Kumm Industries, Inc.

Other

The Garrett Corporation

Emerson L Kumm

Maurice J Moriarty

Theodore C Kraver

A belt tensioner employing helical compression springs in series arrangement in a housing located on a support structure to rotate another structure pivotally mounted on the support structure. An idler pulley is located on the rotatable structure and bears against a belt to both tension it and dampen vibrations. The helical compression springs operate on a plate rigidly attached to a movable shaft, which shaft bears directly or preferably indirectly through a thrust linkage on a shoulder of the rotatable structure. The springs, a thrust assembly and shaft are all mounted in a housing which is substantially filled with liquid which dampens the movement of the rotatable structure by the liquid being forced to flow through a restriction in the thrust assembly as it passes from one chamber to another inside the housing. The constant diameter shaft passes through the housing and its end cap, it being sealed hydraulically at each end. This permits shaft movement to occur without any volume change inside the housing. The rotatable structure is pivotally mounted to the support structure with its rotational axis being displaced and perpendicular to the spring thrust axis. The pressure of the liquid within the tensioner housing due to the thermal expansion of the liquid can be reduced by employing a closed cell elastomeric foam insert in one of the liquid filled chambers of the housing.

Belt tensioner

A variable speed drive system for prime mover driven accessories which includes a self-energized controllable belt tensioner in combination with a variable diameter pulley assembly. The tensioner, upon command, uses a pump continuously driven by a fixed diameter pulley positioned by a rotary or linear actuator to take up and tension the belt passing over the same pulley. In the variable speed drive, this tensioner functions typically together with a variable diameter pulley which operates on the belt by forces which are directed toward increasing the variable pulley diameter. A hydraulic flow system with appropriate pump, valves, lines, and actuator can all be self-contained in the rotary tensioner. Selenoid valves are used in an on-off fashion with an actuator to move a pulley arm attached to the actuator generating the required belt tension to decrease the variable pulley diameter as desired upon command.

Self-energized controllable belt tensioner

A continuously variable, regenerative transmission is disclosed in which a continuously variable transmission assembly is employed in conjunction with a regenerative gear assembly incorporating high and low clutches and situated intermediate a prime mover, such as a vehicle engine, and an output, such as the drive train to vehicle wheels. By monitoring certain system conditions (such as the rate and direction of rotation desired for the output, the rate of rotation of the engine and belt slip) while simultaneously controlling the engine speed, a control subsystem adjusts the effective diameters of input and output pulleys of the continuously variable transmission assembly to obtain a pulley torque versus belt tension that gives a belt slip value which results in rotation of the output in the desired direction at a rate according to a predetermined ratio schedule of the rate of rotation of the engine with respect to the rate of rotation of the output under the measured instantaneous conditions and in view of the output speed desired.

Continuously variable transmission using planetary gearing with

The accessories of a prime mover (such as an engine) are automatically maintained at a more constant speed with varying prime mover speed using a flat belt driving a variable diameter pulley wherein a fixed diameter pulley attached to the variable diameter pulley is used to drive another belt coupled to the accessories. The variable diameter pulley assembly includes a shaft and a pair of pulley sheaves each having a pair of relatively movably guideway disks with belt engaging elements extending between the pulley sheaves. Mutual angular changes between the guideway disks causes a corresponding change in the effective diameter of the pulley assembly. A speed responsive actuator assembly is employed and includes a housing with at least a pair of springs. The actuator assembly is positioned by a balance of forces including the centrifugal force of the belt drive elements, the compression force of the actuator springs, and the forces due to the belt. One side of the actuator assembly is connected in a preferred embodiment to the outer guideway disks and hence to the shaft while the inner guideway disks are connected to the other side of the actuator assembly. As the engine speed increases, the belt engaging elements move out to a larger radius because of their centrifugal force which increases with the square of the speed. Since the pulley driven at engine speed is normally of fixed diameter, an increased variable pulley diameter causes the variable pulley speed to decrease relative to the engine speed.

