Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Roy S Cataldo

Frank J Winchell

Clarence C Irwin

Jerry R Mrlik

Theodore M Salamon

Arlis Hall

A continuously variable transmission has a continuously variable unit in the form of a variable belt drive and a pair of interconnected planetary gear sets arranged in differential drive relation between the transmission input shaft and the transmission output shaft. One of the planetary gear sets is connected with the input shaft, the output shaft and the output shaft of the belt drive. The other planetary gear set is connected with the input shaft, the output shaft and the input shaft of the belt drive. The overall transmission ratio is controlled between limits established in the continuously variable unit. The ratio is varied within a continuously variable range by varying the belt ratio.

Continuously variable transmission

A pulley and 'V' belt drive arrangement has a flexible belt disposed to transmit drive forces between two spaced 'V' groove pulleys. The flexible belt is constructed from a single fan-folded metal strip which is maintained in a continuous loop by one or more continuous metal bands. The bands are disposed in a U-shaped saddle or slot area formed in the fan-folded belt. The sidewalls of the saddle prevent lateral migration of the bands. The band length is sized to provide a compression load on the fan-folded belt to prevent longitudinal separation of the ends of the belt during torque transmission between the pulleys.

Fan folded drive belt for a 'V' pulley drive

A V-belt (11) formed from a successive series of novel link elements (10). Each link element (10) has a body portion (20) which presents laterally spaced, beveled side wall (21 and 22). The body portion (20) includes first and second plate-like portions (28 and 29). Each plate-like portion (28 and 29) has first and second end surfaces (30,31 and 32,33, respectively). The second plate-like portion (29) overlies the first plate-like portion (28) and is longitudinally disposed with respect thereto such that the first end surface (32) of the second plate-like portion (29) is disposed in general proximity to the second end surface (31) of the first plate-like portion (28). A hook (35) extends vertically upwardly from the first plate-like portion (28) in proximity to the first end surface (30) thereof. An aperture (46) penetrates the second plate-like portion (29) to define a draw bar (48) in proximity to the second end surface (33) of the second plate-like portion (29). The hook (35) is selectively receivable within the aperture (46) such that an interlocking arrangement is effected between a concave recess (45) in the hook (35) and a protuberance (50) on the draw bar (48) in order to maintain the successive link elements (10) selectively joined.

Link elements for forming a V-belt

A multi-speed power transmission has an input shaft and a coaxially aligned output shaft. Each shaft has gearing members connected thereto. The input gearing drives an idler gear which, in turn, drives a ratio gear. A plurality of meshing ratio and idler gears rotatably supported on parallel shafts are serially driven from the input gearing. The shaft supporting each ratio gear has a selectively engageable clutch mechanism for selectively connecting the respective ratio gear shaft with an output gear member. The respective output gear members are in constant mesh with the output gearing member.

Multi-speed power transmission

A push-type metal V-belt for use with V-grooved pulleys is produced with a single formed and fan-folded strip of sheet metal. The folded strip has alternately tight-folded and open-folded portions having less height when viewed edgewise of the open-folded portions. During the forming of the strip, adjacent drive edges are formed so that when folded, these edges are aligned so as to become drive surfaces of the belt. When viewed in a lateral section, the drive surfaces are the outer edges of a substantially trapezoidal surface. Also, during the forming of the strip, a plurality of lateral slots are formed to provide an area or space for housing a plurality of metal bands which maintain the fan-folded strip in a continuous belt or loop configuration.

V-belt structure

A push-type metal V-belt is formed from a single strip of sheet metal. The strip is formed and folded such that the lateral faces between the converging outer drive edges are tapered to have a reduced thickness at the inner fold. The formed strip also has lateral slots in which, after folding, continuous metal bands are disposed for maintaining the belt in a continuous loop configuration.

V-Belt structure

A friction drive chain for use with V-groove pulleys has a plurality of drive blocks mounted on a core strand. The core strand is comprised of a plurality of pivotally connected cylindrical core members. The drive blocks are secured to respective core members by centrally located retention clips which are disposed in an inner groove in each block and an outer groove in each core member. The clips also provide the drive connection between respective drive blocks and the core members.

Friction drive chain

A flexible drive belt is comprised of a plurality of drive blocks which are assembled in a continuous loop by a plurality of tension bands extending between adjacent blocks. Each drive block has a pair of linear drive surfaces for transmitting drive forces along the straight span of the loop while being maintained in compression loading and a pair of rotary drive surfaces which frictionally engage conical surfaces of pulley members for converting the linear drive force to a rotary drive force by traversing the curved portion of the loop. Adjacent drive blocks are maintained in contact by the tension bands which operate through convex surface blocks disposed in concave surfaces formed on the drive blocks. These cooperating surfaces allow relative movement between respective drive blocks and convex surface blocks to permit the drive blocks to remain in abutment while traversing the curved portion of the continuous loop.

