This CONSTANT-INPUT-TORQUE, CONTINUOUSLY-VARIABLE-SPEED, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION USING JUXTAPOSED CONES, AND AN INCLINED PLANE TORQUE COUPLER (herein: “Transmission”) is a simple, light weight, ‘constant input torque’, infinitely-variable speed, automatic transmission which uses two oppositely oriented (juxtaposed) cones and control mechanisms, appropriately interconnected by a serpentine belt. The output of the Transmission is connected to the useful load for which the Transmission is used. This Transmission has the inherent property that, regardless of the load resistance connected, the torque at the Transmission input remains approximately constant, while output rotational velocity (speed) varies as load increases or decreases.

This CONSTANT-INPUT-TORQUE, CONTINUOUSLY-VARIABLE-SPEED, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION USING JUXTAPOSED CONES, AND AN INCLINED PLANE TORQUE COUPLER (herein: “Transmission”) is a simple, light weight, ‘constant input torque’, infinitely-variable speed, automatic transmission which uses two oppositely oriented (juxtaposed) cones and control mechanisms, appropriately interconnected by a serpentine belt. The output of the Transmission is connected to the useful load for which the Transmission is used. This Transmission has the inherent property that, regardless of the load resistance connected, the torque at the Transmission input remains approximately constant, while output rotational velocity (speed) varies as load increases or decreases.

A device for increasing torque of a crankshaft pulley includes: a pulley surrounding a crankshaft and connected to engine accessories; a planetary gear set having first, second, and third rotary elements, wherein the rotary element is always fixed to the pulley, the second rotary element is always fixed to the crankshaft, and the third rotary element is operated as a selective fixed element; a one-way clutch disposed between the first rotary element and the second rotary element to transmit rotational force only in a direction from the first rotary element to the second rotary element; and a first bearing disposed between the crankshaft and the first rotary element.

A continuously variable transmission includes an input rotor, an output rotor, a plurality of planetary rollers, a guide member, a movable ring, and an elastic member. The input rotor is arranged to rotate about a main axis at a rotation rate before a speed change. The output rotor is arranged to rotate about the main axis at a rotation rate resulting from the speed change. The planetary rollers are arranged around the main axis, and each planetary roller is capable of rotating about a rotation shaft. The guide member is arranged to restrict positions of both end portions of the rotation shaft. The movable ring is capable of rotating about the main axis between the main axis and the planetary rollers. The movable ring is annular, and is capable of moving in an axial direction. The elastic member is capable of expanding and contracting in the axial direction. Each planetary roller includes a first slanting surface, a second slanting surface, and an annular recessed portion or annular projecting portion. The guide member is arranged to hold the end portions of the rotation shaft at different circumferential positions such that each end portion of the rotation shaft is capable of shifting a position thereof in a radial direction with respect to the main axis. The elastic member is arranged to apply a pressure to the movable ring in the axial direction.

A continuously variable transmission includes an input rotor, an output rotor, a plurality of planetary rollers, a guide member, a movable ring, and an elastic member. The input rotor is arranged to rotate about a main axis at a rotation rate before a speed change. The output rotor is arranged to rotate about the main axis at a rotation rate resulting from the speed change. The planetary rollers are arranged around the main axis, and each planetary roller is capable of rotating about a rotation shaft. The guide member is arranged to restrict positions of both end portions of the rotation shaft. The movable ring is capable of rotating about the main axis between the main axis and the planetary rollers. The movable ring is annular, and is capable of moving in an axial direction. The elastic member is capable of expanding and contracting in the axial direction. Each planetary roller includes a first slanting surface, a second slanting surface, and an annular recessed portion or annular projecting portion. The guide member is arranged to hold the end portions of the rotation shaft at different circumferential positions such that each end portion of the rotation shaft is capable of shifting a position thereof in a radial direction with respect to the main axis. The elastic member is arranged to apply a pressure to the movable ring in the axial direction.

A continuously variable transmission includes an input disk and output disk rotatable about a disk axis of rotation. An input ring member rotatable about an input axis of rotation engages the input disk at an input contact patch. An output ring member rotatable about an output axis of rotation engages the output disk at an output contact patch. A sum of a length of a first input contact patch vector extending from the input contact patch to the disk axis of rotation and a length of a first output contact patch vector extending from the output contact patch to the disk axis of rotation is greater than a length of at least one of a second input contact patch vector extending from the input contact patch to the input axis of rotation and a second output contact patch vector extending from the output contact patch to the output axis of rotation.

A continuously variable transmission includes an input disk and output disk rotatable about a disk axis of rotation. An input ring member rotatable about an input axis of rotation engages the input disk at an input contact patch. An output ring member rotatable about an output axis of rotation engages the output disk at an output contact patch. A sum of a length of a first input contact patch vector extending from the input contact patch to the disk axis of rotation and a length of a first output contact patch vector extending from the output contact patch to the disk axis of rotation is greater than a length of at least one of a second input contact patch vector extending from the input contact patch to the input axis of rotation and a second output contact patch vector extending from the output contact patch to the output axis of rotation.

An automatic torque regulating system includes a base, a plurality of positioning rods mounted on the base, a first disk mounted on the positioning rods, a second disk moved with the first disk, a hollow bushing sandwiched between the first disk and the second disk and pivotally connected a force input shaft and a force output shaft, a plurality of cams moved in concert with the first disk and the second disk and pressing a conic face of the force output shaft. Thus, when the first disk and the second disk are moved, the cams are moved axially relative to the force output shaft to change different contact points between the cams and the conic face of the force output shaft so as to regulate the torque automatically.

An automatic torque regulating system includes a base, a plurality of positioning rods mounted on the base, a first disk mounted on the positioning rods, a second disk moved with the first disk, a hollow bushing sandwiched between the first disk and the second disk and pivotally connected a force input shaft and a force output shaft, a plurality of cams moved in concert with the first disk and the second disk and pressing a conic face of the force output shaft. Thus, when the first disk and the second disk are moved, the cams are moved axially relative to the force output shaft to change different contact points between the cams and the conic face of the force output shaft so as to regulate the torque automatically.

A continuously variable transmission includes an input rotor, an output rotor, a plurality of planetary rollers, a guide member, a movable ring, and an elastic member. The input rotor is arranged to rotate about a main axis at a rotation rate before a speed change. The output rotor is arranged to rotate about the main axis at a rotation rate resulting from the speed change. The planetary rollers are arranged around the main axis, and each planetary roller is capable of rotating about a rotation shaft. The guide member is arranged to restrict positions of both end portions of the rotation shaft. The movable ring is capable of rotating about the main axis between the main axis and the planetary rollers. The movable ring is annular, and is capable of moving in an axial direction. The elastic member is capable of expanding and contracting in the axial direction. Each planetary roller includes a first slanting surface, a second slanting surface, and an annular recessed portion or annular projecting portion. The guide member is arranged to hold the end portions of the rotation shaft at different circumferential positions such that each end portion of the rotation shaft is capable of shifting a position thereof in a radial direction with respect to the main axis. The elastic member is arranged to apply a pressure to the movable ring in the axial direction.