Expandable pulley
View Patent ↗An expandable pulley comprising a plurality of adjacent segments, each segment being radially moveable, each segment slidingly engaged with a pin member, each pin member having an engagement with each segment such that each segment is moveable in a direction substantially at an angle (α) to a radial along each pin member, a moveable guide member engaged with each segment for spatially locating each segment with respect to another segment, a counterweight cooperatively connected to each segment and cooperatively engageable with each pin member, each counterweight exerting a force opposing a segment centripetal force, and each pin member connected to a hub.
1. An expandable pulley comprising:
a plurality of adjacent segments;
each segment being radially moveable;
each segment slidingly engaged with a pin member, each pin member having an engagement with each segment such that each segment is moveable in a direction substantially at an angle (α) to a radial along each pin member;
a moveable guide member engaged with each segment for spatially locating each segment with respect to another segment;
a counterweight cooperatively connected to each segment and cooperatively engageable with each pin member, each counterweight exerting a force opposing a segment centripetal force; and
each pin member connected to a hub.
2. The expandable pulley as in claim 1 , wherein each segment comprises a slot for engaging the pin member.
3. The expandable pulley as in claim 1 , wherein each counterweight is pivotally connected to each segment.
4. The expandable pulley as in claim 1 further comprising a resilient stop member engageable with each counterweight.
5. The expandable pulley as in claim 1 , wherein each segment is moveable at an angle (α) to a radial.
6. A belt drive system comprising:
an expandable pulley connected to an engine accessory;
the expandable pulley comprising:
a plurality of adjacent segments;
each segment radially moveable;
each segment slidingly engaged with a pin member, each pin member having an engagement with each segment such that each segment is moveable in a direction substantially at an angle (α) to a radial along each pin member;
a moveable guide member engaged with each segment for spatially locating each segment with respect to all other segments;
a counterweight cooperatively connected to each segment and cooperatively engageable with each pin member, each counterweight exerting a force opposing a segment centripetal force; and
each pin member connected to a hub;
a driver pulley; and
a belt trained between the driver pulley and the expandable pulley.
7. The belt drive system as in claim 6 , wherein the engine accessory comprises a motor/generator.
8. The belt drive system as in claim 6 , wherein the driver pulley is connected to an engine crankshaft.
9. The belt drive system as in claim 6 further comprising a tensioner engaged with the belt.
10. The belt drive system as in claim 6 , wherein the expandable pulley has a multi-ribbed profile.