Flexible drive belt

The drive belt has one or more continuous metal bands which slidably support a plurality of drive blocks. Each drive block has a transverse arcuate surface having a radius dimension substantially equal to or 1% less than a transverse radius formed in the metal band. Each drive block also has an opening which facilitates band assembly. The opening is outwardly diverging and terminates inwardly in a slot at the transverse arcuate surface. The opening permits flexing of the metal bands during assembly of the metal bands and the drive blocks without exceeding the yield stress of the metal bands. The inner slot provides a retaining mechanism for the metal bands after assembly.

Drive block for a continuous metal band drive belt

The injection valve in a diesel engine fuel injector directs fuel onto the surface of a spinning disc which is effective to disperse the fuel into a finely divided spray of substantially uniformly sized fuel droplets. The disc is mounted on a shaft driven by an air turbine rotor and supported by air bearings.

Fuel injector

A method of delayed reaction stratified combustion for internal combustion engines comprising burning a compressed fast burning rich air-fuel mixture during an initial portion of a combustion event, adding supplemental diluting air optimally with recirculated exhaust gas (EGR) during an intermediate portion of such combustion event and completing combustion during latter portions of the combustion event. Suggested timing and mixture ratios may be chosen to obtain improved efficiency, reduced NO.sub.x formations and/or reduced requirement for egr.

Internal combustion engine method for delayed reaction stratified

A flow directing annular nozzle inlet port for an internal combustion engine includes a tubular wall defining an open passage connecting with an associated engine combustion chamber and having a plurality of angularly disposed nozzles aligned in helical fashion to direct inlet fluid in a manner to define, supplement and reinforce a single lead pattern of helical flow in the open passage with a predetermined primary flow path leading to discharge into the cylinder in a primary flow direction determined by the primary flow path in the passage. To develop cylinder swirl, the discharge flow direction is preferably oriented circumferentially tangential to the cylinder wall.

Engine intake port with annular nozzle directed swirl

A passive occupant restraint system includes a shoulder belt retractor mounted inboard the occupant seat for winding the inboard end of a shoulder belt having an outboard end attached to the upper rear corner of the door. A lap belt has an outboard end mounted on the door by a lap belt retractor and an inboard end mounted on the shoulder belt by a latch plate which is slidably movable along the shoulder belt by manual effort of the occupant. The latch plate remains relatively stationary on the shoulder belt during winding and unwinding of the shoulder belt upon door movement so that the occupant may position the latch plate generally adjacent the outboard end of the shoulder belt to stow the lap belt generally parallel with the door or may position the sliding latch plate at mid-length along the shoulder belt so that the latch plate will be automatically located adjacent the shoulder belt retractor when the door is closed to establish the lap belt in restraining proximity with the lower torso. A buckle assembly is mounted inboard the seat generally adjacent the shoulder belt retractor. The latch plate is manually slidable along the shoulder belt into latching engagement with the buckle to fix the length of the lap belt and thereby provide effective restraint of the occupant lower torso.

Passive seat belt system

The drawings disclose a pneumatic tubeless tire including circumferentially oriented runner segments or a running band. Each segment or band includes support means abutted against the drop center of the wheel rim and an outer portion capable of supporting the weight of the vehicle once the tire becomes deflated. More specifically, in one embodiment, the outer portion extends laterally across the tire, abutting against the oppositely disposed inner surfaces of the tire sidewalls, and in each embodiment, bolts, pins, or hinges are included to serve as the support means for radially supporting and retaining the segments or band in place when the tire becomes deflated.

Run-flat tire having internal support means

The drawings illustrate an endless power transmitting chain for use with V-pulleys. The chain includes a plurality of right and left-hand sets of L-shaped members rigidly connected together in a stacked relationship such that the vertically extending legs thereof define uniform spaces therebetween. Connector links are mounted in the spaces and the two sets of drive elements and connector links are secured together by a pair of conventional rocker link half pins. Tapered end faces are formed on the ends of the laterally extending legs for respective frictional engagement with oppositely disposed conical faces of the V-pulley. In an alternate arrangement, the drive links are formed from a solid piece rather than from stacked L-shaped drive elements.

Growing community of inventors

Birmingham, MI, United States of America

Roy S Cataldo