Combined clutch and automatic transmission for car - has orbital gear train in chain controlled by offset application force

摘要

The transmission acts as a coupling providing for continuously varying torque conversion. Power is passed by applying an external offset force to a planar orbital gear train. the force is unrelated to the output power and is applied by a jack and cam. The force is adjusted to effect clutching and declutching and to maintain a constant level of transmitted power through the gear ratio range. the train extends between input and output gears which centre on the fixed axis of a planetary system. The input gear may be one of a diametrically opposed pair, enmeshing internally with a sun wheel and externally with the inner teeth of a crown wheel. Rotation of the crown wheel is transmitted to an output wheel by a pinion enmeshing with external crown wheel teeth.