Granted Patent B2

US 8,512,203 · App. 13/614,637 · Granted Aug 20, 2013

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A generator system comprising:

a prime mover having a drive shaft and a throttle;

a driven member having a rotor disposed on a rotor shaft; and

a continuously variable transmission pulley system comprising

a drive pulley coupled to the drive shaft and having a variable drive pulley effective diameter,

a driven pulley coupled to the rotor shaft and having a variable driven pulley effective diameter, the variable driven pulley effective diameter varying in response to varying torque on the rotor shaft, and

a belt configured to engage the drive pulley and the driven pulley and having a belt tension, wherein the drive pulley effective diameter varies in response to the belt tension.

2. The generator system of claim 1 , wherein the driven pulley comprises:

a first sheave having a first surface configured to engage the belt; and

a second sheave having a second surface configured to engage the belt, wherein at least one of the first sheave and the second sheave include a cam surface configured such that the second sheave is moveable axially and rotatably with respect to the first sheave in response to a torque on the rotor shaft.

3. The generator system of claim 2 , further comprising a compression spring configured to bias the second sheave toward the first sheave.

4. The generator system of claim 2 , further comprising a torsional spring configured to bias the second sheave toward the first sheave.

5. The generator system of claim 2 , wherein the drive pulley comprises:

a third sheave having a third surface configured to engage the belt; and

a fourth sheave configured to move axially relative to the drive shaft, the fourth sheave having a fourth surface configured to engage the belt.

6. The generator system of claim 5 , further comprising a second spring configured to bias the fourth sheave toward the third sheave.

7. The generator system of claim 1 , further comprising a belt tensioner configured to engage the belt to maintain a predetermined tension of the belt.

8. A generator system comprising:

a prime mover having a drive shaft and a throttle;

a driven member having a rotor disposed on a rotor shaft;

a continuously variable transmission pulley system comprising

a drive pulley coupled to the drive shaft and having a variable drive pulley effective diameter,

a driven pulley coupled to the rotor shaft and having a variable driven pulley effective diameter, the variable driven pulley effective diameter varying in response to varying torque on the rotor shaft, and

a belt configured to engage the drive pulley and the driven pulley; and

a governor configured to adjust the throttle to control the speed of the prime mover in response to a speed of the rotor shaft.

9. The generator system of claim 8 , wherein the driven pulley comprises:

a first sheave having a first surface configured to engage the belt; and

a second sheave having a second surface configured to engage the belt, wherein at least one of the first sheave and the second sheave include a cam surface configured such that the second sheave is moveable axially and rotatably with respect to the first sheave in response to a torque on the rotor shaft.

10. The generator system of claim 9 , further comprising a compression spring configured to bias the second sheave toward the first sheave.

11. The generator system of claim 9 , further comprising a torsional spring configured to bias the second sheave toward the first sheave.

12. The generator system of claim 9 , wherein the drive pulley comprises:

a third sheave having a third surface configured to engage the belt; and

a fourth sheave configured to move axially relative to the drive shaft, the fourth sheave having a fourth surface configured to engage the belt.

13. The generator system of claim 12 , further comprising a second spring configured to bias the fourth sheave toward the third sheave.

14. The generator system of claim 8 , further comprising a belt tensioner configured to engage the belt to maintain a proper tension of the belt.

15. The generator system of claim 8 , wherein the belt has a belt tension, and further wherein the drive pulley effective diameter varies in response to the belt tension.

16. A method of controlling the operation of a generator having a driven shaft, the method comprising:

coupling a driven pulley to the driven shaft, the driven pulley having a driven pulley variable effective diameter;

providing a prime mover having a drive shaft;

coupling a drive pulley to the drive shaft, the drive pulley having a drive pulley variable effective diameter;

engaging a belt with the drive pulley and the driven pulley such that the driven shaft rotates in response to rotation of the drive shaft, the belt having a belt tension;

adjusting the effective diameter of the driven pulley in response to varying torque on the driven shaft; and

adjusting the effective diameter of the drive pulley in response to variations in the belt tension.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

sensing the rotational speed of the driven shaft; and

adjusting a throttle position of the prime mover to change the speed of the prime mover based on the sensed rotational speed.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising controlling the belt tension with a belt tensioner that engages the belt between the drive pulley and the driven pulley.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising biasing the drive pulley toward a large diameter position.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising biasing the driven pulley toward a large diameter position.

Assignments (8)