Continuously variable transmission
First Claim
1. A bicycle having a frame and two wheels, wherein one of the two wheels is coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising:
- a central shaft defining a longitudinal axis of the CVT;
an input assembly;
a variator comprisingan input disc,an output disc,a plurality of balls interposed between and in contact with the input disc and the output disc, each ball being rotatably mounted on an axle, wherein tilting the axles varies the ratio of input speed to output speed, andan idler located radially inward of and in contact with the plurality of balls;
a cage comprising two stators, a first stator having a plurality of grooves and being located on a first side of the plurality of balls for angular positioning of a first end of each axle and a second stator having a plurality of grooves and being located on a second side of the plurality of balls for angular positioning of a second end of the plurality of axles, wherein the plurality of grooves of the first stator are offset in an angular direction relative to the plurality of grooves of the second stator;
a hub shell housing the variator, wherein the central shaft extends through the hub shell for coupling with an input mechanism, and wherein an outer portion of the hub shell is configured for coupling to a set of spokes on a wheel; and
an output assembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a main shaft configured to support and position various components of the CVT. Shift cam discs cooperate with ball-leg assemblies to shift the transmission ration of the CVT. Load cam discs, a torsion disc, rolling elements, and a hub cap shell are configured to generate axial force, transmit torque, and manage reaction forces. In one embodiment, a splined input shaft and a torsion disc having a splined bore cooperate to input torque into the variator of the CVT. Among other things, various ball axles, axle-ball combinations, and reaction force grounding configurations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a CVT having axial force generation means at both the input and output elements is disclosed.
610 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A bicycle having a frame and two wheels, wherein one of the two wheels is coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising:
-
a central shaft defining a longitudinal axis of the CVT; an input assembly; a variator comprising an input disc, an output disc, a plurality of balls interposed between and in contact with the input disc and the output disc, each ball being rotatably mounted on an axle, wherein tilting the axles varies the ratio of input speed to output speed, and an idler located radially inward of and in contact with the plurality of balls; a cage comprising two stators, a first stator having a plurality of grooves and being located on a first side of the plurality of balls for angular positioning of a first end of each axle and a second stator having a plurality of grooves and being located on a second side of the plurality of balls for angular positioning of a second end of the plurality of axles, wherein the plurality of grooves of the first stator are offset in an angular direction relative to the plurality of grooves of the second stator; a hub shell housing the variator, wherein the central shaft extends through the hub shell for coupling with an input mechanism, and wherein an outer portion of the hub shell is configured for coupling to a set of spokes on a wheel; and an output assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification