The Gates Corporation

Other

Andrzej Dec

Alexander Serkh

Piotr Dec

Imtiaz Ali

Shawn Xiang Wu

Min Gao

Yuding Feng

Leslee Brown

Karla J Bier

Jennifer E Pease

Douglas D Schelhaas

Kevin Ward

Patrick Joseph McNamee

Guogong Chen

William Fraser Lacy

Ali Kanberoglu

Cindy Decker

Carol Weber

John Muri

Cindy Cookson

Venkatakrishnan Seshachalam

Justin Paulsen

David Hanes

David P Rieland

Min Chun Hao

Charlie Ochoa

Patrick Joseph Mcnamee

Paul Pearson

Schelhaas Douglas D,

An arrangement for balancing axial forces in driver and driven clutches of a continuously variable transmission system that may include but is not limited to a pulley, a sheave mechanism, a driver clutch mechanism, or driver clutch, a driven pulley mechanism, a driven clutch mechanism, or driven clutch, and a shifting mechanism, servo, actuator mechanism, or actuator. The torque transmitted by the continuously variable transmission system is converted to axial forces acting upon belt. The forces in driver and driven clutches are balanced to minimize the force required for speed changes by shifting mechanism.

Cam-controlled continuously variable transmission systems

Ring tensioners having a plurality of rungs that extend from a first side to an opposite second side of the ring tensioner, in use, the rungs engaging between the teeth of a toothed belt. Both the first side and the second side of the ring tensioner are not continuous but have gaps. The gaps on the first side alternate with the gaps on the second side. The ring tensioners may be formed from a single length of wire.

Ring tensioner

Fixed belt tensioners for a belt system, such as for an exercise bicycle or other belted exercise equipment. The tensioners have the pulley-bearing assembly fixedly attached to the tensioning arm, which is attached to the equipment frame or to a bracket via the same aperture that forms the axis by which the pulley-bearing assembly is attached to the tensioning arm. The arm includes a protrusion or other feature that provides a pivot point for use during the belt installation process. The tensioning arm also incorporates a tensioning adjustment, such as a hex or square hole or protrusion for engagement with a torque wrench or a simple wrench.

Fixed belt tensioner

A synchronous belt drive system having: a synchronous belt with a tensile cord of high-modulus fiber such as glass, carbon, PBO, or aramid; a driver sprocket and at least one driven sprocket, at least one of which is an obround sprocket; and a tensioner having: a base having a cylindrical portion extending axially with a radially outer surface and a receiving portion, an eccentric arm pivotally engaged with the radially outer surface, a torsion spring disposed within the receiving portion, the torsion spring applying a biasing force to the eccentric arm, and a pulley journalled to the eccentric arm. Preferably, no one of the eccentric arm, pulley, or torsion spring is axially displaced along an axis A-A from the others. The obround sprocket has a toothed surface and at least one linear portion disposed between two arcuate portions having a constant radius, the linear portion having a predetermined length.

Synchronous belt drive system

A tensioner comprising a base having a cylindrical portion extending axially, the cylindrical portion comprising a radially outer surface and a receiving portion that is radially inward of the radially outer surface, an eccentric arm pivotally engaged with the radially outer surface, a torsion spring disposed within the radially inward receiving portion, the torsion spring applying a biasing force to the eccentric arm, and a pulley journalled to the eccentric arm.

Tensioner

A CVT transmission comprising a shaft journalled to a housing, a first sheave fixed to the shaft, a second sheave moveable parallel to an axis of rotation of the shaft, the second sheave locked in rotating relation with the first sheave by a first sheave member cooperatively engaged with a second sheave receiving member, the second sheave receiving member disposed at a helical angle (HA) with respect to the axis of rotation, a sprocket journalled to the housing, the sprocket threadably engaged with a movable member, a bearing disposed between the movable member and the second sheave, the movable member engaged with the housing whereby movement of the movable member is parallel with the axis of rotation, an electric actuator engaged with the sprocket, and the second sheave is axially movable upon a rotation of the sprocket.

