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:
Dec. 14, 2010
Filed:
Jul. 30, 2004
James C. Keane, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Hiroshi Hojo, Asaka, JP;
James C. Keane, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Hiroshi Hojo, Asaka, JP;
Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for controlling a variable speed transmission including an actuator, a cam follower, and a speed adjustment cam. The actuator is rotatable through a first phase and a subsequent second phase, and includes an actuator cam surface and a variator. The cam follower is movable in response to contact with the actuator cam surface during rotation through the first phase, for actuating a coupler of the transmission between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The variator is movable along the speed adjustment cam during rotation through the second phase for enabling adjustment of a torque transfer mechanism associated with the transmission. By this configuration, control over the coupling of the transmission to a torque input such as a motor and control over the speed of the transmission are both enabled through rotation of a single actuator, and thus can be implemented in a self-propelled machine such as a lawnmower using a single operator-manipulated control.