IP Library Granted Patent US 8,308,589
Granted Patent B2
US 8,308,589 · App. 12/532,080 · Granted Nov 13, 2012

Belt and chain drive with kidney-shaped traction mechanism

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,308,589
App. No.
12/532,080
Granted
Nov 13, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A belt and chain drive for vehicles or for use in drive technology with an input shaft and an output shaft supported on a frame, the input shaft and the output shaft project out of the frame, with the following features: a) gear transmissions with gear wheels, which are embodied as belt and chain drives, are located between the input shaft and the output shaft, b) all of the gear wheels are constantly in rotation during operation, c) the gear transmissions located between the input shaft and the output shaft are embodied as belt and chain drives with toothed belts as traction mechanisms and with pulleys as gear wheels, d) the traction mechanism are reinforced with aramide, Kevlar, carbon fibers or other fibrous materials, is characterized in that e) the traction mechanism is pressed into a kidney-like shape onto the pulleys by at least one component during no-load rotation, and that under the effect of load this component does not touch the traction mechanism, and f) the kidney-like shape of the traction mechanism during no-load rotation is formed by a convex curvature of the driving side and by a concave curvature of the slack side, and g) the kidney-like shape of the traction mechanisms under load is formed by a straight shape of the driving side and by an intensified concave curvature of the slack side.

Claims (61)

1. A traction belt and chain drive transmission for vehicles or for use in drive technology with an input shaft and an output shaft supported on a frame, the input shaft and the output shaft projecting out of the frame, comprising:

gear transmissions with gear wheels, which are embodied as belt and chain drives, located between the input shaft and the output shaft,

all of the gear wheels are constantly in rotation during operation,

the gear transmissions located between the input shaft and the output shaft are embodied as belt and chain drives with toothed belts as traction mechanisms and with pulleys as gear wheels,

the traction mechanisms are reinforced with aramide, Kevlar, carbon fibers or other fibrous materials,

wherein:

the traction mechanisms are pressed into a kidney-like shape onto the pulleys by at least one component during no-load rotation, and that under the effect of load the at least one component does not touch the traction mechanisms, and

the kidney-like shape of the traction mechanisms during no-load rotation is formed by a convex curvature of a driving side and by a concave curvature of a slack side, and

the kidney-like shape of the traction mechanisms under load is formed by a straight shape of the driving side and by a concave curvature of the slack side, and

the at least one component includes a traction guide with plural pressure bearings which press against the traction mechanism.

2. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein the gear wheels are located on the input shaft or the output shaft in a rotatably mounted manner, the gear wheels can be connected to the shaft in a rotatably fixed manner.

3. The transmission according to claim 2 , wherein inside a coupling mechanism at least one component is supported relative to a toothing in a rotatable or displaceable manner.

4. The transmission according to claim 3 , wherein the inside the coupling mechanism at least one component in a toothing can adopt a positive position.

5. The transmission according to claim 3 , wherein inside the coupling mechanism at least one component can adopt a position at a distance relative to a toothing.

6. The transmission according to claim 3 , wherein at least one mechanism adopts a position at a distance relative to a toothing after two identically polarized magnetic fields have moved towards one another.

7. The transmission according to claim 3 , wherein a positive coupling mechanism is formed by freewheel teeth that can engage in a toothing.

8. The transmission according to claim 7 , wherein the toothing is embodied as an internal toothing.

9. The transmission according to claim 7 , wherein the freewheel teeth are arranged symmetrically to the toothing.

10. The transmission according to claim 7 , wherein the freewheel teeth are tiltably mounted on steel axes inside the output shaft on which the coupling mechanism is located.

11. The transmission according to claim 10 , wherein a tilted position of the freewheel tooth on the steel axes is held by a permanent magnet.

12. The transmission according to claim 11 , wherein the permanent magnet is inserted into a shaft on which the coupling mechanism is located.

13. The transmission according to claim 3 , wherein the coupling mechanism is formed by joining a permanent magnet and a steel component.

14. The transmission according to claim 2 , wherein the positive rotationally fixed connection between shaft and gear wheel can be neutralized with aid of energy that was stored prior to the decoupling in a magnetic field.

15. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein at least one component inside the coupling mechanism has the properties of a permanent magnet with a magnetic north pole and south pole.

16. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein a state of the a coupling mechanism changes through a change of an additional magnetic field inside or in an immediate vicinity of the coupling mechanism.

17. The transmission according to claim 16 , wherein a change of the additional magnetic field is achieved by axial displacement of permanent magnets along the rotational axis of a shaft on which the coupling mechanism is located.

18. The transmission according to claim 17 , wherein an axial displacement of permanent magnets is carried out inside a hollow driven shaft.

19. The transmission according to claim 17 , wherein the axial displacement of permanent magnets is carried out outside the input shaft.

20. The transmission according to claim 17 , wherein the permanent magnets that are axially displaced are inserted into a spool valve component.

21. The transmission according to claim 20 , wherein the permanent magnets are inserted into the spool valve component with different polarity.

22. The transmission according to claim 20 , wherein a bearing is located inside the spool valve component.

23. The transmission according to claim 20 , wherein the spool valve component is connected to a traction mechanism for the axial movement.

24. The transmission according to claim 20 , wherein the spool valve component adopts click-stop positions within its axial movement with respect to the shaft.

