable-speed gearing. ROCKWELL MANUFACTURING CO. Sept. 3, 1952 [Dec. 10, 1951], No. 22157/52. Class 80 (2). A variable ratio drive comprises an epicyclic train for continuously driving a driven shaft 16 from a driving shaft 14 which is acted upon cyclically by a variable amount to effect a supplementary movement of the driven shaft. The driving shaft 14 carries a cage 30, 32 in which are rotatably mounted double planet pinions 49, 53 and 51, 55 and a worm 46. The planet 49 is a worm gear and meshes with the worm 46, the pinions 51 and 53 are in engagement and the pinion 55 meshes with a sun gear 19 on the driven shaft 16. Such an arrangement provides a solid 1 to 1 drive but the invention provides means for cyclically acting on the worm 46 to impart an additional variable movement to the driven shaft 16 which comprise uni-directional driving devices 82, 96 acting on either end of the worm according to the direction of rotation of the gearing. The devices 82, 96 consist of sleeves which are oscillated by means of a fork member 108 having a follower 112 engaged in a groove of a stationary ring member 116 which member is adjustable about pivots 118, 120 by means of an arm 134 to vary the amplitude of the oscillation. The devices 82 or 96 transmit through wedging balls 70 the oscillating movement in one direction only to the worm 46 on each revolution of the driving shaft and thus an additional movement to the driven shaft. A wedging ball detent is associated with each uni-directional device 82, 96 to prevent reverse movement of members 56, 58 driven thereby. The engagement between members 56 or 58 and the worm 46 is effected through ratchet teeth according to the direction of rotation by means of a frictional drag imposed upon the sun gear 19 by a leaf spring 26.