Continuously variable transmission
First Claim
1. A continuously variable accessory drive (CVAD) for coupling to a power source, the CVAD comprising:
- a variator disposed within a housing, the variator comprisinga plurality of tiltable traction planet assemblies arranged about a longitudinal axis, each tiltable traction planet assembly rotatable around an axle,a pair of carriers, each carrier having a plurality of guide slots, wherein each axle of the plurality of tiltable traction planet assemblies is coupled to the pair of carriers, wherein rotation of at least one of the pair of carriers causes angular displacement in a first plane to achieve an angular displacement in a second plane for each of the plurality of tiltable traction planet assemblies,a first traction ring coaxial about the longitudinal axis;
a second traction ring coaxial about the longitudinal axis, the first traction ring and the second traction ring being in contact with the plurality of traction planets, andan idler assembly located radially inward of the plurality of traction planets, wherein the idler assembly comprises;
a first rolling element rotatable about an axis at a first speed corresponding to a tilt angle of a planet axle relative to the longitudinal axis,a second rolling element rotatable about the axis at a second speed corresponding to the tilt angle of a planet axle relative to the longitudinal axis, each of the first rolling element and the second rolling element comprising first and second surfaces angled for contact with the plurality of traction planet assemblies, the first surface angled at a first angle and the second surface angled less than the first angle, anda first bearing interposed between the first rolling element and the second rolling element, the first bearing positioned radially inward of the second rolling element.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT) are provided. In one embodiment, a CVT has a number of spherical planets in contact with an idler assembly. Various idler assemblies can be used to facilitate to improve durability, fatigue life, and efficiency of a CVT. In one embodiment, the idler assembly has two rolling elements having contact surfaces that are angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the CVT. In some embodiments, a bearing is operably coupled between the first and second rolling elements. The bearing is configured to balance axial force between the first and second rolling elements. In one embodiment, the bearing is a ball bearing. In another embodiment, the bearing is an angular contact bearing. In yet other embodiments, needle roller bearings are employed.
629 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A continuously variable accessory drive (CVAD) for coupling to a power source, the CVAD comprising:
a variator disposed within a housing, the variator comprising a plurality of tiltable traction planet assemblies arranged about a longitudinal axis, each tiltable traction planet assembly rotatable around an axle, a pair of carriers, each carrier having a plurality of guide slots, wherein each axle of the plurality of tiltable traction planet assemblies is coupled to the pair of carriers, wherein rotation of at least one of the pair of carriers causes angular displacement in a first plane to achieve an angular displacement in a second plane for each of the plurality of tiltable traction planet assemblies, a first traction ring coaxial about the longitudinal axis; a second traction ring coaxial about the longitudinal axis, the first traction ring and the second traction ring being in contact with the plurality of traction planets, and an idler assembly located radially inward of the plurality of traction planets, wherein the idler assembly comprises; a first rolling element rotatable about an axis at a first speed corresponding to a tilt angle of a planet axle relative to the longitudinal axis, a second rolling element rotatable about the axis at a second speed corresponding to the tilt angle of a planet axle relative to the longitudinal axis, each of the first rolling element and the second rolling element comprising first and second surfaces angled for contact with the plurality of traction planet assemblies, the first surface angled at a first angle and the second surface angled less than the first angle, and a first bearing interposed between the first rolling element and the second rolling element, the first bearing positioned radially inward of the second rolling element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Specification