Variable speed accessory drive

Variable speed operation for the accessories of a prime mover (such as an engine) is obtained by a flat belt coupling a variable diameter flat belt driving pulley to flat belt pulleys attached to each of the accessories. The variable diameter pulley assembly includes a shaft and a pair of pulley sheaves each having a pair of relatively movable guideway disks lying alongside each other. Inner and outer guideway disks of each pair include, respectively, first and second series of spiral guideways extending in opposite directions such that the guideway intersections locate bearing ends of a circumferential array of belt engaging elements extending between the pulley sheaves. Thus, mutual angular change between the guideway disks causes corresponding change in the effective diameter of the pulley assembly. In one embodiment, an integral speed responsive actuator assembly is incorporated into the pulley assembly and includes a housing with two pairs of variable volume fluid chambers and a pair of mirror image speed responsive valves which direct hydraulic fluid under pressure into one or the other of the chambers of each pair to obtain relative movement of a wall separating the chambers, which relative movement can be coupled to the guideway disk sets to change the effective diameter of the pulley assembly.

Variable speed engine accessory flat belt drive system

A flat belt CVT is disclosed in which a geared control system is employed to establish and maintain the effective diameter of each pulley assembly by determining the mutual angular relationship between sets of inner and outer guideway disks provided with spirals oriented in the opposite sense and supporting belt engaging elements at their intersections. The sets of guideway disks are coupled through a planetary gear system which includes a component which can be externally manipulated to adjust the angular relationship between the sets of inner and outer guideway disks while rotating. The planetary gear system includes a first sun gear which meshes with star gears whose shafts are fixed in position with respect to the first sun gear. A second sun gear meshes with planet gears which may orbit around the second sun gear while rotating on a planet carrier. The star and planet gears each mesh with the same internal ring gear, and an external ring gear on the planet carrier meshes with a pinion which is coupled to an external positioning structure such as a hand crank for the driving pulley assembly and a load device for the driven pulley assembly. In one embodiment especially suitable for certain applications, a harmonic drive is interposed between one of the sun gears and the set of guideway disks to which it is coupled to increase precision and reduce torque and power requirements.

Flat belt continuously variable transmission with geared speed ratio

A continuously variable transmission employing a flat belt extending between driving and driven pulley assemblies, each having a circumferential array of radially adjustable belt engaging elements, is disclosed in conjunction with a control system. The radial positions of the belt engaging elements of each pulley assembly depend upon the angular relationship between inner and outer guideway disk structures carrying logarithmic spiral guideways oriented in the opposite sense. Each pulley assembly includes a power consuming or producing element, such as an oil pump/motor, which is coupled through harmonic drive differential gearing to the guideway disks. When the load on the hydraulic unit operated as a pump is changed by changing the output pressure against which it pumps, the angular relationship between the inner and outer guideway disk structures changes to correspondingly change the positions of the guideway intersections. Since the belt is of fixed length, the other pulley assembly must change its effective diameter in the opposite direction, and this response is facilitated by changing the output pressure of its oil pump in the opposite direction. An alternate configuration and control is disclosed for use when large pulley actuator torques are present due to the centrifugal forces acting upon heavier, stronger belt engaging elements selected for heavier duty applications.

Continuously variable transmission

A flat belt CVT is disclosed in which an idler pulley is situated intermediate variable diameter driving and driven pulley assemblies and within the axial dimension given by their respective inner guideway discs. the frame supporting the idler pulley is linearly moved on a rail by the slack side belt forces to automatically position the idler pulley in an intermediate position between the belt drive elements of the driving and driven pulley assemblies in accordance with their instantaneous effective diameters. While many arrangements are possible (positioning of the idler may be accomplished on or from either side of the center line between the two pulley assemblies, etc.), a preferred disposition is disclosed in which the idler pulley is situated in a region external to the slack belt side in order that the support apparatus for the idler need not enclose moving belts.