25. The transmission according to claim 16 , wherein the change of the additional magnetic field is carried out inside or in the immediate vicinity of the coupling mechanism by electromagnets.

26. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein during at least one shifting operation a state of at least two coupling mechanisms changes simultaneously.

27. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein at least one coupling mechanism can transmit only torques in one direction of rotation.

28. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein the frame of the gear transmissions is embodied as a closed housing.

29. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein the fibrous materials are covered with polyurethane.

30. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein the traction mechanisms change their belt tension during the shifting operation.

31. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein the traction mechanisms change their chain wraparound on the belt wheel during the shifting operation.

32. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one component that presses the traction mechanisms into a kidney-shaped form is embodied as a roller.

33. The transmission according to claim 1 , wherein additional guides are located on the slack side in a contactless manner in an immediate vicinity of the toothed belts, which guides are shaped in a similar manner to the outer contour of the toothed belts.

34. A traction drive transmission for use in drive technology, with an input shaft and output shaft mounted on a frame, the input shaft and output shaft being guided out of the frame, comprising:

a gear transmission-situated between the input shaft and output shaft with gear wheels designed as a belt drive,

all gear wheels are continuously in rotation during operation,

the gear transmission-situated between the input shaft and output shaft is designed as a belt drive with a synchronous belt as a traction mechanism and with pulleys as gear wheels, wherein

the traction mechanism during load-free rotation is forced onto the pulley wheels by at least one a substantially kidney shape component, and that, under the influence of a load, the substantially kidney shape component is separated from the traction mechanism, and

the substantially kidney shape component of the traction mechanism during load-free rotation is formed by a convex arch of a strand side and by a concave arch of a slack side, and

the substantially kidney shape component of the traction mechanism under load is formed by a straight form of the strand side and a reinforced concave arch of the slack side, and

the substantially kidney shape component includes a traction guide with plural pressure bearings.

35. The transmission according to claim 34 , wherein the gear wheels are located on the input shaft or the output shaft in a rotatably mounted manner, the gear wheels can be connected to the shaft in a rotatably fixed manner.

36. The transmission according to claim 35 , wherein inside a coupling mechanism at least one component is supported relative to a toothing in a rotatable or displaceable manner.

37. The transmission according to claim 36 , wherein the inside the coupling mechanism at least one component in the toothing can adopt a positive position.

38. The transmission according to claim 36 , wherein inside the coupling mechanism at least one component can adopt a position at a distance relative to the toothing.

39. The transmission according to claim 34 , wherein the frame of the gear transmission is embodied as a closed housing.

40. The transmission according to claim 34 , wherein the traction mechanisms change their belt tension during shifting operation.

41. The transmission according to claim 34 , wherein the traction mechanisms change their chain wraparound on the belt wheel during shifting operation.

42. The transmission according to claim 34 , wherein the at least one component that presses the traction mechanism into a kidney-shaped form is embodied as a roller.

43. The transmission according to claim 34 , wherein additional guides are located on a slack side in a contactless manner in an immediate vicinity of the toothed belts, the guides are shaped in a similar manner to an outer contour of the toothed belts.

44. The transmission according to claim 34 , wherein the traction mechanism is reinforced with aramid, Kevlar, carbon fibers or other fiber materials.

45. The transmission according to claim 44 , wherein the fibrous materials are covered with polyurethane.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE (REEL 033472 / FRAME 0333) Recorded Jun 5, 2024
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: GATES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067626/0232 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 4, 2015
From: THE GATES CORPORATION
To: GATES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034893/0006 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2014
From: THE GATES CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033472/0333 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2014
From: THE GATES CORPORATION
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033465/0252 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 10, 2014
From: CITICORP USA, INC.
To: AQUATIC CO.; THE GATES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GATES MECTROL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; EIFELER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
Reel/Frame 033289/0254 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 10, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AQUATIC CO.; THE GATES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GATES MECTROL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; EIFELER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
Reel/Frame 033290/0631 →
SECOND LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 30, 2010
From: AIR SYSTEM COMPONENTS, INC.; AQUATIC CO.; DEXTER AXLE COMPANY; EASTERN SHEET METAL, INC.; EPICOR INDUSTRIES, INC.; THE GATES CORPORATION; GATES MECTROL, INC.; HART & COOLEY, INC.; RUSKIN COMPANY; SCHRADER-BRIDGEPORT INTERNATIONAL, INC.; SCHRADER ELECTRONICS, INC.; SELKIRK CORPORATION; TOMKINS INDUSTRIES, INC.; EIFELER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
To: WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 025560/0057 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 29, 2010
From: AIR SYSTEM COMPONENTS, INC.; AQUATIC CO.; DEXTER AXLE COMPANY; EASTERN SHEET METAL, INC.; EPICOR INDUSTRIES, INC.; THE GATES CORPORATION; GATES MECTROL, INC.; HART & COOLEY, INC.; RUSKIN COMPANY; SCHRADER-BRIDGEPORT INTERNATIONAL, INC.; SCHRADER ELECTRONICS, INC.; SELKIRK CORPORATION; TOMKINS INDUSTRIES, INC.; EIFELER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
To: CITICORP USA, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 025549/0407 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2010
From: CLARKE, ARTHUR JACK
To: THE GATES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023917/0431 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2010
From: NICOLAI, KARLHEINZ
To: THE GATES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023920/0254 →