A friction driven beltless grain spreader system is presented that includes a spreader cone having a pulley and a grain deflector configured to disperse the flow of grain. A motor having a driven wheel and an idler wheel are pivotally connected to the spreader cone in operative engagement with the pulley such that the idler wheel is positioned between the driven wheel and the pulley. A tension member applies a force that pulls the driven wheel and intermediary wheel into the pulley. As the motor rotates the driven wheel rotates the idler wheel which rotates the pulley. When forces spike, such as when the motor is turned on or a heavy flow of grain hits the system, one or more of the driven wheel, intermediary wheel and/or pulley slip with respect to the other wheels thereby preventing breakage of the system.

A friction driven beltless grain spreader system is presented that includes a spreader cone having a pulley and a grain deflector configured to disperse the flow of grain. A motor having a driven wheel and an idler wheel are pivotally connected to the spreader cone in operative engagement with the pulley such that the idler wheel is positioned between the driven wheel and the pulley. A tension member applies a force that pulls the driven wheel and intermediary wheel into the pulley. As the motor rotates the driven wheel rotates the idler wheel which rotates the pulley. When forces spike, such as when the motor is turned on or a heavy flow of grain hits the system, one or more of the driven wheel, intermediary wheel and/or pulley slip with respect to the other wheels thereby preventing breakage of the system.

Embodiments of a friction drive system include a battery, a drive motor, a control unit, and a speed wheel. When the friction drive system is mounted on a wheeled vehicle, the speed wheel provides an accurate measurement of the vehicle speed by maintaining contact with a tire of the vehicle. An automatic traction control system, which may be part of the control unit, compares the speed of the speed wheel with the speed of the drive motor to determine whether slippage is occurring. If slippage is detected, then embodiments of an automatic traction control system automatically increase an amount of normal force between a contact surface on the drive motor and the tire, by advancing a position of the drive motor relative to a fixed mounting point. If no slippage is detected, then embodiments of an automatic traction control system automatically reduce the amount of normal force, by retracting a position of the drive relative to a fixed mounting point. In embodiments of a friction drive system, the relative position of the drive motor may be controlled by powering a worm gear motor attached to a worm gear in response to commands from the control unit.

An electric phaser for dynamically adjusting a rotational relationship of a camshaft with respect to an engine crankshaft of an internal combustion engine includes an electric motor and a tapered roller drive. The tapered roller drive includes a sun, rollers, a carrier, at least one ring, and at least one load generator providing an axial load. The rollers are maintained in rolling engagement with the sun and the ring without the use of teeth. In some embodiments, the tapered roller drive is based on a fixed-sun design. In other embodiments, the tapered roller drive is based on a split ring design.

An electric phaser for dynamically adjusting a rotational relationship of a camshaft with respect to an engine crankshaft of an internal combustion engine includes an electric motor and a tapered roller drive. The tapered roller drive includes a sun, rollers, a carrier, at least one ring, and at least one load generator providing an axial load. The rollers are maintained in rolling engagement with the sun and the ring without the use of teeth. In some embodiments, the tapered roller drive is based on a fixed-sun design. In other embodiments, the tapered roller drive is based on a split ring design.

Compound planetary friction drive comprising an input shaft driving a sun wheel, wherein said sun wheel engages planetary wheels, which planetary wheels are arranged with a first part having a first radius and a second part having a second radius that differs from the first radius, and where-in a ring cylinder is provided that is engaged by the planetary wheels such that the sun wheel is in frictional engagement with the first part of the planetary wheels and the ring cylinder is in frictional engagement with the second part of the planetary wheels, wherein the planetary wheels are hollow and compressible.

Compound planetary friction drive comprising an input shaft driving a sun wheel, wherein said sun wheel engages planetary wheels, which planetary wheels are arranged with a first part having a first radius and a second part having a second radius that differs from the first radius, and where-in a ring cylinder is provided that is engaged by the planetary wheels such that the sun wheel is in frictional engagement with the first part of the planetary wheels and the ring cylinder is in frictional engagement with the second part of the planetary wheels, wherein the planetary wheels are hollow and compressible.

An auxiliary machine-driving device has a first idler roller disposed between an engine roller and a first rotating roller; a second idler roller disposed between the first rotating roller and a second rotating roller; a third idler roller disposed between the second rotating roller and the engine roller; and a linking mechanism driven by one actuator to switch the first idler roller between a state in which the first idler roller contacts the engine roller and the first rotating roller, and a state in which the first idler roller separates from the engine roller and the first rotating roller, and to switch at least one of the second and third idler rollers between a state in which the at least one roller contacts two rollers adjacent the at least one roller, and a state in which the at least one roller separates from the two rollers.

An auxiliary machine-driving device has a first idler roller disposed between an engine roller and a first rotating roller; a second idler roller disposed between the first rotating roller and a second rotating roller; a third idler roller disposed between the second rotating roller and the engine roller; and a linking mechanism driven by one actuator to switch the first idler roller between a state in which the first idler roller contacts the engine roller and the first rotating roller, and a state in which the first idler roller separates from the engine roller and the first rotating roller, and to switch at least one of the second and third idler rollers between a state in which the at least one roller contacts two rollers adjacent the at least one roller, and a state in which the at least one roller separates from the two rollers.

A friction driven beltless grain spreader system is presented that includes a spreader cone having a pulley and a grain deflector configured to disperse the flow of grain. A motor having a driven wheel and an idler wheel are pivotally connected to the spreader cone in operative engagement with the pulley such that the idler wheel is positioned between the driven wheel and the pulley. A tension member applies a force that pulls the driven wheel and intermediary wheel into the pulley. As the motor rotates the driven wheel rotates the idler wheel which rotates the pulley. When forces spike, such as when the motor is turned on or a heavy flow of grain hits the system, one or more of the driven wheel, intermediary wheel and/or pulley slip with respect to the other wheels thereby preventing breakage of the system.