Flat belt continuously variable transmission with idler pulley torque

A continuously variable transmission of the type employing a flat belt extending between driving and driven pulley assemblies, each having a circumferential array of radially adjustable belt engaging elements, is disclosed in conjunction with a self-energized control system for establishing the instantaneous radial position of the belt engaging elements. The radial positions of the belt engaging elements of each pulley assembly depend upon the angular relationship between inner and outer guideway disk structures carrying logarithmic spiral guideways oriented in the opposite sense, the resulting intersections of the spiral guideways supporting bearing regions at the ends of the belt engaging elements. Each pulley assembly includes a power consuming element, such as an oil pump, which is coupled through differential gearing, such as a harmonic drive, to the inner and outer guideway disks and to the power consuming element. When the load on the oil pump is changed by changing the output pressure against which it pumps, the angular relationship between the inner and outer guideway disk structures changes to correspondingly change the positions of the guideway intersections and hence the radial positions of the belt engaging elements. Since the belt is of fixed length, the other pulley assembly must change its effective diameter in the opposite direction, and this response is facilitated by changing the output pressure of its oil pump in the opposite direction. Very fast ratio changes may be expedited by supplying oil to the appropriate one of the oil pumps in sufficient quantity to permit it to transiently motor.

In a continuously variable belt transmission system utilizing a drive pulley and a driven pulley having logarithmic spiral guideways in the pulley disks, the balance actuator torque is reduced significantly by having the logarithmic spiral guideways connected directly to the shaft of the driving pulley in a sense opposite to that of the direction of belt movement and in the case of the driven pulley having the sense of the logarithmic spiral guideways connected directly to the shaft the same as that of the driving belt.

Oriented flat belt continuously variable transmission using pulleys with

In a variable radius pulley drive system wherein a flat drive belt engages the central shanks of drive elements supported by the side pulley sheaves and the radial location of the drive elements is determined by the intersection of logarithmic spiral grooves in the pulley disks of the pulley sheaves whereof the stresses on the bearing members of the drive elements can be substantially reduced by disposing the belt element driving line toward or on the center line or axis of the bearing members of the drive elements.

Variable ratio pulleys for flat belt transmission system

A continuously variable flat belt pulley transmission, using integral rotary actuators, is described together with controls to vary the transmission speed ratio upon demand and simultaneously operate an internal combustion engine or electric motor on a desired torque versus speed schedule.

Flat belt transmission with rotary actuator and integrated control system

This air conditioning system includes low pressure water vaporization, transfer and absorption, both in a solution concentrating section using solar radiation or other heat input and in a solution diluting section where heat exchange with ambient fan blown air subsequently permits cooling or heating enclosure air. The fan blown enclosure air is cooled or heated in passing through the same heat exchanger by changing the flow paths of the solutions passing to and from the two unique vapor exchangers, which are described in detail. The solutions are separated but contained in a sealed system with storage volume to give a large heat capacity potential by changing the solution concentration to either cool or heat the enclosure air. The various system operational modes are described in detail, with the functioning of the vapor exchangers and heat exchangers in concert with the flows through pipes and ducts as generated by pumps and fans together with control by valves.

Absorption solar powered air conditioning system with storage capacity

A cylindrical rotor is rotatably mounted within the bore of a housing. A plurality of passages arranged in concentric annular rows extend through the rotor. Each passage is generally rectangular in cross section and is inclined with respect to the axis of the rotor. The rotor is forced to rotate in response to a gaseous stream moving through the bore and the passages. Liquid particles entrained within the gaseous stream are atomized in response to the movement of the rotor.

Atomizer

Primarily this system includes an air inducting, circulating, and exhausting section and a pair of solar responsive fluid treating sections, one of the latter being provided to cool the air and the other to heat the air. Both solar responsive fluid treating sections, however, function in concert for cooling and heating. The air inducting, circulating and exhausting section has duct portions through which air is drawn from the atmosphere by a fan and either used as admitted or heated or cooled, then directed into the enclosure being served, all or part of the air being recirculated, the part not recirculated being discharged to the atmosphere. The duct portions contain air heating and air and other solution cooling devices as well as fans and guide or flow controlling vanes. One solar responsive fluid treating section has an absorptive chemical solution reservoir, a solution cooler, a solar heated solution concentrator, heat and vapor exchangers, pumps, valves, and connecting lines. The other solar responsive fluid treating section has a fluid heat transfer solution storage tank, a solar heat collector, heat exchangers, pumps, valves and connecting lines. The latter section is a substantially conventional solar heating system coupled in a unique manner with the first solar responsive section to cooperate therewith in both the heating and refrigerating modes of operation of the subject system.

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Tempe, AZ, United States of America

Emerson L Kumm