Variable speed transmission assembly

Details Variable speed transmission assembly Variable speed transmission assembly

1999-09-27

2002-04-02

Green, Mary Ann (Department: 3682)

Endless belt power transmission systems or components

Pulley with belt-receiving groove formed by drive faces on...

And pulley shiftable laterally of its axis of rotation

C474S023000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06364794

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a variable speed transmission assembly and, in particular, to such an assembly for use in a vehicle such as a lawn tractor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,342 describes a lawn tractor having a variable speed drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a variable speed pulley mechanism supported on a bracket arm that pivots on a pin fixed to the frame. The bracket arm has a slot that receives the pin. The bracket arm slides relative to the pin, with the pin moving in the slot, to effect a second degree of movement of the variable speed pulley mechanism. The pin can sometimes become stuck in the slot, in a manner that prevents proper operation of the variable speed assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a vehicle drive assembly including a directional control transmission assembly operable between a forward drive condition and a reverse drive condition, and a variable speed drive assembly. The drive assembly also includes a transmission drive belt extending between the variable speed drive assembly and the directional control transmission assembly to transmit force from the variable speed drive assembly to the transmission assembly when the transmission assembly is in the forward drive condition and when the transmission assembly is in the reverse drive condition. The drive assembly also includes a main drive belt extending between the variable speed drive assembly and a source of power to transmit force to the variable speed drive assembly.
The drive assembly further includes a linkage assembly which is operable to move the variable speed drive assembly toward the directional control transmission assembly to change the variable speed drive assembly from a first condition in which the directional control transmission assembly is driven at a relatively low speed by force transmitted from the variable speed drive assembly to the directional control transmission assembly through the transmission drive belt and a second condition in which the variable speed drive assembly is effective to drive the directional control transmission assembly at a high speed.
In one embodiment, the linkage assembly includes an eccentric mechanism. In another embodiment, the linkage assembly includes a linkage arm. Other features of the present invention include a brake that is automatically operative by movement of the manual speed control to a slow/stop position, a reverse speed limiter, and the ability to manufacture and sell the vehicle drive assembly as all one unit for installation in a vehicle such as a lawn tractor.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3759342 (1973-09-01), Plamper
patent: 3777585 (1973-12-01), Plamper
patent: 4128017 (1978-12-01), Clarke
patent: 4132121 (1979-01-01), Clarke
patent: 4176560 (1979-12-01), Clarke
patent: 4364735 (1982-12-01), Plamper et al.
patent: 5897450 (1999-04-01), May
Owner's Guide, Form No. 770-8251H, published 1998 or earlier.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Variable speed transmission assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Variable speed transmission assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Variable speed transmission assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2842071