Key pulley segment features, segment stack configuration, and cam and roller design and actuation in a synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system

Abstract

A key pulley segment in a synchronized, segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system is either first or last in a pulley segment set to engage an endless member. The first or last key segment teeth to engage or disengage, respectively, are shortened or completely trimmed, and the adjacent pulley segment to the key segment is elongated such that the inward portion of the tooth profile extends toward the key segment. Shortened tooth or teeth and an elongated adjacent segment together allow for many pulley segments to be designed as key segments. Completely trimmed teeth may be engineered to create a supporting surface for the endless member on the key segment. The elongated adjacent segment may have an extending portion which slidably mates with the supporting surface of the key segment, thereby receiving radial support therefrom. Multiple pulley segments from different pulley segment sets may be connected or constructed to move together in a unified stack, and may be staggered such that any one segment may be in an engaging position with the endless member when the unified stack is moved along the axis of rotation. Unified stacks may have guiding rails on both inner and outer radial surfaces, and the pulley assembly may have mating features that receive such guiding rails. Any number of the pulley segments in a unified stack may be key pulley segments. Pulley segments of a stack may be vertically separated into one or more unified stacks. Unified stacks may be moved by way of a cam or roller cam system, where each unified stack has a slidably or ratably attached roller and roller-arm. Chassis-mounted cams engage the rollers outside of the contact zone, rollers and roller-arms are moved into and out of engagement with the cams, and individual segments of a unified stack are moved into or out of engagement. Rollers may be actuated into and out of engagement by electromagnets, fixably mounted in an array. Rollers may discretely engage with multiple cams, by way of several electromagnet-arrays, and thereby complete several stack axial motions. Electromagnets in an array may be selectively energized to move selected rollers to an active position in order to effect key pulley segment engagement, stack axial movement and transition.

1 . A key pulley segment, acting as one pulley segment in a pulley segment set, in a synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system, and having a distal relationship with the teeth of a second pulley such that simultaneous engagement of an endless member is possible, incorporating one or more shortened or completely trimmed key pulley segment teeth, which teeth are either first or last in the pulley segment set to engage the endless member. 
     
     
         2 . A key pulley segment, acting as one pulley segment in a pulley segment set, in a synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system, and having a distal relationship with the teeth of a second pulley such that simultaneous engagement of an endless member is possible, incorporating an adjacent pulley segment with elongated or overhanging teeth features, with an extending segment portion which may or may not slidably mate with a supporting surface of the key pulley segment. 
     
     
         3 . A supporting surface on a key pulley segment for an endless member, created by the shortening or complete trimming of one or more key pulley segment teeth, in a synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system. 
     
     
         4 . A unified stack comprised of multiple, staggered pulley segments, vertically connected or constructed onto one or more slidably movable components, with mating features and guiding rails on their inner and outer surfaces, any of which pulley segments in the unified stack may engage an endless member, in a synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system. 
     
     
         5 . A core pulley in a synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system, with guiding rails which mate with the mating features on a inner surface of a most proximate unified stack comprised of multiple, staggered pulley segments, vertically connected or constructed onto one or more slidably movable components, where the guiding rails of said core pulley may also function as teeth capable of engaging the endless member. 
     
     
         6 . A series of one or more cams, in a synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system, affixed or fixably mounted to a chassis or housing, and a series of rollers, fixed members or other such cam followers, with a roller arm affixed to each roller, where the roller and roller arm are slidably or rotatably mounted to unified pulley segment stacks, together capable of moving a unified pulley segment stack by the movement of each roller into and out of an active position, enabling its engagement with a cam, in a manner such that individual pulley segments of said stack may be moved into or out of an engaging position. 
     
     
         7 . The actuation of a roller, or fixed member or other such cam follower, and its roller-arm, together into its active position, before the point of engagement of the roller with a cam, and out of its active position, after its point of engagement with the cam, by an array of fixably mounted electromagnets located near the path of a roller, in proximity to or as part of the cam in a synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system. 
     
     
         8 . An arrangement of multiple cams, in a synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system, such that discrete sequential engagement by a series of rollers, or fixed members or other such cam followers, together with the corresponding series of attached unified pulley segment stacks, is available, such that a unified pulley segment stack may move into a plurality of positions, which positions correspond to the several engaging positions of pulley segments contained in the stack. 
     
     
         9 . An array of fixably mounted electromagnets, arranged such that a feature on a pulley segment or pulley segment stack in a synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system may be discretely actuated, by the synchronization of the energizing of one or more selectable electromagnets to the position and motion of the desired pulley segment feature, which feature may be the pulley segment or pulley segment stack itself, a roller, a cam follower or other fixed member, or some other actuator feature, when the desired feature passes proximate to the selected electromagnet or electromagnets in the array. 
     
     
         10 . A system of sequencing the energization of fixably mounted electromagnets in an array, such that pulley segment features, which features may be a pulley segment or pulley segment stack itself, a roller, a cam follower or other fixed member, or some other actuator feature, such that an individual pulley segment or pulley segment stack may be discretely actuated, in a synchronized segmentally interchanging pulley transmission system. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled)