| TORVEC, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20110108332 | Dual-Sprocket Track Drive - A drive for a tracked vehicle supported by a pair of sprocket-driven tracks that receive divided drive torque from the vehicle engine includes a pair of track differentials that are each associated, respectively, with one of the tracks. Each track includes two separate drive sprockets located, preferably, at the front and rear of the track, and the divided torque delivered to each track differential is further divided between the respective front and rear drive sprockets of each track. The track differentials maintain track wrap about the drive sprockets so that drive torque and spike-like forces generated by the momentary loosening and tightening of the track in response to variations in the terrain are shared between an optimal number of drive sprocket teeth at all times. Drive and shock loads borne by the track lugs are significantly reduced and track life is significantly increased. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20100216586 | QUICK-CHANGE TRUCK DRIVE - The drive train of a truck is modified by the addition of a single changeable pair of mating gears positioned between the output shaft of the transmission and the intermediate gear train that drives the ring/bull gear fixed to the drive-axle differential for a first set of drive wheels. One gear of this changeable pair is releasably connected to the distal end of the output shaft of the transmission, while the mating gear is releasably connected to the input of the intermediate gear train of the ring/bull gear for single drive-axle trucks or to the housing of a high-bias drive-shaft differential having co-axial output shafts for tandem drive-axle trucks. These changeable gear pairs are preferably maintained in stock in predetermined ratios so that the drive ratio of the truck can be quickly, easily, and inexpensively altered by the selection of an appropriate gear pair to accommodate different expected operating conditions. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100069166 | SPHERICAL UNIVERSAL COUPLING - A pair of spherical gears connects the intersecting shafts of a CV-joint. One gear has internal teeth, and the other has external teeth. The gear design is based on pitch circles that are great circles on theoretical pitch spheres that are concentric and have identical radii. The internal teeth are either conically or spherically shaped, while the external tooth faces are cylindrical with tangential flat extensions. The spherical gears are shown on half-shafts. The preferred embodiments have six teeth on each gear, and one preferred embodiment also uses balls for the internal teeth. The gears, while rotating at high speeds under load, can intersect throughout a continuous maximum range of 60° or more in any direction. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100059297 | TRACK SUSPENSION - A flexible, non-resilient strap of the tandem wheel suspension interconnects the vehicle frame and one of the rocker arms of an endless track vehicle, limiting the motion of the rocker arm in the direction of the terrain but permitting freedom of motion in an upward direction away from the terrain. The rocker arms share a support axle mounted to the vehicle frame, and each rocker arm is independently movable about the support axle. A shock-absorbing element, located in the vicinity of the strap, is preferably similarly attached between the frame and the same rocker arm to dampen the motion of the rocker arm in the direction of the terrain while permitting freedom of motion in an upward direction away from the terrain. In one embodiment, a small idler roller is positioned slightly above the endless track at a location between the two tandem wheel suspensions supporting the endless track. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20090289457 | HYDROGEN POWERED STEAM TURBINE - A process provides energy from a hydrogen flame to produce ultra high temperature steam, which is water vapor having a temperature over 1200° C., as an energy transfer medium to drive a steam turbine. The hydrogen fuel may be supplied to the system from a source of isolated hydrogen such as compressed or liquefied H | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090077960 | ORBITAL TRANSMISSION WITH GEARED OVERDRIVE - The transmission includes an orbital gear complex in combination with a variable hydraulic pump and motor. The input to the transmission is increased in speed by the orbital gearing such that, when the pump and motor are not operating, the orbiter is stationary, and the orbital gearing produces an overdrive condition. A gear reduction is accomplished by rotating the web with the web-rotating device, providing a high gear reduction. The pump and motor are preferably long-piston hydraulic machines with infinitely variable swash plates. The hydraulic machines preferably have wobblers stabilized by full gimbals and hold-down plates with elongated holes for the long pistons to eliminate possible impacts between the hold-down plates and the head ends of the long pistons when the swash-plates are at or near their maximum angle of inclination. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090077959 | ORBITAL TRANSMISSION WITH GEARED OVERDRIVE - The transmission includes an orbital gear complex in combination with a variable hydraulic pump and motor. The input to the transmission is increased in speed by the orbital gearing such that, when the pump and motor are not operating, the orbiter is stationary, and the orbital gearing produces an overdrive condition. A gear reduction is accomplished by rotating the web with the web-rotating device, providing a high gear reduction. The pump and motor are preferably long-piston hydraulic machines with infinitely variable swash plates. The hydraulic machines preferably have wobblers stabilized by full gimbals and hold-down plates with elongated holes for the long pistons to eliminate possible impacts between the hold-down plates and the head ends of the long pistons when the swash-plates are at or near their maximum angle of inclination. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20080276609 | DUAL HYDRAULIC MACHINE TRANSMISSION - The modular transmission uses only a pair of small and light hydraulic machines of remarkably improved volumetric efficiency with pistons having body portions substantially as long as the axial length of the respective cylinders in which they reciprocate. The two hydraulic machines operate in a closed loop, one being used as a pump driven by the vehicle's engine, and the other used as a motor. Each machine has a fully articulatable swash plate. By computer control, the angles of the swash plates of the two machines are infinitely varied to provide an appropriate optimum ratio of engine/wheel speed for all conditions from start-up, city driving, hill climbing varied according to load and steepness, and over-drive for highway. This complete vehicle operation is attained while the vehicle's engine continues to operate at relatively constant speeds and relatively low RPM. | 11-13-2008 |
