The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 05, 1991
Filed:
Jun. 13, 1989
Werner Krude, Oxford, MI (US);
GKN Automotive, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission system having a fixed variable diameter pulley connected by a drive belt to at least one other pulley. A tensioner pulley maintains the tension on the drive belt within predetermined limits as the effective diameter of the variable diameter pulley changes. The effective diameter of the variable diameter pulley is determined by a balance between a resilient force biasing a plurality of belt engaging members in a predetermined direction and a radial force acting on the plurality of belt engaging members in the opposite direction. In a first embodiment, the resilient force biases the plurality of belt engaging members outwardly and the radial forces are generated by displacing the tensioner pulley to increase the tension on the drive belt. In an alternate embodiment, the plurality of belt engaging members are biased inwardly by a resilient force and are displaced outwardly by centrifugal forces.