GB859570A - Improvements in or relating to variable-speed gearing - Google Patents

Abstract

859,570. Variable-speed gearing. BEIER INFINITELY VARIABLE GEAR CO. Ltd. April 24, 1957, No. 13114/57. Class 80 (2). In an automatic or manually-controlled steplessly variable friction gear of the kind wherein groups of coned discs 25 splined on radially adjustable planetary or non-planetary countershafts 24 are in interpenetrating frictional engagement with the rims of discs 21 slidably keyed on at least one carrier 12 on one of the gear shafts, the discs 21 of each carrier are divided into two groups arranged one on each side of an external central annular projection 23 on the carrier 12. Increased load capacity and ratio range are thereby obtained. Two constructions are described, in one, Figs. 9-17, not shown, the countershafts planetate and their radial movement, for ratio shift, is controlled automatically by centrifugal masses in a manner identical with that described in Specification 859,569, the gear being driven through a separate planetary reverse gear. In Figs. 1 and 2, the countershafts 24 are stationary, apart from radial adjustment for ratio shift, which is effected only manually. Two disc carriers 12 are freely mounted on an input (or output) shaft 1 and are in driving connection therewith through pressure plates 20 which have limited circumferential freedom at 20a with the carriers 12, and facial inclined toothed connections 6, 14 with the shaft to provide torque-responsive axial loading on the friction discs, together with initial spring loading 13. The countershafts 24 are drivingly connected to an output (or input) shaft 37 through gear-wheels 33, 34, 36 and are carried on arms 27 on parallel shafts 27a which, to adjust the countershafts 24 radially for ratio shift, are turned about inner shafts 28 by manually rocking a shaft 31a carrying a toothed segment 31 meshing, through a common wheel 30, segments 29 on the shafts 27. The wheels 33, 34 remain continuously in mesh as the countershafts pivot about the shafts 28. The spline roots of the discs 25 are convex to permit obliquity, and the rimmed discs and cones 21, 25 may be interchanged.