US 12,071,200 B2
Sectioned multiple-step pulley transmission
Sean Colin Hacking, Somes Bar, CA (US)
Appl. No. 18/550,021
Filed by Sean Colin Hacking, Somes Bar, CA (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 23, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/070779
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 11, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/198163, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/160,809, filed on Mar. 13, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0149975 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. B62M 9/08 (2006.01); B62M 9/16 (2006.01); F16H 9/10 (2006.01)
CPC B62M 9/08 (2013.01) [B62M 9/16 (2013.01); F16H 9/10 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multiple step pulley for variable power transmission, comprising:
a central hub which rotates about a hub axis, said central hub having a hub shell;
a plurality of operationally identical pulley segments rotatingly disposed on said hub shell and configured with pulley sections having at least first and second shelf portions which collectively align to engage a flexible drive member in a drive portion of the multiple step pulley as said central hub rotates under a force applied by the flexible drive member or at it applies force to a flexible drive member, and to disengage from the flexible drive member in a shift window portion of each rotation of said central hub about said hub axis, said pulley segments further configured with elements that engage a shifting mechanism; and
a shifting mechanism operatively connected to said central hub and configured to selectively engage said each of pulley segments in said shift window portion;
wherein said pulley segments rotate about a pulley segment axis substantially radial to said hub axis; and
wherein said first and second shelf portions each define an arc having a different radius from said hub axis.