Continuously variable planetary gear set
First Claim
1. A hybrid vehicle power distribution system, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
an electric motor;
a transmission, the transmission further comprising;
a plurality of balls distributed radially and in a plane about a longitudinal transmission axis, each ball having a tiltable ball axis about which it rotates;
a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls;
a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the balls on a side opposite the input disc and also in contact with each of the balls;
an idler that is coaxial with and rotatable about the transmission axis and that is positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the balls; and
at least a first convex curved disc located adjacent to at least a first end of the idler, wherein the ball axes are adapted to collectively tilt in response to an axial movement of the first convex curved disc;
wherein the transmission is adapted to accept torque from at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor and to distribute that torque to an output drive train.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A continuously variable planetary gear set is described having a generally tubular idler, a plurality of balls distributed radially about the idler, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates, a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls, a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the balls opposite the input disc and in contact with each of the balls such that each of the balls makes three-point contact with the input disc, the output disc and the idler, and a rotatable cage adapted to maintain the axial and radial position of each of the balls, wherein the axes of the balls are oriented by the axial position of the idler.
142 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A hybrid vehicle power distribution system, comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine;
an electric motor;
a transmission, the transmission further comprising;
a plurality of balls distributed radially and in a plane about a longitudinal transmission axis, each ball having a tiltable ball axis about which it rotates;
a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls;
a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the balls on a side opposite the input disc and also in contact with each of the balls;
an idler that is coaxial with and rotatable about the transmission axis and that is positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the balls; and
at least a first convex curved disc located adjacent to at least a first end of the idler, wherein the ball axes are adapted to collectively tilt in response to an axial movement of the first convex curved disc;
wherein the transmission is adapted to accept torque from at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor and to distribute that torque to an output drive train. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A hybrid power management system comprising:
-
an internal combustion engine;
an electric motor;
a torque distribution mechanism adapted to accept torque from the internal combustion engine and the electrical motor, the torque distribution mechanism having first and second rotational speed variators, each of the variators further comprising;
a plurality of balls distributed radially and in a plane about a longitudinal transmission axis, each ball having a tiltable ball axis about which it rotates;
a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls;
a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the balls on a side opposite the input disc and also in contact with each of the balls;
an idler that is coaxial with and rotatable about the transmission axis and that is positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the balls; and
at least a first convex curved disc located adjacent to at least a first end of the idler, wherein the ball axes are collectively responsive to an axial movement of the first convex curved disc;
wherein the torque distribution mechanism is adapted to accept torque from at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor and to distribute that torque to an output drive train. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A vehicle power train, comprising:
-
an electric motor having a rotor and a stator;
at least one speed variator, the speed variator comprising;
a plurality of balls distributed radially and in a plane about a longitudinal variator axis, each ball having a tiltable ball axis about which it rotates;
an input disc coaxial with and rotatable about the variator axis and positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls;
an output disc coaxial with and rotatable about the variator axis and positioned adjacent to the balls on a side opposite the input disc and also in contact with each of the balls;
a cylindrical support idler that is coaxial with and rotatable about the variator axis and that is positioned radially inward of and in contact with each of the balls; and
at least a first convex curved disc located adjacent to at least a first end of the idler, wherein the ball axes are adapted to collectively tilt in response to an axial movement of the first convex curved disc;
wherein the rotor is integral with one of the input disc and the output disc.
-
Specification