Guide mechanism for a traveling chain transmission

Abstract

A traveling chain transmission system for effecting a driving connection between laterally spaced driving and driven shaft. A first wheel is mounted on the driving shaft, and a second wheel is mounted on the driven shaft. Each of the wheel have substantially identical pitch diameters. An endless, flexible torque transmitting operatively connects the first and second wheel. A traveling insert band circumscribes and operatively engages one of the wheel at a time, and when the traveling insert band engages one of the wheel, the insert band is located radially inwardly of the endless flexible torque transmitting. The traveling insert band has leading and trailing ends located in substantially circumferentially opposed juxtaposition when the traveling insert band operatively engages one of the wheel. Derailing and locking members are also provided selectively to derail the leading end of the traveling insert band from that wheel operatively engaged thereby. The traveling insert band is adapted, when its leading end is derailed from one of the wheel to travel to the other of the wheel and to circumscribe and operatively engage the other wheel radially inwardly of the endless torque transmitting thereby providing a different speed ratio between said driving and driven shafts.