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A variable gear assembly has a cam gear with a plurality of teeth of varying size and configuration, and a rotatably mounted roller gear has a plurality of rollers for meshing engagement with the teeth. The distance of each roller from the rotation axis and the angles between adjacent rollers are pr

A variable gear assembly has a cam gear with a plurality of teeth of varying size and configuration, and a rotatably mounted roller gear has a plurality of rollers for meshing engagement with the teeth. The distance of each roller from the rotation axis and the angles between adjacent rollers are predetermined such that, at any time during a rotation cycle, two rollers engage at least one currently active tooth. The assembly provides a variable gear ratio.

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[ I claim:] [1.]1. A variable gear assembly, comprising:a first, roller gear having a plurality of rotatable rollers and rotatable about a first rotation axis, each of said rollers being at a predetermined distance from said first rotation axis;a single second cam gear interacting with said first, r

[ I claim:] [1.]1. A variable gear assembly, comprising:a first, roller gear having a plurality of rotatable rollers and rotatable about a first rotation axis, each of said rollers being at a predetermined distance from said first rotation axis;a single second cam gear interacting with said first, roller gear in a single plane, the cam gear having a plurality of teeth for engagement with said rollers as said roller gear rotates, said teeth having a first side, a second side, and an apex between said first and second side, and being of predetermined shape and dimensions;at least one of said gears having a variable diameter;the arrangement being such that, as said roller gear rotates through a cycle of 360 degrees, said rollers engage successive active teeth along said single cam gear, and at least one of said rollers maintains mechanical communication with said cam gear in the direction of rotation and at least one of said rollers maintains mechanical communication with said cam gear in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation at all times during a complete cycle of said roller gear;said roller gear and said cam gear being arranged to provide mechanical communication at a variable gear ratio; andeach roller of said roller gear having a predetermined circumference and contacting said cam gear profile along a predetermined distance greater than the circumference of said roller, whereby each roller of said roller gear rolls along the cam gear profile for a distance greater than the circumference of said roller.