Continuously variable transmission

A transfer case comprising a rotational input member, a rotational output member, a rotational planetary gear portion operatingly engaged between the input member and the output member, a moveable cam member selectively engagable with the planetary gear portion, whereby the rotation of the planetary gear portion is stopped when the cam member is engaged with the planetary gear portion, the rotational direction of the output member is in the same direction as the input member when the cam member is not engaged with the planetary gear portion, and the rotational direction of the output member is opposite the rotational direction of the input member when the cam member is engaged with the planetary gear portion.

Reverse sprocket transfer case

A rotary machine is provided having rotating forward and rearward work members having cyclic non-constant angle motion there between, the machine includes a rotating shaft and a first gear eccentrically mounted with the rotating shaft. A reaction gear in mesh with the first gear causes the first gear to rotate with respect to the rotating shaft. First and second connecting rods are pivotally connected with the first gear. First and second crank arms are pivotally connected with the respective first and second connecting rods. First and second coaxial shafts are connected with the respective first and second first crank arms. The first shaft is connected with at least one forward work member. The second shaft is connected with at least one rearward work member.

Rotary scissors action machine

An adjustable tensioner with a base, a pivot-arm that oscillates about a pivot secured to the base, a pulley attached to the pivot-arm, a compression spring with a first end operatively connected to the pivot-arm and a second end operatively connected to a shoe that presses a convex surface of the shoe against a concave arcuate surface of the pivot-arm, to the shoe held in place against a protuberance secured to the base by a balance of forces. An adjustment feature allows setting a base position with respect to an indicated predetermined belt spring force.

Adjustable tensioner

A damping strut. An inner damping member is axially engaged with an outer housing. The outer housing is connectable to a tensioner arm. A wedge member connected to an immoveable mounting member is axially engaged with an inner portion of the inner damping member. The outer housing is axially moveable relative to the wedge member. A spring bears upon and urges the outer housing away from an end cap. The end cap comprises a rod, which extends axially within the wedge member and has an end connected to the inner damping member. The rod transmits a spring load force from the end cap to the inner damping member such that the inner damping member radially expands against the outer housing in response to the spring load force, thereby creating a frictional force between the inner damping member and the outer housing which damps an outer housing movement in proportion to the spring force.

Damping strut

The invention comprises a frictional damping strut. The strut comprises an inner cylinder that slides within an outer casing. A spring biases the inner cylinder away from the outer casing in an axial direction. A first wedge member cooperatively engages a second wedge member. The first wedge member having a frictional engagement with the inner cylinder such that when the inner cylinder is pressed into the outer casing the first wedge member bears upon the second wedge member causing the first wedge member to radially expand, thereby increasing a frictional force between the first wedge member and the inner cylinder. A second spring preloads the first wedge member against the second wedge member. A belt tensioner may incorporate the damping strut to preload a belt and damp belt oscillations.

Frictional damping strut

A tensioner having a base. A spring connected to the base biases a plate, having a pulley, toward a belt. Frictional blocks are aligned on the base in a staggered fashion along a spring centerline. The plate slidingly moves in a linear path between the blocks. The blocks constrain the path of the plate allowing movement in only a single axis parallel to a spring axis. A hubload from a belt running on the pulley combined with the spring force acting on the plate creates a force couple acting on the plate through the frictional blocks. The engaging surfaces between the plate and the blocks have a predetermined coefficient of friction thereby creating a damping force as the pulley and plate move in a linear path on the blocks.

Linear tensioner

A wakeboard assembly transports a rider across a body of water. The rider defines a rider center of gravity. The wakeboard assembly includes a hull that extends between a stem and a stern. The hull defines an interior compartment and a deck for receiving the rider thereon during operation of said wakeboard assembly. An engine is mounted to the hull within the interior compartment. The engine is mounted to the hull at a position between the stem and the stern below the deck. The engine is mounted such that the engine extends through the center of gravity of the rider.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Andrzej Dec